Microsoft Word on Windows will now save new documents to the cloud by default .

Great for collaboration & backup, but some users may want to switch back to local saves for privacy reasons.

Are you okay with your files being auto-uploaded?

https://www.ghacks.net/2025/08/27/your-word-documents-will-be-saved-to-the-cloud-automatically-on-windows-going-forward/

The Triangle’s cybersecurity community is gathering at #BSidesRDU. Be part of it as a sponsor https://bsidesrdu.org/#sponsors
#cyber #cybersecurity #linux #malware #kalilinux #programming #pentesting #dataprotection

#privacy #DataProtection #ArtificialIntelligence #TechLaw

https://connectontech.bakermckenzie.com/south-korea-sets-ai-standard-pipcs-guidelines-for-generative-ai-present-obligations-opportunity/

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov says he’d “rather die” than hand over private messages to third parties
One year after his arrest in France, still no formal charges have been proven
He calls the investigation “legally and logically absurd” and vows to defend user privacy

A key moment in the global privacy vs. surveillance debate.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/one-arrest-pavel-durov-says-104351166.html

"Members of the Department of Government Efficiency uploaded a copy of a crucial Social Security database in June to a vulnerable cloud server, putting the personal information of hundreds of millions of Americans at risk of being leaked or hacked, according to a whistle-blower complaint filed by the Social Security Administration’s chief data officer.

The database contains records of all Social Security numbers issued by the federal government. It includes individuals’ full names, addresses and birth dates, among other details that could be used to steal their identities, making it one of the nation’s most sensitive repositories of personal information.

The account by the whistle-blower, Charles Borges, underscores concerns that have led to lawsuits seeking to block young software engineers at the agency built by Elon Musk from having access to confidential government data. In his complaint, Mr. Borges said DOGE members copied the data to an internal agency server that only DOGE could access, forgoing the type of “independent security monitoring” normally required under agency policy for such sensitive data and creating “enormous vulnerabilities.”

Mr. Borges did not indicate that the database had been breached or used inappropriately.

But his disclosure stated that as of late June, “no verified audit or oversight mechanisms” existed to monitor what DOGE was using the data for or whether it was being shared outside the agency."

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/26/us/politics/doge-social-security-data.html

I am attending the Compliance Network meeting by Simonsen Vogt Wiig in Trondheim. The topic for this session is GDPR and Profiling, an important area in today’s data-driven world. It is insightful to hear directly from experts and gain a deeper understanding of the legal and practical aspects.

The rumours about #Windows12 are super worrying for everyone who cares about #freedom and #dataprotection in private as well as professional use:

https://www.pcmag.com/news/ive-been-following-windows-12-rumors-whats-next-for-microsofts-os

Especially the expected increase in inbuilt #AI features and even more integration of software with the #cloud are problematic if you're handling sensitive information such as student exams, research data and financial information daily. It's high time that public institutions including #highereducation consider alternatives!

As part of my tentative attempts at de-googling, I've just set up a @nextcloud account with @thegoodcloud.

Does anyone have experience using these products and services? I'm hoping for good things!

Privacy Alert: The University of Melbourne was found to have illegally used Wi-Fi location data to track students during 2024 protests, violating privacy laws. Wi-Fi tracking was ruled an invasion of privacy due to lack of transparency. CCTV use was deemed lawful. More on data rights #Privacy #DataProtection #UniMelb https://www.heise.de/en/news/Data-protection-Melbourne-University-not-allowed-to-track-protesters-via-Wi-Fi-10613966.html
#newz

"If the U.S. government submitted a valid legal request, Microsoft would be obligated to comply—even if that conflicted with French or European Union data protection laws."

#USPol #EUPol #DataProtection

https://techstory.in/microsoft-acknowledges-it-cannot-shield-foreign-data-from-u-s-government-requests/

"The centerpiece of the Thunderbird Pro offering is Thundermail, Thunderbird’s first official email hosting service. Built to support IMAP, SMTP, and JMAP protocols from day one, Thundermail will work seamlessly with the Thunderbird client and other standards-based email apps. Notably, the initial infrastructure will be based in Germany, a jurisdiction known for its robust data protection laws under the GDPR framework and a long-standing culture of digital privacy.

