privacy

Meta is testing AI-powered glasses named 'super sensing' capable of recording every moment. The development has sparked a new privacy debate regarding who will be recorded by the device.

Ethereum is undergoing its largest overhaul since the Merge, with core protocol components being rebuilt over three to four years. The update prioritizes quantum safety and privacy as central features.

The Australian government has warned about the rising use of AI scribes in doctors' offices, as the federal health department and health regulator consider privacy safeguards. AI scribe tools, which transcribe and summarize patient-doctor conversations, have become popular in the past 18 months.

Orchestra, a startup, has installed over 100 street-facing cameras in San Francisco and plans to add 900 more, using AI to convert live footage into searchable data for police, insurers, real estate, and autonomous vehicle companies. The company aims to expand its 'AGI for cities' initiative globally, emphasizing anonymized data and avoiding facial recognition.

Rep. Tom Kean Jr. disclosed his absence from the House was due to inpatient depression treatment, sparking debate about privacy versus transparency for elected officials. Colleagues expressed sympathy but questioned his delayed disclosure and lack of detail, with some arguing public representatives should balance personal privacy with constituent accountability.

Detroit City Council approved a nine-month extension of the ShotSpotter contract in a 5-4 vote, amid debates over its $2 million cost, public safety benefits, and privacy concerns. Opponents cited surveillance and racial targeting, while supporters highlighted its role in locating shooting victims, including a case where it helped save a 7-year-old boy. Critics questioned the system's effectiveness, citing low arrest rates following alerts, while community groups argued it aids in directing non-police interventions.

WhatsApp is introducing usernames to protect user privacy by allowing them to keep their phone numbers hidden. The feature aims to enhance user anonymity within the messaging platform.

Hawaii's Department of Law Enforcement is expanding its use of drones to protect first responders and increase outdoor surveillance, while some community members have concerns about privacy.

WhatsApp, owned by Meta, will introduce unique usernames to replace phone number sharing, enhancing user privacy. Users will no longer automatically share their numbers in group chats or first-time messages, and there will be no public directory for usernames. The feature will roll out gradually worldwide, with creators and businesses allowed to claim existing handles from Meta's other platforms.

WhatsApp is introducing screen names (usernames) as a new feature, enhancing user privacy. This rollout is described as the app's most in-demand feature and is being implemented globally this year.

WhatsApp announced global reservations for usernames to enhance user privacy by allowing connections through usernames instead of sharing phone numbers. The optional feature aims to protect the privacy of over three billion users and will begin rolling out today.

WhatsApp will introduce a username feature allowing users to be contacted via unique handles instead of phone numbers, enhancing privacy. The feature, launching later this year, will let users reserve usernames (3-35 characters) and limit discoverability to exact matches. High-profile individuals and groups will have usernames protected from impersonation.

Apple is leveraging developers, privacy, and patience as part of its strategy to reinvent itself at its 50th anniversary in the AI era. The company is positioning itself for long-term growth by focusing on these key areas.

The California Association of Mutual Water Companies asked Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez to remove provisions from her bill requiring transparency for mutual water companies raising rates, which she promotes as a safeguard for Eaton Fire survivors. The association claims the provisions threaten privacy and safety.

Parents are increasingly using smartphone apps to monitor their adult children, a practice viewed by some as enhancing safety but by others as an invasion of privacy. The trend raises questions about privacy and trust within families.

A suspect allegedly used a Waymo robotaxi to flee a burglary at a San Francisco yoga studio, raising questions about self-driving cars and privacy. The stolen items included activewear, and police are investigating but have not made an arrest. Waymo's privacy protections, including blurred facial footage, complicated the investigation.

Trump officials are limiting the Census Bureau's methods to protect privacy when releasing statistics, potentially reducing new public data for redistricting and other uses. This push aims to cut 'statistical noise' but may result in less available data.

Ethereum developers are exploring new token standards to enhance privacy. The focus on privacy reflects growing interest in improving data protection within blockchain ecosystems.

