U.S. Privacy And World Privacy News
46M Americans still don’t have safe drinking water:
https://www.fastcompany.com/90858376/were-going-backwards-in-water-access-how-46-million-americans-still-dont-have-safe-drinking-water
NewsGuard, Recipient of $750k Pentagon Contract, Denies It Is ‘Government Funded'
Deadly Disinformation – The Underreported Scandal at the New York Times:
https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/bret-stephens-masks-new-york-times
Experts say attacks on free speech are rising across the US:
What Florida Officials Don’t Want You to Know About Their Book Bans:
https://www.thedailybeast.com/what-florida-doesnt-want-you-to-know-about-its-book-bans
Senator Mark Kelly inquired about censoring social media posts to avoid bank runs:
Sen. Kelly Becomes Latest Politician to Suggest Censoring Views on Social Media:
Economy Israeli Banks Transferred $1 Billion Out of SVB Before Collapse:
Long Before Silicon Valley Bank’s Collapse, Its CEO Helped Kill Tougher Oversight of Banks:
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2023/03/silicon-valley-bank-greg-becker-dodd-frank/
How To Clear Cookies Every Time You Close Your Browser:
https://gizmodo.com/clear-cookies-close-browser-chrome-edge-safari-firefox-1850218542
Mozilla Firefox Rolls Out Privacy Protection On Android:
https://blog.mozilla.org/en/mozilla/firefox-androids-new-privacy-feature-total-cookie-protection-stops-companies-from-keeping-tabs-on-your-moves/
Feds investigating TIKTOK over spying on journalists:
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/doj-fbi-are-investigating-tiktok-allegations-employees-spied-journalis-rcna75497
Apple Prevails In Privacy Battle Over iTunes users viewing histories:
https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/383441/apple-prevails-in-privacy-battle-over-streaming-vi.html
FCC officials owned stock in Comcast, Charter, AT&T, and Verizon:
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2023/03/fcc-let-employees-own-stock-in-comcast-and-other-top-isps-watchdog-says/
https://campaignlegal.org/sites/default/files/2023-03/FCC%20Complaint-Final.pdf
FTC Urged To Investigate Twitter's 'Increasingly Cavalier' Approach To Privacy:
https://www.citizen.org/news/twitter-likely-violated-consent-decree-public-citizen-tells-ftc-doj/
FTC Warns About the Hidden Impacts of Pixel Tracking:
https://www.ftc.gov/policy/advocacy-research/tech-at-ftc/2023/03/lurking-beneath-surface-hidden-impacts-pixel-tracking
T-Mobile is buying Ryan Reynolds’ Mint Mobile for up to $1.35B:
https://www.theverge.com/2023/3/15/23641178/tmobile-mint-mobile-ryan-reynolds-wireless-acquisition
Microsoft Scraps AI Ethics Team as It Rapidly Expands Use of ChatGPT Technology:
https://www.breitbart.com/tech/2023/03/14/microsoft-scraps-ai-ethics-team-as-it-rapidly-expands-use-of-chatgpt-technology/
Big credit card companies halt work on tracking firearms purchases with a code:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/visa-mastercard-pause-work-on-code-aimed-at-tracking-gun-purchases/ar-AA18qdDz
Visa Updates Rules for Collection Agencies and Repayments of Debts:
https://www.accountsrecovery.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Visa-new-mcc-for-collections.pdf
Epic Games fined $520M for children's privacy violations:
https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2023/03/ftc-finalizes-order-requiring-fortnite-maker-epic-games-pay-245-million-tricking-users-making
IKEA settles class action lawsuit over FACTA violations:
https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/privacy/ikea-facta-receipt-privacy-24-25m-class-action-settlement/
Cerence Unveils Enhanced Voice Recognition Outside and Inside New Cars:
"Cerence Exterior Vehicle Interaction is a suite of AI and voice-powered innovations that enables drivers to interact with their cars from the outside. To maintain safety and security, Cerence EVC now also leverages voice biometrics to limit certain capabilities to approved users only. For example, for security-relevant functions such as unlocking the car or opening the trunk, Cerence Voice Biometrics verifies the speaker’s identity to provide an additional level of protection and security."
