Alarm over launch of facial recognition in UK shops that instantly alerts police // The Guardian

“The idea of calling the police on somebody who hasn’t committed a crime, but there’s a concern they might, is really upending the way we do things. And of course, it’s not infallible. These systems do make mistakes, and it’s very hard to argue with that when it happens to you.”

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/jul/10/facewatch-facial-recognition-uk-shops-instantly-alerts-police-civil-liberties

#facialrecognition #uk #privacy #civilliberties

If you’ve been looking for a messenger with no phone number, no account, and no server that can be scanned or subpoenaed, that’s exactly what Zerion is.

Everything runs over Tor. Post-quantum encryption on every message. Hidden profiles and anti-forensics for people who need them. Free and open source, so you can verify all of it yourself.

We’ve grown to here on word of mouth alone. If it sounds useful, try it and tell one person who’d need it.

zerion.chat

#privacy #tor #foss #android

Mediaite: Madison Square Garden Has Massive Database of Celebs Who Attend Knicks Games and Gives Them a ‘Risk Score’: Report. “In 2023, New York Democrats threatened to strip MSG of its property tax exemption over the venue’s use of facial recognition technology; and earlier this year, it was revealed that Dolan’s company kept a database of biometric data and even tracked the movements of […]

Claude Code Is Steganographically Marking Requests

I inspected Claude Code for privacy reasons and found hidden system prompt markers based on API base URL and timezone.

#security #reverse-engineering #ai #privacy
https://thereallo.dev/blog/claude-code-prompt-steganography

Alt...

Claude Code Is Steganographically Marking Requests

the list of #ArcaneChat channels in #Russian grew quite a lot! 15 channels listed now, thanks a lot to @gluek for bridging the #Telegram channels!

#DeltaChat #chatmail #Russia #news #Россия #новости #decentralization #opensource #privacy #encryption #memes #channels #bot #bridge

Reviewe Lumo 2.0 : Proton's privacy-focused AI assistant, to see how it compares with ChatGPT and Claude.

The review covers its strengths, limitations, privacy claims, and whether it's ready for everyday use.

Read the review: https://digitalescapetools.com/reviews/lumo-2-0-review.html

#Privacy #AI #Proton #Lumo #OpenSource #TechReview

Fort Firewall gives you detailed control over which Windows apps can access the network with custom rules, blocklists, bandwidth limits, and traffic statistics.

⚠️ Note: On Windows 10+, it currently requires disabling HVCI (Memory Integrity), so check the requirements first.

More details: https://digitalescapetools.com/tools/tool.html?id=fort

#Windows #Privacy #OpenSource #Firewall #SelfHosted #CyberSecurity

Alt...

Screenshot of the Fort Firewall project page showing the app logo, release badges, a description, and the Windows interface with per-application firewall rules for allowing or blocking internet access.

✅ For Australian voters: Federal Parliament AI & Data Centre inquiry accepting submissions until 1 September 2026.

🦺 Data centres are connected to social and environmental damages and net loss of local jobs.
⚠️ They are also responsible for facilitating IP theft, erosion of privacy and privacy-degrading business practices.
#privacy #privacymatters #intellectualprivacy #mentalprivacy #physicalprivacy #datacentres #australia

Alt...

The text explains pros and cons of data centres and gives information about class action against Microsoft data centres and Australian data centre inquiry.

And so the surveillance society continues to expand as retailers deploy facial recognition technology (that triggers immediate police alerts) into the high street.

The technical problems with FR systems are well known as are the challenges to privacy - the UK's road to becoming a police state continues (no, we're not there yet, but the direction of travel is pretty clear).

#politics #privacy
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/jul/10/facewatch-facial-recognition-uk-shops-instantly-alerts-police-civil-liberties

The Drive: How Flock Cameras Wrongly Tracked Me for Days Over ‘Stolen’ Plates and Sent Police After Me. “The Plymouth Police Department had been tracking me for days using Flock license plate cameras, waiting for the right moment to strike, because they thought I’d stolen the Range Rover. And the reason I was ID’d as a dangerous car thief was a simple data error made 2,000 miles away in […]

Zerion 3.0 marks our transition to a fully independent protocol stack.

Briar has been an excellent foundation, but our goal is to be fully independent. We’re replacing the remaining Briar/Bramble protocols with our own transport, wire format, sync layer and message model.

