Privacy
Musk, Durov attack WhatsApp over encryption claims
Elon Musk and his fellow billionaire, Telegram owner Pavel Durov, have reacted strongly to a new class action lawsuit claiming that WhatsApp messages are not private.
Read more about Musk, Durov attack WhatsApp over encryption claims
LinkedIn hit with lawsuits over alleged illegal browser extension tracking
LinkedIn has been sued for scanning users’ browsers to determine which extensions they have installed.
Read more about LinkedIn hit with lawsuits over alleged illegal browser extension tracking
European firm endorses Linux, releases free spy-blocking tool to cut reliance on foreign tech
The device is technically yours, but any app vendor can push a silent update and run any code with any privileges at any time. A European company that has exclusively served macOS customers until now has endorsed Linux as a way to reduce reliance on foreign tech and released its software, “LittleSnitch,” for free.
Read more about European firm endorses Linux, releases free spy-blocking tool to cut reliance on foreign tech
Greece bans social media for children under 15, Prime Minister announces it on TikTok
Starting January 1st, 2027, children under the age of 15 are no longer allowed to use social media in Greece.
Read more about Greece bans social media for children under 15, Prime Minister announces it on TikTok
Meta engineer creates shadow program to stalk private feeds, covertly downloads 30,000 images
Rogue Meta worker is investigated by the London Metropolitan police’s cybercrime unit for downloading users’ private Facebook images.
Read more about Meta engineer creates shadow program to stalk private feeds, covertly downloads 30,000 images
16-hour scroll puts social media engagement algorithms on trial
The head of Instagram recently stated that when a user spends sixteen hours a day using the app, it is a "problem" but not an addiction in a bid to clarify the difference between heavy use and clinical dependency.
Read more about 16-hour scroll puts social media engagement algorithms on trial
Tech companies urge Europe to swiftly extend voluntary chat control
Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Snap are asking the European Union to reach an agreement on extending monitoring chat communication for potential child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Read more about Tech companies urge Europe to swiftly extend voluntary chat control
LinkedIn caught spying on users’ browsers: sensitive data harvested
LinkedIn may have been spying on you, an investigation reveals, calling it “the largest corporate espionage and data breach scandals in digital history.”
Read more about LinkedIn caught spying on users’ browsers: sensitive data harvested
Dutch regulators demand total nudify ban beyond EU rules
Multiple Dutch regulators and law enforcement authorities have welcomed Europe’s ban on AI-nudify apps and websites. But to be truly effective, a complete ban is necessary.
Read more about Dutch regulators demand total nudify ban beyond EU rules
Apple removes custom apps from Russian store as minister escalates war on VPNs
Apple has reportedly begun removing Virtual Private Network (VPN) apps from the Russian App Store that let users set up custom connections to bypass internet restrictions.
Read more about Apple removes custom apps from Russian store as minister escalates war on VPNs
Only one in five people back up their data: Germany warns most risk losing everything
Happy World Backup Day! Today, governments, hosting providers, and other sponsors are calling on people to create a backup of their most important files. One of them is the German government.
Read more about Only one in five people back up their data: Germany warns most risk losing everything
Match’s OkCupid hit with 20-year privacy crackdown after sharing users’ private photos with AI firm
Match and OkCupid are facing a proposed 20-year privacy crackdown after the FTC said the dating app deceived users by sharing nearly 3 million private photos and other sensitive information with AI firm Clarifai.
Read more about Match’s OkCupid hit with 20-year privacy crackdown after sharing users’ private photos with AI firm
Epstein victims sue Google and DoJ for “dumping” their personal information
Victims found that their personal information had been released by the Department of Justice. Then, Google’s AI Mode neatly organized the victims’ PII to allegedly be used in harassment campaigns. Now, Google and the US government are being sued.
Read more about Epstein victims sue Google and DoJ for “dumping” their personal information
UK privacy groups slam Apple over iPhone age checks requiring ID
UK privacy campaigners have hit out at Apple after it introduced age checks for iPhone users, warning that millions could be forced to hand over ID or credit card details to access parts of the internet.
Read more about UK privacy groups slam Apple over iPhone age checks requiring ID
Age verification laws causing discord in Linux community, with multiple users forking systemd
New laws requiring operating systems to verify users’ age are giving the Linux community more reasons to divide. On GitHub, multiple forks of systemd are appearing after the fundamental Linux system component added a field to store the user’s birthdate.
Read more about Age verification laws causing discord in Linux community, with multiple users forking systemd
New law enables Hong Kong police to demand passwords
Because of an amendment to Hong Kong’s National Security Law, police officers can now force a suspect to hand over their passwords for their smartphone or laptop.
Read more about New law enables Hong Kong police to demand passwords
Pinterest CEO demands under-16 social media ban as he slams tech giants for “failed” self-regulation
Bill Ready, Pinterest's CEO, is calling on governments to ban social media for users under 16.
Read more about Pinterest CEO demands under-16 social media ban as he slams tech giants for “failed” self-regulation
Children see porn on 4chan unchecked: site fined £450,000, refuses to comply
American internet forum 4chan has received a £450,000 fine (approximately $600,000) for failing to implement age verification technology to prevent children from seeing pornography on its website.
Read more about Children see porn on 4chan unchecked: site fined £450,000, refuses to comply
Tinder wants to scan your camera roll: this is why you should opt out
If dating apps aren’t scary enough, Tinder is testing out a new feature that will scan your device’s photo gallery to check for trends or themes that could help you find your perfect match.
Read more about Tinder wants to scan your camera roll: this is why you should opt out
Cloudflare appeals Italy's €14M fine as Piracy Shield "black box" sparks censorship fears
Cloudflare is persisting in its legal battle against Italy’s Piracy Shield, which is considered a “blunt tool” to fight copyright infringement, and AGCOM’s fine of €14 million for violating anti-piracy regulations.
Read more about Cloudflare appeals Italy's €14M fine as Piracy Shield "black box" sparks censorship fears
