U.S. Privacy And World Privacy News
JD Vance attacks Europe over migration, free speech
https://www.politico.eu/article/us-vice-president-jd-vance-attack-europe-migration-free-speech/
Google facilitated Russia and China’s censorship requests
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/15/google-helped-facilitate-russia-china-censorship-requests
Texas judge fines New York doctor $100K for prescribing abortion pills to a woman near Dallas
https://apnews.com/article/abortion-new-york-louisiana-b9d6a0c821fc444a609cf5cde70efaaa
NY governor refuses to extradite doctor accused of mailing abortion pills
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ny-gov-hochul-rejects-louisiana-extradition-doctor-abortion-pill-case-rcna192156
Indiana Doctors Sue to Protect Reports That Could ID Abortion Patients
https://www.commondreams.org/news/indiana-terminated-pregnancy-reports-lawsuit
Trump DOJ Assembled “Tiger Team” To Rewrite Key Law Protecting Online Speech
Dept. of Education Halts Thousands of Civil Rights Investigations Under Trump
60 years of progress in expanding rights is being rolled back by Trump
65+ Civil Society Groups Urge Democratic States to Protect Individual Data, Privacy Under Trump
https://www.fightforthefuture.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Democratic-State-Trifecta-Letter.pdf
Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Announces Creation of Privacy Working Group
Nevada Lithium Mine Permit Violates Indigenous Peoples’ Rights
https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/02/06/us-lithium-mine-permit-violates-indigenous-peoples-rights
Linda McMahon says schools teaching Black history might be defunded
Executive orders from President Trump have threatened to withhold federal funding from schools that are not “patriotic.”
https://www.rawstory.com/linda-mcmahon-black-history/
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-mcmahon-race-schools_n_67ae29b9e4b0cd8699acb114
End Citizens United and Accountable.us Launch Corrupt Trump Cabinet Website
https://accountable.us/end-citizens-united-and-accountable-us-launch-corrupt-cabinet-website/
Judge Denies Kochava’s Motion to Dismiss FTC’s Suit Over Selling Geolocation Data
https://www.hunton.com/privacy-and-information-security-law/judge-denies-kochavas-motion-to-dismiss-ftcs-suit-over-selling-geolocation-data
A 19-Year-Old DOGE Stooge Named ‘Big Balls’ Is Now Advising the State Department
https://gizmodo.com/i-regret-to-inform-you-that-a-19-year-old-doge-stooge-named-big-balls-is-now-advising-the-state-department-2000562035
The UK’s war on encryption affects all of us
https://www.theverge.com/policy/612136/uk-icloud-investigatory-powers-act-war-on-encryption
State Department $400M Contract Document Edited to Remove 'Tesla' After Media Scrutiny
The Trump administration is expected to purchase $400 million worth of armored Tesla vehicles, according to a new State Department document detailing procurement for fiscal year 2025. After reports circulated Wednesday night of the State Department's intent to purchase Tesla vehicles, the document was edited, at 9:12 p.m., and now says the federal contract is for $400 million worth of "armored electric vehicles," but the word "Tesla" was removed.
https://www.npr.org/2025/02/13/g-s1-48571/trump-administration-order-400-million-worth-of-armored-teslas
Her parents were injured in a Tesla crash in China. She ended up having to pay Tesla damages
"It is not common practice for automakers — in China or elsewhere — to sue their customers. But Tesla has pioneered an aggressive legal strategy and leveraged the patronage of powerful leaders in China’s ruling Communist Party to silence critics, reap financial rewards and limit its accountability."
