Microsoft says a third of its government data requests have secrecy orders
The company’s customer security chief said Microsoft gets between 2,400 to 3,500 secrecy orders each year.
US
Six Federal Agencies Used Facial Recognition On George Floyd Protestors
The FBI, U.S. Park Police, and other agencies used the technology during the height of 2020’s protests, according to a new government watchdog report.
Privacy Watchdog’s Report on N.S.A. System Fell Short, Members Say
The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board spent more than six years scrutinizing the surveillance-related system, called XKeyscore. Its report is classified.
Maine law restricts facial recognition technology statewide
A bill touted as the country’s strictest statewide regulation on the use of facial recognition technology has become law in Maine.
Ring gave cops free cameras to build and promote surveillance network
LAPD officers “spread the word” for the startup, helping it gain market share.
NSA Agrees to Release Records on FBI’s Improper Spying on 16,000 Americans
The National Security Agency (NSA) has agreed to release records on the FBI’s improper spying on thousands of Americans.
App Taps Unwitting Users Abroad to Gather Open-Source Intelligence
The Premise app pays users, many in the developing world, to do tasks like taking photos and completing surveys for clients including the U.S. military.
EU-US data transfer deal still work in progress, despite new alliance
U.S. President Joe Biden and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have put pen to paper on the establishment of a new EU-U.S. Trade and Technology Council, pledging to foster greater synergies in areas including artificial intelligence, green tech, and security.
Biden has quietly deployed an app for monitoring asylum seekers
Officials have quietly deployed a mobile app relying on facial recognition technology to collect data on asylum seekers before they cross the border.
Census releases guidelines for controversial privacy tool
the U.S. Census Bureau on Wednesday announced guidelines for how a controversial statistical method will be applied to the numbers used for drawing congressional and legislative districts.
Apple: Blindsided, Handcuffed By Trump Administration Demand For Swalwell Data
Seeking to protect its image as a guardian of personal privacy, Apple maintains it was blindsided and handcuffed by a Trump administration probe
How the U.S. got boxed in on privacy
The EU and states like California moved first and set standards that any national U.S. privacy law must reckon with.