Privacy
Ongoing coverage on Privacy.
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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.
