internet privacy

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Google to Settle Lawsuit Over Claims It Tracks People in 'Incognito' Mode

Plaintiffs argued Google continued to track users who thought they were browsing privately

(Newser) - Google will settle the class-action lawsuit, filed in 2020, accusing the tech giant of tracking users even when they were using "incognito" mode on their Chrome web browsers, the AP reports. Plaintiffs argued Google had amassed an "unaccountable trove of information" on users who were misled into believing...

EU's Fine Against Amazon Was Huge. Meta's Is Even Bigger

Facebook parent hit with record $1.3B penalty in longtime privacy case over US cybersnooping fears

(Newser) - The European Union slapped Meta with a record $1.3 billion privacy fine Monday and ordered it to stop transferring user data across the Atlantic by October, the latest salvo in a decade-long case sparked by US cybersnooping fears. The penalty fine of 1.2 billion euros from Ireland's...

Warning Puts a Damper on Lawmakers' Use of TikTok

Memo from chamber's Chief Administrative Office warns against app due to privacy, security concerns

(Newser) - Even members of the US House of Representatives and their staff like to catch the latest viral dance video on TikTok, but a new warning from the chamber's Chief Administrative Office may have them rethinking using the popular social-media app. "We do not recommend the download or use...

New iPhone Feature Adds to Zuckerberg-Cook Tension

Users can choose to not allow tracking for ad purposes, striking at Facebook's model

(Newser) - A new privacy feature released Monday reflects the widening gulf between Facebook and Apple—and their leaders. The feature makes iPhone owners choose whether to let apps like Facebook track them across other apps, a practice that's central to targeting users with tailored ad content. Should iPhone users reject...

Lawsuit: Popular Weather App Deceived Users

Los Angeles sues Weather Channel, says location data was sold without proper consent

(Newser) - Used the Weather Channel app? You might've been deceived into sharing your location data with company partners, according to a lawsuit from Los Angeles' city attorney. The IBM-owned app—one of the country's most popular sources of weather data, with more than 100 million downloads and 45 million...

Facebook Says It Gave 4 Chinese Companies Access

One of which was Huawei, which has lawmakers unnerved

(Newser) - Days after the New York Times came out with a report alleging that Facebook improperly let other companies have access to users' personal information comes a follow-up from the Times that reports the group included four Chinese companies—one of which US intelligence has identified as a possible national security...

Don't Ignore Those Privacy Policy Emails
Don't Ignore Those
Privacy Policy Emails
OPINION
May 29, 2018 9:55 AM CDT

Don't Ignore Those Privacy Policy Emails

They reveal important changes in how your data is collected and shared: Mona Ibrahim

(Newser) - You've probably noticed emails about companies' privacy policy changes arriving in your inbox. It's less likely you've read them—though it's important you do, says lawyer Mona Ibrahim. Writing at Polygon , Ibrahim notes the emails may be "asking permission to do and track a lot...

Zuckerberg Says He Was One of the 87M
Zuckerberg Says He
Was One of the 87M
Apr 11, 2018 10:50 AM CDT

Zuckerberg Says He Was One of the 87M

Facebook CEO's own data was scooped up by Cambridge Analytica

(Newser) - Mark Zuckerberg was back on Capitol Hill Wednesday, and he told lawmakers in a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing that his own Facebook information was compromised in the Cambridge Analytica scandal, with Zuckerberg numbering as one of the 87 million users whose data was shared. Reuters reports he didn'...

Apple's Wozniak Dumps Facebook: 'More Negatives Than Positives'

Apple co-founder has deactivated his account over data commotion

(Newser) - One of the biggest names in tech says he's defecting from one of tech's biggest platforms. Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak told USA Today in an email Sunday he's leaving Facebook due to privacy concerns in the wake of the Cambridge Analytica data-mining scandal. "Users provide every...

