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☆ UK markets watchdog says 'synthetic data' can aid choice, innovation
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Britain's financial watchdog said on Thursday it will push ahead with plans to make available "synthetic data" to help increase innovation and choice in financial services following a consultation last year. Data privacy laws make it harder for third-party companies to access data on customers held by long-established banks and insurers. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) last year published a consultation paper on synthetic data. "Based on the feedback to the Call for Input and previous research, our current position is that synthetic data can potentially make a significant contribution to beneficial innovation in UK financial markets," the FCA said in a statement on Thursday. "We will continue to engage loosely with the ICO to explore opportunities for data sharing in financial services within he bounds of UK data protection regulation," the FCA said.

☆ Ransomware group with links in Russia behind UK Royal Mail incident -Telegraph
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, Jan 12 (Reuters) - A cyber incident that led to severe disruption to Royal Mail's international export services was caused by Lockbit, a ransomware group which some cybersecurity experts say has members in Russia, Britain's Telegraph newspaper reported. To prevent a build-up of export items in its network, the British postal company, which is part of part of International Distributions Services (IDSI.L), has advised customers not to post international export items until further notice. Royal Mail, which declined to comment on the Telegraph report, earlier said it had engaged external experts and notified security authorities as it investigates the incident. Lockbit, which some cybersecurity experts say has members in Russia, also claimed to have attacked a French cosmetics firm called Nuxe, Le Parisien newspaper reported on Thursday. Reporting by Sachin Ravikumar, additional reporting by Tassilo Hummel in Paris; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Alexander SmithOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Royal Mail export services severely disrupted after 'cyber incident'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-11 | by ( Sachin Ravikumar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Britain's Royal Mail said on Wednesday it was facing severe disruption to its international export services following what it described as "a cyber incident". "We are temporarily unable to despatch items to overseas destinations," Royal Mail, one of the world's largest post and parcel firms, said in a service update on its website. It advised customers to temporarily hold any export mail items while it works to resolve the issue. The "cyber incident" is the latest in a growing list of high-profile cybersecurity events in Britain. Royal Mail said its import services remained operational, albeit with minor delays.

☆ Gunmen kidnap 32 people from southern Nigeria train station
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-08 | by ( Tife Owolabi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

YENAGOA, NIGERIA, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Gunmen armed with AK-47 rifles have abducted more than 30 people from a train station in Nigeria's southern Edo state, the governor's office said on Sunday. Police said in a statement that armed herdsmen had attacked Tom Ikimi station at 4 p.m. (1500 GMT) as passengers awaited a train to Warri, an oil hub in nearby Delta state. The station is some 111 km northeast of state capital Benin City and close to the border with Anambra state. Edo state information commissioner Chris Osa Nehikhare said the kidnappers had taken 32 people, though one had already escaped. The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) had closed the station until further notice and the federal transportation ministry called the kidnappings "utterly barbaric".

☆ Should AI be used to classify humans? An AI researcher at USC says it's reductive and ethically dubious
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-26 | by ( Hannah Getahun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Kate Crawford, author of "Atlas of AI" discussed the ethics of categorizing humans using AI. In an email interview with Insider, Kate Crawford, AI researcher at USC Annenberg and author of "Atlas of AI," expanded on the risks of relying on AI to help classify humans. Where did the idea of using AI to classify humans come from and why are companies interested in using this technology? Is there any safe or ethical way in which AI technology can be used to classify humans? Why is the AI industry so adamant about using data and data collection methods that have been proven to exacerbate inequality?

☆ Meta agrees to pay $725 million to settle lawsuit over Cambridge Analytica data leak
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-23 | by ( Clare Duffy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —Facebook parent company Meta has agreed to pay $725 million to settle a longstanding class action lawsuit accusing it of allowing Cambridge Analytica and other third parties to access private user information and misleading users about its privacy practices. The proposed settlement would end the legal battle that began four years ago, shortly after the company disclosed that the private information of as many as 87 million Facebook users was obtained by Cambridge Analytica, a data analytics firm that worked with the Trump campaign. The data leak sparked an intense international scandal for Facebook, drawing the scrutiny of regulators on both sides of the Atlantic. They estimated that between 250 and 280 million people may be eligible for payments as part of the class action settlement. But the improper sharing of Facebook data triggered a cascade of events that has culminated in investigations and lawsuits.

