Executive order prohibits US government use of spyware posing security risks
U.S. President Joe Biden issued an executive order prohibiting government use of commercial spyware that poses national security risks.
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Europol report warns against criminal uses of generative AI
Europol published a report warning about the exploitation of OpenAI's ChatGPT and other generative artificial intelligence systems by cybercriminals, Euractiv reports.
Op-ed: Wearable brain-tracking tech poses privacy risks to 'refuge of our minds'
A new generation of brain-tracking wearable technology is "threatening to breach the refuge of our minds," Duke University professor of law and philosophy Nita Farahany writes in Scientific American. Farahany said new brain wearables in the form of earbuds, headphones and headbands, for example, "pose very real risks to mental privacy, freedom of thought and self-determination," while also opening new pathways for personalized mental health care.
EU member states reach agreement on Data Act
EU member states reached a common position on the proposed Data Act, enabling negotiations on the final version of the proposed legislation to begin among the Council of the European Union and European Parliament.
Law firm retained by hospitals fined after 2021 ransomware attack
New York Attorney General Laetitia James imposed a USD200,000 fine on a law firm retained by several hospitals that sustained a ransomware attack in 2021, The Record reports. The attorney general's office said New York City-based Heidell, Pittoni, Murphy & Bach maintained "poor data security" that exposed information, including health data, of roughly 114,000 individuals.
Deadline upcoming for US colleges to meet Safeguards Rule
Colleges and universities whose students receive federal financial aid will soon be mandated to meet the requirements of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s Safeguards Rule, EdScoop reports. The deadline to comply is 9 June, and higher learning institutions must complete "a series of prescriptive actions to improve their cybersecurity and protect sensitive student information." However, the Safeguards Rule, contained in the Financial Services Modernization Act, was geared more toward how banks securely handle customer information.
Meta transfers case, several guidance updates on EDPB plenary agenda
The European Data Protection Board will continue its debate on the Ireland Data Protection Commission case regarding lawfulness of Meta's EU-U.S. data transfers at its plenary meeting 28 March. Board members will consider a "request to add an additional document to the file" as a final decision looms.
EDPS to join EDPB's coordinated enforcement against DPOs
The Office of the European Data Protection Supervisor announced its intentions to join the European Data Protection Board in its coordinated enforcement of data protection officers.
European Commission forms DMA implementation advisory group
The European Commission announced the formation of a high-level group to advise companies on implementation of the Digital Markets Act. The group will carry 30 appointed representatives from six regulatory and consumer entities, including the European Data Protection Board and the European Data Protection Supervisor.
Roundup: Bangladesh, China, EU and more
In this week’s Global News Roundup, Bangladesh outlined its enforcement regime under its proposed Data Protection Act. China said it is investigating "cracked" mobile apps. Several U.S. state attorneys general reached a USD9 million settlement with Google over location tracking practices. And, the European Parliament approved the eIDAS Regulation. (IAPP member exclusive.) Full Story