The hottest Privacy Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top U.S. Politics Topics

Another year is coming to a close without a federal privacy bill

The Exformation Newsletter • 78 implied HN points • 14 Dec 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation Congress Privacy Bipartisanship Enforcement
  1. A federal privacy law remains out of reach of Congress for another year.
  2. Two scenarios for privacy law development: Option A - state-based bills expanding to all states, Option B - federal bill.
  3. Compliance with 50 different state privacy bills is costly and creates additional risks for companies.

The frenzy to ban TikTok is another National Security State scam

Michael Tracey • 101 implied HN points • 15 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics National Security Legislation Geopolitics Civil Liberties Foreign Relations Legislation National Security Foreign Relations Social media Privacy
  1. The rush to ban TikTok by the National Security State was orchestrated quietly and with limited public exposure, showing a deliberate avoidance of public scrutiny.
  2. The push to ban TikTok largely centered around concerns about its alleged promotion of anti-Semitism and sympathy for Hamas, particularly during the Israel/Gaza conflict.
  3. The legislative bill to ban TikTok gained support from influential figures who highlighted the platform's perceived role in spreading anti-Semitic content and aligning with foreign adversaries, despite criticisms and objections against the bill.

TechLetters #159 Light sensor privacy leaks; Data leaks from LLM uses; Cybersecurity plans of a potential US 2025 White House

Lukasz Olejnik on Cyber, Privacy and Tech Policy Critique • 58 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Security Privacy Other
  1. Data leaks from AI/LLM systems, affecting devices like iPhones
  2. Cybersecurity plans for potential future US 2025 White House President include integrating cyber and electronic warfare capabilities
  3. Risk of privacy leaks from ambient light sensors validated by research, emphasizing the need for safe configurations

A New Fear Unlocked with Copilot+PCs

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 19 implied HN points • 22 May 24
🕹 Technology AI Software Data Privacy Innovation
  1. Microsoft's new Recall feature allows easy data retrieval, but many employees are worried it could invade their privacy.
  2. The feature captures screenshots of user activities, which gets processed by an AI, making everything searchable.
  3. High-profile figures, like Elon Musk, are concerned about this feature, comparing it to something out of a dystopian show like Black Mirror.

Google Goes To Bat For Right To Repair In Oregon

Fight to Repair • 59 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Repairability Privacy Environmental Impact Right-to-repair
  1. Google endorses the right to repair, changing its corporate position and supporting a legal right for users to repair their devices.
  2. Google is backing comprehensive right to repair legislation in Oregon and actively lobbying for its passage.
  3. Although Google's endorsement is a significant shift, their focus on parts assemblies over individual components has been critiqued by right to repair advocates.
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The asymmetry of nudges

lcamtuf’s thing • 103 HN points • 24 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Big Tech API Browser Extensions Privacy
  1. It's common to blame big businesses for unethical practices, but often founders and CEOs are genuinely trying to do the right thing.
  2. The development of Manifest V3 in Google Chrome, though controversial, aimed to address major security and privacy risks posed by browser extensions.
  3. The concept of the asymmetry of nudges highlights how well-intentioned changes in tech companies can inadvertently limit user choices or negatively impact user experience.

Learning Series #1— A Closer Look at Concordium and Worldcoin

Concordium Monthly Updates • 98 implied HN points • 15 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Blockchain Identity Cryptocurrency Privacy Compliance
  1. Concordium emphasizes privacy and compliance through its identity verification process, showcasing a user-centric approach.
  2. Worldcoin aims to revolutionize access to the global economy with a unique digital identification platform but faces challenges with compliance and security.
  3. Concordium's diverse ecosystem facilitates innovation across various sectors, while Worldcoin focuses on Universal Basic Income through the World App.

How To Create A LangChain Application That Runs Locally & Offline

Cobus Greyling on LLMs, NLU, NLP, chatbots & voicebots • 39 implied HN points • 28 Feb 24
🕹 Technology AI Software Development Privacy Data
  1. Running language models locally gives you more control over data privacy and enhances security by keeping sensitive information off external servers.
  2. Using small language models can improve efficiency in tasks like conversation management and language understanding while also cutting down on costs associated with cloud services.
  3. Local deployment makes models available offline, ensuring you can use them anytime without needing an internet connection, which is useful for research and development.

Data and Innovation in D.C.

