Free VPNs based in Hong Kong caught logging
Several free VPN apps based in Hong Kong logged internet activity from millions of users then left that data unsecured on the internet for anyone to find. This batch of…
General Privacy News
Privacy-loving EU building massive travel surveillance system for visitors that will affect billions of people
As this blog has noted, for all its faults, the European Union's GDPR represents one of the most important attempts to protect digital privacy. Although it concerns the EU and…
Huawei 5G banned in the United Kingdom; must be removed by 2027
The United Kingdom (UK) is banning telecommunications companies from using Huawei 5G equipment. Following sanctions put on Huawei by the United States, United Kingdom Digital Secretary Oliver Dowden told the…
Private Internet Access shuts down VPN servers in Hong Kong due to new national security law
The Hong Kong VPN exit node will return as a geo-located region. Denver, CO, July 14th 2020 -- Effective immediately, Private Internet Access (PIA) is wiping and shutting down our…
France passes legislation to block adult websites that don’t comply with new age verification framework
France plans to implement an age verification system for pornography and expand website blocking powers to punish non-compliant websites. The new law would grant the French audiovisual authority, CSA, the…
New German law would force ISPs to allow secret service to install trojans on user devices
A new law being proposed in Germany would see all 19 federal state intelligence agencies in Germany granted the power to spy on German citizens through the use of trojans.…
Brazil plans to bring in a “fake news” law, with serious implications for everyone’s privacy, no matter where they live
The world's attention is rightly focused on the terrible new National Security Law in Hong Kong. But, as ever, there are bad things happening to human rights elsewhere as well.…
Tim Hortons is being sued for tracking your GPS location even when the app was off
Tim Hortons is facing a class action lawsuit for its data collection practices - which include tracking your GPS location through their mobile app even when the app was turned…
Reddit and Linkedin apps also caught copying and pasting clipboard contents
Linkedin and Reddit both check your clipboard and copy and paste your clipboard contents with every keystroke - even when you’re in another app. Another set of potential privacy violators…
After exaggerated claims about their importance, here’s the reality of contact tracing apps
Back in February, this blog was one of the first to warn that the obvious technological response to the coronavirus – the use of contact tracing apps – raised important…