https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2023/03/16/2628592/0/en/Cerence-Unveils-Enhanced-AI-Powered-Biometrics-Engine-for-Deeper-Security-and-Personalization.html
Tesla Is Facing Two Class Action Lawsuits Over Right-to-Repair:
https://gizmodo.com/tesla-evs-right-to-repair-elon-musk-driverless-1850229697
Nation state hackers exploited years-old bug to breach a unknown federal agency:
https://techcrunch.com/2023/03/16/cisa-nation-state-hackers-breach-federal-agency/
Ransomware gangs fine-tune extreme blackmail tactics:
https://www.axios.com/2023/03/14/ransomware-gangs-blackmail-cybersecurity
Ransomware hacking campaign targets North America:
https://www.politico.eu/article/ransomware-hacking-campaign-targets-europe-and-north-america-italy-warns/
BS WARNING: The Bureau of Medical Services to use Palantir's data management software:
https://investors.palantir.com/news-details/2023/Department-of-State-Selects-Palantir-to-Modernize-Data-Management-for-the-Bureau-of-Medical-Services/
Cancer patient sues Lehigh Valley Health Network hospital after ransomware gang leaks her nude medical photos:
https://www.theregister.com/2023/03/15/cancer_lvhn_sues_hospital/
WeightWatchers buys telehealth platform Sequence, facilitating access to popular drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy:
Independent Living Systems data breach affected 4M people:
ZOLL Medical Corporation sued for data breach that affected 1M people:
Asante health Uncovers 9-Year HIPAA Violation by Physician:
Jelly Bean Communications Design fined $293K for HIPPA violations:
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/jelly-bean-communications-design-and-its-manager-settle-false-claims-act-liability
CFPB Finally Launches Inquiry Into the Business Practices of Data Brokers:
Chamber of Commerce AI Commission Report:
https://www.uschamber.com/technology/artificial-intelligence-commission-report
State & Local Privacy News
VT- Stowe police officer under investigation:
https://vtdigger.org/2023/03/17/former-stowe-police-officer-under-investigation/
VT- ACLU warns lawmakers against approving "threat assessment" teams:
https://vtdigger.org/2023/03/16/lawmakers-mull-threat-assessment-teams-in-school-safety-bill/
ME- Bill Would Ban Warrantless Police Surveillance:
ME- Bill Would End Unconstitutional National Guard Deployments:
NH- Concord police overtime up again:
https://www.concordmonitor.com/Concord-Employee-Salaries-50186161
NH- Public granted more transparency to governmental documents in wake of recent rulings:
https://www.concordmonitor.com/Right-to-know-law-changes-aid-in-public-transparency-50251464
MA- ICE Air a one-way ticket for illegal immigrant deportees:
Federal officials say the average cost of a charter flight is $8,577 “per flight hour.” A high-risk charter flight averages between $6,929 to $26,795 per flight hour, “depending on aircraft requirements.” In fiscal year 2022, ERO arrested 46,396 noncitizens with criminal histories. That group accounted for 198,498 charges and convictions, including 21,531 assault offenses; 8,164 sex and sexual assault offenses; 5,554 weapons offenses; 1,501 homicide-related offenses; and 1,114 kidnapping offenses.
https://www.bostonherald.com/2023/03/18/ice-air-a-one-way-ticket-for-illegal-immigrants-deportees/
NY- NYC Department of Investigation chief questioned about overdue report on NYPD gang database:
NY- AG Appeals Online Hate Speech Law Ruling:
NY- What to expect as the state prepares to roll out digital drivers licenses:
MD- Judge lifts veil of secrecy from legal battle over state’s Anton’s Law (police disciplinary records):
https://www.rcfp.org/officer-doe-md-antons-law-ruling/
NC- Appeals Court: Provisions of ‘ag-gag’ statute violate First Amendment:
https://www.rcfp.org/fourth-circuit-nc-ag-gag-ruling/
VA- Bill requiring age verification for minors accessing porn websites awaits governors signature:
https://www.virginiamercury.com/2023/03/09/bill-to-require-additional-proof-of-age-for-porn-sites-in-virginia-heads-to-youngkins-desk/
W. VA- Bill Would Prohibit Using Credit Card Information to Track Firearms Purchases Without a Warrant:
https://blog.tenthamendmentcenter.com/2023/03/to-the-governor-west-virginia-bill-would-prohibit-using-credit-card-information-to-track-firearms-purchases-without-a-warrant/
GA- Supreme Court: ‘Get A Warrant’ Cell Phone Search Requirement Means Get A *Good* Warrant
