A newly revealed WIRED investigation shows that the United States Government is creating a vast social media surveillance network, one that will operate around the clock and rely heavily on private contractors. Officials insist the system targets foreign nationals—but its scope and design make it inevitable that millions of Americans’ online activity will also be swept up. This is unconstitutional. The post Purism Defends the Fourth Amendment in the Digital Age appeared first on Purism.| Purism
When a company collapses, its debts and assets are tallied, auctioned, and parceled out. But what happens when the “asset” in question is your very biology? That’s the question millions of 23andMe customers now face in the wake of the company’s bankruptcy. The post From the Browser to the Bloodstream appeared first on Purism.| Purism
The lawsuits now circling Apple are not just about stolen phones. They are about stolen selves—stolen data, stolen memories, stolen identities. The post Who Owns Your Digital Self? appeared first on Purism.| Purism
In September, a single misconfiguration in Life360’s Android API turned a “family safety” app into a map of human lives exposed. More than 442,000 users had their precise GPS trails, names, and phone numbers dumped online by a threat actor known as Emo. The post Safety Without Surveillance: Designing Digital Sovereignty for All Ages appeared first on Purism.| Purism
The Secret Service’s disruption of a massive SIM-server network near the U.N. is proof that the threats to our communications are real, organized, and capable of overwhelming public safety systems. The post Secret Service Telecom Bust Exposes Cellular Weaknesses appeared first on Purism.| Purism
The Justice Department and a coalition of states are pursuing antitrust action against Google, accusing it of running monopolistic ad-tech systems that exploit users and lock out competition. Regulators are weighing remedies that could force structural changes to Google’s ad empire. The post Purism Approach vs. Google Model appeared first on Purism.| Purism
By Gia Grimm and Karan Manohar In an era where technology is woven into nearly every part of daily life, consumers often share personal information without… The post Maryland’s New Privacy Law Explained: Your Rights, Their Responsibility appeared first on JGL Law.| JGL Law
On September 23, the Massachusetts Division of Banks finalized amendments to the Small Loans Law, the Truth in Lending Act, and the Mortgage Lender and Broker Licensing Law. The changes update licensing procedures, disclosure rules, and financial-responsibility standards for financial institutions operating in Massachusetts. The amendments introduce new requirements affecting application reviews, notice obligations, and... Continue Reading|
On September 16, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek announced three consumer protection laws: Senate Bill 605 on medical-debt credit reporting, House Bill 3178 on auto sales and financing disclosures, and Senate Bill 430 on online pricing transparency. All three bills take effect in 2026. SB 605 prohibits reporting the amount or existence of medical debt to... Continue Reading|
Kars-R-Us.com and its operators raised millions, but only a fraction of donations went to fund breast cancer screenings, the FTC and Utah allege Salt Lake City—Utah and the Federal Trade Commission filed an agreement in federal court today with Kars-R-Us.com and its operators, who are accused of having devised a national charity fraud scheme with more than $45.5 million in ... Read More The post Utah and the FTC Act to Stop a Deceptive Cancer Charity Fundraising Scheme appeared first on d...| dcp.utah.gov
The lawsuit alleges Live Nation-Ticketmaster encouraged brokers to buy and sell millions of tickets on the secondary market SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Utah, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and a coalition of states filed a lawsuit against Live Nation and Ticketmaster for hiding fees and misrepresenting ticket prices. The suit also alleges Ticketmaster encouraged brokers to circumvent the site’s enforcement measures ... Read More| dcp.utah.gov
A Sept. 25 press release from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) declares a sort of victory: “FTC Secures Historic $2.5 Billion Settlement Against Amazon.” The settlement comes in the infamous “dark patterns” case, where—as the press release reminds us—the agency “alleged that Amazon used deceptive methods to sign up consumers for Prime subscriptions and made ... The Iliad, the Odyssey, and the Amazon The post The Iliad, the Odyssey, and the Amazon appeared first on Truth on the...| Truth on the Market
Kars-R-Us.com and its operators raised millions, but only a fraction of donations went to fund breast cancer screenings, the FTC ... Read More The post NEWS RELEASE: Utah and the FTC Act to Stop a Deceptive Cancer Charity Fundraising Scheme appeared first on blog.commerce.utah.gov.| blog.commerce.utah.gov
The lawsuit alleges Live Nation-Ticketmaster encouraged brokers to buy and sell millions of tickets on the secondary market SALT LAKE ... Read More| blog.commerce.utah.gov
