Sky Broadband sends Subscribers browsing data through to Premier League without user knowledge or consent

UK ISP Sky Broadband is monitoring the IP addresses of servers suspected of streaming pirated content to subscribers and supplying that data to an anti-piracy company working with the Premier League. That inside knowledge is then processed and used to create blocklists used by the country’s leading ISPs, to prevent subscribers from watching pirated events. Read more about Sky Broadband sends Subscribers browsing data through to Premier League without user knowledge or consent[…]

Apple stalls CSAM auto-scan on devices after ‘feedback’ from everyone on Earth – will still scan all your pics at some point

Apple on Friday said it intends to delay the introduction of its plan to commandeer customers’ own devices to scan their iCloud-bound photos for illegal child exploitation imagery, a concession to the broad backlash that followed from the initiative. “Previously we announced plans for features intended to help protect children from predators who use communication Read more about Apple stalls CSAM auto-scan on devices after ‘feedback’ from everyone on Earth – will still scan all your pics at some point[…]

Lenovo pops up tips on its tablets. And by tips, Lenovo means: Unacceptable ads

Lenovo has come under fire for the Tips application on its tablets, which has been likened to indelible adware that forces folks to view ads. One customer took to the manufacturer’s support forum late last month to say they were somewhat miffed to see an ad suddenly appear on screen to join Amazon Music on Read more about Lenovo pops up tips on its tablets. And by tips, Lenovo means: Unacceptable ads[…]

Huge GTA San Andreas Mod Because Of Take-Two Harassment

After months of Take-Two Interactive attacking and fighting GTA modders, the folks behind the long-in-development San Andreas mod, GTA Underground, have killed the project and removed it from the web over “increasing hostility” from Take-Two and fears of further legal problems. Over the last few months, Take-Two Interactive — the parent company of GTA devs Read more about Huge GTA San Andreas Mod Because Of Take-Two Harassment[…]

Judge Says an AI Can’t Be Listed as an Inventor on a Patent because they are not people

U.S. federal judge Leonie Brikema ruled this week that an AI can’t be listed as an inventor on a U.S. patent under current law. The case was brought forward by Stephen Thaler, who is part of the Artificial Inventor Project, an international initiative that argues that an AI should be allowed to be listed as Read more about Judge Says an AI Can’t Be Listed as an Inventor on a Patent because they are not people[…]

Gorgeous Hand-Drawn Game Guides Kickstarter Cancelled By Nintendo – copyright is seriously broken

Hand-Drawn Game Guides creator Philip Summers knew it was a legal risk to launch his gorgeous, story book-style Nintendo game guides on Kickstarter, but it was a risk he was willing to take. When you pour through all the gorgeous artwork of his unofficial Metroid, Contra, Ninja Gaiden and Legend of Zelda guides, you can Read more about Gorgeous Hand-Drawn Game Guides Kickstarter Cancelled By Nintendo – copyright is seriously broken[…]

Texan Anti-Abortion Snitching Site Violates GoDaddy’s Rules – help bring it down

Even if you don’t live in Texas, you’ve likely heard about the state’s draconian abortion restrictions that officially went into effect on Wednesday. The so-called “Heartbeat Bill,” aka Senate Bill 8, makes it fully illegal for anyone—friends, family, doctors—across Texas to help women access an abortion in the state after their sixth week of pregnancy. Read more about Texan Anti-Abortion Snitching Site Violates GoDaddy’s Rules – help bring it down[…]

Australia: Unprecedented surveillance bill rushed through parliament in 24 hours.

The Australian government has been moving towards a surveillance state for some years already. Now they are putting the nail in the coffin with an unprecedented surveillance bill that allows the police to hack your device, collect or delete your data, and take over your social media accounts; without sufficient safeguards to prevent abuse of Read more about Australia: Unprecedented surveillance bill rushed through parliament in 24 hours.[…]

After 18 Years, SCO’s IBM Litigation May Be Settled for $14.5 Million (is this the last SCO court case though? it won’t DIE!!!!)

