Core Viewpoint - India's Supreme Court has indicated the possibility of reinstating a ban on WhatsApp's data sharing practices, citing concerns that the app's privacy policy has misled users [1] Group 1 - The Supreme Court's warning comes in response to legal arguments presented by lawyers regarding the implications of WhatsApp's data sharing with other Meta-owned entities [1] - The court's stance highlights ongoing scrutiny over data privacy practices in the tech industry, particularly concerning user consent and transparency [1] - This development may impact WhatsApp's operational strategies and user trust, as regulatory pressures increase in the digital communication sector [1]

As Alphabet races to establish its AI dominance, its flagship unit, Google, faces two significant lawsuits in a single week. The tech giant has reached a preliminary agreement to settle two U.S. class-action lawsuits for more than $200 million. This comes amid mounting pressure and additional probes from the European Union. In filings lodged days apart in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, Google has agreed to pay $68 million to resolve claims related to its voice-activated ...

Core Insights - Alphabet's Google successfully convinced a federal judge in San Francisco to dismiss a consumer request for over $2 billion in penalties related to the company's past data collection practices, specifically concerning users who had disabled a key privacy setting [1] Group 1 - The federal judge's ruling indicates a legal victory for Google in the ongoing scrutiny over its data collection methods [1] - The case highlights ongoing concerns regarding user privacy and data management practices within the tech industry [1] - The dismissal of the penalty request may set a precedent for similar cases involving data privacy and user consent [1]

Core Viewpoint - A weather-related power outage at an Oracle data center disrupted TikTok's services for U.S. users shortly after the app transitioned to new U.S.-led ownership [1][2][4]. Group 1: Service Disruption Details - Oracle confirmed that a temporary power outage at one of its U.S. data centers caused performance issues for TikTok users over the weekend and into early this week [2]. - TikTok acknowledged the outage, reporting slower load times, posting problems, and reduced engagement for some users [2][3]. - The company stated it was working to restore services and recognized a "major infrastructure issue" related to the power failure, although some technical issues might persist [3]. Group 2: Corporate Restructuring Context - The outage occurred shortly after TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, finalized a deal to create a new joint venture for U.S. operations, aimed at avoiding a potential nationwide ban [4]. - The new venture, TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC, will be led by former TikTok operations executive Adam Presser, with U.S. and international investors controlling 80.1% of the venture [5]. Group 3: User Reaction and Privacy Concerns - The service disruption coincided with a significant increase in user skepticism following TikTok's updated U.S. privacy policy, which is linked to the new operational structure [6]. - Daily U.S. app deletions surged nearly 150% over the past five days compared to the previous three-month average, indicating growing privacy concerns among users [6]. - Some users criticized the new policy language regarding the potential collection of sensitive data, including demographic and financial information, raising broader concerns about data handling as TikTok transitions to American oversight [7].

Google agreed to two settlements within the span of a week that would see the tech giant pay out over $200 million. Smartphone users accused Google of programming its Android operating system to collect their cellular data without permission in one class action lawsuit, while others claimed that its voice-activated assistant spied inappropriately on them in a separate class action lawsuit. Both lawsuits were filed in federal court in the Northern District of California and require a judge's approval befor ...

By Jonathan Stempel Jan 28 (Reuters) - Google will pay $135 million to settle a proposed class action by smartphone users ​who accused Google of programming its Android operating system ‌to collect their cellular data without permission. A preliminary settlement with the Alphabet unit ‌was filed late Tuesday night in the San Jose, California federal court, and requires a judge's approval. Google denied wrongdoing in agreeing to the settlement, which covers users of Android-powered mobile devices since ...

TikTok users have been deleting the app at a higher rate since the company announced that its U.S. operations would be housed in a new joint venture.The short-form video platform's daily average app uninstalls in the U.S. have increased nearly 150% over the past five days compared with the previous three months, market intelligence firm Sensor Tower told CNBC.Last Thursday, TikTok said it had formed a joint venture to keep the video-sharing app operating in the U.S. under new American leadership. The compan ...

Group 1 - The law firm Edelson Lechtzin LLP is investigating data privacy claims related to a data breach at Insurance Office of America (IOA) that occurred around June 30, 2025 [1][3] - IOA is a private insurance brokerage recognized for its rapid growth, client-centric approach, and community involvement [2] - The data breach involved unauthorized access to IOA's network through a phishing email, potentially compromising personal data such as names and Social Security numbers between June 25, 2025, and June 30, 2025 [3] Group 2 - Individuals affected by the data breach are advised to take protective measures against identity theft, including monitoring account statements and credit reports for suspicious activity [4] - Edelson Lechtzin LLP is pursuing a class action lawsuit to seek legal remedies for those whose sensitive personal data may have been compromised [4]

Core Points - The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has finalized an order prohibiting General Motors (GM) and its OnStar service from sharing specific consumer data with reporting agencies, requiring explicit consumer consent for data collection [1][5] - The order follows a New York Times report revealing GM's collection and sale of drivers' geolocation and driving behavior data to third parties, impacting insurance rates [2] - GM has discontinued its Smart Driver program, which tracked driving behaviors, and ended third-party telematics relationships with data brokers [3] Data Collection and Consent - The FTC alleged that GM misled consumers during the enrollment process for OnStar services, failing to disclose data collection and sales to third parties [4] - Under the new order, GM must obtain explicit consent from consumers at the point of sale regarding data collection linked to their vehicle's VIN [5] - Exceptions to the data collection ban include sharing location data with emergency responders and for internal research purposes [6] Consumer Rights and Privacy Measures - GM is required to establish a process for U.S. consumers to request their data, seek deletion, and disable precise geolocation data collection [7] - The company has begun overhauling its data collection and privacy policies, consolidating privacy statements and enhancing customer access to personal information [9] - GM emphasizes its commitment to customer privacy and transparency as vehicle connectivity becomes more integral to the driving experience [10]

Core Insights - Artisans' Bank experienced a data breach due to a security incident at its third-party vendor, Marquis Software Solutions, which may have compromised sensitive customer data starting from August 14, 2025 [3]. Group 1: Incident Overview - The data breach was identified around October 28, 2025, affecting approximately 32,344 individuals [3]. - The compromised data may include personal information such as names, addresses, and Social Security numbers [3]. Group 2: Legal Actions - Edelson Lechtzin LLP is investigating potential class action lawsuits for individuals whose sensitive personal data may have been compromised due to the breach [5]. Group 3: Company Background - Artisans' Bank is a Delaware-based community bank that provides personal and business banking services [2].