https://www.techdirt.com/2023/03/13/court-rileys-get-a-warrant-cell-phone-search-requirement-means-get-a-good-warrant/
TN- Bill would allow part-time retired law enforcement to carry guns on college campuses:
https://www.newschannel5.com/news/bill-proposes-allowing-part-time-retired-law-enforcement-to-carry-guns-on-college-campuses
OH- Customers Report Significant Increase in Bills after Utility Automatically Opts Them in to “Clean Energy” Program:
https://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/columbus/clean-energy-program-automatically-opts-customers-in-to-higher-rates/
WI-University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire unveils student digital IDs:
https://www.spectatornews.com/campus-news/2023/02/student-ids-now-digitally-available/
MI- East Bay police purchase 7 Flock Safety license plate readers:
https://www.record-eagle.com/news/east-bay-buys-license-plate-cameras/article_ad1ffdb0-c1e2-11ed-a1db-abc2c25bb93e.html
IA- Consumer data protection bill passes:
AR-House passes bill requiring age verification for minors accessing porn websites:
https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/mar/14/house-passes-bill-requiring-age-verification-for-arkansans-accessing-porn-websites/
AR- Bill Would Ban “Material Support or Resources” for Warrantless Surveillance:
https://blog.tenthamendmentcenter.com/2023/03/arkansas-bill-would-ban-material-support-or-resources-for-warrantless-federal-surveillance/
MO- Governor would control St. Louis police under new bill:
https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/politics/missouri-governor-control-st-louis-police-proposed-bill/63-02a34513-4f6c-4a2b-a2aa-e97b143e9c07
OK- Therapists say new law threatens patient privacy:
https://www.kswo.com/2023/03/10/therapists-say-okla-law-threatens-patient-privacy/
TX- Judge Tried to Hide Abortion Pill Hearing From Public to Prevent Protests:
https://truthout.org/articles/texas-judge-sought-to-hide-abortion-pill-hearing-from-public-to-prevent-protests/
TX- Deputy Sued For Privacy Violations After Live Streaming A Traffic Stop On TikTok:
One of deputy Francisco Castillo’s (d/b/a “cycosisco” on TikTok) followers saw the livestream and reached out to Torry Osby — something they were able to accomplish because Deputy Castillo basically broadcasted all of Osby’s personal information by putting Osby’s driver’s license in front of his camera.
https://www.techdirt.com/2023/03/15/texas-deputy-sued-for-privacy-violations-after-live-streaming-a-traffic-stop-on-tiktok/
TX- Bill Would End Civil Asset Forfeiture:
https://blog.tenthamendmentcenter.com/2023/03/texas-bill-would-end-civil-asset-forfeiture-and-opt-state-out-of-federal-program/
TX- State Officials Announce Houston Schools Takeover June 1st:
https://www.the74million.org/article/ending-a-years-long-standoff-state-officials-announce-houston-schools-takeover/
CO- Aurora to bring back police chases in certain circumstances:
https://kdvr.com/news/local/aurora-police-chase-policy-to-return/
CO- Governor signs expanded access to post-conviction DNA testing:
CO- AG finalizes state Privacy Act regulations:
https://coag.gov/press-releases/3-15-23/
NV- Bill would allow water company to turn off water to residents who use too much:
https://gizmodo.com/las-vegas-nevada-colorado-river-water-use-drought-1850228081
CA- Bill Would Extend Ban on Police Facial Recognition Body Cams:
CA- Oversight Report Confirms The LA Sheriff’s Department Has A Gang Problem:
CA- Los Angeles police union proposes to stop sending armed officers to these calls:
https://ktla.com/news/local-news/lapd-may-no-longer-send-armed-officers-to-these-police-calls/
WA- Arrest of bus fare dodger ruled unlawful by supreme court:
https://www.courthousenews.com/arrest-of-bus-fare-dodger-ruled-unlawful-by-washington-high-court/
WA- Senate passes police pursuit bill allowing cops to pursue more vehicles for numerous offenses:
https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2023/mar/08/washington-senate-passes-police-pursuit-bill-incre/
OR- Faulty DMV records lead to mistaken arrests, convictions for driving with suspended license:
"The DMV has improperly recorded approximately 3,000 driver’s licenses in the last two decades as suspended indefinitely through either 12/31/9999 or 00/00/0000, according to data obtained by The Oregonian/OregonLive through a public records request."
