Over 60% of Americans have had personal data breached
https://www.usnews.com/360-reviews/privacy/digital-privacy-consumer-survey
This Guy Has Built an Open Source Search Engine as an Alternative to Google
https://www.404media.co/this-guy-is-building-an-open-source-search-engine-in-real-time/
Draft UN Cybercrime Treaty Could Make Security Research a Crime; 124 Experts Call on UN Delegates to Fix Flawed Provisions
Reporter sues police officials over raid on rural Kansas newspaper
Fifth Circuit Criminalizes Journalism
https://www.techdirt.com/2024/02/06/fifth-circuit-upon-further-review-fuck-the-first-amendment/
US plans visa bans for people connected to spyware that targets journalists and activists
The White House Pressured Amazon to Target Dissenting Books
https://jonathanturley.org/2024/02/06/why-burn-books-when-you-can-bury-them-the-biden-administration-pressured-amazon-on-suppressing-sales-on-dissenting-books/
WTF? Princeton University Library Adds Trigger Warnings to Archival Documents to ‘Protect Researchers’
https://www.nationalreview.com/news/princeton-university-library-adds-trigger-warnings-to-archival-documents-to-protect-researchers/
YouTube CEO Vows To Censor “Hate Speech” and Boost “Authoritative Sources”
https://blog.youtube/inside-youtube/2024-letter-from-neal/
‘Civic Listening’: Political Informants and Citizen Spies, Rebranded
https://foundationforfreedomonline.com/civic-listening-political-informants-and-citizen-spies-rebranded/
Using AI to monitor the internet for terror content is fraught with pitfalls
Department of Commerce Announces AI Safety Institute Consortium
https://www.commerce.gov/news/press-releases/2024/02/biden-harris-administration-announces-first-ever-consortium-dedicated
DHS to Hire 50 AI Experts in 2024
https://www.dhs.gov/news/2024/02/06/dhs-launches-first-its-kind-initiative-hire-50-artificial-intelligence-experts-2024
New cars are collecting an extensive amount of customer data
https://www.choice.com.au/consumers-and-data/data-collection-and-use/who-has-your-data/articles/toyota-connected-cars
OnStar safety and connected services to be standard in all 2025 General Motors vehicles
https://gmauthority.com/blog/2024/02/more-onstar-features-now-standard-on-all-2025-gm-vehicles/
MadRadar hack can make self-driving cars 'hallucinate' imaginary vehicles
https://www.the-sun.com/tech/10331831/car-hijack-madradar-hack-self-driving/
Starship Technologies raises $90M as its sidewalk robots pass 6M deliveries
Senator Durbin Jeopardizing Consumer Data with New Credit Bill
Irony: Google calls out spyware firms and advocates for tighter regulation
What Is Private and What Isn't When You Use Google's Incognito Mode?
https://gizmodo.com/whats-private-when-using-incognito-mode-cybersecurity-1851200426
Try not to laugh: Google- How the commercial surveillance industry works and what can be done about it
https://blog.google/threat-analysis-group/commercial-surveillance-vendors-google-tag-report/
Mozilla has a new subscription to keep your info out of data brokers’ clutches
https://www.theverge.com/2024/2/6/24062765/mozilla-monitor-plus-firefox-paid-subscription-privacy-data-broker-removal-requests
Meta Considering Increased Censorship of the Word “Zionist”
https://theintercept.com/2024/02/08/facebook-instagram-censor-zionist-israel
Meta cuts off third-party access to Facebook Groups, leaving developers and customers in disarray
Microsoft expands enhanced conversions and ad targeting capabilities
https://searchengineland.com/microsoft-expands-enhanced-conversions-and-ad-targeting-capabilities-437284
Verizon data breach affects 63K employees
https://www.csoonline.com/article/1306308/verizon-employee-compromises-personal-data-of-63000-colleagues.html
Fake LastPass lookalike made it into Apple App Store
https://blog.lastpass.com/2024/02/warning-fraudulent-app-impersonating-lastpass-currently-available-in-apple-app-store/
Data Protection: Nice To Have or Necessary?
