privacy
Google releases new privacy controls for activity history, personalization
Google is rolling out new privacy controls for Search services and Google Play, giving you more control over saved history and personalized recommendations. In an email titled “New privacy settings for Search services,” sent to users and seen by GeekFeed, Google said it is “updating our settings to give you even more control over saved […]
Telegram admits it couldn’t police exam-leak channels, India tells court
India’s government has told the Delhi High Court that Telegram was warned about two weeks before it was blocked, and that the platform conceded it could not proactively detect the channels selling leaked exam papers. The nationwide block, imposed ahead of a national medical exam, disrupted Telegram access well beyond India, reaching users as far away […]
Google to use UK and EU user IP addresses for ad personalization
Google has begun notifying advertisers that it will start using IP addresses for ad measurement and personalization across the European Economic Area (EEA), the UK and Switzerland on or shortly after August 3, 2026. IP addresses are received by online services on nearly every request, and the practice is routine across much of the world. […]
UK to require ID or face scan before you can make social media accounts
The UK government will ban under-16s from social media, with regulations due before Christmas and the rules taking effect in spring 2027. To enforce it, platforms must age-check their users. In practice that means anyone opening a new account will likely have to prove they’re over 16 by uploading an ID or passing a facial […]
Brave Software releases Origin for a paid, bloat-free browsing experience
Brave Software has announced the public release of Origin, a paid minimalist, bloat-free version of its browser that strips out cryptocurrency, AI, rewards, and other monetization-focused features. The browser maker says Brave Origin is designed for users who want a more streamlined, privacy-focused browser without the company’s optional revenue-generating services and integrations. “Today, Brave is […]
Android 17 to expand banking scam call and privacy protections
Android 17, expected to roll out next month, will introduce several security and privacy features focused on device theft, threat detection, and banking scam calls. Google will be expanding protections against scammers spoofing caller IDs to impersonate financial institutions and trick users into transferring money or revealing account-related information. Android will work with banking apps to detect […]
GM agrees to $12.75M California settlement over sale of drivers’ data
California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a $12.75 million settlement agreement with General Motors (GM) over allegations that the company violated the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). The violations arise from allegations that the car maker illegally collected and sold Californians’ driving and location data to data brokers Verisk Analytics and LexisNexis Risk Solutions, between 2020 and […]
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. […]
LinkedIn secretly scans for 6,000+ Chrome extensions, collects data
A new report dubbed “BrowserGate” warns that Microsoft’s LinkedIn is using hidden JavaScript scripts on its website to scan visitors’ browsers for installed extensions and collect device data. According to a report by Fairlinked e.V., which claims to be an association of commercial LinkedIn users, Microsoft’s platform injects JavaScript into user sessions that checks for thousands of […]
FBI warns against using Chinese mobile apps due to privacy risks
The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) warned Americans against using foreign-developed mobile applications, particularly those created by Chinese developers. In a public service announcement (PSA) issued via its Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) platform this Tuesday, the FBI warned of privacy and data security risks associated with these apps. “As of early 2026, many […]