privacy

Ever since it rejected and fought off pressure to bypass security and privacy measures in its devices some years back, Apple has been pushing an image of the company as a champion of consumer privacy and safety. That means that it often stands against some questionable but common business practices, primarily when tracking for advertising purposes is concerned. Its latest move is unsurprisingly also controversial, at least as far as some big advertisers are concerned but, as shown by some user reports, Apple isn't going to yield when it comes to forcing companies to play by its rules to protect its users.

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Telegram has just pushed out an update that adds a major feature that some found to be a bit controversial, bringing group audio calls that have been compared to platforms like Discord. That, however, has been eclipsed by the revelation made by the popular encrypted chat service's founder made alongside that update. Telegram, Pavel Durov boasts, is nearing 500 million users but that number comes with the challenge of finding a sustainable way to support its operations without selling out to companies like Facebook.

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The US Department of Homeland Security has issued a stern warning to American businesses about using technology and services from Chinese companies. The new DHS Business Advisory is the latest escalation in tensions between the United States and China, amid ongoing accusations that Chinese companies - and those linked with the People's Republic of China (PRC) - have been using their tech footprint to steal data from foreign companies.

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Just as we're about to put a close on an already troubled 2020, news of massive hacking incidents, particularly targeting US government offices, exploded over the Internet. They aren't, however, the only victims and something equally sinister and serious may be taking place around the Persian Gulf. Al Jazeera, the popular and outspoken Doha-based media organization, was informed that dozens of its journalists may have been spied on by nation-states using an iMessage bug on iPhones running slightly older versions of iOS.

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Apple just published a document called "Device and Data Access when Personal Safety is At Risk." This document was published as a PDF, made to exist as a guide for users of all sorts, be they your average smartphone, tablet, or computer user or a hardened internet-ready professional. This document is very important, not just because it's handy, but because it'll act as a line in the sand for Apple, providing a level of support for everyday users that hasn't been available anywhere before.

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Facebook has been on the receiving end of a lot of legislative inquiries and litigations around the world and it has lost many of those fights in Europe. It's not surprising, then, that it is trying to be too careful now that the region has passed new privacy-related rules. European of the social media giant's instant messaging services in Messenger and Instagram (which recently "merged") might now see a worrying notification when they try to use features. Facebook reassures that this situation is only temporary.

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Unlike with Google and Microsoft, Apple's relationship with Facebook can't even be described as being frenemies. They stand almost diametrically opposed on the privacy spectrum, with Facebook being the poster child of violations and Apple as the champion of protecting it. The latest bout of mudslinging between the two has Facebook presenting itself as the defender of small businesses that will be affected by iOS' upcoming privacy feature while Apple seems to be taking the side of users whose privacy has become the currency of the Internet.

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Apple is demanding apps reveal their privacy impact on users, and Facebook isn't happy about it, with the social network taking out full-page ads complaining that upcoming tracking changes in iOS will take a toll on small businesses. The in-app tracking policy - which Apple has already delayed launching - has prompted ire between the two firms, with Facebook accusing Apple of making its advertising business "ineffective" on the newest iOS releases.

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Today gaming leaders at Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony gaming teamed up to announce a shared commitment for gaming safety. Corporate Vice President of Xbox Operations, Dave McCarthy, announced that Xbox was aligned with Nintendo "on behalf of the community of Nintendo Switch players", and PlayStation on accomplishing a set of goals for the greater good of the gaming industry. The goals include Prevention, Partnership, and Responsibility.

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This week Google sent notifications to users about policy changes that'd be going into effect in the year 2021. These changes affect users of all Google services, including Gmail, Google Drive, Google Photos, and the rest. If you're the sort of person who works with a Google One membership, you've got little or nothing to worry about. If you've been using Google services for a long time and never thought to delete an old email, you're going to need to pay attention.

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Although they started out as strengths of modern web browsers, extensions have quickly become liabilities. Mirroring a lingering problem with Android apps in the Google Play Store, the Chrome Web Store has become notorious for all sorts of shady extensions, from scams to actively harmful utilities promising the moon and beyond. To its credit, Google has been working to improve the state of Chrome Extensions and next year will focus on protecting users' privacy and security though at the usual expense of some convenience.

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WhatsApp has criticized Apple for double-standards, arguing that the new privacy labels third-party apps will need to show should also be required for Apple's own software. The new labels - which borrow the concept of nutritional information on food, but focused on what data software collects on its users - will be required if developers want to have their titles included in Apple's App Store.

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