Honestly nauseating this is even being considered. The fact the US is sliding into fascism indeed makes it worse, but is beside the point. This pertains to fundamental rights.

The US admin would never accept the inverse terms, which is to say handing over the biometric data of every US citizen to another nation state, for any reason.

Yielding to bullying never ends well. They take miles & hand out inches, if at all.

This needs to be fought down

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/587964/government-deciding-whether-us-should-get-access-to-new-zealanders-biometric-data

#privacy #aotearoa

Tech Companies Shouldn't Be Bullied into Doing Surveillance

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/02/tech-companies-shouldnt-be-bullied-doing-surveillance

#HackerNews #TechCompanies #Surveillance #Privacy #Rights #DigitalFreedom #EFF

Finally!

Smartphones are getting innovative again!

Galaxy S26 Ultra's Privacy Display is the best truly-new smartphone feature in years [Gallery]

https://9to5google.com/2026/02/25/samsung-galaxy-s26-ultra-privacy-display-demo-hands-on/

#Samsung #Galaxy #S26 #Privacy #Display #Security #Hardware #Mobile #Tech

https://www.404media.co/amazon-wishlist-address-private-third-party/

Amazon is changing how wishlists work: starting March 25, third-party sellers will be able to see full shipping addresses for public gift lists, not just the buyer’s city/state. That means people using public wishlists — especially creators, influencers, and others who value privacy — could have their home addresses shared with sellers and visible to gift buyers. Amazon now recommends PO boxes or removing address info to protect user privacy.

#Privacy #Amazon

Inside #Chicago’s #surveillance #panopticon
Law enforcement and security advocates say this vast monitoring system protects public safety and works well. But activists and many residents say it’s a surveillance panopticon that creates a chilling effect on behavior and violates guarantees of #privacy and #freespeech.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/02/23/1132740/inside-chicago-surveillance-panopticon/
https://archive.ph/kJD2R

"The Galaxy S26 Ultra Hides Its Best Features in the Background"

"The latest phone includes proactive AI reminders, real-time privacy alerts, and a screen that limits snooping"

https://www.lifewire.com/samsung-galaxy-s26-officially-revealed-11914339

#Privacy

No Discord.

No Genshin.

Where else can I securely talk to people?

Outside?!

Ugh!

Genshin Impact's Privacy Policy indicated players' voice comms data may be used to train AI models

https://www.eurogamer.net/genshin-impacts-privacy-policy-indicated-players-voice-comms-data-may-be-used-to-train-ai-models

#GenshinImpact #PrivacyPolicy #Privacy #AI #Hoyoverse #Gaming

Where the previous administration attempted to woo European customers, the current one is demanding that Europeans disregard their own data privacy regulations that could hinder American business.

#^https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/us-orders-diplomats-fight-data-sovereignty-initiatives-2026-02-25/

#DigitalSovereignty #DigitaleSoevereiniteit #privacy

"Samsung shows off new display tech that adds a privacy screen to apps and notifications"

"The new privacy tech uses different types of pixels to let you block certain apps and notifications from being viewed by others."

https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/25/samsung-shows-off-new-display-tech-that-adds-a-privacy-screen-to-apps-and-notifications/

#Privacy

Mass surveillance is incompatible with freedom and democracy.

Which one do you want to pick?

#Privacy #Democracy #HumanRights #MassSurveillance

FTC won't prioritize children's privacy protections with respect to efforts to verify users' ages.
#lawfedi #privacy

https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2026/02/ftc-issues-coppa-policy-statement-incentivize-use-age-verification-technologies-protect-children

"Samsung Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra: Specs, Features, Price, Release Date"

"Samsung’s new phones all get AI enhancements, and the flagship Galaxy S26 Ultra has a Privacy Display that can block the screen from nosy neighbors."

https://www.wired.com/story/samsung-galaxy-s26-series-galaxy-unpacked/

#Privacy

I'd like to think the damage is already done, but I know that some people are settling back down now that this news is out.