One focus: resisting traffic analysis with constant-rate polling and cover traffic.

https://zerion.chat

#privacy #tor #foss

If you don't want to chat with an AI bot, but with real friends and family, privately and securely...

Use Signal: https://signal.org/install 💙

No AI bots. No ads. No tracking. Just your conversations.

If your friends aren't on Signal yet, invite them this summer. Let the blue sky be your reminder ☀️

#signal #signalmessenger #signalapp #privacy #ai

Alt...

Blue story post with the Signal logo, a waving hand, and the text: "I'm on Signal now."

Just a quick rant: I prefer to support small businesses, but it bugs me when a companyʻs “web site” is just an #Instagram or #Facebook page. I understand that many folks may not have the time nor talent to put together a simple site, but by not doing so these small businesses are demanding that every potential customer turn over data to Zuckerberg - and to every broker and marketer that he sells our data to. So please folks, donʻt force us potential customers to avoid your biz. #tech #privacy

You have the right to request removal from most data broker sites. Most people never use it.

#databrokers #privacy #indigoprivacy

"...To do so, users must go to Instagram's settings menu, select "Sharing and Reuse" and switch off "Allow people to reuse your content on Instagram and with AI features at Meta" for posts and reels...." #instagram #AI #privacy #meta

BBC: Outcry as Meta lets users make AI images from public Instagram profile pics

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp9lee19y1yo

#ai #privacy #meta #instagram #AIpocalypse

Proton users, what are your thoughts on the Lumo AI?

#proton #privacy #ai #lumo #security

AI agents are assigned control over our lives in a way that can not be justified, and it raises worrying privacy concerns.

#privacy #privacymatters #intellectualprivacy #justicesystem

@thenewoil Thinking that Meta would choose to keep users thoughts/emotions read only would be naive.

If their AI's can access and read users emotions, they can use their outputs to influence emotions, as Meta's much cruder 2012 study showed.

That pales in comparison to what would be possible now.

The importance of transparency in what the algorithms show you and why has never been more important.

#Meta #Privacy #SocialMedia #Influence

Let this sink in. On July 9, more MEPs voted against Chat Control than for it. 314 to reject, 276 to keep. And it passed anyway, extended to 2028.

A second-reading rule required an absolute majority of 361 to block it, so a clear majority against wasn’t enough. The vote was scheduled for the last day before summer recess, when seats were empty.

When “no” wins the count but loses the vote, the architecture matters more than ever. No server, nothing to scan.

zerion.chat

#chatcontrol #privacy

https://linuxiac.com/chatto-chat-app-is-now-open-source-and-available-to-self-host/

Chatto a Discord like app with Voice, Video and screen-sharing, but a heavy focus on privacy has just gone open source,

#OpenSource #Privacy #DiscordAlternative

I've been recommending people use/try #DeltaChat more than #Signal and it's worked far better than I thought! It's screen reader friendly also, across desktop and mobile! At least, on Windows anyway. https://delta.chat/en/help#multiclient #Chat #Privacy

I don't know who needs to hear this today, but everyone in your family or your household is entitled to #privacy.

The fact that you are a parent of a child does not make it okay to invade your child's privacy.

The fact that you are a spouse does not make it okay to invade your spouse's privacy.

The fact that you share a domicile with someone does not make it okay to invade your housemate's privacy, no matter your relationship to them.

Flock CEO: "Unfortunately, there’s terrorist organizations like DeFlock whose primary motivation is chaos. They’re closer to Antifa than they are anything else." #privacy #JoinAntifa
https://deflock.org/

Copyparty is a free, open-source file server for self-hosting and sharing files from any web browser.

It supports resumable uploads, WebDAV, SMB, SFTP, FTP, temporary share links, media previews, search, ZIP downloads, and much more, all while keeping you in control of your data.

More details: https://www.digitalescapetools.com/tools/tool.html?id=copyparty

#OpenSource #SelfHosted #FileSharing #Linux #Privacy #FOSS

Alt...

Screenshot of the Copyparty project page showing its logo, tagline about turning almost any device into a file server with resumable uploads/downloads, and a cassette-themed illustration.

Police departments have used Clearview AI's facial recognition database, which contains billions of scraped social media photos, without notifying the public.

#privacy #clearview #facialrecognition #indigoprivacy

Police departments have used Clearview AI's facial recognition database, which contains billions of scraped social media photos, without notifying the public.

