Data privacy news covering regulations, GDPR, user data protection, privacy policies, and digital privacy rights developments.
The US Department of Justice and TikTok have agreed to a $400 million settlement to resolve allegations that the platform violated the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act by allowing under-13 users without parental consent. This legal resolution occurs as regulators globally increase enforcement against social media companies for child data safety violations, including EU probes under the Digital Services Act.
The Malaysian government has officially ruled out acquiring Datasonic Technologies for $1.9 billion, citing the need to safeguard national security and citizen identity sovereignty. The National Security Council emphasized that strict oversight is required for strategic assets, ensuring value for public spending while maintaining control over sensitive data.
Researchers from Germany's Karlsruhe Institute of Technology discovered that unencrypted beamforming feedback signals allow WiFi networks to create radio-based images of people. Testing on 197 participants achieved almost 100% identification accuracy, prompting calls for new privacy safeguards in future systems.
The City of Palo Alto is reviewing its handling of Flock Safety camera data following national scrutiny over privacy concerns. This review comes as more than 50 cities have canceled or suspended contracts with the company, including Los Angeles and Dayton, after investigations revealed officers misused the system to track romantic partners.
State Sen. Arthur Orr plans to file legislation establishing statewide rules for automated license plate readers, addressing privacy concerns. The proposed bill aims to tighten data retention limits beyond the current five-year allowance, as Alabama currently lacks specific regulations despite thousands of cameras operating statewide.
The Cincinnati Enquirer explains how Flock license plate reader cameras collect vehicle data, including make, model, and location. It details recent privacy reforms reducing default retention to seven days and outlines strict access controls requiring documented law enforcement purposes for searches.
Engadget outlines steps for users to restrict Meta from utilizing off-platform activity data to personalize Instagram ads and AI recommendations. The guide details navigating the Accounts Center to disable 'Activity from other businesses,' clarifying that this limits external tracking but does not halt all data collection or ad personalization within the app.
Apollo Global Management confirmed a July data breach caused by social engineering, with unauthorized cloud access occurring between July 6 and 10. HR chief Matthew Breitfelder disclosed the incident in an August 21 letter posted on the California attorney general's website, revealing stolen sensitive personal information including Social Security numbers. Apollo stated there is no evidence the stolen data has been publicly posted or used for identity theft or fraud.
A South Carolina sheriff's lieutenant was terminated after conducting nearly 2,700 unauthorized queries using Flock Safety cameras. An investigation into potential criminal conduct is underway with assistance from the state law enforcement division, and the Colleton County Sheriff's Office has amended its policy to strengthen accountability.
A Michigan lawsuit filed by the Mackinac Center challenges Genesee County's refusal to release Flock Safety camera data under the Freedom of Information Act. The suit seeks audit logs and vehicle images, arguing that storing records with third-party vendors does not exempt them from public disclosure requirements.