All articles tagged with #privacy rights
CEOs of major surveillance firms skipped a Senate hearing on AI-powered cameras, prompting bipartisan concerns over privacy and data misuse. Witnesses highlighted wrongful arrests and security flaws, while lawmakers discussed potential federal regulations and funding restrictions.
A cybersecurity researcher demonstrated noRecognition, an AI-generated pattern system, at Def Con to confuse object-detection software used by surveillance networks. By covering a car with patterns, a 2009 Toyota Yaris passed a Flock camera without being flagged; the pattern doesn’t hide the vehicle, it aims to prevent recognition by software. The model iteratively refines patterns against open-source detectors, reportedly defeating 11 tested algorithms, and the project envisions opt-out clothing and vehicle skins funded via crowdfunding.
A coalition of 75 civil-liberties groups is calling on Meta to stop plans to deploy facial-recognition in the Ray‑Ban and Oakley smart glasses, arguing it would enable pervasive surveillance of bystanders, threaten privacy and democracy, and reflect a troubling pattern of biometrics use, amid reports of contractors footageing users and prior biometric lawsuits.
Adobe launches Firefly Custom Models in public beta, letting creators train AI image generators on their own assets to preserve character designs and styles, with private-by-default training and consent checks to prevent unauthorized use or training of Adobe’s general models.
The Department of Homeland Security has issued hundreds of subpoenas to major social platforms to uncover identities behind anonymous accounts that criticize ICE or expose agents’ locations; DHS says the data is needed to protect officers, but civil liberties advocates warn it threatens privacy and free expression, noting many subpoenas are withdrawn before court review and the ACLU is offering legal help to affected users.
States are increasingly enacting laws to regulate biometric data collection amid a lack of federal regulation, with some cases leading to large settlements with tech companies. However, enforcement is challenging, especially against overseas companies like PimEyes, which operate beyond U.S. jurisdiction. Public concern about privacy and facial recognition technology is growing, but federal legislation remains stalled due to industry lobbying.
The article discusses the emerging use of AI to create digital replicas of deceased loved ones, the legal and ethical challenges involved, and the potential for including 'no AI resurrection' clauses in wills. Experts suggest that current laws are insufficient to prevent unauthorized AI recreations, and propose rights to data deletion as a possible solution. The trend raises questions about privacy, consent, and the emotional impact on the living, with future legal and societal norms likely to evolve.
The notice informs Virginia residents about their privacy rights under state law, offering options to opt out of data sale and full site features, with instructions to manage preferences or update location for non-residents.
An Illinois woman has filed a class action lawsuit against Target, alleging that the company collected and stored her biometric data, including face and fingerprint scans, without her consent, in violation of the state's Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA). The lawsuit claims that Target's surveillance systems in Illinois stores surreptitiously collect biometric data on customers without their knowledge or consent, and seeks statutory damages for the alleged violations. Similar class action lawsuits have been filed against other companies, including Facebook, Google, Snapchat, and TikTok, for alleged violations of BIPA.
The House of Representatives voted to renew the FISA Section 702 surveillance program after a Republican revolt earlier in the week. The bipartisan vote followed a deal with conservative rebels to shorten the reauthorization period to two years and include amendments requiring warrants for certain surveillance activities. The bill is expected to go to the Senate next week, and discussions on FISA are anticipated during a meeting between Speaker Mike Johnson and former President Donald Trump.
A Texas judge has temporarily blocked the state's attorney general from obtaining information about transgender children receiving gender-affirming medical care, citing potential harm to the LGBTQ+ advocacy group PFLAG and its members, including violations of free speech, association, and privacy rights. The attorney general's office had sought the information as part of an investigation into potential insurance fraud related to the state's ban on gender-affirming care for minors. The legal battle is ongoing, with a hearing scheduled for March 25.
Attorneys for alleged clients of a Greater Boston brothel network are arguing against public access to their initial hearings, stating that it would subject the accused to humiliation and potential career and personal repercussions. They assert that the accused are entitled to privacy at this early stage in the proceedings and that public hearings should remain the exception rather than the rule. The Supreme Judicial Court has delayed the initial hearings and requested the clerk-magistrate to justify her decision to open the hearings to the public.
A Chinese tourist group visiting London's St. Pancras station demanded a musician delete his livestream as they appeared in the video, claiming a right to privacy in a public place. The musician, Brendan Kavanagh, refused, citing his right to film in a public space. The situation escalated when a member of the group accused him of touching a woman, leading to police intervention. The incident highlights cultural differences and the lack of privacy rights in China compared to the UK.
Police in Quebec have cautioned residents against posting surveillance footage from home security cameras on social media, even if it captures alleged criminals like "porch pirates." The warning comes amid a surge in thefts, particularly during the holiday season, in Montreal West. Authorities emphasize the presumption of innocence and the right to privacy in Canada, urging people to report evidence to the police for investigation rather than sharing it publicly. The complex issue of privacy rights for alleged criminals has also been a topic of concern in other Canadian regions, with potential legal consequences for those who violate privacy laws.
The Biden administration reached its first settlement on a privacy issue by stopping a company, Outlogic (formerly X-Mode Social), from selling data on people's medical visits, particularly visits to abortion providers. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) found that Outlogic collected location data on people's visits to medical facilities and then shared it with a clinical research company for marketing and advertising, leading to a significant privacy violation. The settlement requires Outlogic to delete all previously collected data without consent and provide an opt-out option for its location data collection. Privacy advocates are concerned about the potential misuse of location data, including targeting individuals seeking abortion and prosecuting them.