In a troubling incident early Thursday, customers of Lloyds Bank, Halifax, and Bank of Scotland experienced a significant security lapse, gaining unintended access to the financial information and transaction histories of other users. The alarming glitch, reported between 10 AM and 11 AM, allowed individuals to view sensitive details, including recent purchases and National Insurance numbers, affecting user confidence in these widely-utilised apps. The issue arose when users attempted to log in to their respective banking apps, leading to unexpected visibility of account details belonging to others. In some cases, individuals reported seeing the accounts of multiple users. One Bank... [Continue Reading]
Countries across the continent have spent more than $2bn on Chinese tracking technology that is not ‘necessary or proportionate’, new report findsThe rapid expansion of AI-powered mass-surveillance systems across Africa is violating citizens’ right to privacy and having a chilling effect on society, according to experts on human rights and emerging technologies.At least $2bn (£1.5bn) has been spent by 11 African governments on Chinese-built surveillance technology that recognises faces and monitors movements, according to a new report by the Institute of Development Studies, which warns that national security is being used to justify implementing these systems with little regulation. Continue... [Continue Reading]
In late February, Hong Kong’s Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data co-signed, alongside 60 overseas organisations, a statement to bring attention to the rising misuse of deepfakes. With rapid technological developments, growing AI integration and lower barriers to access, swift action is needed to safeguard women and girls against growing forms of technology-facilitated violence. Technology-facilitated violence is not new; it has simply evolved. What began as pre-internet... [Continue Reading]
Julian Alcala, a former police officer from Missouri, has been sentenced to two years in prison following a case involving the unlawful seizure of nude images from victims' smartphones during traffic stops. This sentencing marks a crucial step in addressing misconduct within law enforcement that exploits individuals in vulnerable situations. The case against Alcala has garnered significant attention, as authorities have identified at least 20 victims whose privacy was violated by his actions. Following the sentence, Alcala is expected to face civil lawsuits from these victims in addition to the criminal charges that led to his incarceration. This ongoing scandal... [Continue Reading]
A Florida woman has been charged with attempted murder following a shooting incident at the Beverly Hills residence of singer Rihanna. Ivanna Lisette Ortiz, 35, allegedly fired 10 rounds from a semiautomatic firearm into the property on Sunday. The charges were formally filed against her on Tuesday, which included one count of attempted murder, 10 counts of assault with a deadly weapon, and three counts of shooting at an inhabited dwelling, all felonies. According to Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell, at least 10 individuals were present at the mansion during the shooting, although it remains unconfirmed whether Rihanna, her... [Continue Reading]
Charlotte Griffiths says she never hacked a phone or used a private investigator as she gave evidence in the privacy trial brought by figures including Prince Harry and Sir Elton John. [Continue Reading]
Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of popular social media applications including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is currently involved in a significant legal trial in New Mexico. During this trial, CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram leader Adam Mosseri addressed the challenges concerning child safety on their platforms. In depositions played earlier this week, Zuckerberg expressed that some level of criminal behavior among users is an unavoidable consequence of having a vast user base of billions. He stated, “the unfortunate reality is that some very small percent of them are going to be criminals,” emphasizing the company’s commitment to mitigating such... [Continue Reading]