Google's Latest Move Has 'Massive' Privacy Implications

Tech giant will start tracking offline purchasing

(Newser) - Google already tracks what you buy online; it's about to start tracking what you buy offline, too, the AP reports. The tech giant announced Tuesday it will start tracking money spent at merchants' brick-and-mortar stores by people who've clicked on those stores' digital ads. Google has access to...

Trump Officially Nixes Obama's Internet Privacy Rules

President signs repeal, clearing way for ISPs to gather consumer data without permission

(Newser) - In a move the ACLU has decried as putting "profits over privacy," President Trump on Monday signed a repeal of former President Obama's internet privacy rules, removing obstacles for internet service providers who wish to cull web browsing histories or other information from consumers, the AP and...

Cards Against Humanity Creator Rails Against Congress

But his plan, and others', to strike back over web privacy may fall flat—at least for now

(Newser) - Congress has decided Americans' web browsing history isn't private , so Americans are now trying to turn the tables on Congress. Per the Washington Post , hundreds of thousands of dollars have been raised via various crowdfunding efforts—including more than $73,000 by Supernatural star Misha Collins and more than...

To VPN or Not to VPN: Protecting Online Privacy
The Tool That Could Keep
ISPs From Spying on You
THE RUNDOWN
Mar 29, 2017 5:09 PM CDT

The Tool That Could Keep ISPs From Spying on You

There are different schools of thought on virtual private networks, or VPNs

(Newser) - The country now waits for President Trump to put his signature on a bill blocking enforcement of FCC rules meant to keep internet service providers from selling and sharing user data. What people aren't waiting to do, however: freak out about the official loss of much of their privacy...

How Private Is Your Web History? Not Very, Decides Congress

Repeal of internet privacy rule now headed for Trump's desk

(Newser) - A measure to repeal online privacy rules brought in under former President Barack Obama before they take effect is on its way to President Trump's desk after the House passed it with a 215-205 vote. The measure—which passed the Senate 50-48 last week—blocks the FCC from enforcing...

FCC: ISPs Will Have to Ask Before Sharing Data

New broadband privacy rules approved

(Newser) - Federal regulators have approved new broadband privacy rules that make internet service providers like Comcast and Verizon ask customers' permission before using or sharing much of their data, the AP reports. Under the measure, for example, a broadband provider has to ask a customer's permission before it can disclose...

Her Parents Put 500 Photos of Her on Facebook. She's Suing

The Austrian woman says her parents know no shame or limit

(Newser) - It was so funny at the time, posting that photo of your baby's insane diaper blowout. Now, a case out of southern Austria hints at what could happen when those kids grow up. An 18-year-old woman says that her parents since 2009 have posted some 500 photos of her...

Google to Let 'Plus' Users Contact Any Gmail User

You could get email from someone who doesn't have your address

(Newser) - Watch out, Gmail users: You may soon see messages in your inbox from people you don't know. Google is rolling out a feature over the next few days that will allow any Google+ user to send an email to any Gmail user who is also on Google+, even if...

Facebook Private Messages Aren't So Private: Suit

Network scans them to boost its ad sales, a California lawsuit claims

(Newser) - An alarming claim has popped up in a California class action lawsuit: Facebook is accused of violating privacy boundaries by reading your private messages whenever it fancies. The suit claims the social network scans private messages, looking for websites users send to each other, for "purposes including but not...

Google Will Soon Be Using Your Face, Name, in Ads

New 'shared endorsement' ads will promote your ratings

(Newser) - Google may start spitting out some very familiar-looking search results. That's because the online giant plans to follow in the footsteps of Facebook by generating ads that use your name, photos, ratings, and comments to promote various products and pages. For instance, explains the New York Times , if you...

Forget Prism: NSA Is Tapped Straight Into the Internet Pipeline

Prism is just part of a much broader spying program, says the AP

(Newser) - The existence of Prism has shocked many Americans, but perhaps it shouldn't have, because the program is a direct result of two things we already knew about, the AP says in an extensive new report. Firstly, the NSA is tapped straight into the fiber optic cables that carry a...

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