data privacy

Ireland's Data Protection Commission has fined Google €403 million for breaches of the EU's General Data Protection Regulation. The penalty, reported by the Irish Times, is one of the largest issued against a major technology company by the watchdog, which oversees many US tech firms' European operations from Dublin. The decision renews debate over enforcement of EU privacy rules against big tech.

A coalition of 44 state attorneys general has reached a settlement over a data breach, according to GovTech. The agreement marks one of the broader multistate actions on cybersecurity and data protection, though details on the company involved, the size of the settlement, and the terms for affected consumers have not been released. Such settlements typically include payments and commitments to strengthen data security practices.

Privacy advocates are arguing that privacy protections must be built in by default for everyone, including people who believe they have nothing to hide or who are indifferent to surveillance. The argument is that privacy is a fundamental human right, not an optional feature, and that protecting the careless matters as much as protecting the vigilant.

A new research paper analyzes the privacy practices of web and mobile conversational AI agents, examining how popular chatbot services collect, share and expose user data. The study, titled 'Prompt Like a Butterfly, Sting Like a Tracker,' is drawing attention among privacy researchers and developers, with readers debating its findings on tracking, data flows and what chatbot providers do with conversation content.

President Trump has launched America.gov, an AI-powered platform intended to centralize US government services for citizens. The system promises faster access to federal programs through artificial intelligence assistance. The announcement is drawing attention alongside debate about how AI will handle sensitive government interactions, questions about data privacy, and whether automated systems can reliably replace traditional service channels.

Estonia's Supreme Court has ruled to limit the publication of data on expunged criminal records, according to ERR News. The decision means details of convictions that have been erased can no longer be freely disclosed, strengthening privacy protections for people whose records have been cleared. The ruling is drawing attention to how far public access to criminal history information should go.

Wisconsin lawmaker Toney is calling on the state to act on automatic license plate reader (ALPR) technology after Flock safety cameras were dropped in northeastern Wisconsin. The withdrawal of the cameras has renewed debate over privacy and surveillance, with Toney pushing for statewide rules governing how plate-reading data is collected and used.

The Healthcare Innovation Summit is hosting a session on the genetic challenges and opportunities in digital medicine. The discussion, presented by the HCI Innovation Group, looks at how genetic data can be integrated into digital health tools and what obstacles stand in the way, from privacy and ethics to clinical implementation. Attendees are weighing how genomic advances could shape the next generation of personalised care.

Former Yahoo chief executive Marissa Mayer has launched Dazzle, a new AI startup built on the idea that a person's photo library reveals more about their life than their email inbox. The venture marks Mayer's return to consumer tech, and early commentary is focused on whether camera roll data can really power useful AI products, as well as the privacy questions that come with it.

Attorneys are investigating reports of a data breach at the Center for Kidney Care, a move that often precedes a class action lawsuit. The investigation is seeking information from patients who may have been affected. Kidney care providers hold sensitive medical and personal data, making such breaches potentially serious for patients concerned about identity theft and privacy.

Spanish tech blogger The Cheis has published a new post exploring how much identifying information a web browser reveals about its user, covering browser fingerprinting, tracking and privacy protection. The piece walks readers through checking their own browser's fingerprint, a topic of growing interest as advertisers and data brokers rely on fingerprinting techniques that are harder to block than traditional cookies.

A Spanish-language technology blog post is circulating about checking your browser's fingerprint, the unique trail of data that websites can use to identify and track users. The piece invites readers to test how identifiable their own browser is and reflects on privacy and online security, resonating with ongoing concerns about web tracking.

Claims are circulating that deleted photos on Windows leave recoverable previews in the thumbnail cache, and the rumor has drawn attention to how the operating system stores image previews even after files are removed. Guides are being shared explaining how to clear the cache using Disk Cleanup or Storage settings. Privacy-focused users are debating whether Microsoft should make this clearer.

Australia's peak electric vehicle body has argued that the ongoing controversy over connected-car data collection is unfairly singling out electric vehicles, when data-gathering practices are common across the modern car industry. The intervention comes amid public debate about what connected vehicles track and who can access that information, with EVs facing outsized scrutiny.

The EU's Digital Omnibus package may establish an official definition of what counts as scientific research, a question with major implications for data use, AI development and privacy rules. Policy analysts at Tech Policy Press highlight the debate, as the wording could determine which activities qualify for research exemptions under EU digital law. Researchers and technology firms are watching closely, since the definition would shape how companies and institutions access and process data across the bloc.

A new guide details how Windows 11 users can manage location privacy through Settings under Privacy & Security. It explains how to control whether the PC can determine its location at all and which individual apps are allowed access to that data. The walkthrough covers all available options, reflecting ongoing user concern about how operating systems and applications handle sensitive location information on personal computers.

A comparison of three major password managers argues that NordPass, Bitwarden and Proton Pass each reflect a different philosophy: commercial convenience, open-source transparency, and privacy-first design. The piece claims there is no universal best choice, only a clear winner depending on each user's needs, weighing security, pricing and trust in 2026.

Guidance is circulating on whether Windows 11 users should enable Basic diagnostic data, with a detailed breakdown arguing it is the right choice. The setting sends Microsoft limited information needed to keep the system secure and up to date, while reducing the amount of data collected about how people use the operating system. Privacy-conscious users are weighing the trade-off between tighter privacy protection and the telemetry Microsoft says it needs for security fixes and updates.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr, the US Health and Human Services Secretary, set out plans for broad collection of Americans' health data during an event tied to the Make America Healthy Again movement. He described a wide-ranging data-gathering agenda as central to the administration's health agenda, drawing attention and criticism over privacy implications.

A growing warning says the most invasive device people own may be the car parked in their driveway. Modern vehicles collect large amounts of personal data, including location history, driving behavior, and even in-cabin activity, often sharing it with insurers, data brokers, and manufacturers. Privacy advocates argue cars track more than phones, and drivers are urging others to check what data their vehicles gather and how to limit it.