China starts testing national cyber-ID before consultation to ask if it’s a good idea closes

August 5, 2024 at 01:22AM Chinese app developers are beta testing a national cyberspace ID system that uses facial recognition and real names. 71 private internet apps and 10 government apps are involved, including WeChat, Taobao, and Xiaohongshu. The system aims to serve as a physical and online credential, eliminating the need to provide personal … Read more

DOJ and FTC Sue TikTok for Violating Children’s Privacy Laws

August 3, 2024 at 06:18AM The U.S. Department of Justice and FTC filed a lawsuit against TikTok for allegedly violating children’s privacy laws, claiming the platform collected children’s data without parental consent. The suit accused TikTok of illegally retaining personal information from children, enabling targeted advertising, and allowing interaction with adult content. The platform faced … Read more

A CISO’s Guide to Avoiding Jail After a Breach

July 5, 2024 at 08:35AM While serving on the Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity, Joe Sullivan, a former Uber CSO, faced legal challenges for mishandling a data breach. The government’s effort to enforce good corporate behavior has led to an increase in legal actions against security leaders. To avoid trouble, it’s recommended that security leaders … Read more

Stop Using Your Face or Thumb to Unlock Your Phone

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

Facial Recognition Startup Clearview AI Settles Privacy Suit

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

EU attempt to sneak through new encryption-busting law slammed by Signal, politicians

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

Signal Foundation Warns Against EU’s Plan to Scan Private Messages for CSAM

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

Northern Ireland police faces £750k fine after exposing staff info

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

An attorney says she saw her library reading habits reflected in mobile ads. That’s not supposed to happen

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

Stop Using Your Face or Thumb to Unlock Your Phone

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