Privacy and Technology Policies

Privacy and data protection, artificial intelligence regulation, internet policies, and technology companies.

97 Articles

U.S. Bill Seeks to Grant Video Game Buyers Real “Ownership” Instead of Revocable Licenses

U.S. Representative Ritchie Torres introduced the Power to Players Act to require game companies to grant buyers broader rights to own, operate, and transfer games, while providing an offline mode when servers are shut down. However, the bill’s full text has not yet been published, and implementing this obligation could require major technical changes to games originally designed to operate online.

2026-10-16

Privacy and Technology Policies

Experts: Restricting Social Media Use for Those Under 15 Requires Secure Verification and Independent Oversight

A Turkish regulation preventing social media platforms from providing services to those under 15 will enter into force on November 1. Experts believe its success will depend on protecting verification data, overseeing recommendation algorithms, and strengthening digital awareness among families and schools.

2026-10-16

Privacy and Technology Policies

The Netherlands Establishes Gender Discrimination by Meta’s Algorithm in the Display of Job Advertisements

The Dutch Institute for Human Rights concluded that Meta’s algorithm displayed job advertisements in a way that discriminated between users on the basis of gender, in a decision based on equality laws and GDPR rules. The case highlights the risks of using user profiles, location, and interests to distribute recruitment advertisements.

2026-10-16

Privacy and Technology Policies

U.S. Federal Trade Commission Investigates OpenAI and Anthropic Over AI Safety Harms and Incidents

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has launched an investigation into safety incidents linked to Anthropic and OpenAI agents, requesting documents about the incidents, safeguards, and marketing materials. The investigation could pave the way for the use of consumer-protection and data-breach disclosure laws to hold the two companies accountable.

2026-10-15

Privacy and Technology Policies

Contradiction Between Flock CEO’s Statements and Its Marketing Materials Regarding Gunshot Detection Microphone Capabilities

Flock’s CEO said its microphones listen only for gunshots, while the company’s materials explain that they can also detect fireworks, car meetups, and potential car accidents. The contradiction reignites debate over the scope of audio collection and community surveillance.

2026-10-14

Privacy and Technology Policies

Lawsuit Accuses Flock and Georgia Sheriff’s Office of Using License Plate Cameras for Retaliation and Illegal Surveillance

A small-business owner in Georgia has sued Flock and the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office, accusing them of using an automated license plate recognition system to monitor him without legal justification after a previous lawsuit against the police. The case highlights weak software controls that allowed searches to be conducted with generic or nonsensical justifications.

2026-10-14

Privacy and Technology Policies

U.S. Schools and Libraries Press the FCC Not to Eliminate the E-Rate Program

The plan by FCC Chairman Brendan Carr to reduce or end the E-Rate program, which provides more than $2 billion annually to connect schools and libraries to the internet, is facing widespread opposition from educational institutions, libraries, and industry groups. The dispute also concerns the commission’s legal authority to end a program established by Congress and whether concerns about screen time justify reducing digital infrastructure.

2026-10-14

Privacy and Technology Policies

U.S. Judge Orders OpenAI to Hand Apple Hiring Records in Trade Secrets Case

A U.S. federal judge ordered OpenAI to provide Apple with interview materials it collected from former Apple employees, along with private messages and testimony related to a lawsuit alleging that confidential information was transferred to OpenAI’s consumer hardware project.

2026-10-13

Privacy and Technology Policies

Apple Explains Five Layers of Privacy Protection in HomeView

HomeView’s privacy relies on separating files between household members, facial recognition and paired devices, Secure Exclaves environments, and Siri processing locally or through Private Cloud Compute. The device also supports end-to-end encrypted recognition through compatible home cameras and the iCloud+ service.

2026-10-13

Privacy and Technology Policies

Brad Smith: The United Kingdom Is Best Positioned to Lead Global AI Safety Rules

Microsoft President Brad Smith called for urgent, binding regulation of artificial intelligence, arguing that the United Kingdom is better positioned than the United States and the European Union to lead global safety rules. He believes voluntary commitments are insufficient and that advanced systems need independent testing and mechanisms to shut them down when control is lost.

2026-10-12

Privacy and Technology Policies

Study: New Car Apps Send Driver Data to Advertising and Analytics Companies

A study by Northeastern University and Consumer Reports found that 19 of the 21 cars tested sent data to third-party companies, while seven apps passed sensitive identifiers such as the vehicle identification number, email address, and precise location. The findings highlight the expanding data flows through car apps, with some functions dependent on accepting data sharing.

2026-10-11

Privacy and Technology Policies

Analysis: How U.S. Federal Data Centralization Became a Threat to Privacy

The EFF reviews three waves of U.S. government data aggregation, beginning with DOGE’s access to sensitive databases, followed by the sharing of immigration data, and ending with attempts to use data to purge voter rolls. The organization argues that these practices pose legal and practical risks, despite organizations and states turning to the courts to challenge them.

2026-10-09

Privacy and Technology Policies

U.S. Senator Warns of Security and Regulatory Risks in Trump Mobile Service

Senator Maggie Hassan said that Trump Mobile does not appear to have obtained the authorization required for international telecommunications services, and that it lacks or is missing robocall-mitigation filings. These questions follow a breach affecting the data of 3,615 customers and concerns about subscriber identity-verification mechanisms.

2026-10-08

Privacy and Technology Policies

U.S. Judge Considers Whether Trump Can Sell Early Access to Truth Social Posts for $100,000 a Month

A U.S. federal court is considering the legality of Trump Media & Technology Group selling immediate, archived access to Donald Trump’s posts on Truth Social, which sometimes include significant government announcements. News organizations argue that the high fees create unequal access to public information and raise a conflict between the presidential office and personal commercial interests.

2026-10-08

Privacy and Technology Policies

From a Lawmaker Who Warned Against Prediction Market Betting to Lobbying for Kalshi

The article examines former U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln’s change in position on sports event betting contracts and her current role lobbying for Kalshi. This comes amid a legal dispute between the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and U.S. states over which authority is empowered to regulate these markets.

2026-10-08

Privacy and Technology Policies

Age Verification Could Turn the Internet into an Identity-Conditioned Service

The EFF warns that mandatory age-verification laws pose not only privacy risks but may also exclude millions of people who lack identity documents from accessing internet content and services. The organization believes these rules could reshape the digital public sphere at the expense of marginalized groups and residents of low- and middle-income countries.

2026-10-08

Privacy and Technology Policies

Driver Wins Lawsuit After Stop and Search Based on Data from an AI-Powered License Plate Reader

A federal jury in Texas awarded Alec Schott $76 after concluding that his stop and truck search were based on a report from an automated license plate reader system, along with an invented traffic violation that never occurred. The case raises anew the risks of mass surveillance and the lack of safeguards governing the use of these systems.

2026-10-08

Privacy and Technology Policies

Test: ChatGPT for Teens Continues Encouraging Engagement During Mental Health Crises

A test conducted by Common Sense Media concluded that ChatGPT for teens retains cues encouraging continued conversation even during mental health crises and does not adequately address the risk of becoming attached to the bot itself. OpenAI rejected the assessment and questioned the test’s methodology, while its data showed that teens’ average use of the service is less than 15 minutes per day.

2026-10-07