July 3, 2024 at 05:54PM The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that state highway police lawfully unlocked a suspect’s phone using his fingerprint during a drug bust, finding no violation of 5th or 4th Amendment rights. Experts caution against relying on biometrics, especially for those likely to interact with police, due to unsettled legal … Read more
June 24, 2024 at 03:22AM Clearview AI settled a lawsuit in Illinois, potentially worth over $50 million. The unique agreement grants plaintiffs a share of the company’s value, rather than a traditional payout. Clearview can still work with federal agencies and law enforcement outside Illinois. The settlement engages potential plaintiffs nationally. However, critics say the … Read more
June 18, 2024 at 06:28PM The EU Council is set to vote on a proposal to prevent online dissemination of child sexual abuse material, requiring internet providers to scan digital communication for illegal content. This includes client-side scanning on users’ devices. Companies like Signal and Threema oppose the plan, citing risks to encryption, privacy, and … Read more
June 18, 2024 at 12:30PM The European Union’s proposal for mass scanning of private messages to detect child sexual abuse material (CSAM) is strongly opposed by Signal Foundation’s president, Meredith Whittaker. The proposal poses threats to end-to-end encryption (E2EE) and has sparked a debate about balancing privacy and combating serious crimes. Apple’s previous plan for … Read more
May 23, 2024 at 11:52AM The UK’s ICO plans to fine PSNI £750,000 for mistakenly publishing personal details of 9,483 officers online. The incident put individuals at grave risk and forced many to alter their lives. The ICO’s lower fine considers PSNI’s budget constraints. PSNI has accepted the penalty and is making security improvements, offering … Read more
May 18, 2024 at 01:09PM Attorney Christine Dudley was startled to see in-game ads on her Android tablet that mirrored the audiobooks she had recently checked out from the San Francisco Public Library. This raised concerns over the privacy of library reading material. This reflects broader concerns about digital privacy in libraries, as well as … Read more
April 26, 2024 at 11:37AM Summary: The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that police lawfully used a suspect’s fingerprint to unlock his phone. This raises concerns about biometric privacy, especially for groups likely to interact with law enforcement. Experts recommend disabling biometrics when interacting with the police, citing legal ambiguities and the potential risk … Read more
April 17, 2024 at 07:54PM The US Senate is set to renew surveillance powers under FISA Section 702, allowing intelligence agencies to spy on foreign communications. A new provision may broaden the definition of electronic communications service provider, raising concerns about privacy and civil liberties. The House has passed the RISAA bill, but objections from … Read more
April 2, 2024 at 08:06AM A parliamentary probe in Poland is investigating the potential misuse of the Pegasus spyware by former government officials. Justice Minister Adam Bodnar anticipates identifying how the software was utilized and potentially accusing certain individuals. The NSO Group, responsible for Pegasus, contends it’s intended for legitimate government use, despite reports of … Read more
March 20, 2024 at 09:21AM Kaspersky’s 2023 report noted a rise in stalkerware cases, affecting 31,031 people globally. Europe had 2,645 unique cases, with Germany, France, and the UK being most affected. In North America, the US accounted for 77% of instances. The software allows intrusive monitoring without the victim’s knowledge, posing risks, particularly in … Read more