☆ Zuckerberg weighed naming Cambridge Analytica as a concern in 2017, months before data leak was revealed
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The data leak prompted a global outcry that led to hearings, an apology tour from Zuckerberg and Facebook’s $5 billion privacy settlement with the US government. Zuckerberg’s remarks in the deposition offer the clearest picture yet of what Zuckerberg knew about Cambridge Analytica, and when. But according to the court documents, Zuckerberg had originally proposed naming Russian foreign intelligence and Cambridge Analytica in the same breath. Zuckerberg testified that the reference to Cambridge Analytica was removed after a staffer recommended against naming specific organizations. But the improper sharing of Facebook data triggered a cascade of events that has culminated in numerous investigations and lawsuits.

☆ Nigeria: Gunmen abduct more than 100 in northeastern Zamfara state
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Story Reuters | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

More than 100 people, including women and children, were abducted when gunmen raided four villages in Nigeria’s northwestern Zamfara state on Sunday, the information commissioner and residents said on Monday. Kidnapping has become endemic in northwest Nigeria as roving gangs of armed men abduct people from villages, highways and farms, and demand ransom money from their relatives. More than 40 people were abducted from Kanwa village in Zurmi local government area of Zamfara, Zamfara information commissioner Ibrahim Dosara and one local resident said. “Right now Kanwa village is deserted, the bandits divided themselves into two groups and attacked the community. They kidnapped children aged between 14 to 16 years and women,” the Kanwa village resident said.

☆ Nigeria's Zamfara state orders media to close for covering political rally
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-16 | by ( Garba Muhammad | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

KADUNA, Nigeria Oct 16 (Reuters) - Zamfara state in northwestern Nigeria ordered five media outlets to close on Sunday after they covered a political rally for the opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP), which took place in violation of a state ban on political activities. "Zamfara State Commissioner of Police has been directed to enforce full compliance and arrest of any staff of these media organizations... performing any duties in violation of the shut down," said a statement from the state security council released on Sunday. The statement named five outlets, Pride FM Radio Gusau, NTA Gusau, Amji TV Gusau, Gamji TV Gusau and Alumma TV Gusau. Zamfara's political activity ban came alongside other measures, including restricting movement in some local areas and shutting down several roads. The statement directed security officials to "deal ruthlessly" with anyone found violating the orders.

☆ Two Australian regulators open investigations into Optus after data breach
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, Oct 11 (Reuters) - Two Australian regulators said on Tuesday they have opened investigations into Optus, the country's No. 2 telecoms provider, after a breach of its systems resulted in the theft of personal data from up to 10 million accounts. The agency added that it finds there was a breach of Australian privacy law, it can seek civil penalties of up to A$2.2 million ($1.4 million) per contravention. Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb told a parliamentary hearing the regulator was receiving 600 calls a day from people concerned about the Optus breach, although few had been scammed as a result. ($1 = 1.5881 Australian dollars)Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Byron Kaye; Editing by Edwina GibbsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ TikTok could face a $29 million fine in the UK for failing to protect kids’ privacy
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-26 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON — TikTok may face a £27 million ($29 million) fine in the U.K. after privacy regulators found failings in the company’s handling of children’s data. “We all want children to be able to learn and experience the digital world, but with proper data privacy protections,” Information Commissioner John Edwards said in a statement Monday. In a statement to CNBC, a TikTok spokesperson said the company disagrees with the ICO’s provisional fine and plans to make a formal response. Last year, the Netherlands’ Data Protection Authority handed TikTok a 750,000 euro ($723,371) fine for violating the privacy of young children and failing to offer its information in Dutch. Western officials are worried the platform may be providing a backdoor to Beijing allowing it to snoop on non-Chinese users.

