Google Chrome began allowing advertisers to deploy digital fingerprinting 16 Feb., Forbes reports. The practice involves collecting information from a device's software or hardware, and when combined, can identify a particular device and user, which U.K.
MediaPost reports on the reintroduction of a California bill to require browsers to offer a universal opt-out option for online behavioral advertising.
The U.S. Internal Revenue Service is working to provide the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency with sensitive taxpayer data, The New York Times reports. DOGE software engineer Gavin Kliger reportedly worked at IRS headquarters 13 Feb. and will receive broad access to agency systems as a senior advisor to the acting agency commissioner. IRS systems include details on individuals' tax returns, Social Security numbers, addresses, banking details and employment information.
The Netherlands' data protection authority, the Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens, conducted a study of several companion and therapeutic AI apps to understand their associated risks. The report found the apps are often not transparent about being AI, do not give useful responses in crises and include addictive elements to keep people using.Full story
Brazil's data protection authority, the Autoridade Nacional de Proteção de Dados, published its report detailing the authority's regulatory actions in the second half of 2024. The ANPD worked on several initiatives, including projects to improve children's privacy online, personal data protection and incident reporting.Full story
Sweden's data protection authority, Integritetsskyddsmyndigheten, published a guide on impact assessments when processing personal data. The IMY indicated the guide aims to "facilitate the work of impact assessments and reduce uncertainty about how the various steps are carried out and how the regulations should be understood."Full story
Former U.S. Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board Commissioners hired law firm Arnold & Porter after they were terminated from their positions, Bloomberg Law reports. Former PCLOB Democrats Ed Felten and Travis LeBlanc were removed by the Trump administration in January.
Nigeria's Data Protection Commission and the Communications Commission launched the Data Protection in Telecommunications Working Group. The group will aim to improve data protection by developing initiatives to protect citizens' personal data when using digital devices and "ensure the actual practice of data protection and privacy in the telecommunications sector."Full story
Brazil's data protection authority, the Autoridade Nacional de Proteção de Dados, recapped its participation in the 13th edition of the Brazil-European Union Digital Dialogue. Notably, the ANPD indicated Brazil remains "in direct dialogue" with the EU regarding an adequacy decision.
IAPP Managing Director, Washington, D.C., Cobun Zweifel-Keegan, CIPP/US, CIPM, offers his take on the latest privacy and AI governance developments in the nation's capital and around the U.S. This week, he dissects the composition of a U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce Republican working group dedicated to a path forward on comprehensive data privacy legislation.Full story