EPIC writes: The Chairs of the Joint Committee on Advanced Information Technology, the Internet, and Cybersecurity of the Massachusetts General Court, Representative Tricia Farley-Bouvier and Senator Michael Moore, announced today that the Massachusetts Data Privacy Act (“MDPA”) had been reported favorably out of Committee. If passed, the MDPA would be the strongest state privacy law in... The post Massachusetts Data Privacy Act Approved by Legislative Committee appeared first on PogoWasRight.org ..read more

Matthew Guariglia, Cooper Quintin, and Dave Maass write: A new report from news outlet NOTUS shows that at least two Texas counties along the U.S.-Mexico border have purchased a product that would allow law enforcement to track devices that emit Bluetooth signals, including cell phones, smartwatches, wireless earbuds, and car entertainment systems. This incredibly personal... The post Add Bluetooth to the Long List of Border Surveillance Technologies appeared first on PogoWasRight.org ..read more

Kathryn Cahoy and Thea McCullough of Covington and Burling write: Likely spurred by plaintiffs’ recent successes in cases under Illinois’s Biometric Information Privacy Act (“BIPA”), a new wave of class actions is emerging under Illinois’s Genetic Information Privacy Act (“GIPA”). While BIPA regulates the collection, use, and disclosure of biometric data, GIPA regulates that of... The post Employers Beware: New Wave of Illinois Genetic Information Privacy Act Litigation appeared first on PogoWasRight.org ..read more

Shawn Musgrave reports: For years, cybersecurity researchers at Citizen Lab have monitored Israeli spyware firm NSO Group and its banner product, Pegasus. In 2019, Citizen Lab reported finding dozens of cases in which Pegasus was used to target the phones of journalists and human rights defenders via a WhatsApp security vulnerability. Now NSO, which is... The post Citizen Lab exposed an Israeli spyware firm. Now NSO Group is badgering them in court. appeared first on PogoWasRight.org ..read more

In December, Kashmir Hill reported on the topic of our cars tracking us. Now The Markup has done a deeper dive. Car Tracking Can Enable Domestic Abuse. Turning It Off Is Easier Said Than Done Internet-connected cars allow abusers to track domestic violence survivors after they leave By: Khari Johnson for CalMatters This article is... The post Car Tracking Can Enable Domestic Abuse. Turning It Off Is Easier Said Than Done appeared first on PogoWasRight.org ..read more

Libbie Canter, Lindsey Tonsager, and Priya Leeds of Covington and Burling write: In 2020, Illinois residents whose photos were included in the Diversity in Faces dataset brought a series of lawsuits against multiple technology companies, including IBM, Facefirst, Microsoft, Amazon, and Google alleging violations of Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act.[1] In the years since, the cases... The post What the Diversity in Faces Litigation Means for Biometric Technologies appeared first on PogoWasRight.org ..read more

Matthew Cullen reports: Arizona lawmakers today repealed an abortion ban that first became law in 1864, when Abraham Lincoln was president and a half-century before women won the right to vote. The repeal narrowly passed the Republican-controlled State Senate with the support of all 14 Democratic senators and two Republicans. Gov. Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, is... The post Arizona voted to repeal its abortion ban appeared first on PogoWasRight.org ..read more

Andy Maxwell writes: In a judgment published today, Europe’s top court concludes that suspected file-sharers can be subjected to mass surveillance and retention of their data as long as certain standards are upheld. Digital rights groups hoped to end the French ‘Hadopi’ anti-piracy scheme, claiming that it violates the fundamental right to privacy. The CJEU’s... The post CJEU Gives File-Sharer Surveillance & Data Retention a Green Ligh appeared first on PogoWasRight.org ..read more

Libbie Canter, Lindsey Tonsager, Hensey A. Fenton III, and Jessica Ke of Covington and Burling write: On April 17, the Nebraska governor signed the Nebraska Data Privacy Act (the “NDPA”) into law.  Nebraska is the latest state to enact comprehensive privacy legislation, joining California, Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, Utah, Iowa, Indiana, Tennessee, Montana, Oregon, Texas, Florida, Delaware, New Jersey,  New Hampshire, Kentucky, and Maryland. The NDPA will take effect on January 1,... The post Nebrask ..read more

From the UK Information Commissioner’s Office: Information Commissioner John Edwards has condemned data protection standards at health services for people living with HIV and called for urgent improvements. The statement follows several data breaches, as well as concerns raised by some of the largest HIV organisations in the country. Information Commissioner John Edwards said: “People... The post Information Commissioner: Persistent sensitive information breaches failing people living with HIV appeared first on PogoWasRight.org ..read more