Google is testing reduced free cloud storage for new accounts created without phone number verification, cutting capacity from 15GB to 5GB. ☁️
The change links Gmail, Drive, and Photos storage access to identity verification, increasing pressure to provide personal data. 📱

🔗 https://www.pcworld.com/article/3140911/google-quietly-cuts-free-storage-to-5gb-without-a-phone-number.html

#TechNews #Google #Privacy #CloudStorage #Gmail #GoogleDrive #GooglePhotos #DataPrivacy #DigitalRights #BigTech #Surveillance #Internet #Security #OnlinePrivacy #Technology #Drive #Photo

Lawsuit in California, plaintiffs vs the Mouse, about facial recogmition in theme parks.

“When American families and their children visit a theme park, let alone a brand that’s as ubiquitous as Disney, they shouldn’t sacrifice their privacy rights when they enter,” Yagman said in a statement. “And as facial recognition becomes more common, and it proliferates in public places, especially, it’s more important than ever that we protect people’s privacy rights, because there are civil rights implications and privacy implications to collecting someone’s biometric information, especially without adequate consent, which is what we’ve alleged.

Seems to be… the Mouse provides a way to bypass those lines. But that way is obscure and unclear to guests. So most ppl don’t even know it is hapepning. Let alone which lines can bypass it.

the park has small signs at some security checkpoints notifying guests of the facial recognition policy, “but the sign is adorned with red, green, yellow, and blue Mickey Mouse silhouettes and is very easy to miss.”

This tech is also common, maybe unavoidable? at many sporting events in the US now. Major stadiums, that sort of thing.

I wrote about Apple's privacy promise yesterday — then Google held I/O and made the whole thing worse. They didn't build a better search, they built a cage out of the old one funneling you right into their AI and likely away from the actual sources of what you searched for.

https://blog.ppb1701.com/every-road-leads-to-google

#google #apple #ai #privacy #gemini #search #googleio #bigtech #userhostile #agentic #blog

"The Dark Patterns Keeping You From Opting Out of Data Sharing Are Darker Than Ever, Study Finds"

"A privacy nonprofit says online platforms are using ‘manipulative’ design tricks to make opting out of data sharing harder than it needs to be."

https://gizmodo.com/the-dark-patterns-keeping-you-from-opting-out-of-data-sharing-are-darker-than-ever-study-finds-2000761379

#Privacy

#Microsoft Took a Step Toward #HumanRights Accountability. #Google and #Amazon (and Others) Should Pay Attention!

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/05/microsoft-took-step-toward-human-rights-accountability-google-and-amazon-and

#surveillance #privacy

A win for privacy. Google and Apple keeps their promises about End-to-End Encryption for RCS.

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/05/victory-end-end-encrypted-rcs-comes-apple-and-android-chats?utm_source=effector

#privacy #security #e2ee

#Google: "Intelligent eyewear is coming this fall"

https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/platforms/android/android-xr-io-2026/

#AI #SmartGlasses #privacy #surveillance

LA Times: Disney accused of misusing facial recognition technology

"...A visitor has filed a $5-million lawsuit against Disneyland for allegedly failing to properly disclose the use of facial-recognition technology at park and collecting sensitive data on guests...."

(paywall)
https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2026-05-20/disney-faces-5-million-lawsuit-over-use-of-facial-recognition-technology

#lawsuit #disney #privacy #bigbrother #law

You Can't Opt Out: The Surveillance Accountability Act (Naomi Brockwell Interview). #privacy #surveillance

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_hlkmpw1sk

I mentioned this about googles BS days ago, i alluded to it pretty directly, massive surveillance. YOU AIN'T SEE NOTHING YET.WAIT A FEW MORE WEEKS.
Welcome to my world.I've been testing that for nearly a year.
I was even afforded a front row seat at the rollout wait till you wait till the world gets a load of this bleeping sh*t.
#Privacy #SystemSecurity #TRUEessence

a2d678bdb7df896639fd210b9b045044de442ab2c16f6d64a2b89b0f5ab8577a

Streamer Realtime Deepfakes Himself into #MrBeast, Says He Loves 'Touching Little Boys'

https://www.404media.co/streamer-realtime-deepfakes-himself-into-mr-beast-says-he-loves-touching-little-boys/

#deepfake #AI #privacy #streaming #nsfw

Ring Doorbell Evolves With Advanced AI, Sparking Debate Over Privacy

Ring doorbells get new AI features like 'Video Descriptions' and 'Alexa Plus Greetings', but privacy concerns and state laws limit facial recognition.