https://apnews.com/article/tesla-china-lawsuits-musk-investigation-58b10ccace488784fcc63646ab78b410
Former Palantir and Elon Musk Associates Are Taking Over Key Government IT Roles
https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musk-palantir-chief-information-officers-government/
Sam Altman Muses About the Authoritarian Potential of General AI
https://blog.samaltman.com/three-observations
DOGE's Use of AI Raises Major Privacy Concerns
https://www.databreachtoday.com/doges-use-ai-raises-major-privacy-concerns-legal-heat-a-27489
Elon’s DOGE Attack on Financial Watchdog Coincides With X Pursuit of Digital IDs
Lawyers Caught Citing AI-Hallucinated Cases Say It’s a ‘Cautionary Tale’ For All Law Firms
https://www.courtwatch.news/p/lawyers-caught-citing-ai-hallucinated-cases-say-it-s-a-cautionary-tale-for-all-law-firms
There Has Never Been A Deadlier Time To Be A Journalist
White House Bars AP Reporter For Failing To Use 'Gulf Of America' Designation
https://apnews.com/article/trump-ap-journalism-first-amendment-8a83d8b506053249598e807f8e91e1ae
AP Reporter Banned From Air Force One For Failing To Use 'Gulf Of America' Designation
https://apnews.com/article/trump-ap-news-ban-air-force-one-b90b8b842d63aef9960ccffb4a657dc2
Judge grants preliminary approval of $95M settlement in Apple’s Siri eavesdropping suit
A $95M fine is a joke and won't stop Apple from using Siri to continue spying on millions of people.
Google must face lawsuit over spying on customer service phone calls with AI
Google patches flaw that could unmask YouTube users' email addresses
Google Maps Is Deleting Negative 'Gulf Of America' Reviews
Appeals Court Signs Off On Facebook's $725M Cambridge Analytica Settlement
PRIVACY NIGHTMARE- Meta Plans For New Humanoid Robot To Allegedly Do "Household Chores"
https://gizmodo.com/meta-is-getting-into-the-ai-humanoid-robot-business-2000564137
Using copyrighted content to train AI without permission is not ‘fair use’, US court rules
Using AI to Improve the Government—Without Violating the Privacy Act
The Cybertruck Appears to Be More Deadly Than the Infamous Ford Pinto
https://futurism.com/the-byte/cybertruck-ford-pinto-comparison
Palantir’s ‘revolving door’ with government spurs huge growth
A Robot Built for the DoD Put On a 30-Minute DJ Set at a California Club
https://www.sfgate.com/sf-culture/article/sf-hottest-dj-war-machine-20136704.php
The internet is filled with fake reviews. Here are some ways to spot them
"Consumers can try to spot fake reviews by watching out for a few possible warning signs, according to researchers. Overly enthusiastic or negative reviews are red flags. Jargon that repeats a product’s full name or model number is another potential giveaway."
https://apnews.com/article/fake-online-reviews-generative-ai-40f5000346b1894a778434ba295a0496
Large healthcare companies are redistributing most of their profits to shareholders
https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/healthcare-companies-shareholder-payouts-increasing-jama/739827/
Hospitals Are Being Called Out For Bending To Trump’s Orders
Memorial Hospital and Manor data breach
Brightline fined $7M over data breach that affected close to 1M people
State & Local Privacy News
How State Attorneys General Protect Your Privacy
https://www.techpolicy.press/data-defenders-how-state-attorneys-general-protect-privacy-in-the-us/
Lawmaker warns of ‘patchwork’ state AI laws
https://www.route-fifty.com/artificial-intelligence/2025/02/lawmaker-warns-patchwork-state-ai-laws/402985/?oref=ge-category-lander-top-story
Wave of state-level AI bills raise First Amendment problems
https://www.thefire.org/news/wave-state-level-ai-bills-raise-first-amendment-problems
ME- Lawmaker accused of forging signatures on campaign finance forms
NH- A free speech case over a Conway pastry shop painting goes to trial
MA- Judge blocks Trump order to end birthright citizenship
MA- Boston families who’ve lost loved ones to opioid overdose deaths get a mere $250K to split
MA- Boston’s opioid suit against two of the largest pharmacy benefit managers in the nation dismissed
MA- Brockton School Police lose enforcement powers for second year running
MA- The pandemic led to more access to local town meetings. Beacon Hill will decide what comes next
MA- Harvard morgue scandal reaches Mass. high court, exposing vast ‘gray market’ in body parts
Is Harvard responsible for the alleged sale of body parts from its medical school morgue?
https://commonwealthbeacon.org/courts/is-harvard-responsible-for-the-alleged-sale-of-body-parts-from-its-medical-school-morgue/
MA- Automakers lose challenge over right to repair law
"The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, representing General Motors, Volkswagen, Stellantis and other automakers that challenged the law. The Washington-based alliance said it was evaluating its options to appeal the ruling, saying it continued to believe the Massachusetts Data Access Law was at odds with the U.S. Constitution."