Apple has unveiled its long-awaited AI Siri after years of delays. The company aims to differentiate itself through a commitment to privacy.

Facebook users involved in a $725 million class-action privacy settlement may receive a second payment. The settlement addresses privacy concerns related to Facebook's data practices.

A bug in Zcash allowed undetectable counterfeiting, highlighting that privacy features can have tradeoffs, according to experts.

The article discusses Apple's potential inclusion of cameras in its next AirPods, highlighting challenges such as battery life and privacy concerns that could hinder the feature's implementation.

A $725 million Facebook privacy settlement is distributing bonus payments to affected users. The payments are part of a landmark class action settlement related to privacy violations.

Perplexity has introduced a hybrid inference system that automatically routes AI tasks between user devices and the cloud. The system aims to enhance privacy and reduce costs by minimizing server usage.

A Virginia man is suing Amazon over Ring's 'Familiar Faces' feature, claiming the technology violates privacy. The lawsuit alleges the facial recognition software infringes on people's privacy rights.

Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison stated that citizens will behave well due to constant recording, warning about privacy erosion. The article highlights his comment as a 'dire warning' on the topic.

Slate Auto, a startup based in Warsaw, Indiana, is developing a minimalist electric pickup truck with a focus on privacy. The truck features a stripped-down design with 600 parts, no infotainment system, and a smartphone app that connects locally to manage settings without embedded modem or remote access. The company emphasizes data privacy, stating it will not sell user data collected through the app.

Google's new AI agent, Gemini Spark, can perform background tasks including multi-step actions, but raises concerns about financial cost and privacy. The company claims it operates under user control and checks before major actions.

Proton Mail aims to help users transition from Gmail and Google by offering a service that provides greater privacy for managing Gmail messages.

The article explains how to install local AI chatbots on an iPhone, emphasizing benefits such as offline functionality and enhanced privacy.

Alibaba Group Holding has launched MuleRun, an AI agent platform aimed at replicating the success of OpenClaw while addressing privacy and security concerns. The platform was introduced at the Alibaba Cloud summit on May 20 as an 'always-on AI workforce' solution.

New companies are selling AI assistance to mental health therapists for administrative tasks like recordkeeping, but some patients express privacy concerns.

Conservatives plan to amend the Liberals' controversial lawful access bill, which requires tech companies to modify systems to assist police and security investigations. The bill has sparked concerns over potential threats to Canadians' privacy and cybersecurity risks.

The article discusses Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE) as a critical privacy technology enabling institutional adoption of Web3 applications. FHE allows computation on encrypted data without decryption, addressing privacy concerns that have hindered mainstream Web3 adoption by enterprises.

NEAR Protocol experienced a 45% rally this week following announcements of upgrades focused on privacy, AI, and scaling capabilities. The upgrades position NEAR as a potential settlement layer for AI agents and confidential finance applications.

A bipartisan amendment is being proposed to ban police use of automatic license plate readers (ALPRs) across the United States. The legislation aims to end mass surveillance of citizens through vehicle tracking technology that law enforcement agencies currently employ nationwide.

SolanaFloor discusses Solana's achievement in scaling transparency on its blockchain network, while highlighting the emerging challenge of scaling privacy features. The article suggests that as Solana continues to grow, it must balance its transparent architecture with enhanced privacy protections for users.

Beginners in Bitcoin often focus on price movements initially but later realize the importance of self-custody, privacy, mining, and decentralization. These topics are crucial to understanding how the network functions. As people spend more time learning about Bitcoin, they tend to overlook these important aspects early on.

The article discusses a whistleblower who exposed the NSA's mass surveillance programs, revealing how the agency built a 'Big Brother Machine' to monitor global communications. The revelations sparked debates about privacy, government overreach, and the ethics of digital surveillance.

A Reddit user is exploring cryptocurrency, specifically Monero (XMR) and Cake Wallet, to enhance digital privacy. They seek guidance on setting up a secure crypto system, avoiding common mistakes, and acquiring crypto without linking to a bank account or credit card.