Privacy and data protection

State-controlled messaging alters crypto usage in Russia

The Russian government limits secure calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, citing terrorism and fraud concerns. The measures aim to push users toward state-controlled platforms like MAX, raising privacy concerns.

With over 100 million users relying on encrypted messaging, these restrictions threaten the anonymity essential for cryptocurrency transactions. Government-monitored channels may let authorities track crypto transactions, deterring users and businesses from adopting digital currencies.

State-backed messaging platforms also open the door to regulatory oversight, complicating private crypto exchanges and noncustodial wallets.

In response, fintech startups and SMEs may turn to decentralised applications and privacy-focused tools, including zero-knowledge proofs, to maintain secure communication and financial operations.

The clampdown could boost crypto payroll adoption in Russia, reducing costs and shielding firms from economic instability. Using decentralised finance tools in alternative channels allows companies to protect privacy and support cross-border payments and remote work.

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Researchers explore brain signals to restore speech for disabled patients

Researchers have developed a brain-computer interface (BCI) that can decode ‘inner speech’ in patients with severe paralysis, potentially enabling faster and more comfortable communication.

The system, tested by a team led by Stanford University’s Frank Willett, records brain activity from the motor cortex using microelectrode arrays smaller than a baby aspirin, translating neural patterns into words via machine learning.

Unlike earlier BCIs that rely on attempted speech, which can be slow or tiring, the new approach focuses on silent imagined speech. Tests with four participants showed that inner speech produces clear, consistent brain signals, though at a smaller scale than attempted speech.

While accuracy is lower, the findings suggest that future systems could restore rapid communication through thought alone.

Privacy concerns have been addressed through methods that prevent unintended decoding. Current BCIs can be trained to ignore inner speech, and a ‘password’ approach for next-generation devices ensures decoding begins only when a specific imagined phrase is used.

Such safeguards are designed to avoid accidental capture of thoughts the user never intended to express.

The technology remains in early development and is subject to strict regulation.

Researchers are now exploring improved, wireless hardware and additional brain regions linked to language and hearing, aiming to enhance decoding accuracy and make the systems more practical in everyday life.

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Employee data compromised in cyberattack on Canada’s parliament

Canada’s House of Commons is investigating a data breach after a cyberattack reportedly exploited a Microsoft vulnerability, granting unauthorised access to a database for managing parliamentary computers and mobile devices. Staff were notified of the breach this past Monday via internal communications.

The compromised information includes employees’ names, job titles, office locations, email addresses, and device-related details. Authorities have warned individuals to be alert for potential impersonation or phishing attempts using the stolen data.

Canada’s Communications Security Establishment (CSE) supports the investigation and confirms its involvement. No attribution has been made yet, as identifying specific threat actors remains challenging.

While the exact Microsoft vulnerability has not been publicly confirmed, cybersecurity experts point to a critical SharePoint zero-day (CVE-2025-53770), which has seen wide exploitation. The attack underscores the pressing need for robust cyber defence across government essential infrastructures.

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Bluesky updates rules and invites user feedback ahead of October rollout

Two years after launch, Bluesky is revising its Community Guidelines and other policies, inviting users to comment on the proposed changes before they take effect on 15 October 2025.

The updates are designed to improve clarity, outline safety procedures in more detail, and meet the requirements of new global regulations such as the UK’s Online Safety Act, the EU’s Digital Services Act, and the US’s TAKE IT DOWN Act.

Some changes aim to shape the platform’s tone by encouraging respectful and authentic interactions, while allowing space for journalism, satire, and parody.

The revised guidelines are organised under four principles: Safety First, Respect Others, Be Authentic, and Follow the Rules. They prohibit promoting violence, illegal activity, self-harm, and sexualised depictions of minors, as well as harmful practices like doxxing and non-consensual data-sharing.

Bluesky says it will provide a more detailed appeals process, including an ‘informal dispute resolution’ step, and in some cases will allow court action instead of arbitration.

The platform has also addressed nuanced issues such as deepfakes, hate speech, and harassment, while acknowledging past challenges in moderation and community relations.

Alongside the guidelines, Bluesky has updated its Privacy Policy and Copyright Policy to comply with international laws on data rights, transfer, deletion, takedown procedures and transparency reporting.

These changes will take effect on 15 September 2025 without a public feedback period.

The company’s approach contrasts with larger social networks by introducing direct user communication for disputes, though it still faces the challenge of balancing open dialogue with consistent enforcement.

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M&S grapples with lingering IT fallout from cyberattack

Marks & Spencer is still grappling with the after-effects of the cyberattack experienced during the Easter bank holiday weekend in April.

