U.S. Privacy And World Privacy News

Universities failed to disclose billions in Chinese donations

"UC Berkeley has accepted $790.8M from foreign sources since 2013, including a staggering amount of Chinese funding. China sent $87.5M to UC Berkeley, more than any other country. The figure doesn’t include $59.4M from Hong Kong and $57.5M from Taiwan, which are reported separately. Georgia Institute of Technology has accepted $162.8M from foreign sources since 2013."

Joint University Programs with China Escape Financial Reporting

Banks Are Narcing on You Because Congress Forces Them To
Today, the Bank Secrecy Act regime forces banks to report customers to the government for an ever-growing list of "red flags." That includes when it is unclear where a customer's money came from, when a customer gets close (but does not cross) the $10,000 reporting threshold, and so much more. Something as simple as depositing money after selling your car or withdrawing money to cover an emergency expense can land you on this list. During the 2023 fiscal year alone, financial institutions filed more than 27 million reports on customers. That amounts to more than 75,000 reports each day. Every day people are unknowingly being treated as potential criminals by the institutions they trust with their money. The vast majority of these reports are filed for nothing more than a customer making a transaction over $10,000.
https://reason.com/2025/01/25/the-banks-are-narcing-on-you/

Invitation to Participate in Case Study to Make Something Better than PayPal and Venmo

https://www.fightforthefuture.org/news/2025-01-15-mutual-aid-groups-invitation-to-participate-in-case-study-to-make-something-better-than-paypal-and-venmo/

Digital Security and Privacy for the Social Sector
https://cltc.berkeley.edu/program/cybersecurity-clinic/

‘Why Aren’t You in The Hague?’: Sam Husseini and Max Blumenthal confront Secretary of State Tony Blinken

https://thegrayzone.com/2025/01/18/journalists-dragged-out-blinken/

The Powerful AI Tool That Cops (or Stalkers) Can Use to Geolocate Photos in Seconds

https://www.404media.co/the-powerful-ai-tool-that-cops-or-stalkers-can-use-to-geolocate-photos-in-seconds/
GeoSpy 101: What Is GeoSpy?

https://geospy.ai/blog/geospy-101-ai-visual-geolocation

Emerging Tech and Law Enforcement: What Are Geofences and How Do They Work?

https://www.lexipol.com/resources/blog/emerging-tech-and-law-enforcement-what-are-geofences-and-how-do-they-work/

The Evolution of the Militarized Data Broker

https://unlimitedhangout.com/2025/01/investigative-reports/the-evolution-of-the-militarized-data-broker/

Financial Confidentiality in the Age of Digital Surveillance

https://www.fightforthefuture.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Financial-Confidentiality-in-the-Age-of-Digital-Surveillance.pdf

WTF? Trump's FCC chairman resurrects bias complaints against ABC, NBC, CBS - Los Angeles Times

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2025-01-24/trumps-fcc-chairman-resurrects-bias-complaints-against-broadcasters-abc-cbs-and-nbc

Welcome to the era of gangster tech regulation

https://www.theverge.com/2025/1/20/24346317/trump-gangster-tech-regulation-corruption-grift

Tech CEO Maury Blackman is on a crusade to get the record of his arrest removed from the internet

https://sf.gazetteer.co/a-former-tech-ceo-is-on-a-crusade-to-get-the-record-of-his-arrest-removed-from-the-internet

Tech billionaires want to ‘overthrow democracy’ with social media

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said on Wednesday that tech billionaires want to use social media “to overthrow democracy” — adding he’ll push EU leaders to take action. “The technology that was intended to free us has become the tool of our own oppression,” he said during a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. “The social media that was supposed to bring unity, clarity and democracy have instead given us division, vice and a reactionary agenda.”

https://www.politico.eu/article/spain-pedro-sanchez-big-tech-billionaires-democracy-social-media/

