TOP NEWS | Google Reverses Decision to Phase Out Third-Party Cookies in Chrome; Minnesota Spyware Firm Hacked, Exposing Global Surveillance Activities and more.

Google Reverses Decision to Phase Out Third-Party Cookies in Chrome

Google announced it will not phase out third-party tracking cookies in its Chrome browser, opting instead for a new user prompt to choose tracking preferences. The initial plan to eliminate cookies caused industry-wide efforts to find alternatives and raised anti-competitive concerns from regulators, particularly in the U.K. Google faced challenges with industry acceptance of its proposed replacements, including FLoC and Topics. Despite the reversal, the industry has shifted focus towards privacy-forward ad-tracking solutions. Google's new approach is under discussion with regulators and will be rolled out in collaboration with the industry. Read more

DAA Introduces WebChoices 2.0 to Replace Cookie-Based Opt-Out Mechanism

The Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA) announced a shift from cookie-based opt-outs to a browser extension called WebChoices 2.0. This new tool will support opt-outs for cookies, probabilistic IDs, and hashed emails or phone numbers. DAA CEO Lou Mastria emphasized the extension's ability to provide transparency and control over ad targeting. Legal experts suggest this move may enhance compliance with global data protection laws. WebChoices 2.0 is currently in beta testing and will be available for general use by the end of the third quarter of 2024. Read more

U.S. National Security Concerns Drive New Cross-Border Data Transfer Policies

Recent developments have seen the U.S. impose outbound data transfer restrictions to certain non-U.S. countries due to national security concerns. This contrasts with historical EU restrictions on data transfers to the U.S. due to privacy concerns. The U.S. has introduced the Protecting Americans' Data from Foreign Adversaries Act and Executive Order 14117 to regulate data transfers to countries like China, Russia, and others. These policies may push the U.S. towards a multilateral treaty on privacy and government access to data. The EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework aims to withstand scrutiny with enhanced privacy protections. Read more

Minnesota Spyware Firm Hacked, Exposing Global Surveillance Activities

A Minnesota-based spyware maker, Spytech, has been hacked, exposing data from over 10,000 compromised devices worldwide. The breach revealed device activity logs, including keystrokes, screen taps, browsing history, and location data, monitored through Spytech's software such as Realtime-Spy and SpyAgent. Most compromised devices are Windows PCs, with others including Android, Macs, and Chromebooks. Despite the breach, Spytech's CEO claimed no prior knowledge of the incident and did not confirm if they will notify affected individuals or authorities. Spytech has previously faced legal scrutiny for its spyware use. Read more

Oracle Settles Privacy Lawsuit for $115 Million, Agrees to Halt Certain Tracking Practices

On July 18, Oracle agreed to a $115 million settlement over privacy violations, avoiding potentially higher penalties had the case gone to trial. The settlement, pending approval by Judge Richard Seeborg on August 8, includes Oracle ceasing certain data tracking practices and shutting down its ad tech business. Oracle will no longer capture user-generated data from external URLs and online forms and will implement an audit program to ensure compliance. This case highlights increasing regulatory pressure on companies to prioritize consumer privacy and transparency. Read more