Privacy Transformation - Issue 221

Curated privacy news, insights & resources, with a focus on Irish and EU developments.


PRIVACY

Northern Ireland police officers’ details exposed in ‘monumental’ breach

A “monumental” data breach has exposed the names and rank of every serving police officer in Northern Ireland. A spreadsheet was mistakenly published online detailing the surname, initial, rank or grade, location and the departments of all current Police Service of Northern Ireland officers and civilian staff members. It is understood that the breach does not involve private addresses.

🔗 RELATED: ICO statement in response to reports of a data breach at the Police Service of Northern Ireland

UK data bill favours big business and ‘shady’ tech firms, rights group claim

Individuals’ control over and access to their data is being undermined by a post-Brexit bill that favours big business and “shady” technology companies, a digital rights group has claimed.


SECURITY & TECH

Three years ago Zoom settled with the FTC over a claim of deceptive marketing around security claims, having been accused of overstating the strength of the encryption it offered. Now the videoconferencing platform could be headed for a similar tangle in Europe in relation to its privacy small print.

Baby monitors and smart speakers enabling abuse, say MPs

Fitness trackers, home security systems and baby monitors are among the devices that MPs warn are enabling the growing issue of tech-enabled domestic abuse.

$5 billion Google lawsuit over ‘Incognito mode’ tracking moves a step closer to trial

A California judge denied Google’s request for summary judgment in a lawsuit filed by users alleging the company illegally invaded the privacy of millions of people. The people suing Google say that occurred because Google’s cookies, analytics, and tools in apps continued to track internet browsing activity even after users activated Incognito mode Chrome or other similar features like Safari’s private browsing expecting a certain level of privacy.


ENFORCEMENT

Norway to fine Meta nearly $100,000 a day over data use

Norway’s data protection agency said on Tuesday (8 August) it would start fining Facebook and Instagram owner Meta nearly $100,000 per day for defying a ban on using users’ personal information to target ads.

🔗 RELATED: It’s time to end damaging website design practices that may harm your users

TikTok to face European privacy fine by September

TikTok is set to face a privacy fine by early September for its handling of teenagers' and children's data, according to three people with knowledge of the matter.


RESOURCES

📕 ICO-CMA Paper: ICO-CMA joint paper on Harmful Design in Digital Markets

This paper sets out the harms that can arise when certain types of practices are used to present information and choices to consumers about the collection and use of their personal information. It gives examples of concerning design practices, and provides a set of expectations that the ICO and CMA share of firms, and UX and product designers, that will support good practice.


CONTRIBUTE
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