Trump Disbands Cybersecurity Board Investigating Massive Chinese Phone System Hack

https://www.techdirt.com/2025/01/23/trump-disbands-cybersecurity-board-investigating-massive-chinese-phone-system-hack/
Removal of Cyber Safety Review Board members sparks alarm from cyber professionals

https://cyberscoop.com/removal-cyber-safety-review-board-members/

Trump signs AI executive order

https://apnews.com/article/trump-ai-artificial-intelligence-executive-order-eef1e5b9bec861eaf9b36217d547929c

LinkedIn Sued For Using Private Messages To Train AI

https://www.itpro.com/security/privacy/linkedin-faces-lawsuit-amid-claims-it-shared-users-private-messages-to-train-ai-models

California AG Is Investigating OpenAI’s Conversion To a For-Profit Company

https://themarkup.org/artificial-intelligence/2025/01/23/openai-investigation-california

Am I being censored? Some US TikTok users say app feels different after ban lifted
https://www.reuters.com/technology/am-i-being-censored-some-us-tiktok-users-say-app-feels-different-after-ban-2025-01-25/

White House in talks to have Microsoft and Oracle take over TikTok
https://www.npr.org/2025/01/25/g-s1-44779/tiktok-ban-deal-trump-oracle

Boycotts Over Meta’s Controversial Policy Changes Haven’t Moved the Needle
https://gizmodo.com/boycotts-over-metas-controversial-policy-changes-havent-moved-the-needle-2000554594

Mad at Meta? Don't Let Them Collect and Monetize Your Personal Data
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/01/mad-meta-dont-let-them-collect-and-monetize-your-personal-data

Texas Is Enforcing Its State Data Privacy Law. So Should Other States

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/01/texas-enforcing-its-state-data-privacy-law-so-should-other-states

Over 1 Billion Passwords Stolen Through Malware Attacks Last Year

https://specopssoft.com/blog/report-one-billion-malware-stolen-credentials/

Nondisclosure agreements are now rampant in the workplace, covering nearly half of employees

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/nondisclosure-agreements-are-now-rampant-in-the-workplace-covering-nearly-half-of-employees/ar-AA1xIga4

Subaru Security Flaws Exposed Its System for Tracking Millions of Cars

"Now-fixed web bugs allowed hackers to remotely unlock and start millions of Subarus. More disturbingly, they could also access at least a year of cars’ location histories—and Subaru employees still can. Most disturbing for security researcher Sam Curry, though, was that they found they could also track the Subaru's location—not merely where it was at the moment but also where it had been for the entire year that his mother had owned it. The map of the car’s whereabouts was so accurate and detailed, Curry says, that he was able to see her doctor visits, the homes of the friends she visited, even which exact parking space his mother parked in every time she went to church."

https://www.wired.com/story/subaru-location-tracking-vulnerabilities/
https://samcurry.net/hacking-subaru

Class action lawsuit filed against Allstate for collecting and selling data of 45 million drivers

https://www.repairerdrivennews.com/2025/01/23/class-action-lawsuit-filed-against-allstate-for-allegedly-collecting-and-selling-data-without-consumer-consent/

https://www.bloomberglaw.com/public/desktop/document/RoquevTheAllstateCorporationetalDocketNo125cv00709NDIllJan212025C?doc_id=XS3MQ62CM99HOOTTJ48EIPMGEE

What Will You Do When You Can’t Buy Or Sell Anything On The Internet Without Your UN-Mandated Digital Identity Chip?

https://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/what-will-you-do-when-you-cant-buy-or-sell-anything-on-the-internet-without-your-un-mandated-digital-identity-chip/

Age Verification Laws Meet VPNs and Lawsuits in a War Over Speech and Privacy

https://reason.com/2025/01/24/age-verification-laws-meet-vpns-and-lawsuits-in-a-war-over-speech-and-privacy/

What PowerSchool isn’t saying about its ‘massive’ student data breach

https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/22/what-powerschool-isnt-saying-about-its-massive-student-data-breach/

https://www.theregister.com/2025/01/22/powerschool_canada_lawsuits/

Stop Overprotecting the Children, Say Courts in TN and CA

https://reason.com/2025/01/06/stop-overprotecting-the-children-say-courts-in-tennessee-and-california