Big Meat has been playing its “Product of USA” labeling con on the American public ever since Barack Obama was in the White House. Congressional repeal of mandatory country of origin labels created a loophole that allowed Big Meat to slap Product of USA labels on meat imported from foreign countries. What? Yup. That Product […] The post The ‘Product of USA’ labeling fight with meatpacking companies isn’t over. appeared first on Investigate Midwest.| Investigate Midwest
The Attorney General’s Office announced Friday morning that it had reached a settlement with a group running a deceptive fundraising scam whose donors thought they were helping provide breast cancer screenings to save lives.| CT News Junkie
Once described as the ‘AR-15s of the financial services industry,’ crypto ATMs remain a hotbed for scams targeting vulnerable communities. But third-party fraudsters aren’t the only ones laughing all the way to the bank.| The American Prospect
Three recent IT‑privacy headlines tell the same unsettling story: that consumer trust is being squandered The post Freedom by Design: Why Purism Rejects Big IT Status Quo appeared first on Purism.| Purism
Every American should be alarmed. It was recently reported that a whistleblower from inside the Social Security Administration, Chief Data Officer Charles Borges, has revealed that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) copied a live, full-fidelity version of the nation’s Social Security database onto an Amazon-hosted cloud environment that allegedly lacked independent security oversight. This affects any American who’s ever filled out a Social Security form, The post When “Ef...| Purism
The New York Times recently reported that a hacker using the pseudonym “Tim” scraped publicly available data from Spotify and published it on his own website. Using automated bots, “Tim” harvested user playlists — many of them tied to identifiable names, locations, and even personal notes in titles or descriptions. The post Spotify “Panama” Leak Is a Wake-Up Call for Digital Privacy appeared first on Purism.| Purism
In late August, Italy took a decisive step to protect women from one of the most insidious forms of online abuse: the non‑consensual sharing of intimate or misappropriated images. After years of complaints, activism, and public outrage, a notorious website — home to thousands of stolen photos of women, from ordinary citizens to public figures — was forced offline following a wave of legal and political pressure. The post When Technology Policy Defends Human Dignity appeared first on Pur...| Purism
In her September 15, 2025, New York Times opinion piece, Elizabeth Daniel Vasquez lays bare a reality too many Americans have ignored: the New York Police Department has quietly built one of the most expansive, integrated surveillance systems in the nation’s history. The post The NYPD’s $3B “Domain Awareness System” isn’t just a New York problem—it’s a warning for every American appeared first on Purism.| Purism
Recently, the EU Data Act was officially enacted — and with it, a new era of enforceable digital rights. Where the GDPR set the policy framework, the Data Act demands proof: verifiable, auditable systems that deliver true data portability, secure interoperability, and privacy‑by‑design across sectors. The post Living in the Regulatory Future: Purism, the EU Data Act, and America’s Patchwork Privacy Laws appeared first on Purism.| Purism
When Google agreed to pay $30 million to settle a class-action lawsuit over its unauthorized collection of children’s data on YouTube, it wasn’t a revelation—it was a confirmation. A confirmation that Google’s public posture of compliance often masks a deeper, more calculated strategy: delayed monetization through long-tail data mining. The post Google Mishandling School Children’s Data appeared first on Purism.| Purism
On September 8th, Check Point Research confirmed what many of us in the privacy and security trenches have been warning about for years: the weakest link in your security posture may not be your systems at all — it may be the invisible web of third-party integrations you’ve tacitly approved, often without full visibility into their downstream dependencies. The post Invisible Dependencies, Visible Damage: The Case for Supply Chain Hygiene appeared first on Purism.| Purism
When the FBI, CISA, and NSA release joint advisories, it’s not theory — it’s reality. The latest warnings about Salt Typhoon and Volt Typhoon should be read as a weather alert: the storm isn’t “out there,” it’s already in progress. These campaigns target infrastructure, communications, and supply chains with patience and persistence. The post From Typhoon to Action: A Purism Playbook for Hardening Your Defenses appeared first on Purism.| Purism
Yesterday, Apple unveiled the latest iPhone lineup adding an iPhone Air — described by them as their thinnest, lightest yet. The headlines were predictable fanfare while missing the larger points. The post Apple’s Latest iPhone: Sleeker Walls, Same Garden appeared first on Purism.| Purism
