Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has run roughshod over protections intended to protect the privacy of US citizens, has prompted a class action by union groups representing 7.2 million people. The lawsuit brought against the US Treasury Department for providing social security numbers, tax and bank information, alleges Musk’s team data access violated the US Privacy Act.
The UK Home Office has cited the Investigatory Powers Act (IPA) to justify its claim it has a right to back-door access to the encrypted data of Apple users worldwide. This, which Privacy International has called an “unprecedented attack” that would set a “damaging precedent,” is similar to previous requests for back door access other governments have made and that Apple has refused.
Virginia’s Senate voted to pass the Consumer Data Protection Act by a large majority. The bill, which proposes to ban the sale of precise location data, now goes to the state legislature.
Preliminary findings by the European Commission state that Apple and Google are in violation of the EU’s Digital Markets Act. Among the findings, Google Search is accused of prioritizing Google’s own products and services in results; Apple is instructed to improve interoperability between iOS and third-party devices. The companies now have an opportunity to respond.