December 11, 2024 at 02:06AM Telecommunications firms globally, including in the US, Asia-Pacific, and MENA regions, are targets of Chinese-sponsored cyberattacks, such as those from Salt Typhoon and Volt Typhoon. Experts warn that nations should enhance security measures and adopt encryption to protect communications, as foreign intrusions threaten network privacy and integrity. ### Meeting Takeaways … Read more
December 3, 2024 at 11:08AM The FTC has banned data brokers Mobilewalla and Gravy Analytics from collecting and selling Americans’ sensitive location data, including visits to churches and healthcare facilities. They must erase historical data, establish sensitive location programs, and are prohibited from future sales of such data, following earlier actions against similar companies. ### … Read more
November 28, 2024 at 11:51AM The Tor Project urgently seeks volunteers from the privacy community to deploy 200 new WebTunnel bridges by year-end, aiming to combat government censorship. **Meeting Takeaways:** 1. **Subject Matter**: The Tor Project is addressing issues of government censorship. 2. **Call to Action**: There is an urgent request for volunteers from the … Read more
November 27, 2024 at 09:19AM An international law enforcement operation has shut down a major pirate streaming service that had over 22 million users globally and generated €250 million ($263 million) monthly in revenue. **Meeting Takeaways:** 1. **Operation Overview**: An international law enforcement operation has successfully dismantled a large-scale pirate streaming service. 2. **User Base**: … Read more
November 21, 2024 at 09:49PM A Thai court dismissed a lawsuit from activist Jatupat Boonpattararaksa, who claimed his phone was hacked by NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware. The court found insufficient evidence of infection. Activists allege government involvement in the spyware’s use, which has targeted numerous individuals amid protests demanding governmental reforms. ### Meeting Takeaways 1. … Read more
November 18, 2024 at 05:40PM Court documents reveal that Israel’s NSO Group may have more knowledge about the use of its Pegasus spyware than previously stated. WhatsApp claims NSO directly operated the spyware, misleading customers about their role. The lawsuit highlights NSO’s alleged misuse of WhatsApp’s servers and its responsible role in targeting individuals, including … Read more
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
January 25, 2024 at 06:48AM Ring, an Amazon-owned company, will discontinue its feature allowing police to request doorbell camera footage from users, ending a controversial practice criticized by privacy advocates. The change, effective immediately, comes amid concerns about surveillance, racial profiling, and privacy. Despite this, law enforcement can still access footage with a search warrant … Read more
December 6, 2023 at 02:59PM U.S. Senator Ron Wyden disclosed that governments worldwide request mobile push notifications from Apple and Google to surveil users. Wyden urged the DOJ to allow tech companies transparency regarding these demands. Both companies have voiced support for informing users about such government data requests in their transparency reports. Meeting Takeaways: … Read more
November 15, 2023 at 10:37PM Swedish digital rights organization Qurium has uncovered approximately 250 cloned websites that are suspected of redirecting users to Chinese gambling sites. Investigations revealed that various organizations had their websites copied and pasted, including private businesses, universities, and public libraries. Qurium alleges that the gambling ads on these cloned sites are … Read more