California’s New Privacy Rules Are a National Signal The California Privacy Protection Agency’s latest regulations redraw the playing field. This is the first set of rules in the U.S. to require: Annual, independent cybersecurity audits for high-risk businesses Comprehensive risk assessments for key data processing activities Bias and privacy impact reviews for automated decision-making systems […] The post California’s New Privacy Rules Are a National Signal appeared first on Purism.| Purism
Google’s New Sideloading Restrictions: Why Purism Thinks Differently Google is introducing a new developer verification system claiming to increase security and combat malware (in the name of controlling users). Google’s “security” push is a double-edged sword. It may help fight a certain type of malware. But it also reminds us all that Android’s identity is […] The post Google’s New Sideloading Restrictions: Why Purism Thinks Differently appeared first on Purism.| Purism
Purism makes premium phones, laptops, mini PCs and servers running free software on PureOS. Purism products respect people's privacy and freedom while protecting their security.| Purism
On August 20, 2025, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) sued Fitness International, LLC and Fitness & Sports Club LLC – the parent companies of LA Fitness and other gym chains – for violations of Section 5 of the FTC Act and the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act (“ROSCA”) in connection with alleged practices that make it... Continue Reading…| Inside Privacy
In August, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) announced a $14 million settlement with Match Group, Inc. and Match Group, LLC (collectively, “Match”),| Inside Privacy
Many homeowners assume leased or loaned solar systems will boost their home’s value, but outstanding loans often drag down equity instead.| pv magazine USA
As your local auto body experts serving Sonoma County, we’ve noticed a concerning trend affecting vehicle owners after accidents: insurance steering. Here in Northern California, understanding your legal rights regarding repair shop selection isn’t just about convenience—it’s about protecting your vehicle’s value, safety, and your personal interests. When insurance companies try to direct you to… Continue reading Insurance Steering: Know Your Rights The post Insurance Steering: Kn...| Downtown Collision
Three major solar-related laws that TXSES worked on getting passed in the last Texas legislative session went into effect on September 1, 2025. One was on streamlining solar permitting (SB 1202) and two were on consumer protection (SB 1697 & SB 1036). Details for each are laid out below. | Texas Solar Energy Society
Proposed Consent Order Mandates Robust Program to Prevent CSAM and NCM and Imposes $5 Million Penalty SALT LAKE CITY, Utah—The ... Read More The post PRESS RELEASE: Utah Division of Consumer Protection and FTC Secure Landmark Settlement with Aylo Over Unconscionable and Deceptive Practices appeared first on blog.commerce.utah.gov.| blog.commerce.utah.gov
Purism AweSIM: A Privacy Shield in the Wake of AT&T Data Breaches AT&T was found liable to pay customers an estimated $177M to resolve multiple lawsuits stemming from two separate data breaches – March 30 and July 12, 2024. Both breaches exposed huge amounts of Personal Identifiable Information (PII) to the public. These two breaches […] The post A Privacy Shield in the Wake of AT&T Data Breaches appeared first on Purism.| Purism
A bipartisan coalition of 47 state attorneys general urged major search engines and payment platforms to implement stronger measures to combat the spread of deepfake nonconsensual intimate imagery (NCII). The post State and Territory Attorneys General Urge Tech and Payment Platforms to Address Deepfake Exploitation appeared first on National Association of Attorneys General.| National Association of Attorneys General
In their letter, the attorneys general outlined the broader societal harms associated with illegal online gambling, including its links to fraudulent schemes, problem gambling, money laundering, and other criminal activity.| National Association of Attorneys General
Aug. 27, 2025 (DENVER) – Attorney General Phil Weiser today issued an alert to remind employees of their rights and Colorado employers of their responsibilities under the law when it comes to reporting wage theft and retaliation against such reports. […] The post Attorney General Phil Weiser issues alert after wage theft retaliation reports appeared first on Colorado Attorney General.| Colorado Attorney General
Aug. 21, 2025 (DENVER) – Attorney General Phil Weiser is alerting Coloradans to be on the lookout for scams involving fake notices of missed jury duty. While jury duty scams are not new, local law enforcement has recently reported a […] The post Attorney General Phil Weiser warns Coloradans about jury duty scams appeared first on Colorado Attorney General.| Colorado Attorney General