#RingDoorbell, #AI, #Privacy, #SmartHome, #TechNews

https://newsletter.tf/ring-doorbell-ai-features-privacy-debate/

Ring doorbells now have advanced AI features, but privacy concerns and state laws like those in Illinois and Texas have stopped some features from being used.

#RingDoorbell, #AI, #Privacy, #SmartHome, #TechNews
https://newsletter.tf/ring-doorbell-ai-features-privacy-debate/

New in #Firefox 151: #VPN location selection, #AI controls on mobile, and expanded Shake to Summarize support

https://blog.mozilla.org/en/firefox/more-control-firefox/

#FOSS #Mozilla #privacy

5 months later, https://thurin.id/ is still under review for Apple ID Verification.
Time to pivot

#privacy #ethereum #apple

Alt...

Set up ID verification © Sent for review on Jan 29 Your request form and domain are in review and may take 7 to 10 business days to complete. Steps (@ Add your brand The name and logo for this brand will display on a customer's iPhone when they share their ID in Wallet. Thurin.id (US) @ In Review

Harvard Business Review: How Stronger Privacy Laws Convinced Consumers to Share More Data. “Companies often fear that stronger privacy regulations will mean they’ll have less access to valuable consumer data. But an analysis of 16,000 U.S. customers using an engagement app found that after 2023 privacy laws took effect in California and Virginia, users in those two states divulged more data […]

🚨 NEWS: Privacy e Usabilità. Discord e WhatsApp Stabiliscono Nuovi Standard per la Messaggistica nel 2026

Ecco i punti chiave in breve:
💡 La comunicazione digitale sta vivendo una trasformazione senza precedenti. Due dei giganti della messaggistica istantanea, Discord e WhatsApp, hanno annunciato aggiornamenti crucia...

🚀 LINK: https://meteoraweb.com/news/privacy-e-usabilita-discord-e-whatsapp-stabiliscono-nuovi-standard-per-la-messaggistica-nel-2026

#privacy #messaggistica #whatsapp #crittografiaEndToEnd #discord

A new way to fund internet freedom

https://blog.torproject.org/fund-internet-freedom/

#privacy #cybersecurity #activism #crypto #anonymity

Option 2: Mastodon
🚨 New Episode Live: YellowKey

A new zero-day called "YellowKey" lets attackers bypass default BitLocker encryption with a simple USB trick. Microsoft hasn't patched it yet.

We break down the exploit, the "backdoor" accusations, and exactly how to secure your drive today.

Don't trust the default. Listen now: ImpracticalPrivacy.com

#BitLocker #Privacy #InfoSec #CyberSecurity #OpenSource #YellowKey #Microsoft #Surveillance #Windows #Windows11 #OpSec #Encryption

Alt...

Image was created with AI.

#7Eleven confirms #DataBreach claimed by the #ShinyHunters gang

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/7-eleven-confirms-data-breach-claimed-by-the-shinyhunters-gang/

#privacy #cybersecurity

#Discord finally rolls out end-to-end #encryption by default for all voice and video calls

https://alternativeto.net/news/2026/5/discord-finally-rolls-out-end-to-end-encryption-by-default-for-all-voice-and-video-calls/

#privacy #cybersecurity #E2EE #SocialMedia

New Release: #Tor Browser 15.0.14

https://blog.torproject.org/new-release-tor-browser-15014/

#privacy #cybersecurity #anonymity #FOSS

I don't know how well E2EE will benefit me if they are trying to surveil me in other ways.