Online Censorship In Schools Is ‘More Pervasive’ Than Expected

https://cdt.org/insights/out-of-step-students-teachers-in-stride-with-edtech-threats-while-parents-are-left-behind/

Genshin Impact fined $20M for violating kids’ privacy

https://www.reuters.com/technology/genshin-impact-maker-settles-us-charges-violating-childrens-privacy-2025-01-17/

AI-Generated Junk Science Is a Big Problem on Google Scholar

https://misinforeview.hks.harvard.edu/article/gpt-fabricated-scientific-papers-on-google-scholar-key-features-spread-and-implications-for-preempting-evidence-manipulation/

Trump revokes Biden executive order on addressing AI risks

https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/trump-revokes-biden-executive-order-addressing-ai-risks-2025-01-21/

32 Malicious VPN Extensions Spy on Chrome Users

https://palant.info/2025/01/20/malicious-extensions-circumvent-googles-remote-code-ban/

Trump FTC Chair Shuts Down Public Comments on Corporate Pricing Tactics
https://www.commondreams.org/news/trump-ftc-chair

Trump Rescinds Biden Order Aimed at Lowering Prescription Drug Prices

https://www.commondreams.org/news/trump-drug-prices

How much did Big Pharma spend to try to stop new drug price control initiatives? (Podcast)

https://sharylattkisson.com/2025/01/after-hours-how-much-did-big-pharma-spend-to-try-to-stop-new-drug-price-control-initiatives-podcast/

Medical Device Company Tells Hospitals They're No Longer Allowed to Fix Machine That Costs Six Figures

https://www.404media.co/medical-device-company-tells-hospitals-theyre-no-longer-allowed-to-fix-machine-that-costs-six-figures/

UnitedHealth confirms 190M people affected by Change Healthcare data breach
https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/24/unitedhealth-confirms-190-million-americans-affected-by-change-healthcare-data-breach/

2024 Healthcare Data Breaches: 720 Incidents, 186M Compromised Patient Records

https://www.securityweek.com/2024-us-healthcare-data-breaches-585-incidents-180-million-compromised-user-records/

15 States Sue HHS to Drop HIPAA Reproductive Health Info Regulation

https://www.hipaajournal.com/15-states-challenge-hipaa-privacy-rule-reproductive-health-information-privacy/

HHS pause on external communications delaying upcoming health summits
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/01/21/trump-hhs-cdc-fda-communication-pause/

State & Local Privacy News

2025 State Privacy Laws: What Businesses Need to Know for Compliance

https://www.whitecase.com/insight-alert/2025-state-privacy-laws-what-businesses-need-know-compliance

ME- What you need to know about the lawsuit over the state’s public defense system

https://www.pressherald.com/2025/01/22/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-lawsuit-over-maines-public-defense-system/

ME- ACLU says lack of public defense lawyers erodes trust in courts

https://www.pressherald.com/2025/01/22/aclu-says-lack-of-public-defense-lawyers-in-maine-erodes-trust-in-courts/

https://www.aclumaine.org/en/press-releases/aclu-maine-beginning-three-day-trial-over-right-to-counsel

ME- Bill Would End Unconstitutional National Guard Deployments

https://blog.tenthamendmentcenter.com/2025/01/defend-the-guard-act-maine-legislation-would-end-unconstitutional-deployments/

NH- Bill would require abortion data be reported to state

"Kevion Avard, a Nashua Republican, said the bill would keep patient identities anonymous by gathering information on the practices of abortion providers but not the identities of people who receive abortions."

https://www.concordmonitor.com/Senate-Bill-would-have-medical-facilities-report-abortion-statistics-to-state-government-59048086

NH- Bill Allowing No-Cause Evictions In Returns

https://patch.com/new-hampshire/across-nh/bill-allowing-no-cause-evictions-new-hampshire-returns-sparking-fierce

MA- Worcester County sheriff backs bill on ICE detainers

https://www.telegram.com/story/news/local/2025/01/25/worcester-county-sheriff-backs-bill-on-ice-detainers/77933134007/