Autorenewal regulation has been a recent focus of both federal and state regulators. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit recently vacated the| Inside Privacy
In their letter, the attorneys general outlined the broader societal harms associated with illegal online gambling, including its links to fraudulent schemes, problem gambling, money laundering, and other criminal activity.| National Association of Attorneys General
Aug. 13, 2025 (DENVER) – Attorney General Phil Weiser has issued a public advisory alerting Coloradans of changes to state law governing products containing kratom. The advisory follows the passage of SB25-072, which became law earlier this year. “Coloradans should […] The post Attorney General Phil Weiser issues public advisory on new kratom law appeared first on Colorado Attorney General.| Colorado Attorney General
Digital contracts and subscriptions have significantly increased, with the subscription economy tripling since 2017, according to the European| Inside Privacy
SALT LAKE CITY, UT— Newly revealed information in Utah’s lawsuit against the popular app Snapchat exposes the disturbing extent to ... Read More The post NEWS RELEASE: Majority of Utah’s Snapchat Lawsuit Unredacted, Exposing “Reckless” AI Rollout and Deep-Seated Exploitation of Children appeared first on blog.commerce.utah.gov.| blog.commerce.utah.gov
The National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) invites members of the press to attend the public portion of the 2025 Presidential Initiative Summit:—“Building on Opioid Litigation Success: AGs Leading the Fight Against Substance Abuse and Drug Trafficking”. This summit is a national platform for exchanging best practices and driving collective impact. The post MEDIA ADVISORY | 2025 NAAG Presidential Initiative Summit appeared first on National Association of Attorneys General.| National Association of Attorneys General
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently launched a public inquiry into technology platform censorship. Digital-platform censorship clearly raises serious policy concerns. Nevertheless, before filing lawsuits, the FTC and its fellow enforcement agency, the U.S. Justice Department (DOJ) will need to factor in platforms’ First Amendment protections and limitations on agency statutory authority. Bringing platform-censorship cases may ... Competition Law and Technology-Platform Censorship T...| Truth on the Market
Attorney General Phil Weiser announced today that he has reached a settlement with hospital provider HCA over allegations the company violated Colorado consumer protection laws when it withheld information about training repayment agreement provisions, also called TRAPs, from prospective nurses.| Colorado Attorney General
Attorney General Phil Weiser has filed a lawsuit against two companies and their owner after they mailed illegal advertisements to Colorado small businesses soliciting fees for services provided for free by the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office. The ads lacked disclaimers and other information required by state law.| Colorado Attorney General
Consumer protection in the UAE is not theoretical — it is a well-defined legal framework designed to protect people across all types of purchases. Whether you are buying from a physical store or a mobile app, the law is designed to ensure that consumers are treated fairly and have recourse when they are not. This […] The post Consumer Protection in the UAE first appeared on LYLaw Dubai.| LYLaw Dubai
The Utah Division of Consumer Protection (Division) is alerting Utahns to a widespread phishing text scam. Scammers are impersonating legitimate toll authorities, including the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), by sending fraudulent text messages. These texts falsely claim you have an unpaid toll balance and threaten legal action if immediate payment isn't made. The post Don’t Fall for the “Unpaid Toll” Text Scam! appeared first on dcp.utah.gov.| dcp.utah.gov
The Utah Department of Commerce’s Division of Corporations and Commercial Code (Division) wants to inform Utah business owners about a potentially misleading mailer currently in circulation. Recently, there have been reports of letters being sent that include QR codes directing recipients to a website that closely resembles our official business registration page. This third-party site attempts to charge users $175 for business renewal services. The post Advisory for Business Registrants: I...| dcp.utah.gov
SALT LAKE CITY, UT— Today, Utah Governor Spencer J. Cox, Utah Attorney General Derek Brown, and the Utah Department of Commerce’s Margaret Busse announced a lawsuit against Snap, Inc. (Snap). Utah alleges that Snap profits from unconscionable design features created to addict children to the app, and facilitates illegal drug sales and sextortion. The lawsuit also includes claims related to its AI chatbot, My AI, and comes as states confront the harsh realities of AI technology’s impact ...| dcp.utah.gov