Discord now has end-to-end encryption on all calls - Engadget

https://www.engadget.com/2177277/discord-now-has-end-to-end-encryption-on-all-calls/

#Discord #E2EE #Encryption #Security #Privacy #Tech #Gaming

Contrast the nonsense coming from politicians -- aimed at people with little time to assess tech issues -- on how tech should figure out or 'nerd' its way to age verification ('to keep us all safe'), with the ease with which children and youth can get their hands on assault weapons in the USA.

Priorities.

https://pluralistic.net/2025/08/14/bellovin/#wont-someone-think-of-the-cryptographers

@pluralistic

#technology #privacy

Android 17 adds scam-call detection for banking apps, expanded anti-stalkerware protections, and stronger theft recovery controls across devices. 📲
Google is also rolling out OTP shielding, post-quantum cryptography, and tighter app access limits to reduce tracking and credential theft risks. 🔐

🔗 https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/android-17-to-expand-banking-scam-call-and-privacy-protections/

#TechNews #Android17 #Android #Google #Privacy #Cybersecurity #MobileSecurity #Scam #Encryption #PostQuantum #PlayProtect #Security #Infosec #DataProtection #Technology

Apple backed Google in opposing EU proposals that would require Android to give rival AI services deeper access to apps and system features. 📱
Apple warned the DMA measures could weaken privacy, security, and device integrity as regulators push for more user choice in AI assistants. ⚖️

🔗 https://9to5mac.com/2026/05/13/apple-warns-eu-against-forcing-google-to-open-android-to-ai-rivals/

#TechNews #Apple #iPhone #iOS #Google #Android #AI #DMA #Europe #EU #Privacy #Cybersecurity #Antitrust #OpenSource #Regulation #Mobile #Security #Technology #ArtificialIntelligence

You Can Get Some of Your #Nudes Removed From the Internet Under a New Law

https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-remove-nudes-take-it-down-act/

#deepfake #nudify #AI #porn #privacy #nsfw #TakeItDownAct #NCII

Engadget: Discord now has end-to-end encryption on all calls. “Your calls on Discord are now truly private. The social platform says it’s completed its years-long endeavor to apply end-to-end encryption in all voice and video calls. This security is applied to all calls outside of stage channels, with no need to opt into the added protection.”

Privacy International’s submission to the #UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on the protection of #HumanRights defenders in the digital age

https://privacyinternational.org/advocacy/5771/privacy-internationals-submission-un-high-commissioner-human-rights-protection-human

#privacy #politics

https://www.xda-developers.com/discords-voice-and-video-calls-e2ee/

Discord now can use End-to-End-Encryption for video & audio calls.

Discord however says there are no plans to even try to add E2EE for text messages

(of course not, how do you think they make money? From Nitro subscriptions alone?)

#Discord #E2EE #Encryption #Privacy

RE: https://techhub.social/@Techmeme/116606089296164399

Remember this whenever you hear claims that your data is secure on some system or other that you do not own and control.

Like all that additional data governments want to gather via the slippery slope of “age verification” in the EU.

The only data that is actually secure on a third party is data you haven’t shared with the third party.

Hence: data minimisation.

Had I mentioned GDMR yet today? Because I feel I might have. But hey, here it is again:

https://ar.al/2018/11/29/gdmr-this-one-simple-regulation-could-end-surveillance-capitalism-in-the-eu/

#data #security #privacy #GDMR #microsoft #github #hack

When you hear that someone is a “privacy professional”, you know two things about them:

1. That they work in the field of privacy
2. That someone pays them to do that

So ask:

Who is paying you?

(Always follow the money.)

Based on the answer, you’ll know whether their job is to protect your privacy or to find ways of legitimising their employer’s business model that’s predicated on violating your privacy.

Also, ask yourself: who has the most money?

Then you’ll know who can afford to hire the largest number of “privacy professionals.” Hint: trillion-dollar corporations are called trillion-dollar corporations for a reason.

