All posts tagged: data privacy

Is India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act Guard Our Privacy?

Is India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act Guard Our Privacy?

Published by Parlour News

Our parents taught us not to trust strangers. Not to answer every question they asked. Not to give away our school name, our address, or family details casually. Not to let someone into the house if they could not account for themselves. That wisdom passed through generations, shaped by a simple instinct: Certain information, once given away, cannot be taken back. I thought about that wisdom recently in a room full of people who would have completely agreed with it, and then gone right back to scrolling. A friend of mine had just bought a smart ring. The recommendation came from his gym trainer. They are quite friendly, so the advice did not arrive in a formal or commercial manner. If anything, that made it more trustworthy. The ring tracked sleep, heart rate, recovery scores, activity levels, and stress indicators through skin temperature. Every morning, he checked his data, adjusted his training accordingly, and discussed the numbers with his trainer. It gave him a feeling that things were under control. And honestly, I understood the …

Apple Fights UK Over Encryption Backdoors as US Officials Warn of Privacy Violations

Apple Fights UK Over Encryption Backdoors as US Officials Warn of Privacy Violations

Published by Webster

Image: garloon/Envato Images Senior officials from the U.K. have privately met with their U.S. counterparts to clarify that their request for access to encrypted data in Apple’s iCloud is not a blanket demand; instead, they are seeking access solely to data linked to individuals already involved in crimes such as terrorism, according to Bloomberg. People familiar with the matter told the publication that the British officials emphasized separate warrants would be required for each access request, ensuring they are strictly tied to investigations into serious crime within the U.K. They denied seeking wide-ranging powers to access anyone’s data for any reason, particularly that of U.S. residents, a claim that has fueled controversy. Must-read Apple coverage Apple fights back, restricts encryption for UK users In February, it was reported that the U.K. had asked Apple for a way to access user information that was covered under Advanced Data Protection, an optional security layer introduced in 2022. The Home Secretary’s office invoked the Investigatory Powers Act of 2016, which grants law enforcement the authority to compel companies …

Australia Divided In DeepSeek Response

Australia Divided In DeepSeek Response

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Australian authorities disagree over the response the country should take to the runaway success of the Chinese AI app DeepSeek. While some industry groups call for rapid action to support national AI innovation, the science minister urges caution. The Tech Council of Australia, an industry body that includes Microsoft, Atlassian, Google, and IBM among its members, warned the government should “act now or risk Australia falling behind in AI development and adoption.” In a statement about the Australian government’s national AI capability plan, the TCA said, “DeepSeek’s reported breakthrough shows that the AI landscape is highly competitive and rapidly evolving.” DeepSeek recently launched an AI chat app featuring a “reasoning” model comparable to OpenAI’s o1. The DeepSeek app quickly surged to the top of Apple’s App Store, causing a stir among American AI companies. Its debut rattled financial markets — NVIDIA and Microsoft stocks took a hit, as investor confidence in the U.S. AI makers dipped. The Council emphasised its support for the national AI plan announced by the government in December but argued the …

How to Protect and Secure Your Data in 10 Ways

How to Protect and Secure Your Data in 10 Ways

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Operating systems and applications can always be reinstalled, but your data is unique, making it the most important thing on your computer or network. “Organizations must now maintain robust privacy measures, including clear privacy policies, opt-out processes, and compliance with consumer protection laws, to mitigate financial and reputational risks,” said IEEE Senior Member Kayne McGladrey in an email to TechRepublic. Here are 10 ways you can protect that data from loss and unauthorized access. 1. Protect everything with passwords Password protection is the first line of defense against unauthorized access to your data; it also helps boost multilayer security for your systems by allowing you to combine password protection with other security measures. Some businesses are required to use password protection as part of compliance regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation. To password protect your business data, implement a strict password policy to ensure employees create complex passwords. Additionally, you should have them update their passwords regularly. 2. Back up regularly Backing up your data early and regularly is an important component of …

EU privacy regulator fines Meta 91 million euros over password storage | Technology News