Technically Optimistic • 79 implied HN points • 20 Oct 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation Privacy Technology Data AI
  1. Data privacy is crucial in the development of AI legislation to protect user information and provide transparency and control.
  2. Users often do not understand the extent of data collection by companies and the tradeoffs involved in sharing personal information for personalized experiences.
  3. There is a need to enhance digital literacy, promote user agency over their data, and find alternatives to the current consent practices in applications to address evolving challenges around data privacy.

Things Are Getting Real

Technically Optimistic • 79 implied HN points • 06 Oct 23
🕹 Technology AI Ethics Privacy Ethical AI
  1. AI technology is advancing rapidly, with systems like ChatGPT evolving to see, hear, and speak, even browsing the web. These advancements have significant implications for human-machine interactions.
  2. Ethical considerations around AI use in managing emotions and mental health are crucial, raising questions about setting up safeguards and establishing values to navigate potential risks.
  3. Balancing technological advancement with ethical guidelines and societal values is essential to ensure the responsible development of AI while addressing concerns related to mental health and emotional well-being.

Mobile cybersecurity advice

Cybersect • 78 implied HN points • 29 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Cybersecurity Journalism Privacy Mobile devices
  1. Non-tech journalists may misinterpret tech advice by assuming premises and seeking confirmation rather than prompting for refutation.
  2. Cybersecurity is about tradeoffs, not following simple hygiene guides, but updating critical software and avoiding password reuse.
  3. Monitoring and controlling location tracking on apps is crucial, along with considering the minimal impact of power cycling on security against attacks.

Jack Sweeney: Troll? Stalker? Or Free Speech Hero?

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 74 implied HN points • 28 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Celebrities Privacy Journalism Social media Legal issues
  1. Jack Sweeney faced legal challenges for his social media accounts tracking celebrities' private jets. Celebrities like Taylor Swift and Elon Musk took legal action against him for privacy concerns.
  2. Sweeney's interest in tracking celebrity jets began as a tech and aviation fascination. He uses various sources like FAA databases and aviation enthusiasts to update his spreadsheets.
  3. Despite facing legal threats and backlash, Sweeney maintains his accounts are journalistic and informative. He relies on his instincts when dealing with offers from celebrities like Elon Musk and Mark Cuban.

The Impact of Social Media on Cybersecurity

Rod’s Blog • 39 implied HN points • 27 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Social media Cybersecurity Privacy Online safety Data Protection
  1. Social media is a significant source of cyber threats, as cybercriminals use it to steal personal information, spread malware, and launch phishing attacks.
  2. Social media platforms are vulnerable to cybercrime due to the vast user base they have, making them attractive targets for cybercriminals.
  3. To stay safe on social media, it's important to be cautious about what you share, use strong passwords, be wary of suspicious links, keep software updated, and utilize two-factor authentication.

Get a Microsoft 365 Copilot security teardown without hours of documentation review

Deploy Securely • 39 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Security Privacy Data Governance AI Governance Data Management
  1. Microsoft 365 Copilot provides detailed data residency and retention controls favored by enterprises in the Microsoft 365 ecosystem.
  2. Be cautious of insider threats with Copilot as it allows access to considerable organizational data, potentially leading to inadvertent policy violations.
  3. Consider the complexities of Copilot's retention policies, especially in relation to existing settings and the use of Bing for web searches.

Must Learn AI Security Compendium 14: Securing On-prem LLMs

Rod’s Blog • 59 implied HN points • 09 Nov 23
🕹 Technology AI Security Machine Learning Privacy
  1. On-prem LLMs offer privacy benefits by keeping data and texts secure from unauthorized access or leaks.
  2. On-prem LLMs enhance security by reducing cyber attack risks due to not relying on external components or services.
  3. On-prem LLMs improve performance by utilizing an organization's own hardware and software resources for efficient language generation.

Let's "Unfriend" Facebook

Diane Francis • 619 implied HN points • 22 Feb 21
🕹 Technology Social media Privacy Regulation Cybersecurity Information Warfare
  1. Facebook's response to Australia's push for media regulation shows their arrogant power. They blocked important information and media, which raises questions about their respect for democracy.
  2. The company's early financial backing from Russian investors highlights concerns about privacy and user data exploitation. This money helped transform Facebook into a tool for propagating various ideologies.
  3. Facebook's history of blocking content and censoring users, especially in oppressive regimes, indicates a troubling disregard for free speech. The company often reacts slowly to criticism and legal issues, making it seem like they prioritize profit over ethics.

