CDP Institute

This is just the latest in Apple’s practice of writing software that controls the iPhone even after purchase.

A Washington State federal appeals court gave car manufacturers a win by refusing to rule they intercepted and recorded text messages from cellphones connected to on-board infotainment systems. The suit, one of four, was dismissed on grounds that even if consumers who brought the claim had had their messages recorded, they could not prove they were harmed by having their privacy violated.

Not clear how much safer the general population of Britain feels as a result of the police tracking women to ensure they haven’t taken abortion medicine, but apparently it’s been a law enforcement concern there for at least the past three years. Forensic reports show police have requested mass spectrometry tests, which can detect the presence of abortion drugs. Abortion has been legal in England and Wales since 1967, but the procedure can still be deemed criminal in specific circumstances.

The European Parliament went ahead via a large majority with its “yes” vote to approve the Data Act. This despite concern from the blockchain industry over a clause that includes “kill switches” to shut off smart contracts. Smart contracts, are generated by computers and are used in the blockchain industry. The purpose of the Data Act is to clarify who can create value from data, and provides consumers the right to control data that’s been collected about them, including via the Internet of Things (IOT).

A comparison of the ten most popular social media platforms found half fined by European regulators over GDPR. Thirteen were against Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp and X (nee Twitter) for a total of €2.9 billion (US$3.1 billion). Four of the thirteen fines are related to handling of children’s data. TikTok and YouTube are the latest hit - with an EU request to provide proof they have been complying with obligations to protect minors.

The third-party app which claims to show Instagram users how others use their content, has prompted fears anyone could be exposed just for lurking on someone else’s profile.

Companies including Ancestry, MyHeritage and 23andMe have announced to customers they are switching to two-factor identification (2FA) by default.

This includes sensitive data, including names, addresses and branch information.

Backed by investments from Intel Capital and Y Combinator, Freshpaint’s system enables healthcare companies to promote their services, but also protect their patients’ privacy.

The European Data Protection Board (EDPB) has told Ireland’s regulator to impose a permanent ban on Meta processing personal data for behavioral advertising from the entire European Economic Area (EEA). This, which stops the company from selling ads to its 258 million Facebook and Instagram users there. It is the result of Meta’s not adhering to regulator orders imposed last year by Norway.

The regulator agreed with vzbv, a consumer rights organization that LinkedIn can’t ignore ‘Do Not Track’ (DNT) browser setting preferences because that’s in violation of GDPR. This is significant because a lot of other companies have ignored this as a user preference, but LinkedIn which said in a notice it wouldn’t observe DNT, has now been flagged for that and it serves as a test case going forward.