MA- Legislators Introduce Strong Comprehensive Privacy Bills

https://epic.org/massachusetts-legislators-introduce-strong-comprehensive-privacy-bills/

MA- Peabody police working to regain accreditation after lapse

https://www.cnhinews.com/massachusetts/article_4b3f4e50-ab64-5b8a-9f8c-f224518badb3.html

MA- State to get $108M from Sackler family opioid settlement

https://www.boston.com/news/health/2025/01/24/purdue-pharma-owners-7-4-billion-settlement-lawsuits-massachusetts-oxycontin/

NY- Town of Hempstead issued 80K tickets for passing school buses — in districts that never approved ticketing program

https://www.newsday.com/long-island/investigations/hempstead-buspatrol-camera-tickets-ik8spyib

NY- Affordable Broadband Law AT&T to Drop 5G Home Service Entirely

https://mishtalk.com/economics/affordable-broadband-law-in-new-york-led-att-to-drop-5g-home-service-entirely/

MD- Governor Formally Certifies Abortion Rights in State Constitution

https://truthout.org/articles/md-governor-formally-certifies-abortion-rights-in-state-constitution/

MD- The faster you drive, the more you pay under this speed camera proposal

https://wtop.com/maryland/2025/01/the-faster-you-drive-the-more-you-pay-under-this-maryland-speed-camera-proposal/

MN- The Rochester Police Department and Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office go dark, switch to encrypted radio channels

https://www.startribune.com/rochester-police-sheriff-switching-to-encrypted-radio-channels-preventing-public-from-listening-in/601209522

IL- Chicago Ridge adding license plate readers

https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/2025/01/23/chicago-ridge-adding-license-plate-readers-new-restaurant-and-farmers-market-2/

KS- Bill Would End Unconstitutional National Guard Deployments

https://blog.tenthamendmentcenter.com/2025/01/defend-the-guard-act-kansas-legislation-would-end-unconstitutional-deployments/

IA- Lawmakers again take on traffic camera rules

"Cities decry bill that would stop vendors from collecting fines."

https://www.thegazette.com/state-government/iowa-lawmakers-again-take-on-traffic-camera-rules/

ND- Bill Would End Unconstitutional National Guard Deployments

https://blog.tenthamendmentcenter.com/2025/01/defend-the-guard-act-north-dakota-committee-holds-hearing-on-bill-to-end-unconstitutional-deployments/

KS- Bill Would End Unconstitutional National Guard Deployments

https://blog.tenthamendmentcenter.com/2025/01/defend-the-guard-act-kansas-legislation-would-end-unconstitutional-deployments/

TX- 2 large Collin County cities to increase license plate readers

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2025/01/24/2-large-collin-county-cities-to-increase-use-of-automated-license-plate-reader-cameras/

WY- Bill Would End Unconstitutional National Guard Deployments

https://blog.tenthamendmentcenter.com/2025/01/defend-the-guard-act-wyoming-legislation-would-end-unconstitutional-deployments/

CO- Arvada police giving out free Airtags to spy on spouses, sorry I meant stop car thefts

https://bgr.com/lifestyle/colorado-police-gave-out-free-airtags-to-help-stop-car-thefts/

CO- Denver RTD Transit Police Department Partners With BNSF Railway Police

"BNSF, one of the largest railroad networks in North America, has a police department that includes five officers in Colorado, three of whom are in Denver. RTD’s growing police department has dozens of officers. Cooperation between the two, BNSF Railway Deputy Chief Jeff Matthews noted, enables greater police response."
https://www.rtd-denver.com/community/news/rtd-pd-bnsf-railway-police-establish-working-partnership

AZ- Bill Would End Unconstitutional National Guard Deployments

https://blog.tenthamendmentcenter.com/2025/01/defend-the-guard-act-arizona-legislation-filed-to-end-unconstitutional-deployments/

HI- Bills Would Require a Criminal Conviction Before Asset Forfeiture

https://blog.tenthamendmentcenter.com/2025/01/hawaii-bills-would-require-a-criminal-conviction-before-asset-forfeiture-and-restrict-federal-loophole/

