Tag: Privacy

Google And Apple Are Banning Technology For Sharing Users’ Location Data | The Verge

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You may have never heard of the company X-Mode Social, but its code may be in some of the apps on your phone, tracking and selling your location data. Now, Google and Apple are trying to put a stop to it. According to a Wall Street Journal article, the tech companies have told developers to remove X-Mode’s code from their apps, or risk getting them pulled from their respective app stores. X-Mode works by giving developers code to put into their apps, known as an SDK, which tracks users’ location and then…

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‘Deeply Concerning’: CBSA’s Use Of Surveillance Still Has No Federal Guidance, Experts Warn | Global News

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A newly released memo shows Canada’s border agency signed off on rules to guide its most intrusive intelligence operations months ago, but the federal government has yet to issue the ministerial direction. The memo, obtained by The Canadian Press through the Access to Information Act, describes efforts stretching back seven years to introduce formal government instruction on the Canada Border Services Agency’s use of surveillance and confidential sources. Read full story here: ‘Deeply Concerning’: CBSA’s Use Of Surveillance Still Has No Federal Guidance, Experts Warn | Global News

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Canadian Class-Action Suit Against Facebook Alleges Misuse Of Personal Information | CTV News

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OTTAWA — Two Facebook users are seeking damages on behalf of hundreds of thousands of Canadians whose personal data may have been improperly used for political purposes. The proposed class-action lawsuit filed by Calgary residents Saul Benary and Karma Holoboff asks the Federal Court to order the social-media giant to bolster its security practices to better protect sensitive information and comply with federal privacy law. It also seeks $1,000 for each of the approximately 622,000 Canadians whose information was shared with others through a digital app. In April last year,…

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Police Are Using Facial Recognition For Minor Crimes Because They Can | CNET

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Cities all across the US have passed bans on facial recognition, with variations in how strong the regulations are. Though Portland, Oregon, banned facial recognition from all government and commercial use, others are only limiting it from police use. Some cities, like Detroit, have enacted lighter measures, such as allowing facial recognition to be used only when investigating violent crimes, while police in New York have been able to use the technology for crimes like shoplifting. On Oct. 9, a New York judge decided in a package-theft case that facial…

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CRA Cyberattacks Impacted Four Times As Many Accounts As Previously Believed | CTV News

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OTTAWA — In a major update to the impact of a series of credential stuffing attacks on government websites including the Canada Revenue Agency, the country’s top information officer now says that “suspicious activities” have been found on 48,500 CRA user accounts. In August the CRA temporarily shut down its online services and applications after hackers used thousands of previously stolen usernames and passwords to fraudulently access government services in three separate but serious breaches, compromising the personal information of thousands. Read full story here: CRA Cyberattacks Impacted Four Times…

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Uncovered: 1,000 Phrases That Incorrectly Trigger Alexa, Siri, And Google Assistant | Ars Technica

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As Alexa, Google Home, Siri, and other voice assistants have become fixtures in millions of homes, privacy advocates have grown concerned that their near-constant listening to nearby conversations could pose more risk than benefit to users. New research suggests the privacy threat may be greater than previously thought. The findings demonstrate how common it is for dialog in TV shows and other sources to produce false triggers that cause the devices to turn on, sometimes sending nearby sounds to Amazon, Apple, Google, or other manufacturers. In all, researchers uncovered more…

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Tim Hortons App Under Investigation Over Data Concerns | CTV News

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GATINEAU, QUE. — The Tim Hortons mobile ordering app is being investigated by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada and provincial agencies in Quebec, B.C. and Alberta. The joint investigation was prompted by concerns raised in media reports about how the app may be collecting and using data about people’s movements as they go about their daily activities. It will examine whether the fast food restaurant chain owned by Restaurant Brands International Inc. is in compliance with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, Canada’s federal private…

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House Lawmakers Question Homeland Security Over Protester Surveillance | CNET

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House Democrats on the Oversight Committee on Saturday called for the Department of Homeland Security to explain how it has conducted surveillance of protesters demonstrating against racial discrimination and police violence. “This Administration has undermined the First Amendment freedoms of Americans of all races who are rightfully protesting George Floyd’s killing,” said lawmakers in their letter to acting Department of Homeland Security Chad Wolf. “The deployment of drones and officers to surveil protests is a gross abuse of authority and is particularly chilling when used against Americans who are protesting…

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COVID-19 Could Set A New Norm For Surveillance And Privacy | CNET

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App developers are creating tools to monitor people when they shop and work, despite lacking proof that it works or has safeguards to protect your data. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way people interact and fostered more concern over our health. But that shift in mindset means daily activities like going grocery shopping or simple acts like standing in an elevator will come with even more surveillance strings attached. The response by governments and the tech industry to the coronavirus outbreak has already raised many concerns about privacy from…

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What Is Contact Tracing? Here’s What You Need To Know About How It Could Affect Your Privacy | CBC News

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For weeks, Canadians have been hearing public health officials talk about the importance of testing and tracing: Test to know who has COVID-19; trace to know who might be infected so you can test them, too. There have been significant efforts on both fronts to improve capacity. And part of that effort has taken contact tracing into the digital age. What does that involve and what does it mean for your privacy? Read full story here: What Is Contact Tracing? Here’s What You Need To Know About How It Could…

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