Slashdot has confirmed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware that after 18 years of legal maneuvering, SCO’s bankruptcy case (first filed in 2007) is now “awaiting discharge.” Long-time Slashdot reader rkhalloran says they know the reason: Papers filed 26 Aug by IBM & SCOXQ in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware for Read more about After 18 Years, SCO’s IBM Litigation May Be Settled for $14.5 Million (is this the last SCO court case though? it won’t DIE!!!!)[…]

Facebook used facial recognition without consent 200,000 times, says South Korea’s data watchdog. Netflix fined too and Google scolded.

Facebook, Netflix and Google have all received reprimands or fines, and an order to make corrective action, from South Korea’s government data protection watchdog, the Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC). The PIPC announced a privacy audit last year and has revealed that three companies – Facebook, Netflix and Google – were in violations of laws Read more about Facebook used facial recognition without consent 200,000 times, says South Korea’s data watchdog. Netflix fined too and Google scolded.[…]

OnlyFans CEO on why site is banning porn: ‘The short answer is banks’

After facing criticism over the app’s recent decision to prohibit sexually explicit content starting in October, OnlyFans CEO Tim Stokely pointed the finger at banks for the policy change. In an interview with the Financial Times published Tuesday, Stokely singled out a handful of banks for “unfair” treatment, saying they made it “difficult to pay our creators.” Source: OnlyFans Read more about OnlyFans CEO on why site is banning porn: ‘The short answer is banks’[…]

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3’s camera breaks after unlocking the bootloader

[…] Samsung already makes it extremely difficult to have root access without tripping the security flags, and now the Korean OEM has introduced yet another roadblock for aftermarket development. In its latest move, Samsung disables the cameras on the Galaxy Z Fold 3 after you unlock the bootloader. Knox is the security suite on Samsung Read more about Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3’s camera breaks after unlocking the bootloader[…]

China puts continuous consent at the center of data protection law

[…] The new “Personal Information Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China” comes into effect on November 1st, 2021, and comprises eight chapters and 74 articles […] The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) said, as translated from Mandarin using automated tools: On the basis of relevant laws, the law further refines and perfects the Read more about China puts continuous consent at the center of data protection law[…]

Sensitive Data On Afghan Allies Collected By The US Military Is Now In The Hands Of The Taliban

The problem with harvesting reams of sensitive data is that it presents a very tempting target for malicious hackers, enemy governments, and other wrongdoers. That hasn’t prevented anyone from collecting and storing all of this data, secure only in the knowledge this security will ultimately be breached. […] The Taliban is getting everything we left Read more about Sensitive Data On Afghan Allies Collected By The US Military Is Now In The Hands Of The Taliban[…]

Distributed Denial of Secrets – the new wikileaks

Distributed Denial of Secrets is a journalist 501(c)(3) non-profit devoted to enabling the free transmission of data in the public interest. We aim to avoid political, corporate or personal leanings, to act as a beacon of available information. As a transparency collective, we don’t support any cause, idea or message beyond ensuring that information is Read more about Distributed Denial of Secrets – the new wikileaks[…]

Apple’s Not Digging Itself Out of This One: scanning your pictures is dangerous and flawed

Online researchers say they have found flaws in Apple’s new child abuse detection tool that could allow bad actors to target iOS users. However, Apple has denied these claims, arguing that it has intentionally built safeguards against such exploitation. It’s just the latest bump in the road for the rollout of the company’s new features, Read more about Apple’s Not Digging Itself Out of This One: scanning your pictures is dangerous and flawed[…]

Your Credit Score Should Be Based On Your Web History, IMF Says

In a new blog post for the International Monetary Fund, four researchers presented their findings from a working paper that examines the current relationship between finance and tech as well as its potential future. Gazing into their crystal ball, the researchers see the possibility of using the data from your browsing, search, and purchase history Read more about Your Credit Score Should Be Based On Your Web History, IMF Says[…]

How to Stop Apple From Scanning Your iPhone Photos Before iOS 15 Arrives – disable photo backups. No alternative offered, sorry.

