Section

Privacy

Data protection, surveillance, encryption

Ars Technica

AliExpress Accused of Fingerprinting Users via Inaudible Sounds

AliExpress has been accused of using inaudible sounds to fingerprint users, impacting a researcher's Bluetooth headphones. Researcher Matthew Callaghan discovered that audio from his phone stopped when accessing the site, leading to the identification of scripts that analyzed browser audio readings.

Bias: 4 Sentiment: +0.00
Fox News — Latest

Flock Safety CEO discusses privacy and safety concerns amid camera vandalism

Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley addressed concerns about privacy and safety regarding neighborhood surveillance cameras in an interview with Fox News. He highlighted public pushback, including vandalism and protests, and called for a compromise between safety and privacy. Langley also emphasized the need for better regulation and accountability in the use of surveillance technology.

Bias: 33 Sentiment: +0.10
BBC — World

TikTok to pay $400 million in child privacy settlement

TikTok will pay $400 million to settle a lawsuit alleging that it collected significant amounts of data from users under 13 years old. The lawsuit was filed in 2024 and involves the company's parent organization, ByteDance.

Bias: 4 Sentiment: +0.00
Mother Jones

Flock Safety Faces Backlash Amid Job Losses and Contract Cancellations

Flock Safety is experiencing significant backlash, with at least 34 contracts canceled and numerous police officers facing job losses due to misuse of its surveillance technology. The company is attempting to reframe the narrative by emphasizing its auditing capabilities, but critics argue that it fails to address serious privacy concerns.

Bias: 4 Sentiment: -0.20
Ars Technica

Wisconsin Cities Withdraw from Flock's License Plate Camera Network

Multiple Wisconsin cities are terminating their agreements with Flock's automated license plate camera system over privacy concerns. This withdrawal is impacting the overall functionality of the network, particularly noted in Dane County, which has ceased funding for the cameras.

Bias: 4 Sentiment: -0.10
Daily Wire

Flock Safety Introduces New Privacy Protocols for Surveillance Cameras

Flock Safety has announced new privacy protocols for its surveillance cameras, aimed at addressing growing concerns about privacy and misuse. Changes include limiting data access for law enforcement agencies and reducing data retention from 30 days to one week. Critics remain skeptical, calling for legislative changes to effectively regulate surveillance technology.

Bias: 4 Sentiment: +0.00
apnews.com

Flock Safety Implements Changes to License Plate Reader System Amid Privacy Concerns

Flock Safety announced changes to its license plate reader system on August 14, 2026, in response to privacy concerns from lawmakers and civil liberties advocates. The updates include mandatory safeguards for law enforcement users and a reduction in data retention time. Critics remain skeptical about the effectiveness of these changes, with over 50 agencies having canceled contracts with Flock amid growing backlash against the technology.

Bias: 14 Sentiment: +0.00
Mother Jones

Flock Announces Changes to License Plate Reader Access Following Controversy

Flock announced on August 13, 2026, that it will limit access to its automatic license plate readers following reports of misuse by police. The company introduced several policy updates aimed at improving privacy and accountability, but organizations like the ACLU criticized these changes as inadequate.

Bias: 14 Sentiment: -0.10
Washington Examiner

Three former Georgia police officers charged with misuse of surveillance technology

Three former police officers in Macon, Georgia, have been arrested for allegedly misusing Flock cameras for personal tracking while in uniform. They face multiple charges, including stalking and violation of public officer oath. The investigation was initiated after Flock reported potential misuse, leading to an internal audit by the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office.

Bias: 4 Sentiment: +0.00
Ars Technica

New Font Developed to Combat AI Web Scraping

A new font named ShieldFont has been developed by designers Isaque Seneda and Gabriel Abrucio to help web publishers prevent AI scraping. The font modifies the text displayed to scrapers while maintaining readability for users, using ligatures to replace words with nonsensical alternatives.

Bias: 4 Sentiment: +0.10
sfgate.com

San Francisco Bars Halt Use of Face Scanners Amid Community Concerns

Badlands and Toad Hall, two gay bars in San Francisco, have decided to stop using PatronScan face-scanning technology following backlash from the LGBTQ community and privacy advocates. The decision comes as concerns about data privacy and safety for queer individuals have been raised, leading to a petition with approximately 2,000 signatures against the technology.

Bias: 14 Sentiment: +0.00
Fox News — Latest

Tennessee Mayor Calls for Pause on Flock Safety Cameras Deployment

Mayor Glenn Jacobs of Knox County, Tennessee, has called for a nationwide pause on the deployment of Flock surveillance cameras due to concerns over constitutional rights and privacy. He highlighted the need for updated regulations to ensure that such technology is used appropriately and in compliance with the Constitution. The use of Flock cameras has become a contentious issue in several states, with debates surrounding their impact on privacy rights.

Bias: 4 Sentiment: +0.00
Daily Wire

New York School District Pauses Humanoid Robot Rollout Amid Concerns

The Salamanca City Central School District in New York has halted the deployment of a humanoid robot named "Sally" due to concerns about its connection to RealDoll, a company known for sex dolls. The district is working with state officials to address privacy issues related to student data. The superintendent clarified that the robot is meant to assist teachers, not replace them.

Bias: 4 Sentiment: +0.00
The Verge

Report highlights misuse of Hugging Face for creating nonconsensual deepfakes

A report from AI Forensics reveals that Hugging Face is being exploited for the creation of nonconsensual deepfakes, with many of its image editing models responding to prompts that undress women. This contrasts with other AI models that have safeguards against such misuse.

Bias: 4 Sentiment: -0.50
Axios

AI's Integration into American Family Life

AI is increasingly integrated into American family life, influencing daily routines and interactions. While the focus has been on its impact on jobs, AI is evolving into a constant presence in homes, learning and adapting to family dynamics. Statistics indicate a significant percentage of parents and teens are using AI for various tasks, raising concerns about privacy and data security.

Bias: 4 Sentiment: +0.10