RI- Bill Would End Unconstitutional National Guard Deployments
PA- Pennsbury School District Introduces Kindergarten Readiness Camp
"The four-day program will focus on developing academic skills, social-emotional learning, and familiarizing students with school procedures, according to Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Theresa Ricci. Social and emotional development will also be a key component of the program. Students will learn how to interact appropriately with peers and teachers, ask for assistance, and manage themselves in a classroom setting."
https://levittownnow.com/2025/02/14/pennsbury-introduces-kindergarten-readiness-camp/
MD- Frederick police will more than double license plate readers
https://www.aol.com/frederick-police-more-double-license-001600815.html
NC- Governor sues over legislation changing judicial appointments
"Republican lawmakers passed a bill preventing Governor Josh Stein from filling appellate court vacancies with a judge from the political party of his choosing."
TN- Germantown fines woman for using skeletons in holiday decorations
https://www.thefire.org/news/lawsuit-tennessee-town-cites-woman-using-skeletons-holiday-decorations
MI- New bill would mandate body cams for the Department of Natural Resource Conservation Officers
https://www.michigansthumb.com/news/article/michigan-dnr-body-cameras-bill-20165542.php
IL- Gas leak/emergency assistance didn’t permit police to look in locked cabinet
IL- Chicago Mayor's Gift Room Raises ‘More Questions Than Answers’
"The transparency attempt comes after the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) accused Johnson of accepting valuable gifts and failing to report them."
https://news.wttw.com/2025/02/12/video-city-hall-gift-room-raises-more-questions-answers-watchdog
IL- Former Illinois House Speaker found guilty on 10 counts in bribery case
IN- Indiana University walks back controversial speech ban, but some say not far enough
CO- State Supreme Court Ruled Police Opening Car Doors to aid Drug Dog Sniff is Illegal
https://research.coloradojudicial.gov/en/vid/1068825853
CO- WTF? Appellate Courts "Disapproving" Lower Court Decisions That Led to Acquittal
UT- Republican bill bans pride flags, permits Nazi flags for education
https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2025/02/13/nazi-flags-can-fly-utah-school-not/
Utah- Governor bans public unions from collective bargaining with the state
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/15/us/utah-public-workers-collective-bargaining.html
AR- Government expands digital drivers license program to include digital ID cards
AR- The Little Rock Board of Directors consider an additional 30 Flock Safety license plate readers
"If approved, the city will purchase an additional 25 stationary plate readers and five portable readers to go with 75 license plate readers purchased in February 2023."
WI- State Supreme Court struggles to ignore possibly illegal expungement in domestic violence case
https://www.courthousenews.com/wisconsin-supreme-court-struggles-to-ignore-possibly-illegal-expungement-in-domestic-violence-case/
MO- Abortions to resume after a judge blocks restrictions
https://time.com/7225600/abortions-to-resume-in-missouri-after-judge-blocks-restrictions/
MO- Kansas City mayor accused of retaliating against whistleblower who revealed nonprofit spending
TX- Dallas city council wants to hire an additional 675 cops by the end of September
"The council’s public safety committee voted 3-2 on Monday to propose hiring 325 new officers by the end of September instead of 250 as planned. The proposal also calls for another 350 new cops by the end of September 2026 and 400 more officers by September 2027. The recommendation now goes to the City Council for a decision. Dallas, Texas’ third-largest city, has the second-largest number of cops in any Texas municipality, trailing only behind around 5,300 officers in Houston’s department. San Antonio has 2,775 sworn police officers. Austin and Fort Worth both have around 1,800 cops."