Photos that are sent in messaging apps like WhatsApp or Telegram aren’t scanned by Apple. Still, if you don’t want Apple to do this scanning at all, your only option is to disable iCloud Photos. To do that, open the “Settings” app on your iPhone or iPad, go to the “Photos” section, and disable the Read more about How to Stop Apple From Scanning Your iPhone Photos Before iOS 15 Arrives – disable photo backups. No alternative offered, sorry.[…]

Zoom to pay $85M for lying about encryption and sending data to Facebook and Google

Zoom has agreed to pay $85 million to settle claims that it lied about offering end-to-end encryption and gave user data to Facebook and Google without the consent of users. The settlement between Zoom and the filers of a class-action lawsuit also covers security problems that led to rampant “Zoombombings.” The proposed settlement would generally give Read more about Zoom to pay $85M for lying about encryption and sending data to Facebook and Google[…]

Game Dev Turns Down $500k Exploitative Contract, explains why – looks like music industry contracts

Receiving a publishing deal from an indie publisher can be a turning point for an independent developer. But when one-man team Jakefriend was approached with an offer to invest half a million Canadian dollars into his hand-drawn action-adventure game Scrabdackle, he discovered the contract’s terms could see him signing himself into a lifetime of debt, Read more about Game Dev Turns Down $500k Exploitative Contract, explains why – looks like music industry contracts[…]

Stop using Zoom, Hamburg’s DPA warns state government – The US does not safeguard EU citizen data

Hamburg’s state government has been formally warned against using Zoom over data protection concerns. The German state’s data protection agency (DPA) took the step of issuing a public warning yesterday, writing in a press release that the Senate Chancellory’s use of the popular videoconferencing tool violates the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) since Read more about Stop using Zoom, Hamburg’s DPA warns state government – The US does not safeguard EU citizen data[…]

How to Limit Spotify From Tracking You, Because It Knows Too Much – and sells it

Most Spotify users are likely aware the streaming service tracks their listening activity, search history, playlists, and the songs they like or skip—that’s all part of helping the algorithm figure out what you like, right? However, some users may be less OK with how much other data Spotify and its partners are logging. According to Spotify’s Read more about How to Limit Spotify From Tracking You, Because It Knows Too Much – and sells it[…]

Apple’s iPhone computer vision has the potential to preserve privacy but also break it completely

[…] an AI on your phone will scan all those you have sent and will send to iPhotos. It will generate fingerprints that purportedly identify pictures, even if highly modified, that will be checked against fingerprints of known CSAM material. Too many of these – there’s a threshold – and Apple’s systems will let Apple Read more about Apple’s iPhone computer vision has the potential to preserve privacy but also break it completely[…]

Rockstar Begins A War On Modders For ‘GTA’ Games For Totally Unclear Reasons

[…]Rockstar Games has previously had its own run-in with its modding community, banning modders who attempted to shift GTA5’s online gameplay to dedicated servers that would allow mods to be used, since Rockstar’s servers don’t allow mods. What it’s now doing in issuing copyright notices on modders who have been forklifting older Rockstar assets into Read more about Rockstar Begins A War On Modders For ‘GTA’ Games For Totally Unclear Reasons[…]

Senators ask Amazon how it will use palm print data from its stores

If you’re concerned that Amazon might misuse palm print data from its One service, you’re not alone. TechCrunch reports that Senators Amy Klobuchar, Bill Cassidy and Jon Ossoff have sent a letter to new Amazon chief Andy Jassy asking him to explain how the company might expand use of One’s palm print system beyond stores Read more about Senators ask Amazon how it will use palm print data from its stores[…]