Canada’s privacy commissioner has launched legal action against Aylo Holdings, the Montreal-based operator of Pornhub and other adult websites, for failing to ensure consent from individuals featured in uploaded content.
Commissioner Philippe Dufresne said Aylo had not adequately addressed concerns raised in an earlier investigation, which found the company allowed intimate images to be shared without the direct permission of those depicted.
A Federal Court order is being sought to enforce compliance with privacy laws in Canada. Aylo Holdings has denied violating privacy laws and expressed disappointment at the legal action.
The company claims it has been in ongoing discussions with regulators and has implemented significant measures to prevent non-consensual content from being shared. These include mandatory uploader verification, proof of consent for all participants, stricter moderation, and banning content downloads.
The case stems from a complaint by a woman whose ex-boyfriend uploaded intimate images of her without her consent.
Although Aylo says the incident occurred in 2015 and policies have since improved, the privacy commissioner insists that stronger enforcement is needed. The legal battle could have significant implications for content moderation policies in the adult entertainment industry.
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The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has agreed to dismiss its lawsuit against cryptocurrency exchange Kraken, marking a significant shift in regulatory oversight under the new administration.
Kraken, which was accused of operating as an unregistered securities exchange, announced that the case was dismissed with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled. The company maintained that the lawsuit was politically motivated and hindered innovation in the crypto sector.
Kraken stated that the dismissal involved no admission of wrongdoing, no penalties, and no required changes to its business model.
The SEC had sued Kraken in 2023 as part of a broader crackdown on crypto firms under former SEC Chair Gary Gensler. However, the regulator has since scaled back its enforcement efforts, also ending a similar case against Coinbase and considering a resolution in its fraud case against entrepreneur Justin Sun.
The decision follows United States President Donald Trump’s appointment of Paul Atkins, a lawyer with a pro-crypto stance, to lead the SEC. Kraken remains one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, ranking 10th globally in trading volume and liquidity.
The outcome signals a shift in the regulatory landscape, with growing support for digital assets under the current administration.
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Britain’s media regulator, Ofcom, has set a 31 March deadline for social media and online platforms to submit a risk assessment on the likelihood of users encountering illegal content. This move follows new laws passed last year requiring companies such as Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, as well as ByteDance’s TikTok, to take action against criminal activities on their platforms. Under the Online Safety Act, these firms must assess and address the risks of offences like terrorism, hate crimes, child sexual exploitation, and financial fraud.
The risk assessment must evaluate how likely it is for users to come across illegal content, or how user-to-user services could facilitate criminal activities. Ofcom has warned that failure to meet the deadline could result in enforcement actions against the companies. The new regulations aim to make online platforms safer and hold them accountable for the content shared on their sites.
The deadline is part of the UK‘s broader push to regulate online content and enhance user safety. Social media giants are now facing stricter scrutiny to ensure they are addressing potential risks associated with their platforms and protecting users from harmful content.
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A court in India has ordered an Amazon unit to pay $39 million in damages for trademark infringement after unauthorised ‘Beverly Hills Polo Club’ garments were sold on its platform.
The ruling marks one of the highest damages awarded against a US company in an Indian trademark case. Lifestyle Equities, the owner of the Beverly Hills Polo Club brand, filed the lawsuit in 2020, alleging that Amazon’s Indian website was selling apparel with nearly identical branding at lower prices.
The Delhi High Court found that the infringing brand was owned by Amazon Technologies and sold directly on the platform. Judges noted that the logos were ‘hardly distinguishable’ and stated that Amazon was aware of the brand’s exclusive rights, citing previous legal disputes in the United Kingdom.
The ruling includes a permanent injunction, barring Amazon from selling counterfeit products with the Beverly Hills Polo Club branding. The company has denied wrongdoing, and its representatives have not commented on the decision.
Amazon has faced similar legal battles before, including a trademark dispute in London, where it lost an appeal last year. Critics have long accused the e-commerce giant of engaging in predatory practices, with a 2021 Reuters investigation alleging that Amazon manipulated search results to promote its own private brands in India.
The recent court decision has reignited calls for stricter enforcement of trademark laws and fair business practices in the country.
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A US federal judge has dismissed a fraud lawsuit filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) against Richard Heart, the founder of the cryptocurrency platform Hex.
The SEC accused Heart of raising over $1 billion through unregistered offerings and misappropriating investor funds for luxury purchases, including sports cars and a black diamond.
However, the judge ruled that the SEC’s claims lacked a direct link to the United States, as Heart’s activities were primarily directed at a global audience and occurred abroad.
The SEC had also alleged that Heart misled investors with exaggerated claims about potential returns from his Hex token and other crypto projects.
Despite these accusations, the court determined that the transactions, including fund misappropriations, took place outside of US jurisdiction, with no clear evidence of US-based investors being affected.