World Privacy News

Australian cruise passengers horrified as employees parade around while dressed as ‘KKK members’

https://nypost.com/2025/01/22/world-news/australia-cruise-staff-dress-as-ku-klux-klan-members-for-christmas-themed-event/
https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2025/01/22/po-cruises-australia-crew-costumes/77886127007/

Violating Cease-Fire Deal, Israel Won't Withdraw Troops From Lebanon Before Deadline
https://www.commondreams.org/news/israel-and-lebanon-ceasefire

ICC files arrest warrants against Taliban officials for crimes against humanity
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2025/01/afghanistan-icc-prosecutors-application-for-arrest-warrants-against-taliban-leaders-is-an-important-step-towards-justice-for-afghan-women-girls-and-lgbtqi-persons/
"Anonymity is not a fundamental right": experts disagree with Europol chief's request for encryption back door
https://www.techradar.com/computing/cyber-security/anonymity-is-not-a-fundamental-right-experts-disagree-with-europol-chiefs-request-for-encryption-back-door

Human rights organizations raise concerns over Europol-Eygpt cooperation agreements
https://edri.org/our-work/civil-society-raises-concerns-over-europol-egypt-cooperation-agreements/

Sam Altman’s World wants to link AI agents to your digital ID

https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/24/sam-altmans-world-now-wants-to-link-ai-agents-to-your-digital-identity/

Spanish PM wants EU to link digital IDs to social media accounts to end anonymity

https://wtop.com/europe/2025/01/spains-leader-wants-the-eu-to-make-social-media-great-again-heres-how/

The International Telecommunication Union says governments need to build public's trust in digital IDs
https://www.itu.int/hub/2025/01/open-standards-needed-to-build-trust-in-digital-wallets/

TikTok, AliExpress, SHEIN & Co surrender Europeans’ data to Chinese government

https://noyb.eu/en/tiktok-aliexpress-shein-co-surrender-europeans-data-authoritarian-china

What to Expect in Global Privacy in 2025

https://fpf.org/blog/what-to-expect-in-global-privacy-in-2025/

European Commission guidelines on the AI Act implementation must center human rights and justice

https://edri.org/our-work/commission-guidelines-ai-act-implementation-human-rights-and-justice/

EU citizens can now access their healthcare data from anywhere in the Union

https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2025/01/21/european-health-data-space-council-adopts-new-regulation-improving-cross-border-access-to-eu-health-data/

Meta's revised paid ad-free service may breach EU privacy laws

https://www.reuters.com/technology/metas-revised-paid-ad-free-service-may-breach-eu-privacy-laws-consumer-group-2025-01-23/

Russia- Government Plans Nationwide Facial Recognition Payment System

https://watcher.guru/news/russias-bold-move-facial-recognition-payments-coming-in-2025

Azerbaijan- Government to create national digital ID program

https://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/society/3994108.html

Poland- 8M people signed up to use government's digital ID

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jan/26/poland-digital-id-cards-e-government-app

Switzerland- Government to use facial recognition to ID everyone at every airport

"Swiss airports are planning to systematically record passengers by camera and identify them using facial recognition – at check-in, baggage drop-off and boarding."
https://www.travelnews.ch/english-corner/28323-face-recognition-soon-to-be-standard-new-plans-at-swiss-airports.html

France- SNCF to use digital IDs to ID train passengers

https://www.connexionfrance.com/news/new-way-for-travellers-to-show-identity-now-accepted-on-some-french-trains/701351

France- Top European rights court rules woman's refusal to have sex not a fault in divorce case

https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/top-european-rights-court-rules-womans-refusal-sex-118026497

Spain- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs to use Vision-Box facial recognition to ID people
https://ted.europa.eu/en/notice/-/detail/45795-2025
Spain- Osasuna football club fined €200,000 for using facial recognition to ID fans
https://stadiumdb.com/news/2025/01/spain_el_sadars_new_technology_ends_up_in_the_national_court

