Hello Privacy Enthusiasts,
In both EU and the US, the regulators are concerned about how the companies are treating children’s data. And rightfully, so. The kids are vulnerable beings who most of the time don’t know what they are consenting to. Remember the Punjab teen who spent a whopping 16 lakhs on in-app purchases using parent’s card details. Organizations have to be sensible and sensitive about how they are requesting and processing the data of children.
What is more alarming is a new report from an analytics firm finds that out of 813,000 apps removed from the Apple App Store and Google Play in the first half of 2021, 86% were targeting children.
This news and more, in this fortnights' Data Privacy Insights- curated privacy news from across the globe.
Enjoy reading!
FTC Warns Health Apps and Connected Device Companies To Comply With Health Breach Notification Rule
The Federal Trade Commission issued a policy statement affirming that health apps and connected devices that collect or use consumers’ health information must comply with the Health Breach Notification Rule, which requires that they notify consumers and others when their health data is breached. Companies that fail to comply with the rule could be subject to monetary penalties of up to $43,792 per violation per day.
Information Commissioner's Office, UK Has Published Children’s Code Design Guidance
The ICO Children’s code is a code of practice that sets out how online services, likely to be accessed by children, should protect them in the digital world. The design guidance developed by the UK information commissioner’s office shows how to apply some of the standards in practice, in order to create an open, transparent, and safe place for children online.
German DPA Updates Data Transfer FAQs
Baden-Württemberg Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information published a revised frequently-asked-questions document on international data transfers. The updates reflect the European Data Protection Board's guidance on the definitions of controller and processor under the EU General Data Protection Regulation while also reflecting consideration of the European Commission's new standard contractual clauses.
Facebook Puts Instagram For Kids On Hold After Pushback
Facebook has put a hold on the development of a kids’ version of Instagram, geared toward children under 13, to address concerns that have been raised about the vulnerability of younger users.
Hong Kong Passes New Anti-Doxxing Law – Violators Face HK $1m Fine And 5 Years Jail
Hong Kong’s privacy commissioner has gained sweeping powers to request local and overseas internet service providers to remove “doxxing” content after lawmakers passed amendments to what they saw as backward privacy law.
Italy's Data Protection Authority, The Garante, Launched an Investigation into Applications Accessing Users' Microphones to Collect and Sell Data Without Express Consent
Italy's data protection authority, the Garante, has launched an investigation, in collaboration with the Special Privacy and Technological Fraud Unit of the Guardia di Finanza, which involves examining a series of the most downloaded apps and verifying that the information provided to users is clear and transparent and that their consent has been correctly acquired.
ICO Data Sharing Code of Practice Comes into Force Today
ICO Data Sharing Code of Practice Comes into Force on 5th October 2021. The code was laid before UK Parliament on 18 May 2021 and issued on 14 September 2021 under section 125 of the DPA 2018. The code explains the requirements of data protection law and helps organizations understand how to share data responsibly.
Whistle-Blower Says Facebook Chooses Profits Over Safety
Frances Haugen, a Facebook product manager who left the company in May, has filed a whistle-blower complaint with the Securities and Exchange Commission, accusing Facebook of misleading investors with public statements that did not match its internal actions.
Over 813,000 Apps Have Been Removed from The Apple App Store And Google Play in The First Half of 2021
A new report from analytics firm Pixalate finds that over 813,000 apps have been removed from the Apple App Store and Google Play in the first half of 2021. The vast majority (86%) of the apps were targeting children. The Apple App Store had a distinct problem with a lack of privacy policies (59%), despite the platform’s recent mandatory privacy changes. Google Play’s area of focus was dangerous permissions (66%) that could potentially skim personal information or locally saved data from user devices.