'Language experts' used to study small 'snippets' of user recordings gained from Google Home smart speakers
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News Privacy
Watchdog Warns Police Over Use Of Facial Recognition
Police warned about data protection implications of using of facial recognition technology
Facebook EU Privacy Challenge Raises Prospect Of Data Disruption
Case opening this week in European Court of Justice could invalidate legal basis for transfer of citizens' data to any country outside the European Union
Amazon Keeps Alexa Voice Recordings Indefinitely
Amazon admission in letter to US senator re-ignites privacy row over Alexa and its range of smart speakers
Ireland Opens Third Apple Data Protection Probe
European regulators are tightening their grip on multinationals including Apple, Facebook, Twitter and Google as stricter GDPR rules come into play
Amazon Sued For Alexa Allegedly Recording Kids
Lawsuit alleges Alexa routinely records and voiceprints children without consent
Microsoft Deletes Facial Recognition Database Over Privacy Fears – Report
Responding to privacy and ethical concerns, Microsoft deletes facial recognition training database
Mozilla Strengthens Privacy With Firefox Lockwise Password Manager
Open source community also bolsters Firefox security with tracking protection set to default
Tinder Ordered To Store User Data Within Russia
Dating app ordered to hand over messages, videos and photos of Russian users, as part of tough 'data protection' laws
US Congress Targets Tech Giants With Competition Probe
The focus on 'anti-competitive conduct' at major tech companies comes as the Department of Justice and the FTC reportedly prepare their own investigations into Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google
WWDC 2019: Apple Takes On Google, Facebook With ‘Private’ Single Sign-On
iPhone maker also introduces iOS 13, new Apple Watch features and 'cheese grater' Mac Pro complete with £790 monitor stand
Zuckerberg Defeats Shareholder Revolt
Facebook chief executive and chairman sees off a series of votes aimed at reducing his power at the social media giant
Facebook Privacy Case Will Be Heard At ECJ
Europe's top court will finally hear privacy case against Facebook, after Irish Supreme Court ruling
WhatsApp Adverts To Appear In 2020, Facebook Confirms
Time to switch to Signal, Telegram? Facebook confirms WhatsApp will carry adverts from 2020
Snap Employees ‘Abused Internal Tools To Spy On Users’
The 'disappearing' message platform vendor has dedicated tools to gather user data for internal purposes, and has had to contend with staff abuse of those tools in the past, finds a report
EU Security Official Calls For Loopholes In 5G Standards
Next-generation networks make it too difficult for security agencies to spy on targets, says EU counter-terrorism coordinator Gilles de Kerchove in leaked memo
Privacy Groups Warn On ISPs’ ‘Widespread’ Use Of Deep Packet Inspection
The practice undermines the EU's existing net neutrality rules and also has worrying privacy implications, campaigners say
Russian Websites Leak Valuable Passport Data – Report
Personal and passport data on 2.25 million Russians, including high ranking government officials, leaked
San Francisco To Ban The Use Of Facial Recognition Tech
First city in the United States looks to ban the use of facial recognition over privacy and human rights concerns
WhatsApp Discovers ‘Advanced’ Surveillance Hacks
The company urges its 1.5 billion users to update after finding devices were tapped using a vulnerability in the software
Facebook Sues App Developer Over Data Misuse
The company says it is cracking down on the way third parties handle users' personal information, amidst pressure for tighter regulations
Google To Auto-Delete Web Search History
Google to offer users the option to auto-delete location history and web search data that it harvests
Facebook Privacy Settlement To Include Federal Oversight – Report
Facebook reportedly faces having a federal privacy official on its board, as part of settlement deal with FTC
US Border Phone, Laptop Searches Need Warrant, Say Campaigners
Travellers to the US are being increasingly ordered to unlock their smartphones and laptops for searches
Crime Victims To Be Asked To Hand Over Smartphones
Digital strip search? Cops to ask rape and other victims to hand over phones to ensure prosecution go-ahead
Facebook Sets Aside $3 billion For FTC Privacy Fine
Strong results from social networking giant as it prepares to pay billions for privacy breaches
European Parliament Approves ‘Big Brother’ Database
Critics say plans to link together existing identity databases across the EU may break Europe's own data protection laws
Facebook Uploaded 1.5 Million Email Contacts
Oh dear, oh dear. Facebook admits uploading email contact data on 1.5 million people without consent
Amazon Workers Listen To Alexa Recordings – Report
Are you listening Alexa? Amazon staff are “reviewing” audio clips of people speaking to their Echo smart speakers
Facebook Changes User Terms Under Pressure From European Commission
The changes for the first time clearly spell out Facebook's business model of selling user data for use in targeted advertising