CDP Institute

Two huge US data brokers, Mobilewalla Inc. and Gravy Analytics, have just been served with bans from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for their collection and sale of consumer location data. While not household names to consumers, they process billions of units of data which they’ve sold without consent. In the case of Mobilewalla, one of the largest data brokers in the world, the FTC says they tracked profiles from 1.6 billion devices across more than 35 countries and then sold it to third parties. Gravy Analytics, via a subsidiary,... Read More >

Two US government agencies are recommending citizens consider using encrypted communications apps in the wake of one of the largest intelligence compromises in the country’s history. Companies including AT&T, Verizon and Lumen Technologies were hacked prior to the election by what is believed to have been China, though it denies involvement. The breach included access to mass call records, metadata, and phone calls. The FBI and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) don’t know how long it will take to fix, so those wanting privacy should act.

Vietnam’s Law on Personal Data Protection (PDP) passed with 94% approval. The regulation has been expedited to go live July 1 to provide robust regulation of data use. Vietnam’s Standing Committee has recommended amendments to reinforce guidelines on international data transfers and to establish a national database to share data resources.

No need to rush, apparently, in the face of child pornography abuse. But, after years thinking it over, Telegram decided to join Google’s YouTube and others, in actively using tools to “detect, disrupt, remove, and block” child sexual abuse imagery. That’s good given the platform has 950+ million active users/month. Sooner would have been even better.

A US$1.2 billion lawsuit has been brought against Apple in California for failing to protect victims from child sexual abuse material (CSAM). This after the company abandoned a proactive plan to scan iCloud images for CSAM.

This means a tourist visit to Spain could now involve sharing lots of personal information – 40+ personal details for hotel stays and 60 personal data items when renting a car.

This is further use of the state’s newly enacted data privacy law.