All articles tagged with #privacy
Titans quarterback Will Levis reportedly paid an enormous sum for cyber-security help to scrub a leaked sex tape after his device was hacked by an Eastern European group; though much content was removed, online footprints persist.
The Federal Trade Commission announced Cox Media Group, MindSift, and 1010 Digital Works will pay $930,000 to settle allegations they lied about secretly listening to consumers via phones and smart devices to target ads; the FTC found no listening occurred and the service largely re-sold data from brokers, violating consumer privacy laws.
German researchers demonstrated that ordinary WiFi signals can identify people with near-perfect accuracy by analyzing how radio waves reflect off their bodies using beamforming feedback information, even if the person isn’t carrying a device or has their phone off. The finding raises serious privacy concerns, suggesting routers could serve as covert surveillance tools; experts urge safeguards in the upcoming IEEE 802.11bf standard.
Mozilla’s Project Nova redesign for Firefox introduces a single, user-visible AI-off switch to disable all AI features, plus a cleaner UI and plain-language privacy controls, signaling a move toward opt-out AI in browsers while keeping some AI features available by default.
Trump Mobile confirmed a data exposure via a third‑party platform that left customer names, emails, mailing addresses, phone numbers, and order IDs exposed; the vulnerability was patched after reports by Coffeezilla and TechCrunch, and rumors of lower pre-orders followed as the T1 launch remains delayed amid controversy.
A CNN report describes how AI techniques reconstructed cockpit voice information from a spectrogram image in an NTSB crash docket, prompting the agency to pause public access to investigation dockets and urge platforms to remove posts sharing the audio. The move follows the UPS Flight 2976 crash near Louisville in November 2025, where an engine separated and killed the three crew members and 12 people on the ground. The NTSB reiterates that it does not release cockpit voice recordings to protect privacy and investigation integrity, and it seeks to prevent further privacy breaches by social-media platforms.
The FTC charged Cox Media Group and partners MindSift and 1010 Digital Works with misleading customers about an ‘Active Listening’ ad service that supposedly used voice data from devices to target ads; the service did not actually listen but relied on data broker lists, and claimed consumers opted in through terms of service. The settlement requires Cox to pay $880,000 and MindSift and 1010 Digital Works $25,000 each, with refunds to affected customers. The case underscores the need for truthful advertising and proper consumer consent.
The Texas Attorney General filed a lawsuit against Meta, alleging WhatsApp’s long-standing claim of end-to-end encryption is false and that Meta can read users’ messages. The complaint hinges largely on a Bloomberg report and faces skepticism from cryptography experts, who say there’s little evidence of a bypass of E2EE. Meta calls the charges baseless. A 2023 technical review found WhatsApp generally secure with some design flaws, but did not show breach of its encryption promises.
Reports say Google Chrome may have quietly downloaded a 4GB on-device AI model called Gemini Nano to some devices without user permission. The model runs locally, assessing tasks like scam-detection and text analysis, and will auto-uninstall if there aren’t enough resources. Users can disable or remove it via Chrome settings or by fully uninstalling Chrome; Mac and Windows steps are provided to check for and delete the model. Privacy concerns and possible legal implications are noted, with Google saying users can turn off or remove the feature if needed.
Google, in partnership with Gentle Monster and Warby Parker, is rolling out intelligent, AI-powered smart glasses that start as audio-first devices with Google Assistant and Gemini, enabling hands-free texting and photo capture, with plans for built-in displays and Wear OS integration to compete with Meta’s Ray-Bans while raising privacy considerations.
Google's Gemini Spark is an AI agent integrated with Gmail, Calendar and other Google apps that can take user objectives and actively perform tasks—such as drafting emails, summarizing meeting notes, or making reservations—by connecting to external tools like Instacart and OpenTable. It marks a shift from chat-based AI to a task-running partner, but raises privacy concerns due to access to personal data and will require user permission for high-stakes actions, with a cautious rollout limited to Google AI Ultra subscribers.
Mozilla is rolling out Project Nova, a rounded, more customizable Firefox interface designed to make privacy settings easier to find and give users clearer controls over AI features; the overhaul includes new icons, wallpapers, themes, and productivity tweaks like compact mode, tab groups, split view, and vertical tabs, with rollout planned later this year. The Web Serial API is already available in Firefox 151, enabling websites to interact with devices without native apps.
Vanessa Trump announced she has been diagnosed with breast cancer, is working with her medical team on a treatment plan, and asked for privacy as she focuses on her health.
A California class-action accuses Disney of privacy violations over optional facial-recognition gates at Disneyland entrances, alleging inadequate disclosure and consent; the suit seeks at least $5 million. Disney says participation is optional and data is deleted within 30 days, with separate entrances for those who wish to avoid the tech, though the opt-out signage is reportedly easy to overlook. The case highlights broader concerns about biometric privacy in public spaces and adds to other tech-related lawsuits.
Microsoft's Xbox has published a list of 10 demands from players, aiming to boost transparency and accountability around updates, communications, and data practices, signaling a shift toward greater community involvement in shaping the platform’s future.