Why is digital security more important than ever? 

No. 88: Bringing you the news that matters in video privacy and security

Safeguarding our online environments has never been more critical. As technology becomes increasingly embedded in our daily lives, addressing the challenges of digital safety and cyber resilience is essential to protect everyone, especially the most vulnerable.

The US has passed the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0) - representing a landmark effort to create safer online spaces for children and teens. In mandating online platforms to implement robust measures against cyberbullying, sexual exploitation, and other online harms, these bills are not merely reactive measures; they are proactive initiatives that recognize the evolving threats in our digital landscape.

The US Senate has also passed the Defiance Act, which gives victims of non-consensual sexually explicit deepfakes rights to sue creators and distributors. Deepfakes, often used maliciously to harm reputations and impact mental health, pose significant challenges to privacy and security that require legal frameworks to combat effectively.   

The recent global IT outage, caused by a flawed update from CrowdStrike, illustrates the broader implications of our interconnected world. The incident, which led to widespread disruptions across multiple sectors, including healthcare, transportation, and finance, serves as a stark reminder of our dependence on digital infrastructure. It also emphasizes the necessity for cyber resilience—not just in preventing cyber attacks but in ensuring that our systems can withstand and recover from such incidents swiftly.

Investments in cybersecurity, robust legal frameworks, and cross-sector collaboration are essential to creating a resilient digital environment. As we continue to integrate advanced technologies into every facet of our lives, we must prioritize safeguarding these systems against vulnerabilities. By doing so, we can ensure that the digital world remains a place of opportunity and safety for everyone.

As always, please send any feedback or topics of interest you would like to be covered.

Seena, Editor


News

Global IT outage impacts 8.5 million Microsoft Windows devices

A large-scale global IT outage has affected 8.5 million Microsoft Windows devices, causing widespread disruptions across airlines, banks, broadcasters, healthcare providers, and more, with estimated costs exceeding $1 billion. The incident, triggered by a flawed update to CrowdStrike's Falcon software, has highlighted the critical need for businesses and governments to prioritize cyber resilience.

The Telegraph: Company behind global IT meltdown to address failures that led to outage

World Economic Forum: Global IT outage: The cyber resilience alarm heard around the world

 

Meta agrees to $1.4 billion settlement with Texas over facial recognition violations

Meta has agreed to pay $1.4 billion to Texas to settle a lawsuit over its discontinued facial recognition tag suggestions feature. This historic settlement, filed under the Capture or Use of Biometric Identifier (CUBI) Act, marks the largest ever obtained by a single state for privacy violations.

Reuters: Meta to pay $1.4 billion to settle Texas facial recognition data lawsuit

Biometric Update: Meta’s $1.4B settlement in Texas biometric data privacy lawsuit approved

 

Westminster deploys advanced CCTV network to combat anti-social behavior and crime

Westminster City Council is installing around 100 CCTV cameras equipped with AI-based audio and noise detection technology, aiming to reduce anti-social behavior and crime. The new system will provide real-time alerts and footage to support police efforts and enhance community safety.

Westminster City Council: New CCTV network to tackle antisocial behaviour

UK Authority: Westminster Council deploys anti-noise CCTV network

 

Essex school reprimanded by ICO for unlawful use of facial recognition 

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has reprimanded a school in Chelmsford for implementing facial recognition technology for canteen payments without conducting a Data Protection Impact Assessment or obtaining explicit consent from students and parents. The school has been provided with recommendations to provide future compliance with UK data protection laws. 

The ICO: Essex school reprimanded after using facial recognition technology for canteen payments

The Register: School gets an F for using facial recognition on kids in canteen

 

Woman seeks legal action after finding secret filming of her surgery shared online

A Chinese woman has reportedly found a video of her surgery being widely shared on Douyin, China's TikTok, five months after her procedure. The hospital has since refused to apologize, leading the woman to pursue legal action for privacy violations.

South China Morning Post: Outcry as China breast implant woman discovers video of operation online

News18: Chinese Woman Plans To Sue Hospital After Video Of Her Breast Implant Surgery Surfaces Online


AI Snippet of the Week

Defiance Bill passed to give litigation rights to victims of non-consensual explicit deepfakes 

The Senate has unanimously passed the Defiance Act of 2024, which permits victims of non-consensual sexually explicit deepfakes to sue those who create, share, or receive them. The bill aims to provide the first federal protection for victims of deepfake sexual abuse.

NBC News: The Defiance Act passes in the Senate, potentially allowing deepfake victims to sue over nonconsensual images

The Verge: The Senate passed a bill cracking down on sexually explicit deepfakes


Policy Updates

Senate passes landmark kids online safety bills to protect children on the Internet 

The Senate has passed the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0), the first major internet safety bills in two decades. KOSA mandates online platforms to implement safeguards to protect minors from cyberbullying, sexual exploitation, and other harms, while COPPA 2.0 expands privacy protections to minors under 17 and bans targeting them for advertising.

The Verge: Senate passes the Kids Online Safety Act

The Hill: Senate passes long-awaited bills to boost online safety, privacy for kids


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