Locating Thundermail’s infrastructure in Germany positions the service as a privacy-focused alternative to US-based providers, many of which are subject to surveillance regimes like the CLOUD Act. Users will be able to bring their own custom domain or choose a Thunderbird-provided address with @thundermail.com or @tb.pro suffixes.

Thunderbird describes this move as part of its broader mission to reinforce support for open standards and provide users with a cohesive, privacy-conscious email experience, entirely within its own ecosystem."

https://cyberinsider.com/thunderbird-to-launch-encrypted-email-service-hosted-in-germany/

"The Schleswig-Holstein Higher Regional Court confirmed on August 12, 2025, that Meta's artificial intelligence training program processes personal data of children and adolescents, despite company claims of implementing protective measures. According to court documents filed under case number 6 UKI 3/25, the 6th Civil Senate found Meta's AI systems inevitably capture minors' information when adults share content containing children's data on Facebook and Instagram.

The court dismissed a preliminary injunction request from a Dutch charitable foundation, not because Meta's practices were lawful, but because the plaintiff waited too long after the April 14 announcement to seek emergency relief. This procedural ruling allows continued processing of children's data while acknowledging serious privacy violations affecting Europe's most vulnerable digital users."

https://ppc.land/german-court-confirms-meta-ai-training-includes-childrens-data-despite-protections/

Google is hiring!

"In recent months, AI has dominated headlines, with Donald Trump’s AI plan, the phased rollout of the EU’s AI Act, and a fresh wave of corporate lobbying to stall new rules.

Competitiveness, growth, red tape, risk, innovation, productivity. Buzzwords swirled around Brussels in a bid to define the future of AI regulation.

When August arrived, the political noise faded into the summer recess, but AI is continuing to shape real-world decisions, and the consequences are already here.

AI isn't just about potential growth, innovation or future risk. In retail finance, AI risks have become a reality. The sector is among the most active adopters of AI in the EU, these systems are already deciding who gets a loan, how much people pay for insurance, and whether they have access to a bank account.

And while the AI Act will close some gaps in the rules, many will remain, leaving everyday banking, insurance and investment decisions in the hands of opaque models with too little oversight."

https://euobserver.com/Digital/ar630bb3bc

Privacy Washing is Big Tech's latest strategy to lull you into their sphere.

Don’t fall for Big Techs fake “we care about your privacy” claims.

Privacy Washing:

Destroys trust
Puts your data at risk
Delays real protections

Find out more here: https://tuta.com/blog/big-tech-privacy-washing

Apple’s iOS 18.6.2, iPadOS 18.6.2 & macOS 18.6.2 updates patch a critical security flaw exploited in the wild—malicious images could let hackers take control of iPhones, iPads & Macs.

This urgent patch fixes the ImageIO vulnerability—install immediately to protect your devices! ️

https://inews.zoombangla.com/why-apples-ios-18-6-2-update-is-urgent-for-security/

"The Austrian Federal Administrative Court on Monday said that newspaper Der Standard violated the EU’s data protection rules when introducing a "pay or OK” model on its website, confirming an earlier decision by Austria’s Data Protection Authority (DSB).

This "pay or OK" approach – introduced on the newspaper’s website when the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into force in 2018 – gives users a choice between paying a monthly €9,90 fee to access the website without having their data tracked, or giving consent to data collection and processing for targeted advertising.

The Austrian privacy watchdog already said in its decision in 2023, that the approach of one of Austria's most-read newspapers was unlawful, as it only allowed a global consent or rejection. The EU's privacy law requires the option to consent to specific types of processing.

Der Standard appealed this decision and argued that such a "granular" consent is not doable in a "pay or OK" system, as it required tracking and statistics to sell its advertisement in the non-paid version."

https://www.euronews.com/next/2025/08/19/austrian-newspapers-pay-or-consent-model-violates-eu-privacy-rules-court