The 'disappearing' message platform vendor has dedicated tools to gather user data for internal purposes, and has had to contend with staff abuse of those tools in the past, finds a report
News Data protection
EU Security Official Calls For Loopholes In 5G Standards
Next-generation networks make it too difficult for security agencies to spy on targets, says EU counter-terrorism coordinator Gilles de Kerchove in leaked memo
Privacy Groups Warn On ISPs’ ‘Widespread’ Use Of Deep Packet Inspection
The practice undermines the EU's existing net neutrality rules and also has worrying privacy implications, campaigners say
Facebook US Settlement Could Impose 20 Years Of Oversight
A deal with the FTC reportedly in the works could extend oversight of Facebook's data practices, but critics say it's too little, too late
Google ‘Set To Roll Out’ Ad Tracker Blocking In Chrome
The move could help Google improve its privacy image – while at the same time giving it an advantage over rivals in the online ad market
HMRC Begins Deleting Voice ID Data Of 5 Million Users
Regulators found tax authority had given 'little or no consideration' to data protection when setting up its biometric service
Data Protection Regulator To Probe EU Institutions’ Contracts With Microsoft
The investigation follows a Dutch report that found privacy concerns with the way Microsoft held public authorities' data in a US-based data centre
ICO Calls On Facebook To Prove It’s Sincere On Regulation
If Facebook is truly in favour of stronger social media rules, it should revisit its appeal of last year's £500,000 fine over the Cambridge Analytica leak, says information commissioner
Facebook’s Call For Regulation Meets With Scepticism
As political pressure mounts, Mark Zuckerberg calls for a common regulatory framework covering issues such as harmful content, misinformation and privacy
Zuckerberg Announces ‘Privacy-Focused’ Future For Facebook
Facebook chief says the company is building a 'privacy-focused platform', as it prepares to integrate WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and Instagram
Financial Services Report Five-Fold Rise In Data Breaches
Banks remain a lucrative target for hackers, with prosecutions lagging behind a rise in successful attacks, Financial Conduct Authority figures show
Zuckerberg Meets With UK Culture Secretary
The 30-minute meeting at Facebook's California headquarters follows 18 months of demands for Zuckerberg to appear before Parliament
Facebook To Appeal German Privacy Ruling
The social media giant denies competition officials have standing to pass judgement over it – in spite of a German market share estimated at 95 percent
Google Accused Of Using Sensitive Data To Target Online Ads
The technical standards behind real-time bidding routinely disclose sensitive information about users' health, ethnicity, finances and other areas, says a GDPR complaint
Google Slapped With 50m Euro GDPR Penalty
Ouch! GDPR begins to bite as French regulator issues £44m GDPR fine to Google for data transparency breach
Germany May Order Facebook To Halt Some Data Collection
Germany's Federal Cartel Office is reportedly taking aim at Facebook's collection of user data from third-party sources
Cambridge Analytica Parent Fined £15,000 Over Data Refusal
SCL Elections had argued that a US citizen had no more right to request data held on him 'than a member of the Taliban'
Regulators Release Guidelines On GDPR’s Geographic Scope
European Data Protection Board seeks comments on its guidance as firms expect the GDPR's impact to make itself felt in the coming year
Police Trialling Face Recognition In Central London This Week
Police said officers would only scan people's faces by invitation, but activists say the tech turns people into 'walking ID cards'
Google Shifts European Data Seat To Dublin
Google has officially designated its Irish subsidiary as being legally responsible for users' data under the GDPR, as impact of new regulations continues to make itself felt
RSA Conference Puts Politics, Data Protection In The Spotlight
RSA Conference 2019: Following a year of controversies around politics, misinformation, data leaks and massive security breaches, RSA Conference looks to shed light on the issues
Biggest NHS GP IT Supplier To Shift 40m Patient Records To Amazon Cloud
Emis Group, used by six in 10 GPs, plans to shift the back-end of its dominant web software to UK-based AWS servers
Data Regulator Probes ‘Colossal’ Four-Year Marriott Breach
The hack exposed personal data and card information on up to 500m customers of Marriott's Starwood hotels dating back to 2014
ICO Fines Businesses Over Failure To Pay New Data Protection Fees
Organisations face fines of up to £4,350 for failure to pay the new fees, which came into force this year to fund the GDPR's broad regulatory approach
Uber Fined By Regulators For Hiding Data Breach
Stern words and stiff fine from UK regulator after Uber displayed “complete disregard” for customers and drivers
IT Life: Labhesh Patel, Jumio
Labhesh Patel, chief technology officer and chief scientist at Jumio, talks about AI, the challenges of data protection and how he learned to go offline for 25 minutes at a stretch
Facebook Accused Of Using Smear Tactics To Distract Critics
Amidst growing pressure over data scandals and political misinformation, Facebook allegedly hired a PR firm to encourage attacks on rivals
Google To Take Over Controversial NHS App
The search and advertising giant is accused of 'trust demolition' after announcing that it plans to take direct control of London-based DeepMind Health
Information Commissioner Calls For Regulation Of Social Media
A new regulatory body is needed to police social media firms' 'very disturbing' use of personal data for political purposes, Elizabeth Denham tells Parliament
Tim Berners-Lee ‘Disappointed’ At Online Data Scandals
The web inventor says the Cambridge Analytica scandal and the spread of divisiveness via social media show the 'optimism has cracked'