facebook Facebook Secretly Pays Users for Total Phone Access in Project Atlas Facebook pays users up to $20 a month to install a research app that collects all phone and web activity, bypassing App Store rules. Apple immediately revokes Facebook's enterprise certificate for the clear policy violation.
apple Apple Disables FaceTime Group Calls to Stop Eavesdropping Bug Apple temporarily turns off FaceTime group calling as it develops a patch for a severe bug that allows users to eavesdrop on others. The company promises a permanent software fix later this week.
apple Apple Disables FaceTime Group Calls After Severe Eavesdropping Bug A major FaceTime bug allows callers to secretly access a recipient's microphone and camera before the call is accepted. Apple has temporarily disabled the group calling feature while it prepares a software fix.
apple Major FaceTime Bug Allows Eavesdropping Before Call Acceptance A severe FaceTime vulnerability lets callers listen to another person's audio and potentially view their video before the recipient accepts the call. Apple takes Group FaceTime offline temporarily while it prepares a software update to patch the issue.
google Google Adtech Broadcasts Highly Sensitive User Data, GDPR Complaint Claims A legal complaint alleges that Google and the IAB systematically broadcast highly intimate user inferences, such as medical conditions and political views, to thousands of companies through real-time ad auctions. Privacy advocates argue this pervasive data sharing violates GDPR rules.
privacy Privacy Experts Debate Whether Tech Data Practices Shift in 2019 TechCrunch surveys eight leading privacy experts to determine if the tech industry's approach to user data fundamentally changes in 2019. The discussion follows a record GDPR fine against Google and ongoing tension between data-driven profits and user protection.
facebook Opinion Piece Challenges Zuckerberg's Rosy Facebook History A TechCrunch article critically examines Mark Zuckerberg's WSJ defense of Facebook by tracing the company's problematic origins back to the unauthorized FaceMash dorm room project.
facebook Facebook Plans End-to-End Encryption for Instagram and Messenger Facebook is integrating its messaging platforms by adding end-to-end encryption to Instagram messages and making it default on Messenger. The move aims to boost user privacy and keep people engaged despite past security scandals.
facebook Facebook Plans End-to-End Encryption Across Instagram and Messenger Facebook is unifying the infrastructure of its messaging platforms by bringing end-to-end encryption to Instagram Direct and making it default on Messenger.
microsoft Microsoft Implements New Guidelines to Curb Facial Recognition Abuse Microsoft establishes new rules to prevent the misuse of its facial recognition artificial intelligence technology. The company aims to address growing privacy concerns surrounding biometric surveillance.
data breach Unprotected Server Exposes 24 Million Sensitive Banking Documents A major security lapse leaves tens of thousands of US banking and mortgage documents openly accessible on the internet. The leak traces back to a contractor working for financial data firm Ascension.
alpr Police License Plate Readers Found Exposed Online With Weak Security Security researchers find over 150 police license plate readers connected to the internet with default passwords and weak protections, exposing sensitive driver data.
aiesec Youth Non-Profit AIESEC Exposes Millions of Intern Applications in Unprotected Database AIESEC accidentally leaves over four million internship applications unprotected on a passwordless server. The organization claims only 40 users are affected despite the massive data exposure.
gdpr New York Times Proves Creepy Targeted Ads Are Not Necessary The New York Times actually increases its ad revenue after dropping behavioral targeting in Europe to comply with GDPR. This success suggests that brand desirability matters more than invasive user tracking.
gdpr Privacy Campaigner Schrems Files GDPR Complaints Against Amazon, Apple, Netflix Max Schrems files GDPR complaints against Amazon, Apple, Netflix, Spotify, and YouTube over inadequate data access responses.