#privacy #clearview #facialrecognition #indigoprivacy

Facial recognition scanners are turning up at airports, stadiums, and even Disneyland's gates. Most offer an opt-out, but few make it obvious. Before your next visit, check the venue's policy and look for the opt-out lane.

#privacy #facialrecognition #biometrics #optout #indigoprivacy

Facial recognition scanners are turning up at airports, stadiums, and even Disneyland's gates. Most offer an opt-out, but few make it obvious. Before your next visit, check the venue's policy and look for the opt-out lane.

#privacy #facialrecognition #biometrics #optout #indigoprivacy

Government-mandated gatekeepers have no place between Americans and lawful speech. CCIA’s Fifth Circuit brief argues Texas’ SB2420 imposes unconstitutional barriers to lawful speech by requiring age verification, parental consent, and compelled age ratings. Americans shouldn’t have to surrender their #privacy or show ID to access lawful information online. Free expression includes both the right to speak and the right to receive information. #FirstAmendment #FreeSpeech https://ccianet.org/news/2026/06/ccia-files-brief-arguing-that-texas-app-store-law-likely-violates-first-amendment/

Hey all. My new YouTube video is up!

This week's topic is Flock Safety cameras, the institutionalized abuse of this technology, and most importantly, a Suffolk, Virginia engineer who was recently arrested for destroying and defacing the cameras in his town en masse.

If you enjoy the video, please tap the like button. This is a free way to help a small creator in a big way. Thank you!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2A66tDGwFo

#YouTube #Technology #Privacy #Flock #JeffSovern #MassSurveillance #CivilLiberties

"Mistral Vibe review"

"Mistral Vibe packs agentic work automation and cloud coding into one assistant, with strong privacy guarantees and API pricing that undercuts most rivals."

https://www.techradar.com/pro/mistral-vibe-review

#Privacy

Lenders keep your SSN, pay stubs, and financial statements indefinitely — and that permanent store is a breach target shared with affiliates and brokers. Unlike a password, a leaked SSN is something you can never change.

#privacy #fintech #banking #indigoprivacy

DuckDuckGo's browser can now block most YouTube video ads without requiring a separate extension.

The feature is rolling out across supported platforms, though DuckDuckGo notes you may occasionally see buffering or ads as YouTube changes how ads are delivered.

Read more: https://digitalescapetools.com/2026/07/duckduckgo-youtube-ad-blocking-browser.html

#DuckDuckGo #YouTube #Privacy #AdBlocking #TechNews

The EU Parliament just greenlit Chat Control 1.0, enabling mass scanning of private communications.

Running your own chat infrastructure is a practical step to keep conversations private. You can deploy a dedicated Matrix server in a few clicks to maintain complete control over your data.

https://www.patrick-breyer.de/en/eu-parliament-greenlights-chat-control-1-0-breyer-our-children-lose-out/

#privacy #chatcontrol

vandalism is wrong!

destruction of property is wrong!

are you listening to me?

no?

well good, because i'm being sarcastic as fuck

"More #Flock cameras cut down in #Houston amid some #privacy concerns"

https://abc13.com/post/more-flock-cameras-cut-down-houston-amid-privacy-concerns/19471780/

Secure self-hosted team chat platform Chatto is now open source: developer Hendrik Mans released the code under AGPL-3.0-or-later (with Apache 2.0 exceptions). It supports single-community servers and aims to reduce self-hosting complexity. Built-in E2EE voice/video calls arrive in v0.4+. https://cyberinsider.com/secure-self-hosted-team-chat-platform-chatto-goes-open-source/ 🔒🗣️ #OpenSource #Privacy #SelfHosted

"Worried about Flock cameras? All new cars in the EU now need to have a camera aimed at the driver's face in the latest privacy nightmare"

"Every new car sold in the EU must now include a driver-monitoring camera, sparking latest data privacy row"

https://www.techradar.com/vehicle-tech/hybrid-electric-vehicles/worried-about-flock-cameras-all-new-cars-in-the-eu-now-need-to-have-a-camera-aimed-at-the-drivers-face-in-the-latest-privacy-nightmare

#Privacy

One privacy story, every Monday. Legislation, lawsuits, data breaches, and tools that help you respond.

#privacy #news #indigoprivacy

One privacy story, every Monday. Legislation, lawsuits, data breaches, and tools that help you respond.