Heart’s legal team welcomed the ruling, describing it as a significant victory for the cryptocurrency industry. They argued that the decision highlighted the need for clearer regulations surrounding digital assets. The SEC has not yet commented on the ruling.
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India’s financial crime enforcement agency has issued a show cause notice to Paytm over alleged violations of the country’s Foreign Exchange Management Act.
The notice relates to the acquisition of two companies, Little Internet Private Limited and Nearbuy India Private Limited, covering the period from 2015 to 2019.
Paytm has stated that the alleged violations occurred before these companies became its subsidiaries. The company maintains that the notice has no impact on its services for consumers and merchants. No further details about the specific allegations have been disclosed.
The notice comes at a time of increased regulatory scrutiny of digital payment firms in India.
Paytm has previously faced challenges related to compliance and operations, making the latest development a significant issue for the company as it continues to navigate the country’s evolving financial regulations.
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The founder of cryptocurrency financial services firm Gotbit has been extradited from Portugal to the United States to face charges of market manipulation and fraud.
Aleksei Andriunin, a 26-year-old Russian national, appeared in a Boston court, where he pleaded not guilty to wire fraud and conspiracy charges. Prosecutors allege his company engaged in sham trading to artificially inflate the value of digital tokens.
Authorities claim that between 2018 and 2024, Gotbit manipulated cryptocurrency trading volumes through a practice known as ‘wash trading’. The FBI’s ‘Operation Token Mirrors‘ played a key role in the investigation, reportedly using its own digital token to detect fraudulent activities.
Gotbit allegedly facilitated wash trades worth millions and profited tens of millions of dollars by boosting the market appeal of cryptocurrencies such as Saitama and Robo Inu.
Andriunin was arrested in Portugal in October when US authorities first announced charges against him and others. His company and two employees in Russia also face legal action, though they have not yet appeared in court.
The case is part of a broader crackdown on fraud in the cryptocurrency sector.
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United States officials are reviewing whether the UK breached a bilateral agreement by reportedly pressuring Apple to create a ‘backdoor’ for government access to encrypted iCloud backups.
Apple recently withdrew an encrypted storage feature for UK users following reports that it had refused to comply with such demands, which could have affected users worldwide. The Washington Post reported that Apple rejected the UK government’s request.
The US director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, confirmed in a letter to lawmakers that a legal review is underway to determine if the UK violated the CLOUD Act.
Under the agreement, neither the US nor the United Kingdom can demand data access for citizens or residents of the other country. Initial legal assessments suggest the UK’s reported demands may have overstepped its authority under the agreement.
Apple has long defended its encryption policies, arguing that creating a backdoor for government access would weaken security and leave user data vulnerable to hackers. Cybersecurity experts warn that any such backdoor, once created, would inevitably be exploited.
The tech giant has clashed with regulators over encryption before, notably in 2016 when it resisted US government efforts to unlock a terrorism suspect’s iPhone.
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Vodafone UK has teamed up with IBM to explore quantum-safe cryptography as part of a new Proof of Concept (PoC) test for its mobile and broadband services, particularly for users of its ‘Secure Net’ anti-malware service. While quantum computers are still in the early stages of development, they could eventually break current internet encryption methods. In anticipation of this, Vodafone and IBM are testing how to integrate new post-quantum cryptographic standards into Vodafone’s existing Secure Net service, which already protects millions of users from threats like phishing and malware.
IBM’s cryptography experts have co-developed two algorithms now recognised in the US National Institute of Standards and Technology’s first post-quantum cryptography standards. This collaboration, supported by Akamai Technologies, aims to make Vodafone’s services more resilient against future quantum computing risks. Vodafone’s Head of R&D, Luke Ibbetson, stressed the importance of future-proofing digital security to ensure customers can continue enjoying safe internet experiences.
Although the PoC is still in its feasibility phase, Vodafone hopes to implement quantum-safe cryptography across its networks and products soon, ensuring stronger protection for both business and consumer users.
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Britain’s privacy regulator, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), has launched an investigation into the child privacy practices of TikTok, Reddit, and Imgur. The ICO is scrutinising how these platforms manage personal data and age verification for users, particularly teenagers, to ensure they comply with UK data protection laws.
The investigation focuses on TikTok’s use of data from 13-17-year-olds to recommend content via its algorithm. The ICO is also examining how Reddit and Imgur assess and protect the privacy of child users. If evidence of legal breaches is found, the ICO will take action, as it did in 2023 when TikTok was fined £12.7 million for mishandling data from children under 13.
Both Reddit and Imgur have expressed a commitment to adhering to UK regulations. Reddit, for example, stated that it plans to roll out updates to meet new age-assurance requirements. Meanwhile, TikTok and Imgur have not yet responded to requests for comment.
The investigation comes amid stricter UK legislation aimed at safeguarding children online, including measures requiring social media platforms to limit harmful content and enforce age checks to prevent underage access to inappropriate material.
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