'The mother of all data breaches' – 26B records leaked including stolen user logins
https://www.pcgamer.com/the-mother-of-all-breaches-26-billion-records-leaked-including-stolen-user-logins-so-may-we-suggest-you-finally-change-that-old-password/
3 DHS employees arrested for stealing data of 200K U.S. govt workers
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/former-federal-employees-sentenced-conspiracy-steal-proprietary-us-government-software-and
Inside a Global Phone Spy Tool (Patternz) Monitoring Billions
https://www.404media.co/inside-global-phone-spy-tool-patternz-nuviad-real-time-bidding/
The NSO Group Is Quietly Plotting a Comeback
https://www.wired.com/story/nso-group-lobbying-israel-hamas-war/
Phones Track Everything but Their Role in Car Accidents
https://www.yahoo.com/news/phones-track-everything-role-car-192632127.html
The General Services Administration Used ‘Egregiously Flawed’ Data to Buy Chinese-Made Videoconference Cameras
https://dd80b675424c132b90b3-e48385e382d2e5d17821a5e1d8e4c86b.ssl.cf1.rackcdn.com/external/a220070-2-final-report.pdf
IDs and mug shots now required from all corporate principals
https://papersplease.org/wp/2024/01/23/ids-and-mug-shots-now-required-from-all-corporate-principals/
How Abortion Ruling Spurred Federal Action Against the Location Data Industry
Google and Microsoft introduced generative AI tools for retailers
https://aibusiness.com/ml/retail-is-becoming-a-battleground-for-generative-ai
Google Cancels Contract With AI Data Company Appen
https://www.cnbc.com/2024/01/23/alphabet-ends-contract-with-appen-which-trained-bard-google-search.html
ADT's spying home smart home security system to use Google Nest
https://www.theverge.com/2024/1/23/24048187/adt-smart-home-security-system-google-nest-launch
23andMe couldn't detect a cyberattack for 5 months
https://www.theregister.com/2024/01/26/23_and_me_breach_filing/
Is It Safe to Share Personal Information With a Chatbot?
https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/ai-chatbot-sharing-personal-information-229d41a0
How to Opt Out of Comcast’s Xfinity Storing Your Sensitive Data
https://www.wired.com/story/comcast-xfinity-sensitive-data-opt-out/
US Agencies Urged to Patch Ivanti VPNs That Are Actively Being Hacked
https://www.wired.com/story/cisa-emergency-directive-ivanti-vpn-patch-security-roundup/
iPhone Apps Secretly Harvest Data When They Send You Notifications
https://gizmodo.com/iphone-apps-can-harvest-data-from-notifications-1851194537
The Pixel 8 Pro Can Now Check If You Have a Fever
https://gizmodo.com/the-pixel-8-pro-can-now-check-if-you-have-a-fever-1851195902
Facebook suffers big loss in lawsuit against data-scraping company (Bright Data)
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/01/facebook-suffers-big-loss-in-lawsuit-against-data-scraping-company/
https://www.courthousenews.com/federal-judge-rules-against-meta-in-data-scraping-case/
Instagram and Facebook to scan under-19s’ messages to protect against ‘inappropriate images’
Reporter's Revealing Behind-the-Scenes Look at Facebook
Warning As 26 Billion Records Leak: Dropbox, LinkedIn, Twitter Named
Signal President: What Happens to Privacy in the Age of AI?
BS Warning: Snapchat breaks ranks to support kids online safety bill
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/01/25/snapchat-kids-safety-bill-00137853
BS Warning: Biden Seeks to Stop Countries From Exploiting Americans’ Data
Feds Charge Alleged ‘TLO’ Underground Data Broker
https://www.404media.co/feds-charge-tlo-data-seller-tloxp/
FTC Bars TurboTax from Advertising Itself as “Free”
https://www.businessinsider.com/turbotax-cant-advertise-as-free-when-many-pay-ftc-ruling-2024-1
Ford unveils its new Android/Alexa Automotive experience
https://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/ford-and-lincoln-digital-experience-infotainment-systems/
GPS Bus Trackers Raise Security Risks
Senators Urge Schumer to Establish New Agency to Regulate Big Tech
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2024/1/bennet-graham-warren-welch-urge-leader-schumer-to-establish-new-agency-to-regulate-digital-platforms
FTC Launches Investigation into Alphabet, Amazon, Anthropic, Microsoft and OpenAI partnerships
https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/01/ftc-launches-inquiry-generative-ai-investments-partnerships
Price transparency would end the guesswork around medical bills
https://pirg.org/updates/price-transparency-would-end-the-guesswork-around-medical-bills/
Dana-Farber to Retract 6 Papers, Correct 31 Following Data Manipulation Claims
https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2024/1/22/dana-farber-issues-corrections/
Singing River Health System data breach affects 253K people
https://singingriverhealthsystem.com/2023/10/notice-of-data-event/
Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD data breach affects 238K people
https://www.theharriscenter.org/notice-data-security-incident
ConsensioHealth data breach affects 61K people
https://consensiohealth.com/notice-of-a-data-security-incident/
Senior PsychCare data breach
https://ago.vermont.gov/sites/ago/files/documents/2024-01-08%20Psychological%20Holdings%20dba%20Senior%20PsychCare%20Data%20Breach%20Notice%20to%20Consumers.pdf
Cooper Aerobics data breach affects 90K people
State & Local Privacy News
MA- Incarceration and crime rates both down sharply since 2018
https://commonwealthbeacon.org/criminal-justice/crime-and-incarceration-rates-both-down-sharply-since-2018-reforms/
MA- Berklee Music Student Convicted in US of Threatening Pro-Democracy Activist
NJ- Bill Would Limit “No-Knock” Warrants
https://blog.tenthamendmentcenter.com/2024/01/new-jersey-bill-would-limit-no-knock-warrants/
