🌎 Discussion: Spying, Surveillance, and Privacy Concerns

[MagnarTheGreat]

U.K. orders Apple to let it spy on users’ encrypted accounts​

Secret order requires blanket access to protected cloud backups around the world, which if implemented would undermine Apple’s privacy pledge to its users.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/02/07/apple-encryption-backdoor-uk/

The British government’s undisclosed order, issued last month, requires blanket capability to view fully encrypted material, not merely assistance in cracking a specific account, and has no known precedent in major democracies. Its application would mark a significant defeat for tech companies in their decades-long battle to avoid being wielded as government tools against their users, the people said, speaking under the condition of anonymity to discuss legally and politically sensitive issues.

Rather than break the security promises it made to its users everywhere, Apple is likely to stop offering encrypted storage in the U.K., the people said. Yet that concession would not fulfill the U.K. demand for backdoor access to the service in other countries, including the United States.

Encryption is all or nothing. One intentionally security flaw allows anyone in the world access, not just governments.

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

Apple Pulls Malware-Infested Apps That Could Steal Your Private Data - gHacks Tech News

The malicious framework specifically targeted recovery phrases for cryptocurrency wallets, with attackers aiming to steal Bitcoin and other assets

www.ghacks.net

 

[blueharvest]

Revealed: gambling firms secretly sharing users’ data with Facebook without permission

Betting companies secretly track visitors to their sites before sending data to parent company Meta

www.theguardian.com

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

USAID Workers Reportedly Believe They Were Recorded by Google's Gemini AI

Google Workspace now includes Gemini as a feature turned on by default.

gizmodo.com

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

Apple forced to kill popular security feature in the UK — here's what's happening

This is a big deal for anyone with an iPhone

www.tomsguide.com

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

Signal CEO Warns of Swedish Exit if Backdoor Legislation Passes - gHacks Tech News

This stance reflects a broader global debate over user privacy. In the UK, the government has demanded that Apple create a backdoor

www.ghacks.net

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

Leading VPNs could leave France due to blocking threats

Rightsholders have taken legal action

www.tomsguide.com

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

U.S. Investigates UK's Alleged Request for backdoor in Apple's Encryption - gHacks Tech News

The recent controversy surrounding the UK Government's demand to Apple to create a backdoor in iOS is being investigated by the Trump administration. The UK may have violated a bilateral agreement by […]

www.ghacks.net

 

[blueharvest]

Homeland Security can now spy on LGBTQ+ people & groups as threats to U.S. safety - LGBTQ Nation

The move suggests that Trump may start investigating LGBTQ+ groups as a security threat.

www.lgbtqnation.com

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

Mozilla has better lawyers than PR

Two days ago, Mozilla introduced new terms of use and an updated privacy notice for Firefox. This is the reaction. What the general public took out of the new terms is, well, we should probably switch to another browser. I spent yesterday reading tweets and private messages all saying something

thelibre.news

 

[blueharvest]

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

Apple reportedly challenges the UK’s secretive encryption crackdown

Apple’s appeal could reportedly be heard as soon as this month.

www.theverge.com

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

Google’s AI-powered Pixel Sense app could gobble up all your Pixel 10 data

The app will reportedly offer contextual suggestions as you use the phone.

arstechnica.com

 

[squeekness]

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

https://privacytests.org/

These tests are just the stock default browsers. You can add certain extensions or addons for further security.

 

[Lily Adler]

 

[squeekness]

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

Apple has revealed a Passwords app vulnerability that lasted for months

The iOS Passwords app was a phishing attack vector.

www.theverge.com

 

[squeekness]