The US Wants Your Social Media History to Visit
The US government is proposing a dramatic new rule for tourists. Visitors from about 40 visa-waiver countries would have to provide five years of social media usernames on their ESTA forms.
Category: Privacy
Coupang CEO Falls on His Sword After Massive Data Breach
Coupang’s CEO has stepped down following a historic data breach in South Korea. The incident, which went undetected for five months, compromised the personal data of tens of millions.
Your Chrome Sync Is A Hacker’s Goldmine. Turn It Off.
A new government warning highlights the danger of Chrome’s password manager and data sync. If hackers get your Google account, they get everything saved in your browser, from passwords to payment info. It’s time to lock things down.
Are Your AI Therapy Chats Haunting You?
A Forbes analysis digs into a strange side effect of using AI for mental health advice: people are having imaginary, ongoing conversations with the chatbot in their heads. This “internalization” mirrors a known therapy phenomenon, but with AI, the risks and benefits are uncharted territory.
Google’s Gemini AI is getting ads. Here’s what that means.
Google is planning to introduce ads into its Gemini AI assistant, confirming a move many saw coming. This follows a pattern of integrating sponsored content into its AI products, raising questions about the user experience.
Circle’s New ‘Private’ Stablecoin Is a Big Deal. But It’s Not Private.
Circle is partnering with blockchain Aleo to launch USDCx, a version of its stablecoin that hides transaction details from the public. However, Circle will retain a “compliance record” accessible to authorities. This move targets banks and businesses wary of public ledgers.
2025 Was The Year Cybersecurity Finally Got Real
According to Forbes, 2025 was a pivotal year where cybersecurity moved from theory to harsh reality. A 43-day government shutdown crippled federal cyber defenses, while the Department of Defense’s CMMC rule took real effect on November 10, making compliance mandatory for contractors. Simultaneously,
Lawmakers Keep Pressuring Apple Over ICE-Tracking Apps
The House Committee on Homeland Security is pressing Apple and Google for specifics on their policies to block apps that track immigration officers. This follows Apple’s removal of the ICEBlock app in October after pressure from the U.S. Attorney General. A briefing has been requested by December 12
Google’s Default Search Deals Just Got a Lot More Complicated
In a major antitrust blow, a federal judge has ordered Google to limit all default search and AI app contracts to just one year. The ruling forces the tech giant to renegotiate deals, including with Apple, on an annual basis starting from a December 2025 judgment.
EU fines X $140 million over its “deceptive” blue checks
The EU has hit X with a major fine for its blue checkmark system and lack of ad transparency. This is the first major penalty under the new Digital Services Act and a direct rebuke of Musk’s subscription strategy.