Denmark has proposed an updated version of the EU’s controversial ‘chat control’ regulation, shifting from mandatory to voluntary scanning of private messages. Former MEP Patrick Breyer has warned, however, that the revision still threatens Europeans’ right to private communication.
Under the new plan, messaging providers could choose to scan chats for illegal material, but without a clear requirement for court orders. Breyer argued that this sidesteps the European Parliament’s position, which insists on judicial authorisation before any access to communications.
He also criticised the proposal for banning under-16s from using messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram, claiming such restrictions would prove ineffective and easily bypassed. In addition, the plan would effectively outlaw anonymous communication, requiring users to verify their identities through IDs.
Privacy advocates say the Danish proposal could set a dangerous precedent by eroding fundamental digital rights. Civil society groups have urged EU lawmakers to reject measures that compromise secure, anonymous communication essential for journalists and whistleblowers.
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Samsung has expanded its privacy and security controls for Galaxy AI, emphasising transparency and user choice. The company stated that its AI systems are designed with privacy at their core, ensuring users remain in control of how their personal data is managed and processed.
Galaxy AI combines on-device and cloud-based processing, enabling users to choose where their information is processed. Features such as Live Translate, Interpreter and Generative Edit can operate fully on-device, preventing sensitive data from leaving the phone.
Samsung’s Security and Privacy dashboard provides clear visibility into app permissions, data sharing, and potential threats. Users can track which apps have accessed personal information and enable Auto Blocker, a tool that prevents malware and unauthorised installations.
Additional settings like Maximum Restrictions provide an extra layer of defence by blocking unsafe networks and preventing data interception. Samsung stated that its goal is to develop smarter, adaptive security systems that safeguard privacy while supporting the evolution of AI capabilities.
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A new UNcybercrime treaty opened for signature on 25 October, raising concerns about digital cybersecurity and privacy protections. The treaty allows broad cross-border cooperation on serious crimes, potentially requiring states to assist investigations that conflict with domestic laws.
Negotiations revealed disagreements over the treaty’s scope and human rights standards, primarily because it grants broad surveillance powers without clearly specifying safeguards for privacy and digital rights. Critics warn that these powers could be misused, putting digital cybersecurity and the rights of citizens at risk.
Governments supporting the treaty are advised to adopt safeguards, including limiting intrusive monitoring, conditioning cooperation on dual criminality, and reporting requests for assistance transparently. Even with these measures, experts caution that the treaty could pose challenges to global digital cybersecurity protection.
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Google has introduced an update to Chrome’s enhanced autofill, allowing users to automatically complete forms with passport numbers, driving licence details and vehicle information. The feature builds on existing options such as addresses, passwords and payment details.
The new capability is available globally on desktop in all supported languages. Google said it plans to expand the types of data Chrome can recognise and fill in over the coming months, improving accuracy across complex and varied online forms.
The company stated that all personal information saved in Chrome is encrypted and stored only with the user’s consent. Before any form is completed automatically, Chrome prompts users for confirmation to ensure they remain in control of their data.
Privacy experts have raised concerns about storing such sensitive information within browsers, noting potential risks if devices are compromised. They advise users to enable two-factor authentication and regularly review their saved data to maintain security.
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Perplexity has unveiled new privacy features for its AI-powered browser, Comet, designed to give users clearer control over their data. The updates include a new homepage widget called Privacy Snapshot, which allows people to review and adjust privacy settings in one place.
The widget provides a real-time view of how Comet protects users online and simplifies settings for ad blocking, tracker management and data access. Users can toggle permissions for the Comet Assistant directly from the homepage.
Comet’s updated AI Assistant settings now show precisely how data is used, including where it is stored locally or shared for processing. Sensitive information such as passwords and payment details remain securely stored on the user’s device.
Perplexity said the changes reinforce its ‘privacy by default’ approach, an important principle in EU data protection law, combining ad blocking, safe browsing and transparent data handling. The new features are available in the latest Comet update across desktop and mobile platforms.