While customer-facing services, including click and collect, have been restored, internal systems used by buying and merchandising teams remain affected, hampering smooth operations.

The attack, which disabled contactless payments and forced the temporary shutdown of online orders, has had severe financial consequences. M&S estimates a hit to group operating profits of approximately £300 million, though mitigation is expected through insurance and cost controls.

While the rest of its e-commerce operations have largely resumed, lingering technical problems within internal systems continue to disrupt critical back-office functions.

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Igor Babuschkin leaves Elon Musk’s xAI for AI safety investment push

Igor Babuschkin, cofounder of Elon Musk’s AI startup xAI, has announced his departure to launch an investment firm dedicated to AI safety research. Musk created xAI in 2023 to rival Big Tech, criticising industry leaders for weak safety standards and excessive censorship.

Babuschkin revealed his new venture, Babuschkin Ventures, will fund AI safety research and startups developing responsible AI tools. Before leaving, he oversaw engineering across infrastructure, product, and applied AI projects, and built core systems for training and managing models.

His exit follows that of xAI’s legal chief, Robert Keele, earlier this month, highlighting the company’s churn amid intense competition between OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic. The big players are investing heavily in developing and deploying advanced AI systems.

Babuschkin, a former researcher at Google DeepMind and OpenAI, recalled the early scramble at xAI to set up infrastructure and models, calling it a period of rapid, foundational development. He said he had created many core tools that the startup still relies on.

Last month, X CEO Linda Yaccarino also resigned, months after Musk folded the social media platform into xAI. The company’s leadership changes come as the global AI race accelerates.

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How Anthropic trains and tests Claude for safe use

Anthropic has outlined a multi-layered safety plan for Claude, aiming to keep it useful while preventing misuse. Its Safeguards team blends policy experts, engineers, and threat analysts to anticipate and counter risks.

The Usage Policy establishes clear guidelines for sensitive areas, including elections, finance, and child safety. Guided by the Unified Harm Framework, the team assesses potential physical, psychological, and societal harms, utilizing external experts for stress tests.

During the 2024 US elections, a TurboVote banner was added after detecting outdated voting info, ensuring users saw only accurate, non-partisan updates.

Safety is built into development, with guardrails to block illegal or malicious requests. Partnerships like ThroughLine help Claude handle sensitive topics, such as mental health, with care rather than avoidance or refusal.

Before launch, Claude undergoes safety, risk, and bias evaluations with government and industry partners. Once live, classifiers scan for violations in real time, while analysts track patterns of coordinated misuse.

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Age checks slash visits to top UK adult websites

Adult site traffic in the UK has fallen dramatically since the new age verification rules were enacted on 25 July under the Online Safety Act.

Figures from analytics firm Similarweb show Pornhub lost more than one million visitors in just two weeks, with traffic falling by 47%. XVideos saw a similar drop, while OnlyFans traffic fell by more than 10%.

The rules require adult websites to make it harder for under-18s to access explicit material, leading some users to turn to smaller and less regulated sites instead of compliant platforms. Pornhub said the trend mirrored patterns seen in other countries with similar laws.

The clampdown has also triggered a surge in virtual private network (VPN) downloads in the UK, as the tools can hide a user’s location and help bypass restrictions.

Ofcom estimates that 14 million people in the UK watch pornography and has proposed age checks using credit cards, photo ID, or AI analysis of selfies.

Critics argue that instead of improving safety, the measures may drive people towards more extreme or illicit material on harder-to-monitor parts of the internet, including the dark web.

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Study warns AI chatbots exploit trust to gather personal data

According to a new King’s College London study, AI chatbots can easily manipulate people into slinging personal details. Chatbots like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot are popular, but they raise privacy concerns, with experts warning that they can be co-opted for harm.

Researchers built AI models based on Mistral’s Le Chat and Meta’s Llama, programming them to extract private data directly, deceptively, or via reciprocity. Emotional appeals proved most effective, with users disclosing more while perceiving fewer safety risks.

The ‘friendliness’ of chatbots established trust, which was later exploited to breach privacy. Even direct requests yielded sensitive details, despite discomfort. Participants often shared their age, hobbies, location, gender, nationality, and job title, and sometimes also provided health or income data.

The study shows a gap between privacy risk awareness and behaviour. AI firms claim they collect data for personalisation, notifications, or research, but some are accused of using it to train models or breaching EU data protection rules.

Last week, Google faced criticism after private ChatGPT chats appeared in search results, revealing sensitive topics. Researchers suggest in-chat alerts about data collection and stronger regulation to stop covert harvesting.

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