United Kingdom
Millions of UK adults do not know how to remove personal data from devices
- According to new research from the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), 29% of adults in the UK have no idea how to wipe all personal data from old devices.
- The study showed that the average person in the UK has three devices they no longer use lying around the house, with 20% of people saying the reason they have kept these old devices is due to concerns around their personal information. Younger and digital native people were most likely not to delete all personal data from devices, with 14% of people aged between 18 and 34 admitting to leaving personal data on devices.
- Erasing personal information from old devices means your data cannot be accessed by anyone else by mistake or for malicious purposes (such as fraud). The ICO advised a factory reset can adequately erase your personal information.
Bank of England casts doubt on ‘Britcoin’ launch amid privacy and cost concerns
- The Bank and the government had been set to decide in 2025 whether to press ahead with formal development of a UK central bank digital currency (CBDC). However, there are insider concerns over privacy, cost, and conspiracy theories concerning the use of digital currency.
- A “digital pound” would provide consumers with a secure electronic form of money, with transactions managed via smartphone apps and underpinned by the safety net of central bank backing.
- There has been growing hesitancy towards “retail” CBDCs, the push for “wholesale” CBDCs remains strong. These could streamline large interbank transactions and reduce systemic risk, without triggering many of the privacy concerns associated with consumer-facing digital money.
- The decision has not yet been made by the Bank of England concerning the launch of Britcoin. The Bank of England emphasized any eventual introduction of Britcoin would be accompanied by primary legislation ensuring user privacy and control of their funds, in a bid to quell mounting public anxieties.
United States
New data privacy law allows Nebraskans to opt out of having their data sold
- The Nebraska Data Privacy Act allows consumers to access, correct or delete the data companies collect about them. It also enables people to opt out of their data being sold to other companies or third parties.
- Nebraskans can download a universal opt out mechanism on a web browser, which automatically sends a signal to websites that they don’t want their data being sold.
- The Nebraska Attorney General’s office is in charge of enforcing the law and ensuring companies comply.
Apple to pay $95 million to settle Siri privacy lawsuit
- Apple agreed to pay $95 million to settle a proposed class action lawsuit claiming Siri (the Apple voice-activated assistant) violated users’ privacy. The settlement requires approval from U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White.
- The class action suit comes from Apple users complaining that Apple routinely recorded their private conversations after unintentionally activating Siri, and disclosing these conversations to third parties (such as advertisers). Two plaintiffs said their mentions of products triggered ads for these. Another noted they received ads for a brand name surgical treatment, after discussing it with his doctor.
- Class members may receive up to $20 per Siri-enabled device.
Europe
OpenAI Hit With €15 Million GDPR Fine in Italy Over Data Privacy Violations
- OpenAI is being ordered to pay €15 million over failing to identify a valid legal basis for processing user personal information and to be adequately transparent with users, as well as failing to properly notify the Italian Garante privacy regulator of a March 2023 data breach.
- In addition to the fine, the company has been ordered to undertake a six-month public media campaign in the country to educate users about how the chatbot applies personal data to train its algorithm.
- OpenAI claims that the GDPR fine is too large as it represents nearly 20 times the revenue the company has made in Italy with its product over this period.
Volkswagen Data Breach: 800,000 Electric Car Owners’ Data Leaked
- Volkswagen exposed the information of 800,000 electric vehicle owners, including location data and contact details.
- The breach occurred due to a misconfiguration in Volkswagen’s software subsidiary which left sensitive data stored on Amazon Cloud publicly accessible for months. The breach affected everyday citizens, and high-profile individuals such as politicians, business leaders, and law enforcement officers.
- The breach was discovered by Chaos Computer Club (CCC), a German hacker group known for ethical hacking practices, which informed Volkswagen of the vulnerability.
Privacy watchdog warns Flemish cities about misuse of smart cameras
- The Flemish Supervisory Committee for the Processing of Personal Data (VTC) has raised concerns about local authorities’ growing use of smart cameras for speed checks. The cameras capture license plates and potentially record drivers, passengers, and detailed data such as location and time.
- The VTC is insisting local authorities justify the necessity of such cameras and consider less intrusive alternatives like speed bumps. The VTC has observed “function creep,” where cameras initially installed for one purpose, such as speed checks, are later used for other objectives without proper reassessment.
- The VTC warned against financial motives driving camera use, criticising statements from some municipalities suggesting the investment “pays for itself.” “Enforcement is intended to reduce violations, not to exploit them,” the agency said.
International
Share Covid data, World Health Organization tells China
- The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged China to share data on the origins of the Covid pandemic. “This is a moral and scientific imperative,” the WHO said, adding “without transparency, sharing, and co-operation among countries, the world cannot adequately prevent and prepare for future epidemics and pandemics,”.
- Many scientists think the virus transferred naturally from animals to humans, but some suspicions persist that it escaped from a laboratory in Wuhan. China has not responded to Monday’s WHO statement.
- Facial recognition promises of enhanced security and streamlined convenience, and has become a powerful tool in both public and private sectors.
- Facial recognition technology offers significant opportunities in productivity and security. It is used to make travel safer and more efficient in airports, and to aid in identifying suspects in law enforcement.
- The rapid deployment of facial recognition technology raises significant ethical and privacy concerns, including the potential for mass surveillance.
- A critical concern is the accuracy and bias of facial recognition systems. Studies have shown these systems are more likely to misidentify people of colour, women, and younger or older individuals, leading to potential wrongful arrests or exclusion from services.
