Amazon's smart home device maker Ring has issued new installation instructions for 350,000 doorbells in the United States, after some catch fire
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WhatsApp Setting To Remove Messages After Seven Days
Messaging titan to implement setting to allow for “disappearing messages” option after seven days, in an effort to bolster privacy
Police Ask Residents To Link Smart Doorbells To Surveillance Hub
Privacy nightmare? Police ask residents in US city to link their smart doorbells to surveillance hub to reduce local crime
Judge Rejects Government Appeal On US WeChat Ban
US judge rejects government appeal to reverse earlier decision allowing Chinese app WeChat to remain available in US app stores
Google Makes More Concessions On Fitbit Deal
Additional concessions by Google over £1.6bn Fitbit acquisition likely to win over EU competition regulators, as proposed deal nears one-year anniversary
Apple Delays Advertising Privacy Changes
After pushback from Facebook and advertising associations, Apple delays implementation of new privacy controls on advertisers tracking ability
Facebook Halts Oculus Sales In Germany Over Privacy Concerns
German regulator slams decision to require virtual reality headset users to have FB account, so Facebook halts sales in Germany
Police Use Of Facial Recognition Breached Privacy, Court Rules
Milestone ruling. The UK Court of Appeal rules use of automatic facial recognition (AFR) tech by South Wales Police is unlawful
German Court Strikes Down Telecoms Data Access Law
Current laws give security services 'excessive' access to citizens' data, finds top court, giving government until end of 2021 to bring in higher thresholds
Apple Issues Damage Warning For MacBook Users
Apple MacBook users are being warned of possible damage to their displays if they close their notebook with a camera cover in place
Advocacy Groups Warn Against Google’s Fitbit Acquisition
Twenty advocacy groups from around the world warn that Google's acquisition of Fitbit risks damaging privacy and competition
Google To Delete User Searches, Location Data After 18 Months
Privacy win? Google will automatically delete user's website searches and visits, as well as some location data, after 18 months
France Upholds Record Google Data Protection Fine
French court upholds earlier £45m penalty on Google for failing to obtain Android users' consent to use their personal data for personalised ads
Microsoft Bans Facial Recognition Sales To Police
Software giant follows IBM and Amazon with police facial recognition ban until there is national regulation of the technology
Tech Firms Pledge Child Abuse Disclosures To Blunt Anti-Encryption Drive
Strategic move? Google, Facebook, Microsoft pledge to improve and standardise annual disclosures around online child exploitation
Amazon Joins Police Ban Of Facial Recognition Tech
E-commerce giant Amazon joins other tech firms with announcement it will pause police use of its facial recognition software
IBM Cancels All Facial Recognition Programs, Urges Police Reform
Big Blue cancels its facial recognition programs and calls for reform and new ways to work with law enforcement, "to advance justice and racial equity"
Singapore Says Contact Tracing Token ‘Not An Electronic Tag’
Singapore to distribute contact tracing device to all residents beginning later this month following low takeup of TraceTogether smartphone app
ACLU File Lawsuit Against Clearview AI
American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit against facial recognition firm alleging “privacy-destroying surveillance activities”
Coronavirus: France Approves Contact Tracing App
French minister defends centralised approach of its Covid-19 contact-tracing app, citing the French and UK's nuclear deterrent
Google Chrome Follows Firefox Lead With DoH Option
Three months after Firefox turned on privacy feature called DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH), Google's Chrome browser gets same feature, but only if ISPs support it
Coronavirus: Apple, Google Release Contact Tracing API
Both firms say 22 countries and a number of US states have requested to use the contact-tracing API for their own systems
Coronavirus: Government Grants GCHQ Access To NHS IT
Fresh twist in privacy debate surrounding Covid-19 tracing app, after government reportedly grants GCHQ access to security data of NHS IT tech
Coronavirus: Amazon Uses Blacklisted Chinese Firm For Thermal Cameras
Chinese firm banned by the United States over allegations it aided the Chinese government, supplies thermal cameras to Amazon for Coronavirus protection
Coronavirus: British Covid-19 Tracing App Ready In 3 Weeks
The NHS confirms its coronavirus tracing app will be ready in two to three weeks, but concerns remain over its approach to privacy
NHS Says Trust ‘Crucial’ For Virus Contact-Tracing App
NHSX 'prioritising' privacy in development of coronavirus contact-tracing scheme, whose decentralised approach contrasts to that of France and Germany
Coronavirus: France Asks For Easing Of Privacy For Covid-19 Tracing API
France asks Google and Apple for their ‘private’ Coronavirus tracing API to be a little less private, with the easing of data sharing with governments
Coronavirus: EU Sets Out Guidance For Covid-19 Tracking App
European Commission publishes detailed guidance for EU member states developing their own Coronavirus tracking and warning apps
Coronavirus: Google Location Data Shows Rise In Visits To Parks
Google releases second tranche of location data that reveals there was a rise in people visiting parks during the warm weather last weekend
Facebook Tracking Lawsuit Renewed By US Appeals Court
Federal Appeals Court has approved proposed class action by Facebook users over alleged tracking of their internet activity, even after logging out