☆ TikTok could face a $29 million fine in the UK for failing to protect kids' privacy
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-26 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON — TikTok may face a £27 million ($29 million) fine in the U.K. after privacy regulators found failings in the company's handling of children's data. The Information Commissioner's Office issued TikTok a "notice of intent" informing the Chinese-owned video app of its "provisional view that TikTok breached UK data protection law between May 2018 and July 2020." "We all want children to be able to learn and experience the digital world, but with proper data privacy protections," Information Commissioner John Edwards said in a statement Monday. "Companies providing digital services have a legal duty to put those protections in place, but our provisional view is that TikTok fell short of meeting that requirement." The ICO can issue a maximum fine amounting to 4% of TikTok's annual global revenues under the EU's GDPR, which is still enshrined in U.K. law.

☆ UK may fine TikTok $29 mln for failing to protect children's privacy
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterThe TikTok logo is pictured outside the company's U.S. head office in Culver City, California, U.S., September 15, 2020. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File PhotoSept 26 (Reuters) - Britain could fine TikTok 27 million pounds ($28.91 million) following an investigation that found the short-form video app may have breached UK's data protection law by failing to safeguard privacy of children using the platform. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has issued TikTok and TikTok Information Technologies UK Ltd with a "notice of intent", the regulator said in a statement. ICO's provisional view suggests that TikTok breached UK data protection law between May 2018 and July 2020. read more($1 = 0.9339 pounds)Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Radhika Anilkumar in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini GanguliOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ UK could fine TikTok $29 million over children's privacy concerns
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-26 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Washington (CNN Business) The UK said Monday it could impose a multimillion-dollar fine on TikTok after the government found the short-form video platform may have violated children's privacy. The potential fine of £27 million, or about $29 million, follows an investigation by the UK's data privacy regulator, which found that over the course of two years from May 2018 to July 2020, TikTok may have breached UK law by processing data of kids under 13 without parental consent. In a legal document notifying TikTok of the possible fine, the UK Information Commissioner's Office also said TikTok may have processed sensitive categories of data "without legal grounds," and may have failed to provide information to its users transparently enough. "We all want children to be able to learn and experience the digital world, but with proper data privacy protections," said Information Commissioner John Edwards in a statement . In a statement, TikTok said: "While we respect the ICO's role in safeguarding privacy in the UK, we disagree with the preliminary views expressed and intend to formally respond to the ICO in due course."

☆ UK could fine TikTok $29 million over children’s privacy concerns
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-26 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Washington CNN Business —The UK said Monday it could impose a multimillion-dollar fine on TikTok after the government found the short-form video platform may have violated children’s privacy. The potential fine of £27 million, or about $29 million, follows an investigation by the UK’s data privacy regulator, which found that over the course of two years from May 2018 to July 2020, TikTok may have breached UK law by processing data of kids under 13 without parental consent. In a legal document notifying TikTok of the possible fine, the UK Information Commissioner’s Office also said TikTok may have processed sensitive categories of data “without legal grounds,” and may have failed to provide information to its users transparently enough. “We all want children to be able to learn and experience the digital world, but with proper data privacy protections,” said Information Commissioner John Edwards in a statement. “Companies providing digital services have a legal duty to put those protections in place, but our provisional view is that TikTok fell short of meeting that requirement.”In a statement, TikTok said: “While we respect the ICO’s role in safeguarding privacy in the UK, we disagree with the preliminary views expressed and intend to formally respond to the ICO in due course.”The ICO did not name the specific types of sensitive data TikTok may have mishandled under UK law, but in general the country places higher obligations on data that reveals a person’s racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious beliefs, health status, sexual orientation and more.

☆ Chinese city shortens mall hours due to heat-induced power shortages
▼ + stars: | 2022-08-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

BEIJING, Aug 22 (Reuters) - The Chinese city of Chongqing is shortening the opening hours of its malls from Monday due to an "urgent" power supply situation caused by a recent heatwave, the government said in a notice dated Aug. 21. The measures mean dozens of shopping malls in districts across the southwestern city must adjust their business hours to 4-9 p.m. (0800-1300 GMT) to "ensure the safe and orderly supply of power and ensure the basic needs of the masses", the Chongqing Economic And Information Commission said. The measures will continue until further word from the authorities based on the temperature and supply and demand situation, the notice said. Reporting by Beijing Newsroom and Martin Quin Pollard; Editing by Tom HogueOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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