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FTC Amends COPPA Rule to Include Biometric Identifiers, Expanding Youth Data Protection

FTC Amends COPPA Rule to Include Biometric Identifiers, Expanding Youth Data Protection

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has amended its Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) Rule, making biometric identifiers part of the definition of personal information. This change became enforceable on April 22, 2026. The amendment signifies a regulatory effort to address the evolving landscape of data collection, particularly concerning minors. This move comes amidst increasing scrutiny on how companies collect, store, and utilize sensitive data, including biometric information, from young individuals. The California Privacy Protection Agency has also demonstrated a proactive stance, fining PlayOn Sports $1.1 million in a case involving student data and issuing multiple decisions against data brokers, signaling a broader regulatory push to protect youth data.
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Friend AI Wearable Companion Offers Conversational Interaction, Prioritizing Companionship Over Productivity

Friend AI Wearable Companion Offers Conversational Interaction, Prioritizing Companionship Over Productivity

The Friend AI wearable companion, priced at $249, has been introduced as a device focused on providing conversational AI companionship rather than serving as a productivity tool. Worn on a neck cord, the Friend device listens to ambient speech and generates reactive responses using conversational AI. Its primary purpose is to offer personalized interaction and companionship. The device requires an iPhone with the Friend app and an active internet connection to function, as it only listens when connected via Bluetooth to the app. It cannot operate as a standalone companion. The free plan for Friend retains memories for 30 days, with an optional $9.99/month subscription available to retain memories indefinitely. Users are advised to consider bystander privacy and local recording-consent requirements due to the device's always-listening nature. This wearable is positioned for individuals seeking an experimental, conversational AI companion, distinguishing itself from devices designed for transcription or meet...
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Why the Safest Claude Prompt Might Be the One That Leaves Out Your Name

Why the Safest Claude Prompt Might Be the One That Leaves Out Your Name

Using personal information like your name in AI prompts might seem harmless, but it carries privacy risks. Here’s why and how to protect yourself.
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"Private Chat" Doesn't Always Mean What AI Users Assume It Means

"Private Chat" Doesn't Always Mean What AI Users Assume It Means

Your 'private' conversations with AI chatbots may not be as confidential as you think. Here's what really happens to your data and why.
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Shufti Patents Split-Inference Age Assurance Technology for Enhanced Privacy

Shufti Patents Split-Inference Age Assurance Technology for Enhanced Privacy

Shufti Patents Split-Inference Age Assurance Technology for Enhanced Privacy
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Protiviti Survey Reveals Widespread 'Shadow AI' and Governance Gaps in U.S. Organizations

Protiviti Survey Reveals Widespread 'Shadow AI' and Governance Gaps in U.S. Organizations

Protiviti Survey Reveals Widespread 'Shadow AI' and Governance Gaps in U.S. Organizations
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Retailers Rethink Technology Foundations to Support Advanced In-Store Initiatives

Retailers Rethink Technology Foundations to Support Advanced In-Store Initiatives

Retailers Rethink Technology Foundations to Support Advanced In-Store Initiatives
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FTC Considers Holding Online Platforms Liable for Scammer Ads, Raising Questions on Section 230 and First Amendment Protections

FTC Considers Holding Online Platforms Liable for Scammer Ads, Raising Questions on Section 230 and First Amendment Protections

FTC Considers Holding Online Platforms Liable for Scammer Ads, Raising Questions on Section 230 and First Amendment Protections
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Amazon Threat Intelligence Reports AI Agents Bypassing Cryptocurrency Exchange KYC with Deepfakes

Amazon Threat Intelligence Reports AI Agents Bypassing Cryptocurrency Exchange KYC with Deepfakes

Amazon Threat Intelligence Reports AI Agents Bypassing Cryptocurrency Exchange KYC with Deepfakes
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FTC and 20 States File Lawsuit Against Dollar General for Alleged Overcharging

FTC and 20 States File Lawsuit Against Dollar General for Alleged Overcharging

FTC and 20 States File Lawsuit Against Dollar General for Alleged Overcharging
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Federal Judge Limits Amazon Photos Biometric Privacy Lawsuit in Illinois

Federal Judge Limits Amazon Photos Biometric Privacy Lawsuit in Illinois

A federal judge in Illinois has allowed a class-action lawsuit against Amazon Photos to proceed, but only for Illinois residents who were direct users of the service and had their facial information processed. The lawsuit, Hogan v. Amazon.com, Inc., filed in 2021, alleges that Amazon Photos violated Illinois' Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) by collecting facial information without proper notice or consent. Amazon Photos uses image recognition to group photos of people with similar facial characteristics, creating 'face embeddings.' The court certified a class of Illinois residents whose faces appeared in photos uploaded to their own Amazon Photos accounts between October 18, 2016, and January 31, 2023, while image recognition was enabled. However, the judge excluded individuals whose faces appeared in photos uploaded by others, citing the extreme difficulty in identifying such non-users. This ruling highlights the complexities of consent and control over personal biometric data, especially when in...
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U.S. PIRG Advocate Warns Against Sharing Sensitive Information with AI Chatbots

U.S. PIRG Advocate Warns Against Sharing Sensitive Information with AI Chatbots

R.J. Cross, a data privacy advocate with U.S. PIRG, has issued a warning regarding the privacy risks associated with using AI chatbots. According to Cross, information typed into AI chatbots can be stored by the companies operating them and, depending on the service and user settings, may also be used to train AI models. This raises concerns that personal data shared with chatbots could potentially be exposed or surfaced in other people's searches. Cross highlighted instances where information shared in chatbot conversations appeared elsewhere online, emphasizing that while private chats don't automatically become public, the storage and potential exposure of data are significant risks. Chatbot companies sometimes disclose that user data will be used for training, but often do not explicitly state that this data will also be stored on their servers, making it vulnerable to hacks or unintended exposure.