TechLetters #157 Data Protection of Privacy Sandbox PAA; Fake security reviews using ChatGPT; Satellite internet access cut in Ukraine during military operations; China criticises U.S. tech sanctions

Lukasz Olejnik on Cyber, Privacy and Tech Policy Critique • 39 implied HN points • 08 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Security Privacy Technology Policy
  1. Security bug reports gone awry, leading to nonsensical content created with ChatGPT.
  2. Satellite internet access cut in Ukraine during military operations.
  3. Google phasing out 3rd-party cookies for data protection in Chrome browser.

Farewell to the Safe Space

Technically Optimistic • 59 implied HN points • 13 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Privacy AI Ethics Surveillance Data
  1. Utilizing AI for memory recall, like with Rewind AI, can be a beneficial tool for enhancing memory capabilities.
  2. There is a constant trade-off between personalization and privacy in the digital space, raising questions about the extent of data individuals are willing to share for customization.
  3. Emerging technologies such as surveillance devices and advanced software like Rewind AI prompt discussions on privacy expectations and the need for clear regulations to safeguard personal data.

✍️ New Journalism Jobs and Will TikTok Be Banned? ✍️ — March 27

Inside The Newsroom • 58 implied HN points • 27 Mar 23
📰 News Tech Privacy Policy Social media Regulation
  1. TikTok is facing bans in multiple countries due to concerns about data privacy and ties to the Chinese government.
  2. The social media industry, including TikTok, is under scrutiny for data privacy issues that are not unique to TikTok alone.
  3. Calls for stronger regulation and oversight of social media companies are growing to protect user data and online privacy.

TechLetters #129 Russians training defence from cyberattacks on industrial systems. Russian Kaspersky employees iPhone's hacked. Quantum computing recommendations, AI-drone U.S. Air Force drama.

Lukasz Olejnik on Cyber, Privacy and Tech Policy Critique • 58 implied HN points • 05 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Security Privacy Technology Policy AI Quantum Computing
  1. Russian red teaming exercises target industrial systems for cyberattacks
  2. Malware campaign targets iPhones, including employees at cybersecurity company Kaspersky
  3. US government advised to expedite migration to post-quantum cryptography

TechLetters #125 - My book, Philosophy of Cybersecurity. Data center under water. MS EDGE leaking data. AI. Phishing parrot risk increases.

Lukasz Olejnik on Cyber, Privacy and Tech Policy Critique • 58 implied HN points • 01 May 23
🕹 Technology Security Privacy Technology Policy Other
  1. Google's data center faced challenges like being underwater, showing importance of risk management.
  2. OpenAI is enhancing privacy controls to address GDPR concerns and maintain user trust.
  3. Microsoft Edge has a privacy issue - leaking data to Microsoft, reminiscent of older privacy concerns.

The Trojan Kid

Technically Optimistic • 39 implied HN points • 08 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Online safety Legislation Privacy Social media Data Privacy
  1. The Kids Online Safety Act aims to protect children online, give parents more control, and hold big tech accountable by age-gating, granting parents access to social media content, and imposing a duty of care on platforms.
  2. Legislation targeting teen mental health should consider various factors beyond social media impacts, such as economic insecurity, gun violence, and climate change.
  3. Proposed tech regulations like age verification may have unintended consequences, such as creating barriers for certain communities and endorsing authoritarian parenting styles.

One step closer to a Universal Age API

Tech + Regulation • 19 implied HN points • 08 Apr 24
🕹 Technology APIs Online safety Privacy Social media
  1. Meta is working on a Universal Age API that helps determine what apps users can access based on their ages. This is aimed at keeping kids and teens safer online.
  2. The plan includes steps for platforms to share age information, resolve any conflicts, and improve user experiences by not asking for age repeatedly. This will help ensure that kids aren’t exposed to inappropriate content.
  3. There’s a push for better age verification methods and standards to protect younger users online. Different platforms could collaborate to share age data for a safer internet.

What Crypto Can Teach Us About A.I. Hype

The Digital Anthropologist • 39 implied HN points • 20 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Crypto Artificial Intelligence Industry Privacy Ethics
  1. The cryptocurrency industry's hype turned out to be largely a pyramid scheme, showing lessons to be learned for the Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) hype.
  2. Over-hyping A.I. can lead to disillusionment and hinder real progress, similar to what happened with crypto hype.
  3. To navigate the A.I. landscape better, companies should focus on tangible benefits, avoid over-promising, and incorporate human-centered approaches like Microsoft and Apple.

