Apple's Hide My Email feature may be exposing users' real addresses anyway
The bug reportedly remained exploitable more than a year after Apple was told about it
License plate cameras are scanning 20 billion vehicles a month, cities are starting to push back
Several communities have canceled contracts over government overreach fears
In a nutshell: Cities are collecting vast amounts of vehicle data through AI-powered camera networks, giving police the ability to track a car's movements across jurisdictions in seconds. The same systems are also fueling a growing debate over how much surveillance is too much.
WhatsApp finally gets usernames, letting users hide their phone numbers
WhatsApp is rolling out unique usernames, letting users connect without sharing their phone number. To claim yours, update to the latest version of WhatsApp, go to Settings > Account > Username, and pick an available handle. The feature is rolling out gradually, with broader availability expected later this year.
Meta hits pause on AI training project after employee data became visible company-wide
The company-wide initiative collected keystrokes, mouse activity, and workplace interactions
Microsoft Teams is getting Wi-Fi location "check-in," but it's less creepy than it sounds
A powerful surveillance tool or just another "nothingburger" from Redmond?
Flock AI cameras allegedly used by police to stalk ex-girlfriends and partners
Some police departments are ending contract with Flock over privacy concerns
Signal, DuckDuckGo, and NordVPN threaten to exit Canada if metadata surveillance law passes
Canada's metadata retention bill is the latest government attempt to build surveillance into the internet's infrastructure
Brave is charging $60 for a version of its browser that removes the features you probably never wanted
Brave Origin strips out AI, crypto, and ads
Proton Mail now lets you send email from your Gmail address
New feature lets you transition away from Gmail gradually, so you never have to open Google's app again
Meta's AI training effort is capturing employee emails and browsing history, not just mouse clicks
Internal documents show Meta's AI training logs browsing history, clipboard actions, and employee communications across 200+ apps
Google trials 5GB storage cap for new Gmail sign-ups without phone numbers
A new security feature or a ploy for more private info?
Microsoft is baking even more Copilot functionality into the Edge browser
Are you still browsing the web, or is Copilot browsing you at this point?
The EU is going after TikTok and Meta over addictive algorithms and child safety failures
As always, Brussels is especially thinking about the children
Say goodbye to burner phones? FCC robocall plan raises privacy fears
Carriers could be forced to collect government ID and other personal data before activating service
Google Chrome has been silently pushing a 4GB AI model to your device without asking
The browser automatically redownloads Gemini Nano files if users delete them
Utah just passed the first US law targeting VPN use for age verification
A new Utah law assumes websites can detect VPNs and find your real location. They can't.
Ubuntu is adding AI features, and it's on a collision course with its own user base
Users are asking for a kill switch already
Meta contractor fires 1,100 AI trainers after they revealed Ray-Ban glasses recorded private and intimate footage
The same firm that helped train ChatGPT is now at the center of Meta's smart glasses privacy scandal
Google Photos feature uses AI to scan your pictures and help pick your clothes
Let's hope Google makes this one opt-in
A federal agent said WhatsApp's encryption is a lie. Then the investigation was shut down
A 10-month Commerce Department probe concluded Meta could view all WhatsApp messages in unencrypted form
A Supreme Court case could decide whether your phone can be used to find you first and suspect you later
A robbery case tied to Google data could set nationwide rules for how investigators use reverse searches to identify suspects
Gemini can now look through your Google Photos to create AI images, with a few caveats
It's not on by default, but the idea is still unsettling
Open-source tool decrypts all private data collected by Windows Recall on Copilot PCs
Editor's take: Windows Recall continues to raise security concerns. Microsoft has redesigned the feature to improve data and identity protection following public outcry, but a new tool is now reigniting the controversy. I have to suspect that few people in their right mind would choose to enable or use it at this point.
Clicking "reject cookies" might not actually do anything
Google, Microsoft, and Meta largely ignore cookie opt-outs, independent audit says