WhatsApp has announced a major privacy-focused update that will allow users to connect through unique usernames instead of sharing their phone numbers, marking one of the platform’s most significant changes in recent years. The Meta-owned messaging service said the new feature is designed to give users greater control over their personal information by reducing the […]
privacy
Mandatory phone app sparks debate over privacy and trust
Imagine waking up to discover that your smartphone has gained a permanent new feature: a government-issued app that cannot be removed. Installed by default and immune to deletion, it operates quietly in the background, raising concerns about who controls personal devices and the data they hold. Read more: Islamabad to launch mobile app for citizen safety Such […]
India softens stance on mandatory cybersecurity app
India has signaled a shift in its controversial plan to require smartphone makers to pre-install a government-run cybersecurity app. Communications Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia told lawmakers on Wednesday that the government is open to making changes based on feedback. The app, Sanchar Saathi, is intended to track stolen phones and prevent misuse. Read More: Cyber […]
South Korea arrests four for hacking 120,000 IP cameras
Seoul — South Korean authorities have arrested four individuals accused of hacking over 120,000 video cameras in homes and businesses and using the footage to create sexually exploitative content for an overseas website. Read More: Meta targets ‘cyber mercenaries’ using Facebook to spy The National Police Agency announced the arrests on Sunday, revealing that the […]
Unchecked state surveillance threatens privacy and democracy
Global digital authoritarianism is on the rise, with governments increasingly using surveillance technologies to monitor citizens without oversight. Countries like Pakistan and South Korea illustrate how state powers can intrude into private lives, often under the guise of national security. Read More: Virtual Threat Real Harm- Technology and Gender-Based Violence Such surveillance threatens fundamental rights, including privacy, […]
Dubai Police Roll Out Biometric Tunnel That Identifies People by Gait in 5 Seconds
DUBAI — Dubai Police have unveiled a cutting-edge biometric tunnel that can identify people by their walk and body movements in about five seconds, officials said. The system uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to analyse a person’s “motion fingerprint” — the unique way they move — including arm swing, foot pattern and overall walking […]
Settlement curbs firm’s facial recognition database in US
Startup Clearview AI has agreed to limit access to its controversial facial recognition database in the United States, settling a lawsuit filed by privacy advocates, a court filing showed Monday. The deal, which needs approval by the court to become final, would resolve litigation filed two years ago by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) […]
India’s social media crackdown – WhatsApp takes the hit
India has made new and stricter IT rules that require instant messaging platforms such as WhatsApp to aid in identifying the ‘originator’ of messages. WhatsApp seeing this as a breach of their users privacy has petitioned in the Delhi High court against this act. The petition challenges the constitutional validity of rules which will be […]
Facebook admits privacy settings ‘bug’ affecting 14 million users
SAN FRANCISCO: Facebook acknowledged Thursday a software glitch that changed the settings of some 14 million users, potentially making some posts public even if they were intended to be private. The news marked the latest in a series of privacy embarrassments for the world’s biggest social network, which has faced a firestorm over the hijacking […]