ban
FTC to ban data broker Kochava from selling Americans’ location data
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will ban data broker Kochava and its subsidiary Collective Data Solutions (CDS) from selling location data without consumers’ explicit consent to settle charges brought nearly four years ago. The FTC sued Idaho-based Kochava in August 2022, alleging it collected and sold precise geolocation data from hundreds of millions of mobile devices. […]
FCC bans new routers made outside the USA over security risks
The Federal Communications Commission has updated its Covered List to include all consumer routers made in foreign countries, banning the sale of new models in the U.S. The Covered List, created under the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019, is an FCC-maintained list of communications equipment and services that the U.S. government has […]
Russia blocks FaceTime and Snapchat for alleged use by terrorists
Russian telecommunications watchdog Roskomnadzor has blocked access to Apple’s FaceTime video conferencing platform and the Snapchat instant messaging service, claiming they’re being used to coordinate terrorist attacks. Roskomnadzor said that the two platforms are also being used to recruit criminals and to commit fraud and various other crimes targeting Russian citizens. “According to law enforcement […]
Russia blocks Roblox over distribution of LGBT “propaganda”
Roskomnadzor, Russia’s telecommunications watchdog, has blocked access to the Roblox online gaming platform for failing to stop the distribution of what it described as LGBT propaganda and extremist materials. “Roskomnadzor has restricted access to the American Internet service Roblox in connection with the revealed facts of mass and repeated dissemination of materials with propaganda and […]
Hikvision Canada ordered to cease operations over security risks
The Canadian government has ordered Hikvision’s subsidiary in the country to cease all operations following a review that determined them to pose a national security risk. The order was forwarded to Hikvision last Friday, and the matter was made public over the weekend by Mélanie Joly, Canada’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry. “Following a National […]
US House bans WhatsApp on staff devices over security concerns
The U.S. House of Representatives has banned the installation and use of WhatsApp on government-issued devices belonging to congressional staff, citing concerns over how the app encrypts and secures data. The ban covers mobile phones, laptops, desktop computers, and any web browsers used on those devices. Congressional staff are still free to use WhatsApp on […]
Australia bans all Kaspersky products on government systems
The Australian government has banned all Kaspersky Lab products and web services from its systems and devices following an analysis that claims the company poses a significant security risk to the country. “After considering threat and risk analysis, I have determined that the use of Kaspersky Lab, Inc. products and web services by Australian Government […]
TikTok shuts down in the US as Trump throws the company a lifeline
TikTok shut down in the U.S. late Saturday night following the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the law that banned the company over national security concerns. However, the ban may be shortlived as Trump announced today that he would issue an executive order when he takes office on Monday to give TikTok an additional 90 […]
US considers banning TP-Link routers over cybersecurity risks
The U.S. government is considering banning TP-Link routers starting next year if ongoing investigations find that their use in cyberattacks poses a national security risk. According to a Wall Street Journal report, the U.S. Departments of Justice, Commerce, and Defense are looking into the issue, with at least one Commerce Department office having already subpoenaed the […]
Russia blocks Viber in latest attempt to censor communications
Russian telecommunications watchdog Roskomnadzor has blocked the Viber encrypted messaging app, used by hundreds of millions worldwide, for violating the country’s legislation. “Access to the Viber service is restricted due to the violation of the requirements of Russian legislation for organizers of information dissemination,” Russia’s internet regulator said in a press statement. “Compliance with the […]