Articles from Around the Web

Discover the latest industry insights and developments with our News from Around the Web page. We curate feeds from a variety of reputable organizations, bringing you a comprehensive overview of relevant news and trends. Stay informed and connected with the most current updates from across the web.

CARU says children's game app maker violated COPPA

BBB National Programs' Children’s Advertising Review Unit found the owner of a children’s mobile application game violated the U.S. Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. The company, Tilting Point Media, also violated CARU’s self-regulatory Guidelines for Advertising and for Children’s Online Privacy Protection. Per COPPA and CARU guidelines, companies cannot collect the personal information of users under age 13. However, CARU reviewers were able to use the app posing as a 10-year-old and could consent to receive “personalized” advertising.

Tech provider of Oklahoma Student Loan Authority hacked

The technology provider of the Oklahoma Student Loan Authority suffered a data breach that exposed personally identifiable information of more than 2.5 million people, Bleeping Computer reports. Nelnet Servicing was targeted by hackers in June and “likely” compromised the company network and remained on its systems until July 22. Nelnet provides technology services to OSLA and EdFinancial, a student loan institution.

Intersection of privacy, marketing at the heart of landmark CCPA fine

The $1.2 million California Consumer Privacy Act fine against retailer Sephora put businesses on notice that the California attorney general's office stands ready to crack down on data mishandling. The first-ever enforcement action under the CCPA also shows the attorney general's interpretation of the law, particularly as it relates to data sales and consumer opt-outs.

PCPD reminds companies of CAC's cross-border transfer security measures

Hong Kong’s Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data reminded covered entities to begin complying with the Cyberspace Administration of China's Security Assessment Measures on Cross-border Transfers of Data, which took effect Sept. 1. Hong Kong-based companies doing business in mainland China may be required to report their security reviews on transfers to the CAC if they meet certain coverage thresholds.

ICO releases draft guidelines for PETs

The U.K. Information Commissioner’s Office published draft guidance for anonymization, pseudonymization and privacy-enhancing technologies. The guidance is intended to serve data protection officers working in large organizations. According to the draft guidance, PETs “help you demonstrate a ‘data protection by design and by default’ approach” to data processing. PETs also assist organizations in complying with data minimization principles.

A conversation with Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel

Since becoming Michigan attorney general in 2019, Dana Nessel has fought for a number of consumer protections, including the right to privacy. Nessel spoke to Reed Smith's Divonne Smoyer, CIPP/US, and Hubert Zanczak, CIPP/US, for the Privacy Advisor, discussing the privacy implications of overturning Roe v. Wade and the draft Michigan Consumer Privacy Act. Nessel also spelled out what types of provisions she would like to see in a state consumer privacy bill.

MIT researchers experiment with faster, more accurate federated learning system

Researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and its in-house startup DynamoFL are building a faster and more accurate federated learning system, MIT News reports. The machine-learning system is designed to overcome the major hitches of federated learning, which are the high communication costs from transferring large amounts of data between users and the central server, users not using the same statistical pattern, and the combined server averaging each user’s data.