Privacy and data protection Archives | Page 265 of 328

Cybersecurity investments in Israel more than double in 2024

Israeli cybersecurity companies raised $4 billion in 2024, more than doubling the previous year’s total, according to venture capital firm YL Ventures. The sector, a key driver of Israel’s economy, saw strong investment growth despite geopolitical challenges. Cloud security and AI played a significant role in attracting funding, with early-stage startups securing $400 million across 50 seed rounds.

Investment in later-stage cybersecurity firms also surged, with growth-stage funding rounds raising $2.9 billion—an increase of 300% from 2023. The expansion reflects growing global confidence in Israel’s cybersecurity industry, which is increasingly recognised as a leader in the field. YL Ventures highlighted the role of Israeli military intelligence units in fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship that strengthens the sector.

The ongoing war following Hamas’s October 2023 attack has added pressure on tech founders, many of whom have been called into military service. Industry leaders have had to navigate operational challenges while maintaining business continuity. Looking ahead to 2025, venture capital firms anticipate continued investment growth, particularly in early and mid-stage funding rounds, as cybersecurity remains a global priority.

US Supreme Court to decide TikTok’s fate amid ban fears

The future of TikTok in the United States hangs in the balance as the Supreme Court prepares to hear arguments on 10 January over a law that could force the app to sever ties with its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, or face a ban. The case centres on whether the law violates the First Amendment, with TikTok and its creators arguing that it does, while the US government maintains that national security concerns justify the measure. If the government wins, TikTok has stated it would shut down its US operations by 19 January.

Creators who rely on TikTok for income are bracing for uncertainty. Many have taken to the platform to express their frustrations, fearing disruption to their businesses and online communities. Some are already diversifying their presence on other platforms like Instagram and YouTube, though they acknowledge TikTok’s unique algorithm has provided visibility and opportunities not found elsewhere. Industry experts believe many creators are adopting a wait-and-see approach, avoiding drastic moves until the Supreme Court reaches a decision.

The Biden administration has pushed for a resolution without success, while President-elect Donald Trump has asked the court to delay the ban so he can weigh in once in office. If the ban proceeds, app stores and internet providers will be required to stop supporting TikTok, ultimately rendering it unusable. TikTok has warned that even a temporary shutdown could lead to a sharp decline in users, potentially causing lasting damage to the platform. A ruling from the Supreme Court is expected in the coming weeks.

Taiwan sees sharp rise in cyberattacks linked to China

Cyberattacks on Taiwan’s government departments doubled in 2024, reaching an average of 2.4 million attacks per day, according to the island’s National Security Bureau. Most of the attacks were attributed to Chinese cyber forces, with key targets including telecommunications, transportation, and defence. The report highlighted the increasing severity of China’s hacking activities, noting that many of the attacks were timed to coincide with Chinese military drills around Taiwan.

Taiwan has long accused Beijing of using cyberwarfare as part of broader “grey-zone harassment” efforts, which also include military exercises and surveillance balloons. The latest report detailed how China’s cyber forces employed advanced hacking techniques, such as distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks and social engineering, in an attempt to steal confidential government data. These attacks were aimed at disrupting Taiwan’s infrastructure, including highways and ports, and gaining strategic advantages in politics, military affairs, and technology.

China has not responded to the allegations, though it routinely denies involvement in hacking operations. However, Taiwan’s findings come amid growing international concerns over Chinese cyber activities, with the United States recently accusing Chinese hackers of stealing sensitive documents from the US Treasury Department. Taiwan’s government has warned that Beijing’s cyber threats are intensifying and pose a growing risk to national security.

Windows 10 users face security risks as support ends

Security concerns are mounting as Windows 10 sees a rise in market share while Windows 11 adoption declines. Microsoft will officially end free security updates and support for Windows 10 on 14 October 2025, leaving millions of users vulnerable unless they upgrade or pay for extended security updates.

Experts warn that continuing to use Windows 10 beyond its support period poses risks of cyberattacks, data breaches, and ransomware. Microsoft strongly recommends switching to Windows 11, which is designed to meet modern security demands, or choosing an alternative operating system.

Cybersecurity professionals urge users not to delay, with ESET‘s Thorsten Urbanski stressing the urgency of upgrading before the deadline to avoid a security crisis. The transition period is quickly closing, making early action essential for those relying on Windows 10.

Apple to settle Siri privacy lawsuit for $95 million amidst ongoing user consent concerns

Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a class action lawsuit alleging its Siri voice assistant violated users’ privacy. The lawsuit claimed that Apple recorded users’ private conversations without consent when the ‘Hey, Siri’ feature was unintentionally triggered. These recordings were allegedly shared with third parties, including advertisers, leading to targeted ads based on private discussions.

The class period for the lawsuit spans from 17 September 2014 to 31 December 2024 and applies to users of Siri-enabled devices like iPhones and Apple Watches. Affected users could receive up to $20 per device. Apple denied any wrongdoing but settled the case to avoid prolonged litigation.

The settlement amount is a small fraction of Apple’s annual profits, with the company making nearly $94 billion in net income last year. While the company and plaintiffs’ lawyers have yet to comment on the settlement, the plaintiffs may seek up to $28.5 million in legal fees and expenses. A similar lawsuit involving Google’s Voice Assistant is also underway in a California federal court.

Anthropic settles copyright infringement lawsuit with major music publishers over AI training practices

Anthropic, the company behind the Claude AI model, has agreed to resolve aspects of a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by major music publishers. The lawsuit, initiated in October 2023 by Universal Music Group, ABKCO, Concord Music Group, and others, alleged that Anthropic’s AI system unlawfully distributed lyrics from over 500 copyrighted songs, including tracks by Beyoncé and Maroon 5.

