Privacy
Ongoing coverage on Privacy.
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Evening Legal Briefs
A lawsuit has been filed against the Department of Homeland Security, alleging that the agency cannot create a large DNA database intended to track critics. The article from Ars Technica details the legal challenges to this proposed surveillance measure.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Review — Privacy Evolved | Console Creatures
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is a high-end smartphone featuring significant improvements in cameras, performance with its new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, and a notable conditional privacy display. While the S-Pen design is a minor drawback, the overall package offers enhanced privacy and functionality, making it a strong contender for power users.
I'm already dreading Apple's camera-equipped AirPods
The author expresses concern over Apple's potential inclusion of cameras in future AirPods models. This development is viewed as an extension of surveillance technology, raising privacy issues for consumers.
Evening Metaverse
Meta will regain the ability to read Instagram direct messages after Friday, following a change in privacy settings. This reversal impacts user privacy on the platform.
Morning Safety Dance
This article discusses the potential for a compromise between privacy, security, and law enforcement needs, particularly in the context of encryption backdoors and lawful access. It questions whether a balance is achievable given these competing interests.
War Thunder Developers Break Silence on Anti-Cheat Privacy Fears | HappyGamer
Gaijin Entertainment has addressed player concerns regarding privacy and the anti-cheat system in War Thunder. The developer emphasized a server-authoritative design where critical game calculations occur server-side, limiting client manipulation and enhancing privacy. This approach, combined with GDPR compliance, aims to maintain fair play without demanding excessive system access from players.
Morning Metaverse
Tor Browser has been updated to version 15.0.11. This release is noted as thanks to the Desktop General community.
Evening Safety Dance
This article discusses a Verizon scam that exploits app alerts to defraud users of up to $1,500. It also touches on security issues with Tor Browser's 'New Identity' feature and advises against paying ransoms to VECT.
PrivadoVPN review - a wonderful free VPN, and decent service all round
PrivadoVPN is a budget-friendly VPN service offering fast speeds and a zero-logs policy, making it a strong option for gaming and streaming. While it lacks post-quantum encryption and independent audits, its free plan and 30-day money-back guarantee provide ample opportunity to test its capabilities.
Evening Metaverse
The CEO of Proton argues that implementing age verification measures online would transform the internet into an identity checkpoint. This approach raises concerns about user privacy and the potential for increased surveillance.
'Increasingly the distinction between bots and humans is moot' says one of the biggest web-infrastructure…
Cloudflare predicts a shift towards an agent-neutral web where the distinction between bots and humans becomes increasingly blurred. The company proposes solutions like Privacy Pass to verify behavior without compromising identity, aiming to prevent websites from being overwhelmed by AI data ingestion and maintain a monetizable online ecosystem.
Sony Demands Your Face to Play: PlayStation Age Verification Begins
Sony is implementing mandatory age verification for certain PlayStation features, requiring users to submit facial scans or upload government IDs via the Yoti service. This move is in response to global regulatory pressure for age verification laws aimed at protecting younger users. The policy shift raises significant privacy concerns among advocates and marks an end to digital anonymity on the platform.
Morning Safety Dance
This article discusses the development of a legendary privacy tool and the subsequent adversarial relationship between its creators. It also touches upon a scam involving an AI-generated persona targeting men.
MindsEye Devs Demand Answers Regarding Corporate Surveillance Issue
Employees of Build A Rocket Boy, represented by the IWGB Game Workers Union, are taking legal action against the company for installing surveillance software on their devices without consent. The union is demanding transparency regarding the data collected and its usage, while the company's leadership, including Leslie Benzies and Mark Gerhard, has accused former employees of corporate espionage related to the game MindsEye's poor launch.
Sony will require age checks in the UK and Ireland to access PlayStation communication features
Sony will implement new age verification policies for PlayStation users in the UK and Ireland starting in June 2026. This will be required to access communication features such as party chat, voice and text messaging, and some in-game communication tools. The move follows similar legislation and policies adopted by other companies to protect younger users.
US operating system age verification bill "Parents Decide Act" gets published
The "Parents Decide Act," a proposed US federal bill for operating system age verification, has been published. The bipartisan legislation requires users to confirm they are over 18, with parental verification for minors, and mandates secure data storage and parental controls for application developers. The bill's broad definition of operating systems and providers could significantly impact privacy and user control.
New US Congress bill proposal requires all operating system providers to verify ages
A new bill has been proposed in the US Congress that would require all operating system providers to verify the age of their users. Introduced by Representative Josh Gottheimer and co-sponsored by Representative Elise M. Stefanik, the bill has bipartisan support but its specific verification methods remain unclear. Critics express concerns about potential privacy implications and security risks.
Meta warned by dozens of organizations that facial recognition on its smart glasses would empower predators
Dozens of civil rights organizations have urged Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to abandon plans to incorporate facial recognition technology into its smart glasses, citing concerns that it would empower predators and stalkers. The coalition, including groups like the ACLU and Electronic Privacy Information Center, argues that the technology, internally known as 'Name Tag,' cannot be made safe through design changes and wants the feature completely eliminated. Meta has faced similar public outcry and legal challenges regarding facial recognition in the past.
Evening Safety Dance
This article from Ars Technica discusses how digital devices pose a risk to an individual's right to privacy. It explores the implications of modern technology on personal data security.
Evening Legal Briefs
LinkedIn is facing controversy and two lawsuits for allegedly scanning users' browser extensions. The company's actions have sparked debate regarding user privacy and data security.