Cyprus- Government Launches National Digital ID Program

https://en.sigmalive.com/applications-for-electronic-identity-begin-all-the-details/

UK- How your walk and body odor could soon be used to track your every move

https://inews.co.uk/news/how-walk-body-odour-track-every-move-3484876

UK- The Government's “Electronic Travel Authorization” sets a bad example

https://papersplease.org/wp/2025/01/20/uk-electronic-travel-authorization-sets-a-bad-example/

UK- Gov.uk app could lead to ‘mandatory ID scheme’

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jan/26/govuk-app-wallet-could-lead-to-mandatory-id-scheme-claim-privacy-groups

UK- ‘Computer is always right’ law that convicted sub-postmasters faces axe

https://www.yahoo.com/news/computer-always-law-convicted-sub-064100596.html

Post Office urged ministers to back law that ‘computer is always right

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/01/10/justice-secretary-scrap-computer-law-post-office-scandal/

UK- Man wrongly accused of masturbating on a bus wins £5,000 payout from police

https://metro.co.uk/2025/01/22/man-wrongly-identified-masturbating-a-bus-wins-5-000-payout-police-22410026

UK- Officials Blame Violent Crime on Access to Knives

https://reason.com/2025/01/27/covering-for-their-own-failures-u-k-officials-blame-violent-crime-on-access-to-knives/

Japan- 60M people sign up to use Liquid's digital ID
https://liquidinc.asia/global/news/01-23-2025/

Japan- Keisei Electric Railway Company to use facial recognition to ID passengers
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/01/bfb798970aaf-facial-recognition-gates-set-to-debut-for-narita-airport-train-trips.html

Indonesia- Kereta Api Indonesia railway used facial recognition to ID 10.3M people
https://voi.id/en/news/450504

Turkey- Government to Integrate Blockchain into National Digital ID System
https://coingeek.com/turkey-upgrades-digital-id-ai-projected-to-stifle-breaches/

Nigeria- The National Population Commission wants to use Iris scanning to ID people for census

https://businessday.ng/news/article/npc-seeks-n1-1bn-for-population-housing-census-plans-use-of-biometrics/

Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, on the verge of issuing biometric passports

https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/markets/mali-niger-and-burkina-faso-on-the-verge-of-issuing-biometric-passports/gb9lkwv

AU- Australian Open uses Amazon's "Just Walk Out" facial recognition to ID customers

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/levy-australia_levy-ao2025-justwalkout-activity-7287348709900595200--fgZ
Mastercard and AiFi ID customers at Australian Open
https://retailtechinnovationhub.com/home/2025/1/22/anyone-for-tennis-and-frictionless-stores-australian-open-gets-mastercard-and-aifi-powered-location-for-2025-tournament

AU- What are the NSW hate speech laws under consideration after Sydney’s recent antisemitic attacks?

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jan/22/what-are-the-nsw-hate-speech-laws-under-consideration-after-sydneys-recent-antisemitic-attacks

Canada- BC Supreme Court upholds ruling that Clearview violated data privacy law

https://posteo.de/en/news/canadian-court-upholds-ruling-that-clearview-violated-data-privacy-law

Canada- A century behind bars for crimes they didn’t commit

https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2025/01/16/a-century-behind-bars-for-crimes-they-didnt-commit

Dominican Republic- President to create national digital ID program

https://elnuevodiario.com.do/abinader-revela-que-rd-comenzara-a-emitir-pasaporte-electronico-en-agosto-de-este-ano/

Guyana- Government budgeted $1B for national digital ID cards

https://guyanachronicle.com/2024/01/17/783-4m-budgeted-for-national-electronic-id-cards/

Brazil- Viracopos International Airport to use facial recognition to ID passengers

https://www.aeroflap.com.br/en/Viracopos-is-the-first-airport-in-Brazil-to-implement-a-complete-set-of-solutions/

Brazil- The National Data Protection Authority bans World from paying citizens to have their iris scanned
https://www.gov.br/anpd/pt-br/assuntos/noticias/anpd-determina-suspensao-de-incentivos-financeiros-por-coleta-de-iris