Why 5G is a huge future threat to privacy
The next-generation of mobile communications, 5G, is currently a hot topic in two very different domains: technology – and politics. The latter is because of President Trump's attempts to shut…
Governments
“Digital strip-searches”: police increasingly downloading everything from smartphones – including from crime victims
Full-body scanners are now a routine sight at airports. Most people are resigned to these virtual strip-searches, despite the obviously intrusive nature of appearing naked to the machines' operators. But…
“The future is private” says Zuckerberg; not with him, judging by new investigations of Facebook for data protection failures
Another week, another declaration from Mark Zuckerberg that he's really serious about putting privacy at the heart of Facebook. During his keynote speech at the Facebook Developer Conference F8, he…
Tencent releases Chinese government-friendly clone in place of PUBG
In April, China’s State Administration of Press and Publication introduced sweeping changes to approval guidelines in the gaming industry. Following the recent blackout of game approvals by the administration. Mahjong…
Huawei Could Rebuild Trust in Their Products Through Open Source
Chinese Megacorp Huawei has been in the news over the last few months because companies and entire nations have been banning their equipment over spying concerns. There has been little…
China’s AI-based prisons – both indoors and outdoors – offer a warning of how privacy may die elsewhere
Online freedom of speech is under attack around the world. The EU's new Copyright Directive is about to become law, and brings with it a need to filter all uploads…
Zuck’s back, calling for “new rules” for the Internet, which will entrench Facebook’s power, but do nothing for privacy
Last month, Privacy News Online looked at a 3000-word essay entitled "A Privacy-Focused Vision for Social Networking", written by Mark Zuckerberg. It's a measure of the political pressure that Facebook…
The march to mandatory, nationwide DNA databases picks up pace around the world
DNA is without doubt one of the new frontiers for privacy – and for the loss of it. As we wrote last year, genetic privacy is becoming a thing of…
The UK porn block hasn’t started yet, but experts are already doubting its potency
The United Kingdom waits with abated breath to find out when and how porn blocks will be implemented across the country. We are sure of one thing right now, though:…
Taiwan says no to Chinese influence by blocking Tencent and Baidu’s censored video streaming platforms
Taiwan will block Baidu and Tencent from running video streaming services on the island. This past week, Chiu Chui-Cheng, deputy minister of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, told the Nikkei Asian…