Category: privacy

‘Upskirting’ Has Become a Hidden Industry in China, and It’s Everywhere

At 2 a.m., a woman walked into the bathroom to take a shower not knowing that there was a spy camera hidden in a ventilation opening of the bathroom ceiling. An undercover reporter with the Chinese Communist Party’s official media said that he viewed the secretly filmed footage in an online chat group that people…


Watchdogs Order Clearview AI to Stop Using Facial Recognition Tool Without Consent

OTTAWA—Three provincial privacy watchdogs have ordered facial recognition company Clearview AI to stop collecting, using and disclosing images of people without consent. The privacy authorities of British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec are also requiring the U.S. firm to delete images and biometric data collected without permission from individuals. The orders made public today follow a…


No Definitive Conclusion Whether Governments Can Legally Ask Canadians to Disclose Vaccine Status: Privacy Commissioner

Canada’s privacy commissioner says it is not clear whether governments can legally ask Canadians to disclose their vaccination status in order to access public services. “During the pandemic, is it reasonable, for public health purposes, for governments to require the disclosure of this information? The question is not as clear-cut as it might seem,” said…


Federal Privacy Watchdog Warns of Growing Dangers of ‘Surveillance Capitalism’

OTTAWA—The federal privacy watchdog is warning Canadians about the growing threat of surveillance capitalism—the use of personal information by large corporations. In his annual report tabled Thursday in Parliament, privacy commissioner Daniel Therrien said state surveillance—a major concern after the 9/11 terrorist attacks—has been reined in somewhat in recent years. Meanwhile, personal data has emerged…


Facebook Could Be Sued by Consumer Groups, EU Court Adviser Says

BRUSSELS—Facebook could be sued by consumer groups for privacy violations, an adviser to Europe’s top court said on Thursday, in a German online gaming case that could pave the way for similar action across the EU. The case started in 2012 and is one of several privacy and antitrust headaches facing Facebook in Europe, where…


South Australian Leader Says No Data Compromised in Contact Tracing Hack

South Australian Premier Steven Marshall has reassured residents that no data was compromised after the state’s contact tracing app was hacked. “There has been no hacking or compromise of data on the mySA GOV app, and there has been no compromise of data that we use for our COVID check-in,” he told reporters. “What we…


Twitter Avoids Revenue Hit From Apple Privacy Changes

Twitter Inc. on Tuesday reported its quarterly revenue grew 37 percent and avoided the brunt of Apple Inc. privacy changes on advertising that hobbled its rivals, sending its shares up 3 percent. The social networking site has been working to add new features such as audio chat rooms to attract users, and also rolled out…


CEO Mark Zuckerberg Addresses Leak of Thousands of Facebook Documents

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg responded Monday to the release of thousands of company documents recently leaked by whistleblower Frances Haugen, saying large companies “should be scrutinized” and arguing that the leaked documents could be used to “paint a false picture” of the company. The statement noted the company’s brands—that include Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, among…


Snap Tumbles, Drags Social Media Giants on Apple Privacy Tweak Worries

Shares of Snap Inc. plunged on Friday, dragging down other ad-dependent tech firms, after the photo messaging app owner warned of a prolonged hit from Apple Inc.’s privacy changes on iOS devices. Snap shares were down nearly 20 percent at $60.8 before the bell, on track to open at a near three-month low. Shares of…


Vaccine Passports Will Create a ‘Global Digital Infrastructure of Surveillance’: Former Ontario Privacy Commissioner

Vaccine passports mandated by governments will create a highly intrusive surveillance system that not only forces Canadians to reveal their health information but can also track their whereabouts, Ontario’s former privacy commissioner says. The personal information linked to each individual’s vaccine passport reveals substantial data that introduces serious privacy concerns, says Dr. Ann Cavoukian, who…