VA- Bill Would End Police Qualified Immunity
VA- Bill Would Reform State Asset Forfeiture Process
VA- Judge Holds Town Must Provide Renters With Notice and Hearing Before Search of Homes
https://ij.org/press-release/a-win-for-privacy-judge-holds-town-must-provide-renters-with-notice-and-hearing-before-search-of-homes/
VA- Clarksburg city council uses opioid settlement money to buy 25 security cameras and five license plate readers
VA- DMV implements Digital Vehicle Registration and Mobile IDs
NC- Gastonia police to get nine new Flock Safety license plate readers
TN- Politicians propose constitutional amendment to expand pretrial detention
https://apnews.com/article/tennessee-deny-bail-amendment-5b6dfff1487c41d5189cc835581a7f02
TN- University of Tennessee at Chattanooga launches digital student and faculty IDs
KY- Hardin County police expanding Flock Safety license plate readers from 30 to 60
https://www.wave3.com/2024/01/22/hardin-county-expanding-license-plate-reading-technology-after-successful-first-year-etown-police/
FL- House Bill Would Ban Civilian Police Oversight Boards
https://reason.com/2024/01/25/florida-legislation-would-ban-civilian-police-oversight-boards/
OH- Judge Reminds Deputies They Can’t Arrest Someone Just Because They Don’t Like What Is Being Said
https://www.techdirt.com/2024/01/23/judge-reminds-deputies-they-cant-arrest-someone-just-because-they-dont-like-what-is-being-said/
OH- Bowling Green State University Market at Carillon Place uses Just Walk Out palm scanners to ID customers
https://www.bgsu.edu/news/2024/01/bgsu-among-the-first-universities-in-the-nation-to-use-amazon-just-walk-out-technology-on-campus
OH- Social Media Age Verification and Parental Consent Law Temporarily Blocked
https://www.huntonprivacyblog.com/2024/01/22/ohio-social-media-age-verification-and-parental-consent-law-temporarily-blocked/
MI- Contract for new license plate readers stalled after being signed without vote
https://www.mlive.com/news/jackson/2024/01/contract-for-new-license-plate-readers-stalled-after-being-signed-without-vote.html
OK- BS Warning: New bill would force journalists to be licensed by the state
OK- Bill Would Criminalize Sending Lewd Images Outside of Marriage
CA- San Diego signs off on sweeping changes to hard-fought surveillance law
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/public-safety/story/2024-01-23/san-diego-approves-sweeping-changes-to-hard-fought-surveillance-law
CA- Oakland AC Transit Tempo Platform Surveillance Camera Footage Given to Police Without Court Orders
CA- Monterey Police want 35 Flock Safety license plate readers
CA- Sarasota sheriff buying 28 Flock Safety license plate readers using asset forfeiture funds
CA- Vote No on Proposition E to Stop San Fran.Police from Testing Dangerous Surveillance Technology
CA- Bill Calls for Tech to Make New Cars Unable to Speed
https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a46554218/new-car-regulated-speed-limit-california-bill/
OR- State Lawmakers Poised to Make Drug Possession a Crime Again
https://www.vice.com/en/article/4a38xj/oregon-drug-recriminalization
World Privacy News
Netherlands’ Queen Maxima Pushes for Global Digital ID Systems, Vaccine Verification and More
https://sociable.co/business/queen-maxima-digital-id-vaccination-wef-davos/
EU: Council Presidency seeks “common vision” on US database access demands
Worldcoin to launch new Orb to make its Iris scanning device look “more friendly”
Meta to let EU users deny cross-site tracking to comply with the Digital Markets Act
https://techcrunch.com/2024/01/22/meta-dma-choices/
EDPB Publishes One-Stop-Shop Digest on Data Security and Breach Notification
Mashgin self-checkout to use Keyo's palm scanners to ID retail customers
Russia- Government to collect biometric data of foreigners entering the country, creating a "digital profile" of everyone
https://www.rbc.ru/politics/19/01/2024/65aa9cf29a7947524208ab28
https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/6464168
Russia- Government Considers Seizing Property From People Who Spread “Disinformation” About Military
https://www.reuters.com/world/russia-consider-law-property-confiscation-fakes-about-army-2024-01-20/
Czech Republic- Over 70,000 people downloaded government's new digital ID app
https://english.radio.cz/over-70000-people-download-app-electronic-id-card-8806225
France- Court- Encryption discussion during the 8 December trial: from myth to reality
https://edri.org/our-work/encryption-discussion-during-the-8-december-trial-from-myth-to-reality/
France- Data Protection Authority fined Amazon €32M over employee surveillance
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/france-fines-amazon-32-million-104440551.html
Spain- Data Protection Authority says facial recognition at football stadiums must comply with GDPR impact assessment requirements
https://www.aepd.es/documento/ai-00394-2023-advertencia.pdf
UK- Lords Committee Questions Legality of Police Live Facial Recognition in Public
UK- Facial recognition cameras in supermarkets ‘targeted at poor areas’
UK- The Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner's annual report
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/biometrics-and-surveillance-camera-commissioner-report-2022-to-2023/biometrics-and-surveillance-camera-commissioners-annual-report-2022-to-2023-accessible
UK- ICO prompts confusion over U.S. police cloud sharing legality
https://www.computerweekly.com/news/366566869/ICO-prompts-confusion-over-its-position-on-police-cloud-legality
UK- Officers disciplined as trawl of police records reveals misconduct
"Background checks of all police officers and staff have found more than 400 links to previously undisclosed misconduct, including crime."