Discord delay global rollout of age verification to improve transparency and add more options

https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2026/02/discord-delay-global-rollout-of-age-verification-to-improve-transparency-and-add-more-options/

#Discord #AgeVerification #Transparency #Privacy #Security #Surveillance #AI #Tech #Gaming

"I thought the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra was a boring upgrade — then I saw Privacy Display, and it's best phone upgrade I've seen in years"

"Samsung's new Privacy Display is excellent, and I already want every phone to have it."

https://www.techradar.com/phones/samsung-galaxy-phones/i-thought-the-samsung-galaxy-s26-ultra-was-a-boring-upgrade-then-i-saw-privacy-display-and-its-best-phone-upgrade-ive-seen-in-years

#Privacy

Aotearoa/New Zealand is now considering to grant the US automated access to their demands for biometric information, police records, but also highly sensitive information about a person's political opinions, trade union memberships, or even sexual life. This is (automated in the background) on top of email addresses from the past decade, five years of phone numbers, personal details of family members, face, fingerprint, DNA, iris and other data they're *requesting from travellers* for the travel authorisation process

In the US, there's currently a "let's grab everything first and ask questions later approach, which is really, really concerning about how that information may end up being used, where it's being stored, the retention period" type of attitude around these things.

And it looks like New Zealand is - unlike countries of the European Union - in no position to demand security and privacy protections.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/587964/government-deciding-whether-us-should-get-access-to-new-zealanders-biometric-data

> Any information handed over to the US may end up with [...] ICE [...], and concerns have been raised about the opaque process, data sovereignity and surveillance overreach.
>
> [...]
>
> [NZ gov] had not stated what information might be shared, what safeguards would apply, or whether parliament or the public would be consulted before any agreement was finalised.
>
> [...] the proposed scheme was much more invasive than existing data-sharing arrangements and officials should consider the Trump administration's approach to immigration during negotiations.

1/2

#NZpol #privacy #murica #travel

"Hands on: I’m super impressed with the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s new Privacy Display"

"Maybe it's a reflection of just how slow hardware innovation has been, but the Galaxy S26 Ultra's new Privacy Display, which limits the screen's viewing angle to keep any would-be peepers away, left me totally impressed."

https://www.theverge.com/tech/884337/samsung-galaxy-s26-ultra-privacy-display-price

#Privacy

"3 Reasons Serious Creators Should Switch to This App"

"Vimeo handles presentation, privacy, and monetization in ways most social video apps simply don’t"

https://www.lifewire.com/vimeo-features-for-creators-11913267

#Privacy

Age verification laws force platforms to collect IDs, biometrics or behavioral data, directly conflicting with data minimization principles. 🔍

Recurring checks and stored proof for regulators create breach-prone archives, exposing everyone—not just minors—to surveillance risks. 🔒

🔗 https://spectrum.ieee.org/age-verification

#TechNews #Privacy #Security #Surveillance #DataProtection #DigitalRights #BigTech #AI #Biometrics #KidsOnline #Profiling #Cybersecurity #EU #USA #AgeVerification #Law #Biometrics

NEW: Trump Administration Moves to Allow Intelligence Agencies Easier Access to Law Enforcement Files

“None of this has been thought through very carefully,” one official said of the plans, which upend long-standing restrictions meant to protect Americans’ privacy.

https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-cia-law-enforcement-records-privacy-intelligence-community

#news #Trump #CIA #LawEnforcement #Privacy #Government #criminaljustice

Colorado’s SB26-051 would make OSes (Windows, Android, iOS, Linux) collect an “age signal” at setup and expose it via API to every app in broad age brackets 📊

Even if “minimal data” is promised, normalising OS‑level age tagging for all apps raises serious long‑term risks for privacy and user autonomy 🔒

🔗 https://itsfoss.com/news/colorado-age-attestation-bill/

#TechNews #Privacy #Security #Surveillance #DataProtection #DigitalRights #BigTech #AI #KidsOnline #AgeVerification #Profiling #Cybersecurity #US #USA #Colorado #Linux

EU’s Chat Control law is in the final stretch: countries dropped plans for mandatory mass scanning and explicit encryption backdoors, but “voluntary” scanning and broad risk rules remain on the table 📡

Age checks could tie private chats to IDs or face data, sidelining anonymous, secure communication for many people 🔒

@edri

🔗 https://edri.org/our-work/chat-control-is-in-the-final-stretch-but-it-could-be-a-marathon-not-a-sprint/

#TechNews #Privacy #Security #Encryption #Surveillance #AgeVerification #EU #Europe #BigTech #AI #DataProtection #HumanRights #Freedom #Internet

"Discord is now delaying its global age verification plans after huge backlash"

"If you're not already tired of listening about theDiscorddrama, you're in luck, because the platformhas now officially announcedthat it isdelaying its global age verification plan."

https://alternativeto.net/news/2026/2/discord-is-now-delaying-its-global-age-verification-plans-after-huge-backlash/

#Privacy

Daily Digest | 25 February 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

There has been a huge backlash after Amazon Ring advertised its dystopian surveillance feature "Search party" (dressed up as a way to find lost dogs).

