Category: Privacy

Pharmacies Shared Patient Records Without a Warrant, an Inquiry Finds

A congressional investigation found that the nation’s largest pharmacies have handed over prescription records to law enforcement without a warrant, raising privacy concerns.
QR Codes Can Hide Deceptive Links From Identity Thieves, F.T.C. Warns

Scammers have used QR codes to steal personal information by imitating legitimate companies or sending deceptive emails and text messages, the Federal Trade Commission said.
Meta Plans to Add Encryption to Messenger, Stoking a Privacy Debate

The move is part of an effort to make the app more like WhatsApp and iMessage. Law enforcement authorities say the privacy makes it harder to track criminals.
Don’t Be Afraid of the iPhone’s NameDrop Feature, Experts Say

Police departments have issued warnings about a new Apple setting that lets users exchange contact information by bringing their devices together. Tech experts say the fears are overblown.
At Meta, Millions of Underage Users Were an ‘Open Secret,’ States Say

Meta “routinely documented” children under 13 on Instagram and “unlawfully” collected their data, according to a newly unsealed complaint.
Apple Texting With Android Users to Improve Next Year

Longstanding texting problems between Android and Apple owners will ease next year. Among other changes, users will be able to send better-quality videos and photos.
Man vs. Musk: A Whistleblower Creates Headaches for Tesla

An employee who was fired after expressing safety concerns leaked personnel records and sensitive data about driver-assistance software.
What the U.S. Has Argued in the Google Antitrust Trial

As the government wraps up its case in the landmark monopoly trial, it has built a picture of how Google became dominant in online search — and the harms that it says resulted.
Meta Sued Over Features That Hook Children to Instagram, Facebook

More than three dozen states and the District of Columbia accused the tech giant of knowingly using addictive features to draw in and retain children and teenagers.
Can You Hide a Child’s Face From A.I.?

Parents have been stressing out for at least two decades about what to share about their children online. Powerful new technologies present a more urgent risk.
As Red States Curb Social Media, Did Montana’s TikTok Ban Go Too Far?

Montana is at the forefront of a wave of new tech laws passed by Republican-led states. Some give parents control over their children’s social media accounts.
Google’s Bard Just Got More Powerful. It’s Still Erratic.

The chatbot now pulls information from a user’s Gmail, Google Docs and Google Drive accounts. The feature leaves a lot to be desired.