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-68061370
UK- Government wants to use digital IDs for alcohol purchases
https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2024-01-24/hcws205
UK- Big Brother Watch responds to Government CBDC plans (digital currency)
https://bigbrotherwatch.org.uk/2024/01/big-brother-watch-respond-to-government-cbdc-plans/
SCT- The City of Edinburgh Completes First Phase of Smart City Program
https://www.ukauthority.com/articles/city-of-edinburgh-plans-for-digital-urban-traffic
https://scottishcities.org.uk/
China- UN Human Rights Council examines peer review of government's human rights record
https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2024/01/chinas-human-rights-record-be-examined-universal-periodic-review
Hong Kong- Court overturns acquittal of Tiananmen Square vigil organizer
https://apnews.com/article/hong-kong-activist-tiananmen-crackdown-0abf3eab2f0e785cefc71fb0e730c9bd
Hong Kong- Journalists Association says new vehicle registry policy impedes press freedom
https://hongkongfp.com/2024/01/25/hong-kong-press-group-criticises-new-curbs-on-media-access-to-vehicle-registry-govt-says-accusation-false/
Japan- Haneda Airport uses NEC facial recognition kiosks to ID passengers
https://www.nec.com/en/press/202401/global_20240125_01.html
Thailand- Woman: “I’m deemed a security threat because I dared to use my voice”
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2023/11/anna-im-deemed-a-security-threat-because-i-dared-to-use-my-voice/
Philippines- Unnamed international airport to use intrusive HEXWAVE scanners on passengers
https://libertydefense.com/news/liberty-defense-announces-first-sale-of-hexwave-to-an-international-airport-in-asia-pacific/
India- Shocking: Election committee blocks government facial recognition drones at polling stations
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/election-commission-cancels-government-tender-for-surveillance-equipment/articleshow/106996152.cms
India- Billionaire Adani to start facial recognition collection of poor people in Mumbai slum redevelopment
https://www.reuters.com/world/india/adani-start-data-collection-mumbai-slum-redevelopment-february-2024-01-26/
Israel- ICJ Ruling on Gaza Genocide Is a Victory for the Palestinians That the Government Vows to Defy
https://theintercept.com/2024/01/26/icj-ruling-gaza-genocide/
Johannesburg- The University of Johannesburg uses facial recognition for student registrations
https://www.iol.co.za/news/education/universities/university-of-johannesburg-to-use-facial-recognition-tech-during-registration-to-combat-fraud-2734d08b-208f-4b9c-a891-693b8044b536
AU- Australian Open uses Wicket's "AO Express Entry" facial recognition to ID fans
"The AO is the first Australian event to trial the brand-new system which uses biometrics-based facial authentication technology for a quicker and more convenient entry experience for fans."
https://ausopen.com/articles/news/ao-embraces-event-entry-system-future
AU- Adelaide Oval to use Mashgin's palm scanners checkout aisles to ID cricket and football customers
https://www.prweb.com/releases/71-of-fans-at-adelaide-oval-prefer-mashgins-ai-solution-to-traditional-checkout-302042865.html
AU- The Australian Cyber Security Center guide on how to engage with AI
https://www.cyber.gov.au/resources-business-and-government/governance-and-user-education/governance/engaging-with-artificial-intelligence
Canada- Prime Minister's use of the Emergencies Act in 2022 Declared Unconstitutional
Canada- Mitek Joins Government Digital ID Initiative
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240123056000/en/Mitek-Named-to-Digital-ID-Authentication-Council-of-Canada