TX- Court blocks Texas social media law after FIRE lawsuit
https://www.thefire.org/news/victory-district-court-blocks-texas-social-media-law-after-fire-lawsuit
AZ- Police procedures exposed in massive policy database hack, most of which were already made public
https://azmirror.com/briefs/arizona-police-procedures-exposed-in-massive-policy-database-hack/
CA- Mammoth Lake police install Flock Safety license plate readers throughout town
https://www.townofmammothlakes.ca.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=921
World Privacy News
IRONY- European Parliament urges lawmakers to only use encrypted messages after China hacks
https://www.politico.eu/article/european-parliament-urge-mep-message-signal-encryption/
Outsourcing borders Monitoring EU externalization policy
https://www.statewatch.org/media/4773/outsourcing-borders-05.pdf
UN Peacekeepers Watch Civilians Massacred by Irsaeli Forces
https://consortiumnews.com/2025/02/13/watch-craig-murray-un-peacekeepers-watch-civilians-massacred/
The Gaza Ceasefire Is Being Sabotaged By Israel, By Trump, And By The Media
Israel Admits It Violated The Ceasefire And Hamas Did Not
https://caitlinjohnstone.com.au/2025/02/12/israel-admits-it-violated-the-ceasefire-and-hamas-did-not/
Why is the WHO vaccinating so many Gazans, multiple times?
https://expose-news.com/2025/02/15/who-vaccinating-gazans-multiple-times/
South Korea spy agency says DeepSeek 'excessively' collects personal data
Spyware like NSO Group is being used to suppress civil liberties worldwide
"Spyware is increasingly exploited by criminals or used to suppress civil liberties, and this proliferation is in part due to weak regulation. Politicians, diplomats, human rights activists and journalists have been targeted by malicious software worldwide."
https://www.aspistrategi.org.au/spyware-is-spreading-far-beyond-its-national-security-role/
An Italian journalist speaks about being targeted with Paragon spyware
https://therecord.media/italian-journalist-speaks-about-being-targeted-spyware
Five People Arrested in Argentina for impersonating World Network (Coin) and Collecting People's Irises
https://icoholder.com/en/news/criminals-exploit-popular-biometric-protocol-in-argentina
World Network launches Android support for World ID Credentials in Malaysia
https://sme.asia/world-network-expands-android-support-for-world-id-credentials-in-malaysia/
Youverse joins the WE BUILD project to expand digital IDs in the EU
https://www.youverse.id/resources/press/youverse-joins-we-build-consortium
EU abandons ePrivacy, AI liability reforms as bloc shifts focus to AI competitiveness
UK cop could be fired for farting in female officer's face
https://metro.co.uk/2025/02/10/met-police-officer-accused-farting-female-colleagues-face-22530050/
Finland- The Digital and Population Data Services Agency expands EU digital wallet
Ukraine- Revolut allows citizens to open European Revolut accounts directly through their Diia app (Digital ID)
Italy- Government denies Paragon has cut spyware contract By Reuters
Spain- Government's Tourist Check-Ins Trigger Privacy Outrage
Client registration requires a wide range of data, including names, addresses, telephone numbers, and bank accounts. The car rental sector is also obliged to collect this information.
UK- Biometrics Institute calls for consistent police facial recognition policy
UK- Suffolk Police to trial use of Live Facial Recognition
UK- Essex police live facial recognition transparency report
UK- Cop sentenced to 18 months imprisonment for on-duty sexual offenses
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly7p0ny154o
UK- UK Sport to use AI to Monitor and Censor Online Speech Targeting Olympians
https://pokreni.hr/game-changer-uk-sport-unleashes-ai-to-combat-online-abuse-of-athletes/
Georgia- Government seeks bids to create national digital ID program
India- The Pune International Airport usus facial recognition to ID passengers
Bangladesh- Government crackdown on anti-government protests may constitute crimes against humanity
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/12/world/asia/bangladesh-hasina-un-report.html
South Korea- GS25, CU, and 7-Eleven to use facial recognition payment system
https://pulse.mk.co.kr/news/english/11239116
Iran- UN condemns the death of arbitrarily detained journalist
Jamaica- Government's unveils national digital ID program
https://jis.gov.jm/digital-transformation-being-advanced/
El Salvador- Government's constitutional amendment sparks international concerns over human rights
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2025/02/el-salvador-reforma-riesgo-derechos-humanos/