Published by Parlour News

The lead European Union privacy regulator fined social media giant Meta 91 million euros ($101.5 million) on Friday for inadvertently storing some users’ passwords without protection or encryption. The inquiry was opened five years ago after Meta notified Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC) that it had stored some passwords in ‘plaintext’. Meta publicly acknowledged the incident at the time and the DPC said the passwords were not made available to external parties. “It is widely accepted that user passwords should not be stored in plaintext, considering the risks of abuse that arise from persons accessing such data,” Irish DPC Deputy Commissioner Graham Doyle said in a statement. A Meta spokesperson said the company took immediate action to fix the error after identifying it during a security review in 2019, and that there is no evidence the passwords were abused or accessed improperly. Meta engaged constructively with the DPC throughout the inquiry, the spokesperson added in a statement on Friday.The DPC is the lead EU regulator for most of the top U.S. internet firms due to …

50% More Professionals Rank Data Privacy as a Top GenAI Concern in 2024

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Concerns over data privacy in relation to generative AI have surged, a new report from Deloitte has found. While last year only 22% of professionals ranked it among their top three concerns, this year the figure has risen to 72%. The next highest ethical GenAI concerns were transparency and data provenance, with 47% and 40% of professionals ranking them in their top three this year. Meanwhile, only 16% expressed concern over job displacement. Staff are becoming more curious about how AI technology operates, particularly with regards to the sensitive data. A September study by HackerOne found that nearly half of security professionals believe AI Is risky, with many seeing leaked training data as a threat. Similarly, 78% of business leaders ranked “safe and secure” as one of their top three ethical technology principles, marking a 37% increase from 2023, further demonstrating how the issue of security is top of mind. The survey results come from Deloitte’s 2024 “State of Ethics and Trust in Technology” report, which surveyed over 1,800 business and technical professionals worldwide about …

IFA 2024: AI gadgets and concept devices to headline Europe’s biggest tech show | Technology News

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When thousands flock to Berlin this week to attend the Internationale Funkausstellung (IFA), artificial intelligence will be woven into presentations, booths, laptops, smartphones, home appliances, and even car dashboards. This year, AI will dominate the chatter, as companies big and small unveil new AI-powered products and share a common vision for AI at Europe’s biggest and one of the oldest consumer electronics shows in the world. But behind all the glitz and gadgetry are increasing calls for regulating AI and the watchful eyes of regulators ensuring responsible AI development and deployment. AI has been the central theme at large tech conventions this year, from the CES in Las Vegas and the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona to the annual developer conferences of Apple, Google, and Microsoft. Artificial intelligence will once again be on full display when IFA kicks off on Friday, September 6. “We have seen a wave of AI product launches and announcements, but for many, AI use cases in these products remain nebulous,” Kane McKenna, a consumer tech industry analyst at CCS Insight …

What the draft Digital Competition Bill proposes, why Big Tech opposes it | Explained News

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Taking a leaf out of the European regulatory handbook, India has proposed a new digital competition law that could stop tech giants like Google, Facebook, and Amazon from self-preferencing their own services, or using data gathered from one company to benefit another group company. The draft law, called the Digital Competition Bill, 2024, also has provisions to set presumptive norms to curb anti-competitive practices before they actually take place, and promises to impose heavy penalties — which could amount to billions of dollars — for violations. If this were to go in force, it could require big tech companies to make fundamental changes to their various platforms. The proposal is similar to the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which went into complete effect earlier this year, and requires large tech firms like Alphabet, Amazon and Apple to open their services, and not favour their own at the expense of rivals. The law came in on the back of a long history of anti-competitive practices by these companies. The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), which is …

Democratising Tech to Data Privacy: PM Narendra Modi & Bill Gates Discuss India’s Inclusive Digital Vision

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates during a meeting at his residence, in New Delhi on March 28, 2024. (X/@BJP4India) In response to Bill Gates’s query regarding the utilisation of data without compromising privacy, PM Modi outlined a multifaceted approach, emphasising the need for both public education on data contribution and transparent intentions behind data requests Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged in a dialogue with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, covering a wide array of critical issues ranging from technological advancements to digital transformation strategies. Modi highlighted India’s unique approach to the digital revolution, emphasising the nation’s steadfast commitment to democratising technology. He elucidated how India’s model ensures that technological advancements are accessible to all, preventing monopolies and fostering a sense of ownership and trust among the populace. His emphasis on inclusivity underscored India’s vision of leveraging technology as a catalyst for societal empowerment and progress. ALSO READ | ‘Without Proper Training…’: PM Modi Discusses AI, Deepfakes In Chat With Bill Gates, Lists Dos And Don’ts When questioned about the areas of technological …