Data privacy news covering regulations, GDPR, user data protection, privacy policies, and digital privacy rights developments.
The FBI is investigating a dark web leak of over 153 million U.S. and Canadian driver's licenses sold by identity theft service Nexus. The breach exposed data belonging to high-profile officials, including an FBI assistant director. Sellers claimed persistent access to a major identity verification company, and researchers confirmed their own data was in the cache.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement plans to award a contract worth up to $5 million to create a national database of voter registration and history. The system will support fraud detection by aggregating public data from all 50 states, though experts warn about potential privacy violations regarding party affiliation. The solicitation includes collecting ballot history if explicitly directed by a contracting officer.
USA Today reports that an investigation into Flock camera data revealed misuse by law enforcement personnel, leading to arrests and suspensions. The commentary questions whether the benefits of license plate reader technology justify the significant privacy risks and potential for abuse identified in the analysis.
Homeland Security Investigations subpoenaed REI for transaction data on customers who bought a specific green beanie in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area since 2024. The request is part of a federal lawsuit against 39 individuals accused of attending an ICE protest at a church, with HSI issuing 92 total subpoenas to various entities.
Former Orissa High Court Chief Justice S. Muralidhar argues that unchecked digital expansion threatens privacy and civil liberties by enabling pervasive surveillance. He contends the Indian government's Digital Personal Data Protection Act is insufficient due to broad exemptions, warning that detailed profiling of citizens could weaponize state power.
A data breach linked to a private vendor has impacted Oregon's court case management system, though the exact scope remains unknown. The incident involves other states alongside Oregon, marking another development in a series of cyber incidents affecting judicial and legal sectors.
Senator Josh Hawley has expanded his investigation into AI-powered vehicle tracking privacy concerns by sending inquiry letters to Motorola Solutions, Verkada, and Axon Enterprise. The lawmaker seeks details on data retention, search capabilities, and misuse safeguards, following a previous notice sent to Flock Safety.
Governor Josh Shapiro expressed serious privacy concerns regarding Flock surveillance technology and welcomed bipartisan legislation to ban its use across Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey has joined the Governor in calling for a statewide ban, adding political momentum to the effort.
Growing privacy concerns have led at least ten Colorado cities, counties, and police departments to cut ties with Flock Safety. Two more jurisdictions are weighing similar decisions as officials reassess the use of automated license plate readers.
Politicians and health experts are raising concerns about data protection standards in new health assistance agreements between the United States and several African nations. The scrutiny centers on how data is shared and secured within these international partnerships.