(Wait a minute, am I really saying that most “privacy professionals” are hired to help corporations violate your privacy, not protect it? That’s a yes.)

Finally, have a little read up on “revolving doors” to understand that for some of these “privacy professionals”, a job is just a job and they will happily flip between the two because, really, it’s all just a game to some people when you have a certain level of privilege.

I was once censured by the Nordic Privacy Arena – a conference that “aims to be part of the privacy professional’s journey” where I was presenting a keynote – for criticising the keynote by a Facebook employee (a lawyer who was a “privacy professional”). What was that Facebook employee’s previous job, you ask? Oh, he worked at the French data protection office (CNIL). And that, kids, is what we call a revolving door.

(Last year, Nordic Privacy Arena had four speakers from Google as well as a speaker from Capgemini – whose US subsidiary has a contract to provide surveillance and tracking services to ICE* – and Salesforce**. Not to mention a representative from the Irish Data Protection Commission. You know, the folks who enforce GDPR to the extent that they’re sued by @noybeu to do so. If you don’t know how corrupt Ireland is on this, read the excerpt from the Facebook whistleblower’s book, Careless People, that I quote in this post: https://ar.al/2025/03/21/careless-people/)

And none of this is going to change if we continue with the framing of “data protection”. We must make this whole business model illegal.

We must go beyond GDPR to GDMR: General Data Minimisation Regulation.

https://ar.al/2018/11/29/gdmr-this-one-simple-regulation-could-end-surveillance-capitalism-in-the-eu/

* https://www.surveillancewatch.io/entities/capgemini
** https://dpforum.se/nordic-privacy-arena/nordic-privacy-arena-2026/

#CPDP2026 #CPDP #NordicPrivacyArena #dataProtection #privacyWashing #institutionalCorruption #revolvingDoors #usefulIdiots #privacy #humanRights #GDPR #GDMR

Daily Digest | 20 May 2026

Your daily dose of Privacy, Data Protection, AI & Cybersecurity news.

5 stories you should not miss.

Read more: https://www.nicfab.eu/daily-digest/

#Privacy #AI #GDPR #Cybersecurity #TechLaw

Photo of “privacy professionals” having fun at #CPDP2026 sponsored by Google, Microsoft, and TikTok.

This is why you’re fucked.

#CPDP2026 #CPDP #privacyWashing #institutionalCorruption #usefulIdiots #privacy #humanRights #GDPR

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Graffiti on wall by Banksy: Children on a swing ride around a surveillance tower with a surveillance camera on it.

"Age verification is an impossibility, and an impossibly terrible idea with impossibly vast consequences for privacy and the open web..." - @pluralistic

https://pluralistic.net/2025/08/14/bellovin/#wont-someone-think-of-the-cryptographers

#AgeVerification #privacy #security #tech

Hello guys, hope this day will find you positive and curious!

I pushed some more documentation about the system components and how they are working, it's a bit more detailed so you can understand, audit, debug, contribute.

Will refine the docs even more as the time passes by, next days will be focused there!

This week I was fixing the privacy problems with Brave and Chromium engine which caused us obstacles in terms of anti-fingerprinting.

Had to do a lot of work to ensure Firefox-ESR which I chose as a replacement will do the job and cover our expectations, thankfully it worked out!

Everything works like a charm, if you thought of downloading PH4NTXM now's the time, please go, give it a check and let's find what's good, what's missing and we will refine it together!

Thank you for being here!

#ph4ntxm #linux #debian #os #live #privacy #security #opsec #infosec #research #tech #technology

🌐 WhatsApp Testing 'Read-to-Disappear' Messages for Real Privacy

WhatsApp's quietly rolling out a new privacy tool for some beta users on iOS and Android: messages that vanish the moment you've read them.

https://www.byte-pulse.net/article/whatsapp-testing-read-to-disappear-messages-for-real-privacy

#whatsapp #privacy #beta #apps

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WhatsApp Testing 'Read-to-Disappear' Messages for Real Privacy