Karl Bode writes: While it seemed like our national policy hysteria over TikTok had waned slightly in 2024, it bubbled up once again last week upon rumors that the White House is supporting a “welcome and important” new bill that would effectively ban TikTok from operating in the United States. The bipartisan bill (full text) — which…
Spyware makers express concern after US sanctions spyware veteran
On March 8, Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai reported: Earlier this week, the U.S. government announced sanctions against the founder of a controversial government spyware maker, Tal Dilian, and his business associate, Sara Aleksandra Fayssal Hamou. In announcing the sanctions, U.S. Treasury officials accused Dilian and Hamou of developing and selling spyware that was then used to target Americans, including U.S….
Florida middle-schoolers charged with making deepfake nudes of classmates
Caroline Haskins of WIRED reports: Two teenage boys from Miami, Florida, were arrested in December for allegedly creating and sharing AI-generated nude images of male and female classmates without consent, according to police reports obtained by WIRED via public record request. The arrest reports say the boys, aged 13 and 14, created the images of…
Dozens of data brokers disclose selling reproductive healthcare info, precise geolocation and data belonging to minors
Suzanne Smalley reports: New information made public by the state of California shows that a significant portion of data brokers collect and sell sensitive information on topics like reproductive health, as well as data belonging to children. Out of 480 data brokers registered with the California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA), 24 indicated they sell data belonging to…