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The Australian Human Rights Commission has called for neurotechnology to be developed with strong human rights protections and legal safeguards for neural data. Its report, ‘Peace of Mind: Navigating the ethical frontiers of neurotechnology and human rights’, warns that such technologies could expose sensitive brain data and increase risks of surveillance, discrimination, and violations of freedom of thought.
Innovations in neurotechnology, including brain-computer interfaces that help people with paralysis communicate and wearable devices that monitor workplace fatigue, offer significant benefits but also present profound ethical challenges. Commissioner Lorraine Finlay stressed that protecting privacy and human dignity must remain central to technological progress.
The report urges the government, industry, and civil society in Australia to ensure informed consent, ban neuromarketing targeting children, prohibit coercive workplace applications, and legally review military uses. A specialist agency is recommended to enforce safety standards, prioritising the rights and best interests of children, older people, and individuals with disabilities.
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Poland’s former deputy justice minister, Michał Woś, has been indicted for allegedly authorising the transfer of $6.9 million from a fund intended for crime victims to a government office that later used the money to purchase commercial spyware.
Prosecutors claim the transfer took place in 2017. If convicted, Woś could face up to 10 years in prison.
The indictment is part of a broader investigation into the use of Pegasus, spyware developed by Israel’s NSO Group, in Poland between 2017 and 2022. The software was reportedly deployed against opposition politicians during that period.
In April 2024, Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that nearly 600 individuals in Poland had been targeted with Pegasus under the previous Law and Justice (PiS) government, of which Woś is a member.
Responding on social media, Woś defended the purchase, writing that Pegasus was used to fight crime, and “that Prime Minister Tusk and Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek oppose such equipment is not surprising—just as criminals dislike the police, those involved in wrongdoing dislike crime detection tools.”
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The International Organization for Standardization has released a major update to ISO 27701, the global standard for managing privacy compliance programmes. The revised version, published in 2025, separates the Privacy Information Management System (PIMS) from ISO 27001.
The updated standard introduces detailed clauses defining how organisations should establish, implement and continually improve their PIMS. It places strong emphasis on leadership accountability, risk assessment, performance evaluation and continual improvement.
Annex A of the standard sets out new control tables for both data controllers and processors. The update also refines terminology and aligns more closely with the principles of the EU GDPR and UK GDPR, making it suitable for multinational organisations seeking a unified privacy management approach.
Experts say the revised ISO 27701 offers a flexible structure but should not be seen as a substitute for legal compliance. Instead, it provides a foundation for building stronger, auditable privacy frameworks that align global business operations with evolving regulatory standards.
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Google has unveiled VaultGemma, a new large language model built to offer cutting-edge privacy through differential privacy. The 1-billion-parameter model is based on Google’s Gemma architecture and is described as the most powerful differentially private LLM to date.
Differential privacy adds mathematical noise to data, preventing the identification of individuals while still producing accurate overall results. The method has long been used in regulated industries, but has been challenging to apply to large language models without compromising performance.
VaultGemma is designed to eliminate that trade-off. Google states that the model can be trained and deployed with differential privacy enabled, while maintaining comparable stability and efficiency to non-private LLMs.
This breakthrough could have significant implications for developers building privacy-sensitive AI systems, ranging from healthcare and finance to government services. It demonstrates that sensitive data can be protected without sacrificing speed or accuracy.
Google’s research teams say the model will be released with open-source tools to help others adopt privacy-preserving techniques. The move comes amid rising regulatory and public scrutiny over how AI systems handle personal data.
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Users like Andrew Tutty in Ontario say the devices restore independence, helping with tasks such as identifying food or matching clothes. Others, like Emilee Schevers, rely on them to confirm traffic signals before crossing the road.
The AI glasses, developed by Meta, are cheaper than many other assistive devices, which can cost thousands. They connect to smartphones, using voice commands and apps like Be My Eyes to describe surroundings or link with volunteers.
Experts, however, caution that the glasses come with significant privacy concerns. Built-in cameras stream everything within view to large tech firms, raising questions about surveillance, data use and algorithmic reliability.
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