Data privacy news covering regulations, GDPR, user data protection, privacy policies, and digital privacy rights developments.
Microsoft has agreed to legally binding AI safety and privacy standards in its US school contracts following a deal with the second-largest teachers' union. The agreement bans emotional attachment AI companions, prohibits using student data for training, and mandates third-party audits and plain-language transparency for families.
Canadian police are monitoring an FBI probe into a cyberattack that exposed tens of millions of driver's licenses in the US and Canada. Journalist Brian Krebs identified a dark web marketplace selling the data, which may include 153 million records, raising serious concerns about widespread identity theft and fraud.
A WIRED investigation found that staff from the America First Policy Institute, a think tank tied to the Trump administration, have infiltrated the US Census Bureau. These individuals, including authors of a disputed report on noncitizen voting, now hold access to sensitive population data, raising fears among experts about potential interference in future elections.
A proposed class action lawsuit alleges Meta illegally collected biometric data through its smart glasses facial recognition technology and AI training. Plaintiffs in Illinois and California cite dormant NameTag software and recent patents as evidence of privacy violations, though Meta denies building a universal face database.
Mayor Michelle Wu ended the city's pilot program with Flock Safety after an audit revealed outside law enforcement agencies accessed vehicle data in violation of contract terms. A city report showed the nationwide lookup feature was enabled by the vendor in error just three days into the five-month pilot. Boston police discovered the unauthorized sharing and directed Flock to disable the function immediately.
European civil society organizations have formally alerted the European Commission that Canada's proposed lawful-access legislation, Bill C-22, threatens to derail ongoing digital trade negotiations. The coalition argues that mandates requiring weakened encryption and metadata retention are incompatible with the security standards required for deepening economic integration between the two regions.
OpenAI has rolled out a personal finance tool in ChatGPT for Plus and Pro users, allowing them to connect bank and investment accounts via Plaid for spending analysis. While the feature offers read-only access, experts warn that linking financial data raises significant privacy risks, including potential phishing attacks and targeted social engineering if credentials are compromised.
Axios reports on the proliferation of Flock automated license plate readers in Pennsylvania, highlighting Allegheny County's high density of cameras. The article discusses the growing privacy backlash and Governor Josh Shapiro's support for legislative restrictions or bans, framing the issue as a tension between law enforcement utility and civil liberties.
This piece outlines the growing privacy backlash against Flock camera license plate readers in Oregon, where activists and some local governments are scaling back usage due to concerns over surveillance and data misuse. It contrasts Oregon's relatively low adoption rate with other states while noting bipartisan opposition to the technology.
The Verge contends that while US municipalities are canceling contracts with Flock Surveillance, data retention clauses often allow the company to keep collected information indefinitely. The article highlights unresolved legal uncertainties regarding privacy and the potential adoption of alternative surveillance tools by local governments.