Now a $10,000 award has been offered for anyone who can find a way to run Ring doorbell cameras locally, cutting off the flow of video data to Amazon's servers.

Read more in my article on the Bitdefender blog: https://www.bitdefender.com/en-us/blog/hotforsecurity/10-000-bounty-hack-ring-cameras

#cybersecurity #surveillance #ring #doorbell #privacy

Discord Cuts Ties With Persona, Delays Global Age Verification

A second security incident has apparently prompted Discord to start rethinking their age verification strategy.

https://www.freezenet.ca/discord-cuts-ties-with-persona-delays-global-age-verification/

#Censorship #News #Privacy #Security #AgeVerification #DataLeak #Discord #Persona

Last thought. It feels like the market for the "privacy browser" had ramped up, the more so- called AI is shoved down people's throats.

I have at least two installed, but can't decide which route to take. Which **mobile** "privacy browser" do you use?

(I've excluded Brave for personal opinion reasons).

If it's a different one to the 4 option limit I have for polls, please reply with which one and why.

Thanks,

FJ

#browsers #privacy #mobile #pleaserepost

It's important to celebrate the small victories. No matter how small. Do not minimize them.

Remain skeptical and ready to fight again soon, of course. But take the time to enjoy this little dopamine hit. Your brain needs it to survive the long battle for privacy rights 💚🔒

Be happy today,
your actions helped! Yay! 🎉
You can wait tomorrow to be angry again ✊

#Privacy #PrivacyWin

YES! This is AMAZING! 🎉

Keep pushing against abusive practices, and keep fighting for your privacy rights!

IT WORKS! ✊🔒

https://9to5mac.com/2026/02/24/discord-just-canceled-its-planned-age-verification-rollout-for-now/

Edit: Just to be clear, I still encourage everyone to move to better platforms and delete your Discord accounts (even if there was no age verification at all). Discord isn't a privacy-respectful platform.

But this small victory means we should keep pushing for better privacy practices, everywhere.

This means they are listening. This means you have the power to make things better, for yourself and for others.

Celebrate that. And keep pushing back.

#Privacy #AgeVerification #Discord #PrivacyWin

Sociologist Yves Jeanrenaud developed the app Nearby Glasses (currently only Android; an iOS version is coming he says) that detects #Meta glasses (often used for nefarious purposes) through their Bluetooth Company Identifier, and "displays a notification when a smart glass is nearby (distance may be customised)".

#Privacy

https://www.404media.co/this-app-warns-you-if-someone-is-wearing-smart-glasses-nearby/

A great broad overview of privacy laws in the US. Here are some highlights from the article. To read the full article: https://www.theverge.com/column/882516/privacy-laws-america

#privacy #us #tech #congress #law #ice #facialrecognition
1/5

‚Deutschlandweit sprechen sich Politiker*innen dafür aus, keine Software von Palantir zu verwenden. Stattdessen soll eine europäische Alternative eingesetzt werden. Die Verknüpfung und automatische Analyse möglichst vieler Daten bleibt aber ein totalitäres Konzept…..‘

Totalitäre Tendenzen - Palantir-Ersatz aus der #EU ist ein gefährlicher Wunsch

https://netzpolitik.org/2026/totalitaere-tendenzen-palantir-ersatz-aus-der-eu-ist-ein-gefaehrlicher-wunsch/
Sehr treffender Kommentar von @yoshiXYZ

#Überwachung #Datenschutz #Privacy #Palantir #Netzpolitik #Totalitarismus

Jitsi Meet is an open-source video conferencing tool you can self-host as a Zoom / Google Meet alternative.

For best privacy, run your own instance or use a trusted community server instead of the public meet.jit.si.

👉 https://github.com/jitsi/jitsi-meet

👉 Explore tools that help you escape Big Tech: https://digital-escape-tools-phi.vercel.app/

#OpenSource #SelfHosting #VideoConferencing #Privacy #Decentralization #DigitalMinimalism

Alt...

Jitsi Meet project page showing the title ‘Jitsi Meet’ and a description explaining it’s an open-source video conferencing platform with modern video quality and features.

The Age Verification Trap

Verifying user’s ages undermines everyone’s data protection

https://spectrum.ieee.org/age-verification

#security #privacy #tech #technology #news #technews #ageverification