Privacy
Ongoing coverage on Privacy.
Latest coverage
The FBI confirms it's buying Americans' location data
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the agency purchases commercially available location data to track individuals, citing its constitutionality under the Electronic Communications Privacy Act. Senator Ron Wyden criticized this practice as an "outrageous end run" around the Fourth Amendment, especially with the use of AI for mass surveillance. The article also mentions past controversies involving Patel and other government agencies' data practices.
Perplexity's Comet AI browser is now available for iPhones
Perplexity's AI-powered browser, Comet, is now available as a free standalone app for iPhones and Android devices, following its initial PC release. The browser functions as a chatbot that can summarize webpages and conduct research, acting as a personal assistant. While it leverages Apple's Liquid Glass technology on iOS, it lacks third-party extension support and raises privacy concerns due to Perplexity's data collection practices for ad targeting.
The Daily Grind: Would you show or upload ID to play an MMO?
The article discusses the growing trend of age verification requirements for online platforms, including MMOs, and its implications for user privacy. It references Blizzard Entertainment's past 'Real ID' controversy and compares it to current systems in China, questioning players on their willingness to share personal identification for game access.
Behind the Scenes: 10 Famous Siblings Who Keep Quiet
This article highlights ten celebrity siblings who have chosen to live private lives away from the spotlight, despite their family's fame. These individuals have pursued careers in academia, art, or other fields, prioritizing personal privacy over public recognition.
Now you don't even need to pretend to read the terms of service, as US court rules that continued use can imply…
A US court has ruled that continued use of a service or device can imply consent to its terms of service, a decision stemming from a lawsuit against Tile, a Bluetooth tracker company owned by Life360. This ruling occurred despite claims from plaintiffs that they were unaware of or did not receive notifications regarding the terms, highlighting concerns about surveillance and user consent in the digital age.
THE FINALS Developers Show How to Handle Privacy Scares the Right Way
Embark Studios addressed a privacy scare in THE FINALS by releasing a hotfix for an issue where Discord's SDK logged excessive user information. The developer communicated the problem and its resolution directly to players, emphasizing that no private data was collected or shared by Embark. This transparent approach is highlighted as a positive example of building player trust in the gaming industry.
Saturday Safety Dance
The Electronic Frontier Foundation highlights how governments utilize targeted advertising to track user locations and urges for action to protect privacy. The article discusses the implications of such practices and potential solutions.
This VPN ban is edging ever closer, and here's what it means for your privacy
A new consultation in the UK, concluding in May 2026, will decide whether to implement a ban on Virtual Private Network (VPN) usage for individuals under 18. This potential ban raises concerns about user privacy and the future of online access for young people.
'We see everything': Report says Meta's AI smart glasses footage is reviewed by human contractors who see far more than they bargained for, which has led to a new lawsuit against the company
A report indicates that human contractors reviewing footage from Meta's Ray-Ban AI smart glasses are exposed to highly personal content, leading to a new class-action lawsuit against the company. The lawsuit alleges Meta violated privacy laws and engaged in false advertising regarding the privacy features of its smart glasses.
Morning Legal Briefs
Meta is facing a class-action lawsuit regarding privacy concerns associated with its AI glasses. Separately, Proton Mail has reportedly handed over protester data to the police, raising further privacy issues.
The Morning After: Apple takes on cheap Windows laptops and Chromebooks with the $599 MacBook Neo
Apple has launched the MacBook Neo, a new $599 laptop running on an iPhone chipset, targeting the budget Windows laptop and Chromebook market. The device features a 13-inch Retina display, 8GB of RAM, and two USB-C ports. The article also touches on other tech news including hands-on impressions of the Nothing Phone 4a Pro and 4a, a review of the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, and Netflix's acquisition of an AI startup founded by Ben Affleck.
Meta hit with a class action lawsuit over smart glasses' privacy claims
Meta is facing a class action lawsuit alleging false advertising regarding the privacy features of its AI-powered smart glasses. The suit claims that Meta misled users about how footage captured by the glasses is handled, including reports of human contractors reviewing sensitive user data. Meta confirmed that data can be shared with contractors for AI improvement but stated steps are taken to protect privacy.
Embark Studios rushes to fix Arc Raiders Discord integration bug as "serious privacy and security violations" may have exposed private Discord DMs, friends data, more
Embark Studios is addressing a security vulnerability in Arc Raiders where the game's Discord integration may have exposed private Discord messages and authentication tokens in local log files. Security blogger Timothy Meadows reported the issue, which Embark Studios claims did not send data outside of players' machines. A hotfix is in development to disable the logging and further audits are being conducted.
Morning Legal Briefs
Elon Musk testified that a tweet leading to a $44 billion lawsuit was "may not have been my wisest," but likely not perjury. Separately, Meta's smart glasses are facing a privacy probe in the UK.
Oh dear - ARC Raiders was logging your private Discord chats
Embark Studios' extraction shooter ARC Raiders was found to be logging private Discord direct messages and authentication tokens to a local game log file. While the company claims no data was sent externally and has released a hotfix, the incident highlights significant privacy and security risks associated with linking gaming accounts to chat applications like Discord.
Hackers breach Star Citizen players’ personal data in January, but CIG only just got around to mentioning it
Cloud Imperium Games (CIG) has disclosed a data breach that occurred on January 21, 2026, affecting backup systems and leading to unauthorized access of limited user personal data, including account details, contact information, usernames, dates of birth, and names. The company stated that no financial information or passwords were compromised and that the access was read-only. CIG is monitoring the situation and assessing if any accessed data has been publicly released, emphasizing transparency despite the six-week delay in notification.
Scientists warn against crappy age verification: 'if implemented without careful consideration… the new regulation might cause more harm than good'
Over 400 researchers and scientists have signed an open letter warning that current age verification technologies and regulations may cause more harm than good. The letter highlights significant privacy and data protection concerns, the potential for users to be pushed to dangerous fringe websites, and the risk of censorship if such systems are misused by authoritarian governments. Concerns are amplified by past data breaches, such as one involving Discord, where user IDs were exposed.
MMO Week in Review: The clock strikes Midnight
This week's MMO news roundup covers the early access launch of World of Warcraft: Midnight, BitCraft entering its second early access phase, and Gamigo reviving Gloria Victis. The article also touches on layoffs at Corepunk, Discord's postponed age verification rollout, and various updates and issues across numerous other MMO titles.
Discord delays controversial age verification rollout, saying it "missed the mark" following community outcry
Discord is delaying its controversial age verification rollout after significant community backlash, with co-founder Stanislav Vishnevskiy admitting the company "missed the mark" in its communication. The company will not require face scans or ID uploads from all users, instead relying on internal systems for most age determinations, with third-party verification reserved for a small percentage of users accessing age-restricted content.
Discord announces age verification will be required for all users from March
Discord announced it would implement age verification for all users starting March, with accounts unable to prove their age facing a limited experience. Following backlash, the company clarified that most adults will not require manual verification as age will be inferred from account data. The verification process may involve facial age estimation or submitting documents to third-party partners.
