Google fined record £44m by French data protection watchdog

CNIL found that company failed to offer users transparent information on data use

The French data protection watchdog CNIL has fined Google a record €50m (£44m) for failing to provide users with transparent and understandable information on its data use policies.

For the first time, the company was fined using new terms laid out in the pan-European general data protection regulation. The maximum fine for large companies under the new law is 4% of annual turnover, meaning the theoretical maximum fine for Google is almost €4bn.

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German cyber-attack: man admits massive data breach, say police

Man, 20, driven by ‘annoyance’ at statements made by politicians and celebrities

A 20-year-old man has admitted to police that he was behind one of the country’s biggest data breaches, in which the private details of almost 1,000 public figures were leaked.

The man, who lives with his parents in the central German state of Hesse and is still in the education system, told police he had acted alone and was not politically motivated.

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Latest Facebook breach shows the need for public-private collaboration on tech security policy

For Facebook, this is a huge blow - and the latest of several high-profile breaches that have cast renewed doubts on data privacy. This highlights the need for a robust public-private partnership when it comes to cybersecurity.

Senate panel opens hearing on crafting U.S. privacy law

The Trump administration is hoping Congress can come up with a new set of national rules governing how companies can use consumers' data that finds a balance between "privacy and prosperity." But it will be tricky to reconcile the concerns of privacy advocates who want people to have more control over the usage of their personal data - where they've been, what they view, who their friends are -and the powerful companies that mine it for profit.

Lawmakers question Google over kids’ privacy on YouTube

Google says YouTube isn't for children under 13, which is why it created a separate app for them, YouTube Kids. Rep. David Cicilline, a Rhode Island Democrat, and Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, a Nebraska Republican, sent a letter this week to Google Chief Executive Sundar Pichai asking for more details about how the service collects data.

Farm handout signals damage of Trump tariffs

Farm handout signals damage of Trump tariffs Republicans outraged at Trump's trade policies should do something instead of just lobbing words: Our view Check out this story on USATODAY.com: https://usat.ly/2v3Y1jF When the Trump administration announced Tuesday that it would spend $12 billion to aid farmers harmed by its trade polices, the outrage was palpable. Lawmakers of both parties called it welfare, a bailout and other derogatory terms.

EPA Proposal to Limit Science Studies Draws Opposition

Democratic lawmakers joined scores of scientists, health providers, environmental officials and activists Tuesday in denouncing an industry-backed proposal that could limit dramatically the scientific studies the Environmental Protection Agency considers in shaping protections for human health. If adopted by the Trump administration, the rule would allow an EPA administrator to reject study results in making decisions about chemicals, pollutants and other health risks if underlying research data is not made public because of patient privacy concerns or other issues.

How Carriers Get Permission to Share Your Location

Cellphone carriers usually ask for their customers' blessing before listing their phone numbers, sharing their addresses or exposing them to promotional emails. But seeking permission to share one particularly sensitive piece of information-a cellphone's current location-often falls to one of several dozen third-party companies like Securus Inc. and 3Cinteractive Corp. rely on those firms to vouch that they obtained users' consent before handing over the data.

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While some critics worry the legislation doesn't nearly go far enough, other observers are saying "California could be the bellwether for the privacy movement" after the state legislature on Thursday unanimously passed and Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law the nation's toughest digital privacy rules. Businesses must disclose what information it collects, what business purpose it does so for and any third parties it shares that data with.

Justices adopt new privacy rules to track cellphones

Police generally need a warrant to look at records that reveal where cellphone users have been, the Supreme Court ruled Friday in a big victory for privacy interests in the digital age. The justices' 5-4 decision marks a big change in how police may obtain information that phone companies collect from the ubiquitous cellphone towers that allow people to make and receive calls, and transmit data.

Justices adopt digital-age privacy rules to track cellphones

Police generally need a warrant to look at records that reveal where cellphone users have been, the Supreme Court ruled Friday in a big victory for privacy interests in the digital age. The justices' 5-4 decision marks a big change in how police may obtain information that phone companies collect from the ubiquitous cellphone towers that allow people to make and receive calls, and transmit data.

Justices adopt digital-age privacy rules to track…

The Supreme Court ruled Friday that police generally need a search warrant if they want to track criminal suspects' movements by collecting information about where they've used their cellphones, bolstering privacy interests in the digital age. The justices' 5-4 decision marks a big change in how police may obtain cellphone tower records, an important tool in criminal investigations.

Justices adopt new privacy rules for cellphone tracking

Police generally need a warrant to look at records that reveal where cellphone users have been, the Supreme Court ruled Friday in a big victory for privacy interests in the digital age. The justices' 5-4 decision marks a big change in how police may obtain information that phone companies collect from the ubiquitous cellphone towers that allow people to make and receive calls, and transmit data.

FTC to take deep dive into consumer, privacy issues

Joseph Simons in February 2018 during a confirmation hearing to become chairman of the Federal Trade Commission in advance of taking office May 1. On June 20, the FTC announced it would hold a series of hearings to address whether sweeping changes are needed in how it enforces consumer protection and marketplace competition. less Joseph Simons in February 2018 during a confirmation hearing to become chairman of the Federal Trade Commission in advance of taking office May 1. On June 20, the FTC announced it would hold a series of ... more FILE - This Jan. 28, 2015 file photo shows the Federal Trade Commission building in Washington.

US inspired by Aadhaar: Lawmakers believe biometrics better option than social security number

Amid reports of massive breach of social security numbers along with identity theft, US lawmakers, encouraged by India's Aadhaar, explored the possibility of biometrics as an option, but privacy issues prevented experts from arriving at a consensus. In the US, a Social Security Number is a nine-digit number issued to American citizens, permanent residents and temporary working residents.