Privacy

BRS leader Kavitha writes to ED, says she is submitting phones to agency

BRS leader K Kavitha Tuesday said she has submitted the phones used by her so far to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) as she appeared for questioning before the agency in the Delhi excise policy linked money laundering case. In a letter to the ED, the 44-year-old MLC daughter of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, said "These phones are submitted without prejudice to my right and contentions and larger contentions whether a woman's phone can be intruded, in the teeth of her right to privacy". Before she entered the agency office, Kavitha flashed some mobile phones kept in a transparent sheet, and said she was going to submit them to the ED. Referring to the agency's allegation in its first charge sheet filed in this case last year that Kavitha was using at least two mobile numbers whose IMEI changed 10 times, Kavitha said, "It is baffling to note as to how, why and under what such circumstances agency made such allegations when I was not even summoned or asked any question

FTC intensifies probe into Twitter's privacy practices after mass layoffs

The Federal Trade Commission is investigating Elon Musk's mass layoffs at Twitter and trying to obtain his internal communications as part of ongoing oversight into the social media company's privacy and cybersecurity practices, according to documents described in a congressional report. The FTC has been watching the company for years since Twitter agreed to a 2011 consent order alleging serious data security lapses. But the agency's concerns spiked with the tumult that followed Musk's Oct. 27 takeover of the company. The Republican-led House Judiciary Committee published excerpts from the FTC's letters Tuesday as part of a report alleging that the agency was overreaching to harass Elon Musk's Twitter." The House said the requests amounted to a deluge of "demands about its personnel decisions in each of the company's departments, every internal communication relating to Elon Musk and even Twitter's interactions with journalists" who Musk's team allowed to see certain employee email

WhatsApp to clearly outline how its privacy updates will affect EU users

WhatsApp confirmed that users' personal data are not shared with third-parties or other Meta companies -- including Facebook -- for advertising purposes

Implementation of some norms may perpetuate existing market dominance: CEA

Chief Economic Advisor V Anantha Nageswaran on Friday said that implementation of certain regulations by regulators could perpetuate existing market dominance as he cited the data and privacy norms in the technology space. Delivering the keynote address at a conference organised by the Competition Commission of India (CCI), he emphasised that while competition drives innovation, there is also a distinction between competition and free markets. He pointed out that competition agencies must be mindful of the unintended consequences of their actions. "In the technology space, regulators implement data and privacy norms that guarantee users complete access to their data. In such situations, users can end up chasing only the large players since they place a great degree of trust in them. This will ultimately lead to loss of competition across similar platforms, concentrating power in the hands of few. "What we do with good intent, with public good in mind, can actually end up perpetuati

The trouble with Android 'forks': Experts fear security, privacy breaches

The CCI has ordered Google to allow Android forks, but many believe that this may make the software vulnerable to security risks

Elon Musk cries foul over flight data that's readily available on the net

People who for security or privacy reasons don't want their location known can opt for FAA to screen their aircraft's identity

Privacy in the digital Wild West

The arguments against a personal data privacy law are spurious. India needs robust data protection laws to enable growth without breaches of privacy

WhatsApp details privacy and safety features rolled out in 2022

WhatsApp on Thursday announced a list of privacy and safety features it rolled out this year. These features include admin control, online presence, code verification, and more. Details here

Apple sued by women over 'dangerous' AirTag stalking, says report

The inexpensive devices, about the size of a half-dollar coin, are intended to be slipped into or attached to personal possessions, like backpacks or keys, to help owners locate them

Cyberattack 'illuminates' shaky state of student privacy in the US

Experts say attack on Illuminate Education, a leading provider of student-tracking software, amounts to a warning for industry

Google executive warns against sharing of citizen data, even if anonymized

India in February published a draft data policy for public consultation saying all data collected, stored by government ministries and departments will be open and shareable barring exceptions

Governance policy will ensure fair access to non-personal data: MeitY

Draft plan focuses on improving institutional framework for government data sharing and principles on privacy

Telegram launches host of new features to enhance user experience, privacy

These include custom notification sounds, custom mute duration, new auto-delete menu , web integration for BOTs, replies in forwarded messages, among other things

Apple's privacy features to cost Facebook $12.8 bn in 2022

According to AppleInsider, the tech giant released its feature in iOS 14 on April 26, last year, and it immediately had an impact on companies relying on advertising revenue

US: DC, 3 states sue Google saying it invades users' privacy

Google makes it impossible for users to opt out of having their sensitive and valuable location data tracked, the suit alleges

Privacy policy: HC extends time for FB, WhatsApp to respond to CCI notices

The Delhi High Court extended the time for filing replies by Facebook and WhatsApp to two notices issued to them by the CCI which has ordered a probe into instant messaging app's new privacy policy.

Taliban-led ministry orders forces to respect Afghan 'public's privacy'

In a surprising decree, the Taliban led Ministry of Vice and Virtue has ordered their forces against invading "people's privacy" and asked them not to take the phones of people and go through them.A spokesperson for the vice and virtue ministry warned that the Islamic Emirate would punish those security forces who violated the decree, TOLOnews reported."Acting Minister of Vice and Virtue Shiek Mohmmad Khalid has said at different events that the Islamic Emirate forces are not allowed to take the phones of people and go through them," said ministry spokesperson Mohammad Sadeq Akif.This comes a few days after the outfit had ordered that some taxi drivers in Kabul not carry male and female passengers at the same time."Last week, they told us that men and women should not be in a vehicle at the same time," said Abdullah Jan, a driver.Despite such decrees and actions, the Taliban continue to say that it is committed to women's rights based on Islamic Regulations.Since the Taliban took over

12 recommendations made by Parl panel in report on Personal Data Protection

Platforms as publishers; covering personal, non-personal data suggested

Apple's child protection features get delayed after privacy outcry

Apple's child protection features, which the company had announced last month, has now been delayed by the tech giant owing to criticism that the changes could diminish user privacy.

WhatsApp head blasts Apple over its tools to curb child abuse

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