https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2023/02/false-oregon-dmv-records-lead-to-mistaken-arrests-convictions-for-driving-with-suspended-license.html
World Privacy News
The European Central Bank wants to introduce expiring digital currency:
https://reclaimthenet.org/western-governments-expiring-money
IDEMIA Selected as European Digital ID Travel Credential Pilot:
https://www.idemia.com/press-release/idemia-selected-be-technology-provider-dutch-consortium-deploying-european-digital-travel-credential-pilot-between-canada-and-netherlands-2023-03-15
Asylum seekers held in secret cells on ferries between Greece and Italy:
https://www.lighthousereports.com/investigation/detained-below-deck/
Amnesty International: Police forces routinely misuse rubber bullets
EU Parliament approves draft directive on information exchange between law enforcement authorities:
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2023-0074_EN.html#title2
French Legislators Think The 2024 Olympics Justifies Massive Domestic Surveillance Expansion:
The Most And Least Free Countries Around The World:
"Global freedom declined for the 17th consecutive year. Moscow’s war of aggression led to devastating human rights atrocities in Ukraine. New coups and other attempts to undermine representative government destabilized Burkina Faso, Tunisia, Peru, and Brazil. Previous years’ coups and ongoing repression continued to diminish basic liberties in Guinea and constrain those in Turkey, Myanmar, and Thailand, among others. Two countries suffered downgrades in their overall freedom status: Peru moved from Free to Partly Free, and Burkina Faso moved from Partly Free to Not Free."
https://freedomhouse.org/countries/freedom-world/scores
https://freedomhouse.org/sites/default/files/2023-03/FIW_2023_50Years_DigitalPDF.pdf
Which countries have banned TikTok, and why?
https://www.euronews.com/next/2023/03/13/which-countries-have-banned-tiktok-cybersecurity-data-privacy-espionage-fears
EU Commission targets Amazon, Spotify, Apple for violating content law:
https://www.politico.eu/article/breton-commission-to-go-after-amazon-spotify-apple-for-violating-the-digital-services-act/
Use of Meta tracking tools found to breach EU rules on data transfers:
https://techcrunch.com/2023/03/16/meta-tracking-gdpr-data-transfer-breach/
Advocate General of the Court of Justice of the European Union calls loan processing profiling:
https://curia.europa.eu/jcms/upload/docs/application/pdf/2023-03/cp230049en.pdf
Moldova- Police arrest 54 at anti-government protestors:
Holland- Court finds Facebook used Dutch personal data incorrectly:
https://www.reuters.com/technology/dutch-court-finds-facebook-used-dutch-personal-data-incorrectly-2023-03-15/
https://www.rechtspraak.nl/Organisatie-en-contact/Organisatie/Rechtbanken/Rechtbank-Amsterdam/Nieuws/Paginas/Facebook-Ierland-handelde-onrechtmatig-bij-verwerking-persoonsgegevens-Nederlandse-gebruikers.aspx
Czech Republic- Data Protection Authority guide for cookie disclosure:
https://www.uoou.cz/cookie-listy-a-udelovani-souhlasu/ds-6912/archiv=1&p1=2611
Germany- Porsche In Talks To Install Google Surveillance App In New Cars:
https://www.reuters.com/technology/google-porsche-talks-over-google-apps-access-manager-magazin-2023-01-12/
Austria- Data Protection Authority: Meta's Tracking Tools Illegal
https://noyb.eu/en/austrian-dsb-meta-tracking-tools-illegal
UK- Government's asylum plans could end police and judicial cooperation with the EU:
https://www.unhcr.org/uk/news/press/2023/3/6407794e4/statement-on-uk-asylum-bill.html
https://www.statewatch.org/news/2023/march/uk-asylum-plans-could-end-police-and-judicial-cooperation-with-the-eu/
UK- London's "Smart Station" Facial Recognition Cameras To Surveil Travelers’ Every Move, Mood, Behavior:
https://winteroak.org.uk/2023/03/13/exposed-londons-secretive-smart-stations-roll-out/
UK- Online Safety Bill Will Actually Just Harm Everyone, Protonmail Warns:
https://proton.me/blog/online-safety-bill
UK- Tell the House of Lords: Protect End-to-End Encryption in the Online Safety Bill
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2023/03/tell-uks-house-lords-protect-end-end-encryption-online-safety-bill
UK- Probe launched after mixed-race father, 26, died following police restraint:
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/man-dies-police-restraint-iopc-b2295849.html
UK- Death in custody of black man would automatically lead to tension:
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/death-custody-black-man-automatically-132429518.html