#privacy #news #indigoprivacy

Foliate is a free, open-source eBook reader for Linux with support for EPUB, MOBI, PDF, CBZ, FB2, and more.

It includes dark mode, annotations, dictionary lookup, text-to-speech, bookmarks, and reading progress, all without requiring an account or sending your reading data to the cloud.

More details: https://digitalescapetools.com/tools/tool.html?id=foliate

#OpenSource #Linux #eBooks #Privacy #FOSS #Reading

Alt...

Screenshot of the Foliate project page showing the app logo, the tagline "Read books in style," and a preview of its clean eBook reading interface with a table of contents and an open book.

🧠 Mental and intellectual privacy is a precursor to Freedom of Thought (FoT) and it's what we must protect to keep the Thought Police at bay.

#privacy #privacymatters #freedomofthought #mentalprivacy #intellectualprivacy

Alt...

Text describes freedom of thought.

https://youtu.be/Yv2Eb_kJous

#meta #privacy #facebook #instagram #whatsapp

“ Today, the European Parliament allowed the suspicionless mass scanning of private communications (“Chat Control 1.0”) to pass, a measure it had rejected twice in March. Although a majority of voting Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) actually opposed the regulation (314 against, 276 in favor, 17 abstentions), the motion to reject it failed to secure the required absolute majority of 361 votes. As a result, mass scanning is now permitted again until 2028.

A symbolic exemption was adopted for encrypted communications—though in practice, service providers do not scan these anyway. Furthermore, while a majority of voting MEPs wanted to restrict the scanning of private communications strictly to suspects identified by the judiciary (322 to 255 votes), this amendment likewise fell short of the required absolute majority.

Dr. Patrick Breyer, civil rights activist and former Member of the European Parliament (MEP), warns of the consequences:

“The fact that Chat Control is moving forward against the will of the majority of voting MEPs is a farce and damages democracy.””

https://www.patrick-breyer.de/en/eu-parliament-greenlights-chat-control-1-0-breyer-our-children-lose-out/

#EU #ChatControl #Surveillance #MassScaning #Privacy

"Once these systems have you in their crosshairs, there's pretty much only one way it can go."

The post Flock Cameras Screw Up, Swarm Innocent Man With Armed Police appeared first on Futurism.

Alt...

Flock Cameras Screw Up, Swarm Innocent Man With Armed Police

Apple's ‘Hide My Email’ Feature May Reveal Users’ Real Addresses

This vulnerability has been know over a year by now, if you want to be anonymous use ArcaneChat instead!

Keep the family safe 🤗💜✨

#ArcaneChat #privacy #anonymous #anonymity #decentralization #email #encryption #europe #european

RE: https://loops.video/v/gMKfZjMBDu

@EUCommission I’m absolutely furious about #chatcontrol

EU failed it’s promises about #democracy, #privacy and putting people first.

You didn’t listen. Instead you put corrupt authoritarian and industry lobbyists before the ideals you promised you’d stand behind.

My only consolidation is that it will fail spectacularly, it will do so quickly, it will become a privacy and hacking disaster, and a lot of activists will get to tell you: ”We told you so!”

Vogue Business: Do Smart Glasses Have a Surveillance Problem?. “Big Tech has been borrowing from fashion’s playbook to improve its image, and the new Kylie partnership and glasses line launch is its biggest pivot to fashion and culture yet. Beneath the question of whether Jenner can finally make Meta’s smart glasses cool, there’s a much more challenging question for Meta and its rivals. […]

In unkritischen Medienberichten - wie teilweise auch in dem verlinkten Zeit-Artikel - wird immer wieder gezielt das manipulative Narrativ des "Kinderschutzes" und "Kampf gegen Missbrauch" verbreitet, um die Chatkontrolle zu propagieren. Dabei warnen nicht nur Datenschützer*innen und Netzaktivisti sondern auch Kinderschutz-Organisationen vor der Chatkontrolle, die mit der angestrebten Massenüberwachung auch Kinder und Jugendliche gefährdet.

https://www.zeit.de/news/2026-07/09/chatkontrolle-scan-erlaubnis-nimmt-huerde-im-eu-parlament

https://archive.is/ULUjx

#Chatkontrolle #Überwachung #Datenschutz #EU #Privacy #ClientSideScanning