Data Brokers Dodge Google: A Privacy Cat-and-Mouse Game
Russia started blocking WhatsApp and Telegram calls, claiming the apps’ encryption violates government info-sharing requirements. With over 100 million users each, this move is like trying to stop a stampede with a strongly worded letter. Meanwhile, US ICE agents mistakenly added a random civilian to a sensitive group chat—hold the spam filter!
Hot Take:
It appears that while your grandma is trying to locate her favorite cookie recipe online, some data brokers are busy hiding their opt-out tools like they’re in a high-stakes game of hide-and-seek. Meanwhile, Russia is blocking more communications than a debt collector, and ICE is casually inviting random civilians to their top-secret group chats. If only they could accidentally add pizza delivery numbers instead. Oh, and don’t forget the Norwegian dam hackers—because why wouldn’t you want to flood the fjords on a quiet afternoon? And in the UK, facial recognition vans are rolling out like an ice cream truck on a hot day, but instead of sprinkles, you’ll get your privacy sprinkled away. Stay tuned for more digital tomfoolery straight out of a James Bond movie!
Key Points:
– Data brokers have been obscuring opt-out and data-deletion tools from Google Search.
– Russia has started blocking WhatsApp and Telegram calls for not complying with government data-sharing requirements.
– A random civilian was mistakenly added to a sensitive ICE group chat.
– Russian hackers have been accused of a cyberattack on a Norwegian dam.
– The UK is deploying facial recognition vans for law enforcement investigations.