CLIMATE & CLEAN ENERGY Protecting Vermont’s Climate Progress from Rollbacks One of the most important outcomes of the 2025 legislative session was the successful defense of Vermont’s foundational climate policies. From the beginning of the year, attacks on climate action have come hard and fast from both President Trump and Governor Phil Scott. While many … 2025 Legislative End of Session Update Read More »| Vermont Public Interest Research Group
In this column, KFF President and CEO Drew Altman explores the state of consumer protections in health care and explains why, even with consumer frustration clear, Congress is unlikely to pursue major new health insurance protections but there could be some modest steps.| From Drew Altman Archive | KFF
On November 22, 2024, the California Privacy Protection Agency (the “CPPA”) opened the formal public comment period for its recently approved formal proposed rulemaking package for annual cybersecurity audits, automated decision-making technology, privacy requirements, insurance companies’ obligations, and other updates to existing regulations (the “Draft Regulations”). The Draft Regulations fulfill the CPPA’s mandate under the [...]| Debevoise Data Blog
Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) released an unannounced and immediately effective Cyber Incident Reporting Requirement (the “Original Requirements”) in Mortgagee Letter 2024-10, which imposed onerous requirements for Federal Housing Administration (“FHA”)-approved Mortgagees. These requirements included a 12-hour notification to HUD of even suspected incidents or incidents that violated [...]| Debevoise Data Blog
Learn practical steps to prevent identity theft and protect your finances. Stay safe by following these essential tips for securing your personal information.| Money Fit
Utah consumers have the right to request companies delete their genetic data The Utah Department of Commerce’s Division of Consumer Protection (DCP) and Office of the Utah Attorney General (OAG) are issuing a consumer alert regarding the recent bankruptcy filing by 23andMe, a direct-to-consumer genetic testing company. Utah residents should be aware of their rights and the protections afforded to ... Read More The post Consumer Advisory for Utahns: Protect Your Genetic Data Amid 23andMe...| dcp.utah.gov
The AI Action Summit in Paris was the place to be last week and we delivered a clear message to global leaders: consumer protection will help the take-up of AI, not harm it, writes BEUC's Agustín Reyna. The post Our takeaway from the AI Action Summit: consumer protection isn’t what is holding Europe back in AI appeared first on Consumer Corner.| Consumer Corner
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) recently introduced Cabinet Resolutions No. 56 and No. 57 of 2024, aimed at regulating telemarketing activities to enhance consumer protection. These regulations significantly impact how businesses, including those in free zones, conduct telephone marketing campaigns. Key Obligations Under the Telemarketing Regulations Prior Approval: Businesses must secure explicit approval from relevant authorities […] The post Telemarketing Regulations in the UAE first app...| LYLaw Dubai
This week, Republicans in Congress introduced a resolution to undo a Consumer Financial Protection (CFPB) rule that prevents medical debt from capsizing people’s credit scores. More than 100 million people have medical debt and it shows up on the credit reports of 15 million people.| Americans for Financial Reform
Elon Musk and DOGE have begun making moves toward dismantling the CFPB. The watchdog agency would be in charge of regulating X, which Musk wants to transform into a payments platform.| www.aol.com
Identity theft is a growing problem, impacting millions every year. If someone uses your name, Social Security number, or other personal information to apply for credit cards, secure loans, or…| Los Angeles County Department of Consumer & Business Affairs
Vermonters have made it clear that the status quo just isn’t working. At VPIRG, we’ve never been real big on preserving the status quo anyway. Our work to protect Vermont’s people, environment, & democracy will continue in 2025. From guarding our online privacy to ensuring the safety of our food and products, we’re seeking progress … 2025 Legislative Priorities Read More »| Vermont Public Interest Research Group
In Part Three of our FAQ series on Washington state’s My Health My Data (MHMD) Act, we answer questions related to the MHMD Act’s enforcement risks –| cyber/data/privacy insights
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Utah Department of Commerce’s Division of Consumer Protection (DCP) have reached a court-ordered settlement with Response Marketing Group, LLC and its principals, who have agreed to pay $15 million and are banned from selling money-making opportunities. The suit brought by DCP and the FTC alleged that Response Marketing used false promises to sell expensive real estate investment training programs. Additionally, two real estate cel...| dcp.utah.gov
In December 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a settlement with Rite Aid for the company’s use of facial recognition technology (FRT) in| cyber/data/privacy insights