The publishers argued that Anthropic improperly used data from licensed platforms to train its models without permission. Under the settlement approved by US District Judge Eumi Lee, Anthropic will maintain and extend its guardrails designed to prevent copyright violations in existing and future AI models.

The company also agreed to collaborate with music publishers to address potential infringements and resolve disputes through court intervention if necessary. Anthropic reiterated its commitment to fair use principles and emphasised that its AI is not intended for copyright infringement.

Despite the agreement, the legal battle isn’t over. The music publishers have requested a preliminary injunction to prevent Anthropic from using their lyrics in future model training. A court decision on this request is expected in the coming months, keeping the spotlight on how copyright law applies to generative AI.

Apheris revolutionises data privacy and AI in life sciences with federated computing

Privacy and regulatory concerns have long hindered AI’s reliance on data, especially in sensitive fields like healthcare and life sciences. Apheris, a German startup co-founded by Robin Röhm, aims to solve this problem using federated computing—a decentralised approach that trains AI models without moving sensitive data.

The company’s approach is gaining traction among prominent clients like Roche and hospitals, and its technology is already being used in collaborative drug discovery efforts by pharmaceutical giants such as Johnson & Johnson and Sanofi. Apheris recently secured $8.25 million in Series A funding led by OTB Ventures and eCAPITAL, bringing its total funding to $20.8 million.

That follows a pivotal shift in 2023 to focus on the needs of data owners in the pharmaceutical and life sciences sectors. The pivot has paid off, quadrupling the company’s revenue since launching its redefined product, the Apheris Compute Gateway, which securely bridges local data and AI models.

With its new funding, Apheris plans to expand its team and refine its AI-driven solutions for complex challenges like protein prediction. By prioritising data security and privacy, the company aims to unlock previously inaccessible data for innovation, addressing a core barrier to AI’s transformative potential in life sciences.

Mexican government to launch emergency app to protect citizens in the US

At a recent press briefing, Mexico’s Foreign Secretary, Juan Ramón de la Fuente, announced an emergency mobile application slated for January to ensure the protection of Mexican citizens in the USA. Created with assistance from the Digital Transformation Agency, this app will enable Mexicans to notify their nearest consulate during immigration enforcement actions swiftly.

Additionally, immediate notifications can be directed to chosen family members and the Foreign Ministry of Mexico, strengthening personal and broader support networks. The following technological initiative forms part of a comprehensive strategy to enhance community engagement and deliver reliable assistance during emergencies.

The Foreign Secretary has personally engaged in several open meetings to convey to Mexican citizens that they remain neither isolated nor unsupported, reaffirming the availability of extensive rights and assistance. The consular app will help reach out to the big Mexican population in the US – 38.4 million Mexicans live there, with 11.5 million as first-generation immigrants, including 4.8 million undocumented.

The Mexican consular app is an example of the practical use of digital technology to conduct one of the core functions of diplomacy – to protect citizens abroad.

Albania’s TikTok ban: Balancing youth protection with free speech and economic impact

In Tirana, Albania, Ergus Katiaj, a small business owner who relies on TikTok to market his nighttime delivery service for snacks, cigarettes, and alcohol, faces an uncertain future. The Albanian government has announced a year-long ban on the social media platform, a move aimed at curbing youth violence.

The ban follows a tragic incident in November where a 14-year-old boy was fatally stabbed, reportedly after an online clash with a peer. Prime Minister Edi Rama said the decision, announced on 21 December, is to protect young people, but critics argue it threatens free speech and commerce ahead of the May elections.

The ban aligns Albania with a growing list of countries imposing restrictions on TikTok due to concerns over harmful content and its ties to China-based parent company ByteDance. However, business owners like Katiaj fear significant financial losses, as TikTok has been a vital tool for free marketing.

Rights groups and opposition leaders, such as Arlind Qori of the Bashke party, worry the ban sets a troubling precedent for political censorship, particularly in a country where protests against the jailing of political opponents were met with harsh government responses last year.

TikTok has called for urgent clarification from the Albanian government, asserting that reports indicate the videos linked to the tragic incident were uploaded to another platform. Meanwhile, the debate continues, with some viewing the ban as a protective measure for youth and others as an overreach limiting commerce and dissent.

For many, like Katiaj, the ban underscores the broader challenges of balancing public safety with democratic freedoms in Albania.

Malaysia tightens social media oversight with new licensing law

Malaysia’s communications regulator has granted licenses to Tencent’s WeChat and ByteDance’s TikTok under a new social media law designed to combat rising cybercrime. The law, effective from 1 January, mandates that platforms and messaging services with over 8 million users in Malaysia must obtain a license or face legal consequences.

While messaging app Telegram is close to completing the licensing process, Meta Platforms, the owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has just started compliance steps. Other major platforms face scrutiny under the law. X, formerly known as Twitter, claims its user base in Malaysia falls below the 8 million threshold, a claim currently under review by authorities.

Alphabet’s YouTube has not applied for a license, citing concerns about how the law applies to its video-sharing features. The regulator emphasised that non-compliance could lead to investigations and regulatory actions.

The move follows a surge in harmful online content earlier this year, prompting Malaysian authorities to urge tighter monitoring from social media companies. Content related to online scams, child exploitation, cyberbullying, and sensitive topics such as race, religion, and royalty is classified as harmful.

Platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube reportedly have millions of active users in Malaysia. TikTok has over 28 million users aged 18 and above, highlighting the region’s high stakes of regulatory compliance.