https://www.statista.com/chart/31706/attitudes-towards-data-privacy-in-selected-countries/
HopSkipDrive data breach affects at least 155K drivers and students
https://techcrunch.com/2024/02/05/hopskipdrive-says-personal-data-of-155000-drivers-stolen-in-data-breach/
Mass. Judge Sides Against Allrecipes In Video Geolocation Privacy Battle
Kochava Must Face FTC Location Privacy Charges
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/02/data-broker-selling-de-anonymized-info-to-face-ftc-lawsuit-after-all/
Ransomware payments doubled to more than $1B in 2023
https://therecord.media/ransomware-payments-doubled-to-more-than-1-billion-2023
Medicare negotiating price of drug that costs $7,100 in US vs. $900 in Canada
https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/06/politics/medicare-drug-prices-eliquis-bernie-sanders/index.html
BakerHostetler Files Amicus Brief on Behalf of 30 Hospitals and Health Systems
https://www.bakerdatacounsel.com/blogs/bakerhostetler-files-amicus-brief-on-behalf-of-30-hospitals-and-health-systems/
Montefiore Medical Center fined $4.75M for HIPPA violations
Columbus Regional Healthcare System data breach affected 133K people
Plaza Radiology data breach affected 569K people
https://www.classaction.org/media/plaza-radiology-data-breach-notice.pdf
State & Local Privacy News
ME- Lawyers say they have limited access to clients at Long Creek Youth Development Center
MA- Lawyer accused of trying to bribe Medford police chief for pot shop sentenced to prison
GA- Bill requiring cash bail for 30 crimes, including misdemeanors, heading to governor's desk
House Passes Bill That Jails More People Pretrial and Attacks Bail Funds
https://theappeal.org/georgia-bail-bill-jails-more-people-pretrial-and-attacks-bail-funds/
FL- ACLU Opposes Passage of Two Censorship Bills by Senate Judiciary Committee
OH- Butler County sheriff calls on lawmakers to make it a state crime to be illegal immigrant
MO- Bill Would Require Evidence that a Police Informant is Reliable
MO- Panel returns First Amendment access to court records
https://www.courthousenews.com/missouri-courts-return-first-amendment-access-to-court-records/
MS- Constitutional rights lawsuit over city water in Jackson fails
https://legalnewsline.com/stories/654320831-constitutional-rights-lawsuit-over-water-in-jackson-fails
CO- Denver police to add 111 license plate readers around the city
https://kdvr.com/news/local/denver-to-add-111-new-license-plate-readers/
AZ- Bill would repeal repeal murder law, which has been used to imprison bystanders for killings committed by cops
https://theappeal.org/arizona-bill-would-ban-felony-murder-law-jacob-harris/
WA- Proposal requires police dogs learn how to detect fentanyl
HI- Court says 'Spirit of Aloha' Supersedes Constitution, Second Amendment
World Privacy News
UN Special Rapporteur on Torture urges UK government to halt extradition of Julian Assange
https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2024/02/un-special-rapporteur-torture-urges-uk-government-halt-imminent-extradition
No real safeguards for new Europol data powers, says Data Protection Authority
https://www.statewatch.org/news/2024/february/no-real-safeguards-for-new-europol-data-powers-says-data-protection-authority/
The European Data Protection Supervisor: Europol’s plan for migrant biometric data raises ‘serious questions’
https://edps.europa.eu/system/files/2024-01/2023-1247_d0187_opinion_en.pdf
BS Warning: Eurostar may cap services due to post-Brexit biometric passport checks
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/feb/04/eurostar-st-pancrasmay-cap-services-post-brexit-passport-checks-warns-station-owner
Defending the rights of refugees and migrants in the digital age (biometrics)
https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/pol40/7654/2024/en/
Irony: EU Parliament to trial fingerprint scanners for MEPs attendance
https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/european-parliament-approves-digital-registration-for-meps-attendance/
INTERPOL warns about crimes in the metaverse
https://www.interpol.int/en/News-and-Events/News/2024/Grooming-radicalization-and-cyber-attacks-INTERPOL-warns-of-Metacrime
Ban Amazon lobbyists, say snubbed EU lawmakers
"European Parliament members say Amazon’s entry badges should be snatched until company will discuss working conditions."
https://www.politico.eu/article/ban-amazon-lobbyists-say-snubbed-lawmakers/
Meta and TikTok Sue EU Over Online Speech Laws
https://www.politico.eu/article/tiktok-joins-meta-in-suing-eu-over-online-content-rulebook/
Meta ignores the users’ right to easily withdraw consent
https://noyb.eu/en/meta-ignores-users-right-easily-withdraw-consent
Meta challenges EU’s Digital Services Act supervisory fee as unfair
https://techcrunch.com/2024/02/08/meta-challenge-dsa-fee/
GDPR: a culture of non-compliance? Numbers of evidence-based enforcement efforts
https://noyb.eu/sites/default/files/2024-01/GDPR_a%20culture%20of%20non-compliance_2.pdf
The Viral Smart Toothbrush Botnet Story Is Not Real
https://www.404media.co/the-viral-toothbrush-ddos-botnet-story-almost-certainly-isnt-real/
WEF Pushes Countries to Adopt CBDCs to Ensure Global “Success”
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2024/02/wholesale-retail-cbdcs-difference/
Russia- Police arrest dozens of people calling for troops to return from Ukraine
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/3/people-detained-at-russia-protest-calling-for-troops-to-return-from-ukraine
Russia- Police arrest journalists amid attempt to undermine protest by soldiers’ wives
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/02/russia-authorities-detain-journalists-amid-attempt-to-undermine-protest-by-soldiers-wives/
Denmark- The Data Protection Authority orders schools to stop sending student data to Google
https://www.datatilsynet.dk/presse-og-nyheder/nyhedsarkiv/2024/jan/datatilsynet-giver-paabud-i-chromebook-sag
Greece- Football fans must show digital ID cards to enter stadiums
https://greekherald.com.au/news/football-fans-in-greece-will-need-id-linked-tickets-when-stadiums-reopen/
UK- Cops use facial recognition to ID stabbing suspect
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/bradley-peek-stabbing-stepney-london-bus-driver-jailed-facial-recognition-technology-b1137836.html
Armed UK cops storm hotel because a Harry Potter Fan was waving a wand
People commenting on the post saw the funny side. "Are you being sirius?!" asked one, in a reference to Harry's godfather Sirius Black. "Expecto Patrol-man!" said another, as a play on words of "Expecto Patronum", the words of the powerful Patronus Charm.
