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ChatGPT privacy concerns are hitting the World. And, Privacy is at risk as HIPAA fails to keep pace with digital health.
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Privacy Enforcement
ICO fines TikTok 12.7M GBP over alleged Misuse of Children’s Data
The U.K. Information Commissioner's Office fined TikTok 12.7 million GBP for breaches of the U.K. General Data Protection Regulation. While TikTok's terms of service state children under age 13 are not allowed to create an account, the ICO estimated more than 1 million U.K. children under 13 were on the platform in 2020. The ICO also said TikTok used the personal data of children under 13 without parental consent and did not take sufficient measures to remove underage children from the platform. "TikTok should have known better. TikTok should have done better," Information Commissioner John Edwards said.
Judge orders Google to pay $79K in Privacy Case
U.S. District Court of the Northern District of California Judge Susan Van Keulen ordered Google to pay a USD79,000 fine for failing to comply with a privacy class-action ruling. Van Keulen's decision follows a class-action lawsuit claiming the company illegally tracked users through Chrome's incognito mode. Google has said users consented to data collection, with a spokesperson saying the company provided and disclosed countless documents and discoveries.
Data Breach
Data Breach exposes 600K Online Marketplace Records
A leading international digital exchange platform exposed 600,000 customer support attachments that were leaked out of a non-password-protected database. The documents were uploaded to the Chinese platform Z2U, which allows users to trade discounted online accounts, license keys, and malware. Reportedly, personally identifiable information was exposed, including customer passport numbers and IBAN payment numbers.
Customer Data exposed During Service NSW Website Update
The Service NSW government department said thousands of customers' personal data may have been exposed for 90 minutes during a website update. In an email to 3,700 affected customers, CEO Greg Wells said, "the update resulted in some customers’ information being visible to other customers who were logged in to the website." Compromised data could include driver’s license and vehicle registration information or mobile phone numbers. The agency notified the Information and Privacy Commission.
Privacy in Spotlight
ChatGPT Privacy concerns hit France
France's data protection authority, the Commission nationale de l'informatique et des libertés, received its first two complaints regarding personal data use by OpenAI's ChatGPT. Meanwhile, French Minister for Digital Transition and Telecommunications Jean-Noël Barrot said ChatGPT violates the EU General Data Protection Regulation but should not be banned.
Privacy focused Browser minimizes Data Tracking
The Tor Project and Mullvad VPN released a privacy-focused browser that minimizes data tracking. Mullvad VPN CEO Jan Jonsson said Mullvad Browser — available on Windows, MacOS, and Linux — is all about providing more privacy alternatives to reach as many people as possible and make life harder for those who collect data from you.
Regulations
Arkansas passes Children’s Social Media Bill
The Arkansas House of Representatives voted on the final approval of Senate Bill 396, the Social Media Safety Act. The bill aligns with Utah's social media bill on age verification and parental consent for use by minors under age 18. The effective date, pending the governor's signature, is 1 Sept.
HIPPA not keeping Pace with Digital Health Advances
The U.S. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act have failed to keep up with the pace of technological change in the digital health space. People think of HIPAA as the federal government protecting my health care. What it actually is is an umbrella made of concrete with gaping holes in it, Standard Care CEO Ryan Stellar said. Health data is living in all sorts of apps that aren't under HIPAA jurisdiction.
Media Organizations opposes Australian Privacy Law Reform
Australia's Right to Know coalition — made up of leading media outlets and organizations — opposes privacy law reform, saying it would have a devastating impact on press freedom and journalism. The proposed reform includes a right to sue for serious privacy invasions and would require media companies to comply with requirements around securing and destroying private information. The group said the proposal would be contrary to the public interest and result in a significant curtailing of press freedom in Australia.