Kids and AI

Technically Optimistic • 39 implied HN points • 10 Nov 23
🕹 Technology AI Privacy Regulation Education Safety
  1. Protecting children from online risks should be approached both from a risk-based and a rights-based perspective.
  2. Involving children in conversations about digital spaces, educating them about AI, and designing products with child safety in mind are key steps to safeguarding their well-being in the digital world.
  3. Children's rights in the digital age, including non-discrimination, best interests, survival and development, and respect for their views, need to be prioritized in the design and regulation of technology.

For Personalized AI, How Agreeable Is Too Agreeable?

techandsocialcohesion • 19 implied HN points • 28 Feb 24
🕹 Technology AI Ethics Regulation Privacy User Experience
  1. Users must decide if they want their personal AI assistants to be agreeable or expose them to diverse perspectives.
  2. Being surrounded by agreeable AI assistants could lead to a filter bubble, isolating users from different viewpoints.
  3. Businesses, governments, and users all play a role in balancing agreeableness and exposure to diverse ideas in personal AI assistants.

So, what do they really think?

Tech + Regulation • 19 implied HN points • 18 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Regulation Privacy Technology Children Submissions
  1. Many companies want to keep existing practices for kids' online privacy, but some support stronger measures like adding biometric data to privacy laws.
  2. There is a push for better consent methods, including using text messages, but companies are wary of changes that might limit their operations or increase their responsibilities.
  3. Some advocacy groups are urging stricter rules on how companies engage kids, promoting restrictions on alerts and push notifications that might lead to addictive behavior.

Lỗ hổng của Sổ sức khỏe điện tử

Thái | Hacker | Kỹ sư tin tặc • 259 implied HN points • 13 Oct 21
🕹 Technology Cybersecurity Privacy Health
  1. The electronic health record system had several security vulnerabilities like default passwords, IDOR, HQL Injection, and path traversal.
  2. The system's security issues were a cause for disappointment as it seemed lack of responsible security assessment teams had overlooked these basic vulnerabilities.
  3. There were common security oversights like unauthenticated API endpoints, SQL injection vulnerabilities, path traversal vulnerabilities, and use of default passwords.

We Are What We Click

Diane Francis • 399 implied HN points • 04 Mar 21
🕹 Technology Privacy Surveillance Big Tech Data Mining Social media
  1. Big Tech companies collect and sell our online data, which makes them extremely wealthy and invades our privacy. It’s important to be aware of how much information we share online.
  2. Cookies and algorithms create 'filter bubbles' that limit our exposure to different views and ideas. This can lead to social isolation and political division.
  3. We can take steps to protect our privacy online, like blocking cookies and clearing our search history. However, government regulations are also needed to help keep our data safe.

How to make history with LLMs & other generative models

Leigh Marie’s Newsletter • 74 HN points • 21 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Machine Learning Infrastructure Applications Observability Privacy
  1. LLMs like Github Copilot can augment developer productivity and provide new opportunities for AI-enabled developer tools startups
  2. Generative models can significantly enhance efficiency for knowledge workers in fields like consulting, legal, medical, and finance, offering potential for startups in these areas
  3. New infrastructure opportunities exist around running large models locally, providing compute resources for model training, and challenging incumbents in ML frameworks and chips

High school students ask the toughest AI questions

Augmented • 39 implied HN points • 15 May 23
🕹 Technology AI Education Ethics Privacy Future
  1. High school students are asking advanced and insightful questions about AI, reflecting a level of inquisitiveness often missing in the AI industry.
  2. Math classes should adapt to integrate AI education, embracing generative AI tools as valuable teaching resources rather than banning them.
  3. Concerns about privacy, security, and the ethical implications of AI's advancement, including potential misalignment and misinformation, highlight the need for careful regulation and transparency.

Top Reasons to Build DeFi dApps on Concordium

Concordium Monthly Updates • 39 implied HN points • 01 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Blockchain DeFi Cryptocurrency Privacy Security
  1. Concordium offers sponsored transactions to cover transaction fees, reducing barriers for users and encouraging wider adoption.
  2. Verifiable credentials on Concordium enhance identity verification, privacy, and compliance in DeFi applications.
  3. Concordium features fast finality, shielding transactions, high throughput, low fees, and a secure platform for efficient and secure DeFi dApps.