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leicestershire-68270095
UK- Schools install toilet sensors that ‘actively listen’ to students
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/schools-install-toilet-sensors-that-actively-listen-to-pupils/
UK- Met cops investigated after black teen, 16, stopped six times in five months
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-68219504
UK- Special constable banned over home searches
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd1x7ykpdkmo.amp
UK- ICO warns companies make changes to advertising cookies to comply with data protection law
https://ico.org.uk/about-the-ico/media-centre/news-and-blogs/2024/01/ico-warns-organisations-to-proactively-make-advertising-cookies-compliant/
UK- ICO urges all app developers to prioritize privacy
https://ico.org.uk/about-the-ico/media-centre/news-and-blogs/2024/02/ico-urges-all-app-developers-to-prioritise-privacy/
IRL- Shannon Airport Launches Their Version of TSA PreCheck app Called the Mobile Passport Control app
https://www.independent.ie/regionals/clare/news/shannon-airports-new-app-making-travelling-to-the-usa-easier-and-faster-than-ever/a2005138978.html
China- Government to allow faster data transfer for foreign firms-sources
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/shanghai-allow-faster-data-transfer-china-foreign-firms-sources-2024-02-07/
Hong Kong- Police issue warrant for exiled activist Agnes Chow Ting
Hong Kong- Employee pays out $25M after video call with deepfake ‘chief financial officer’
https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/04/asia/deepfake-cfo-scam-hong-kong-intl-hnk/index.html
Philippines- Government bans people with an internet connection from verifying a PhilID card
https://mb.com.ph/2024/2/1/psa-s-phil-sys-check-streamlines-detection-of-fake-national-i-ds
India- Laws Misused to Crack Down on Peaceful Dissent
https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/02/08/india-laws-misused-crack-down-peaceful-dissent
India- Government fined people about $72M from people who failed to link their tax accounts to national digital ID
https://www.business-standard.com/india-news/govt-collects-rs-600-crore-penalty-for-delay-in-pan-aadhaar-linking-124020500921_1.html
Israel- Spike in lethal force against Palestinians in Occupied West Bank
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/02/shocking-spike-in-use-of-unlawful-lethal-force-by-israeli-forces-against-palestinians-in-the-occupied-west-bank/
Jordan- Arrests, Harassment of Pro-Palestine Protesters
https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/02/06/jordan-arrests-harassment-pro-palestine-protesters
The European Center for Development Policy Management Wants African Governments to Create Digital IDs
https://ecdpm.org/work/eu-au-cooperation-cross-border-digital-services-and-trade
AU- Clearview AI is still collecting photos of citizens for its facial recognition database
https://www.crikey.com.au/2024/02/08/clearview-ai-australia-facial-recognition-data/
AU- Undercover police ‘fed’ an autistic 13-year-old’s fixation with Islamic State
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/feb/03/australian-undercover-police-autistic-13-year-old-fixation-islamic-state
AU- Government appalled at China’s suspended death sentence for writer Yang Hengjun
https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/australia-appalled-chinas-suspended-death-sentence-writer-yang-106945328
AU- Retail Drinks Australia Warns of Integration Costs in Digital ID Law Filing
https://www.themandarin.com.au/238662-booze-industry-gets-the-blues-from-digital-id-cost-hangover/
NZ- Retail NZ Supports Facial Recognition Trial in Stores
https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU2402/S00064/retail-nz-supports-facial-recognition-trial.htm
Canada- Facial Recognition and Mugshot Databases: Guidance for Police in Ontario
https://www.ipc.on.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/2024-01-19-facial-recognition-and-mugshot-databases-guidance-for-police-in-ontario-e.pdf
Canada- Mountie intelligence official sentenced to 14 years for breaking country's secrets law
https://apnews.com/article/canada-rcmp-intelligence-mounty-secrets-sentenced-51286435e74a7a25be285e8ee79ac6bc
Canada- New Democratic Party Bill Would Jail Those Who Praise Fossil Fuels
https://nationalpost.com/opinion/ndp-bill-jail-terms-fossil-fuels
Haiti- Police fire tear gas at hundreds of protesters against Prime Minister
https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/police-fire-tear-gas-hundreds-protest-government-haiti-2024-02-06/
Belize- Government is Developing a National Digital ID Program
https://lovefm.com/government-working-on-developing-a-national-identification-system-for-citizen-benefit/