UK- Police on horseback ticketing drivers for talking on cellphones:
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/mar/16/mounted-police-chase-down-man-holding-mobile-phone-while-driving
UK- Sheffield University criticized for hiring private investigator after protest:
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2023/mar/13/sheffield-university-criticised-over-handling-of-protest-investigation
UK- 18 female guards fired over wild sex with prisoner claims:
https://www.foxnews.com/world/wild-sex-claims-revealed-cushiest-prison-18-female-guards-fired-quit-report?ICID=ref_fark
UK- Thales (facial recognition) and IDScan.net to help security teams manage ban lists:
https://idscan.net/thales-partners-with-idscan-net-to-fight-fake-id-fraud-underage-drinking/
UK- ICO Guidance on AI and Data Protection:
IRL- Strip searches of under-18 year-olds by PSNI to be reviewed:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-64926523.amp
Hong Kong- Tiananmen Square vigil organizers jailed for months:
https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/hong-kong-activists-tiananmen-vigil-jailed-months-97785167
Taiwan- Lovot robots to use Cyberlink facial recognition to ID family members:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230314005929/en/CyberLink-Macnica-and-GROOVE-X-Announce-Smart-Family-Robot-Collaboration
Philippines- Government considers using facial recognition to ID foreigners:
https://manilastandard.net/news/national/314313208/lawmaker-calls-for-biometric-immigration-screening-of-foreign-visitors.html
India- Government says their train facial recognition system "Digi Yatra" is not covered under public information law:
https://www.medianama.com/2023/03/223-civil-aviation-ministry-digi-yatra-right-to-information/
India- Bill Gates checks in with the digital ID project he’s funding:
https://reclaimthenet.org/bill-gates-checks-in-with-bangalore-digital-id-project
Bahrain- Government uses HIDGlobal to create digital ID passports:
https://newsroom.hidglobal.com/kingdom-bahrain-awards-hid-epassport-solution-delivery
Iran- Women across the country refusing to wear headscarves, in open defiance of the regime:
https://www.npr.org/sections/pictureshow/2023/03/13/1157657246/iran-hijab-protest-regime-politics-religion-mahsa-amini
Israel- 20 Striking Images of Democracy Under Siege:
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2023/03/images-photos-israel-knesset-judicial-reforms-protests-crowds-benjamin-netanyahu-democracy-corruption/
Israel- Why the former prime minister is encouraging protests against Netanyahu’s government:
https://www.vox.com/world-politics/2023/3/16/23639947/palestine-netanyahu-israel-protests-ehud-olmert
Guyana- Government uses Veridos to create digital passports:
https://guyanachronicle.com/2023/03/11/us35-4m-contract-signed-to-make-one-card-system-a-reality/
Federated States of Micronesia president claims China sought control of submarine cables to spy:
https://www.theregister.com/2023/03/15/bribery_espionage_and_hostile_takeovers/
NZ- Government bans TikTok from parliamentarians cellphones:
https://techcrunch.com/2023/03/17/new-zealand-bans-tiktok-from-phones-of-parliamentarians/
NZ- Latitude Financial data breach:
https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/03/17/kiwis-contacted-after-major-australian-cyber-attack/
Canada- Privacy commissioner investigating CBC's handling of staff's personal data:
https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/privacy-commissioner-probe-cbc-staff-data
Mexico- Lawmakers Grant Interior Ministry Control Over Biometric Data
https://elpais.com/mexico/2023-03-15/los-diputados-avalan-que-la-secretaria-de-gobernacion-controle-los-datos-biometricos-de-los-mexicanos.html
Honduras- Activists Are Protesting “State of Emergency” That Suspends Civil Rights:
https://truthout.org/articles/honduran-activists-are-protesting-state-of-emergency-that-suspends-civil-rights/
Brazil- Government intelligence agency secretly tracks people’s location via cell phone:
https://oglobo.globo.com/politica/noticia/2023/03/abin-de-bolsonaro-usou-programa-secreto-para-monitorar-localizacao-de-pessoas-por-meio-do-celular.ghtml
Brazil- PM outlines law to ban online “fake news” and “hate speech”
https://www.breitbart.com/latin-america/2023/03/14/brazil-socialists-announce-bill-silence-hate-speech-online/
Argentina- Report Flags How ISPs Can Do More for Users’ Data Privacy:
https://adc.org.ar/informes/quien-defiende-tus-datos/