A Texas father used his daughter’s phone parental controls to locate her after she was kidnapped at knifepoint near Houston on Christmas. πŸ“± He found and rescued her before police arrested the 23-year-old suspect. πŸš” πŸ”—
the Guardian
Texas father rescues kidnapped 15-year-old daughter after tracking her phone’s location
Authorities say they arrested a man, 23, for kidnapping teen in a Houston suburb as she walked her dog on Christmas
 #TechNews #Privacy #Safety #Data #Security #Parenting #Law #Crime #Justice #Technology #Accountability #DigitalRights #AI #Ethics #USA #News
Denmark has begun phasing out Microsoft software in government, with the Road Traffic Authority piloting a switch to open-source OS and office tools. πŸ–₯️ Officials cite data control and vendor lock-in risks, signaling a broader push that could affect up to 15,000 public employees. πŸ”“ πŸ”—
It's FOSS
Denmark Begins its Exit from Microsoft β€” and This is Just the Beginning
The move is part of a government-wide effort to reduce dependency on Microsoft software. The traffic department's move is just the beginning.
 #TechNews #OpenSource #Privacy #Security #Government #EU #Data #Sovereignty #IT #PublicSector #Digital #Microsoft #Office #Software #Tech #Cloud #FOSS #Denmark #Danmark #LibreOffice #Linux
GNOME updated its extension review rules to reject submissions showing clear signs of fully AI-generated code, citing review overload and declining code quality. 🧩 Reviewers flagged issues like unnecessary patterns, fake APIs, and comments used as LLM prompts, raising maintenance and security concerns. πŸ” @GNOME πŸ”—
It's FOSS
No AI Slops! GNOME Now Forbids Vibe Coded Extensions
New policy targets low-quality AI-generated code while still allowing AI as a learning tool.
 #TechNews #OpenSource #Privacy #UserRights #Linux #Security #Accountability #Software #Developers #Freedom #Data #Ethics
Amazon’s Ring is rolling out β€œFamiliar Faces,” an opt-in facial-recognition tool that catalogs up to 50 known visitors πŸšͺ Amazon says data is encrypted, but past law-enforcement partnerships and security issues raise concerns about biometric handling πŸ”’ πŸ”—
TechCrunch
Amazon's Ring rolls out controversial, AI-powered facial-recognition feature to video doorbells | TechCrunch
The feature lets you identify the people who regularly come to your door by creating a catalog of up to 50 faces. The company says the Ring feature...
 #TechNews #Privacy #AI #Surveillance #Security #Data #Biometrics #ConsumerRights #SmartHome #BigTech #Policy #Safety #Ethics #DigitalRights #Accountability #Amazon #Ring #Encryption
Smart TVs use ACR to track what you watch, sending screenshots and device data for targeted ads πŸ“Ί Turning it off on Samsung, LG, Sony, Hisense, and TCL requires digging through menus but reduces profiling πŸ”§ Less data shared means fewer risks tied to ad networks and third-party access πŸ”’ πŸ”—
ZDNET
How to disable ACR on your TV (and stop the data tracking once and for all)
Your Samsung, LG, and even Sony TV comes with notable privacy risks. Here's how to avoid one of the biggest with only a few steps.
 #TechNews #Privacy #Security #Data #SmartTV #TV #Television #LG #Samsung #Sony #ConsumerRights #DigitalSafety #Cybersecurity #Ad #Ads #Tracking #Tech #Streaming #HomeTech #Awareness
Schleswig-Holstein reports €15M yearly savings by replacing Microsoft 365 with LibreOffice across most government workplaces πŸ’Ά About 80% of offices have migrated, with a €9M one-time investment planned for 2026 to finish the shift and strengthen open-source tools 🧩 @LibreOffice πŸ”—
It's FOSS
Hurray! This German State Decides to Save €15 Million Each Year By Kicking Out Microsoft for Open Source
Schleswig-Holstein's migration to LibreOffice reaches 80% completion, with a one-time €9 million investment on cards for 2026.
 #TechNews #OpenSource #Privacy #Security #Government #EU #Data #Sovereignty #IT #PublicSector #Digital #Microsoft #Office #Software #Tech #Cloud #FOSS #Germany #German #LibreOffice
The UK plans a mandatory digital ID to verify work eligibility by 2028 πŸ‡¬πŸ‡§. Experts warn it risks exclusion, deepens inequalities, and concentrates personal data in centralized systems πŸ”’. Critics argue it’s a privacy and rights concern, not a solution. @Electronic Frontier Foundation πŸ”—
Electronic Frontier Foundation
The UK Has It Wrong on Digital ID. Here’s Why.
In late September, the United Kingdom’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his government’s plans to introduce a new digital ID scheme in th...
 #TechNews #DigitalID #Privacy #DataRights #Inclusion #HumanRights #Surveillance #DigitalEthics #UserRights #CivicTech #Identity #AccessRights #Encryption #Governance #DigitalRights
Age verification is emerging in the EU as a tool to protect minors online ⚠️. But it raises privacy risks, expands surveillance, and excludes millions from digital spaces πŸ”’. Experts warn it creates a false sense of security while failing to address root causes of online harm. @EDRi πŸ”—
European Digital Rights (EDRi)
Why age verification misses the mark and puts everyone at risk - European Digital Rights (EDRi)
Age verification is a short-sighted, ineffective and dangerous way to protect young people form online harms.
 #TechNews #Privacy #DataRights #DigitalSafety #CyberSecurity #UserData #ChildRights #DigitalRights #OnlineSafety #GDPR #Inclusion #DigitalEthics #AI #Surveillance #HumanRights
πŸ€– OpenAI has updated its ChatGPT usage policy, banning professional medical, legal, and financial advice. βš–οΈ The move aligns with the EU AI Act and U.S. FDA guidance to prevent misuse and ensure responsible AI deployment. 🌍 πŸ”—
Bitget
OpenAI updates ChatGPT usage policy, prohibiting the provision of professional medical, legal, and financial advice | Bitget News
Jinse Finance reported that OpenAI updated the usage policy for ChatGPT on October 29, prohibiting its use in certain fields that were previously c...
 #TechNews #AI #OpenAI #ChatGPT #Policy #Ethics #Privacy #Compliance #Regulation #AIGovernance #Safety #Trust #Innovation #Technology #ArtificialIntelligence
🐍 The Python Software Foundation has withdrawn a $1.5M NSF grant over terms that conflicted with its commitment to diversity, equity & inclusion πŸ’°πŸŒ. Funding aimed to improve security in Python & PyPI, but DEI restrictions made the grant ethically unacceptable βš–οΈ. πŸ”— https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/software/python-rejects-1-5m-grant-from-us-govt-fearing-ethical-compromise/ #TechNews #Python #OpenSource #Privacy #Security #DEI #Ethics #UserFreedom #Software #Programming #Innovation #Community #Diversity #DigitalRights #TechPolicy #Coding #Developer #SaaS