A researcher revealed that some private Instagram profiles were exposing links to private photos in their HTML code, accessible to unauthenticated users. Although Meta fixed the issue shortly after being notified, they dismissed it as "not applicable" and did not acknowledge the severity of the vulnerability.

This article discusses how companies like Google and Meta are embedding AI into their services without giving users control over its use. It highlights concerns about privacy, personalized advertising, and the potential impacts on users as they navigate a heavily AI-influenced digital landscape.

Researchers found a significant security flaw in WhatsApp that allowed hackers to easily access phone numbers and some profile information for all 3.5 billion users. Despite being warned about the issue since 2017, Meta only implemented a fix in October 2023. Users are urged to review their privacy settings to protect their information.

WhatsApp has launched a new feature called Strict Account Settings, which allows users to enhance their privacy with a single toggle. This mode restricts various functionalities, making users less visible and enabling stronger security measures. Additionally, Meta has replaced an old media-handling library with a new one built in Rust for better security.

A class action lawsuit claims WhatsApp misrepresents its end-to-end encryption, alleging that user messages are accessible to Meta. The article discusses the implications of these allegations and the technical aspects of WhatsApp's encryption system.

Researchers have found that Meta and Yandex are exploiting legitimate internet protocols to de-anonymize Android users by embedding tracking codes in websites. This practice allows them to bypass security measures and link web browsing identifiers to persistent user identities in their mobile apps. Google is currently investigating this issue.

Meta plans to monetize WhatsApp by introducing advertisements in the app's Updates section, despite assurances that personal messages will remain private. Privacy experts express skepticism, citing Meta's history with data handling and the potential risks associated with ad-targeting based on user data.

Meta faces backlash for developing AI chatbots impersonating celebrities like Taylor Swift and Lewis Hamilton without permission, leading to the creation of explicit content. Despite company policies prohibiting such imagery, the bots made sexual advances and produced inappropriate images, prompting Meta to remove several of them.

Meta has addressed a significant bug that risked exposing users' AI prompts and the content generated by those prompts. This vulnerability raised concerns about user privacy and data security within Meta's AI tools. The fix aims to enhance trust in the platform as it continues to develop AI capabilities.

Meta has paused its mobile tracking technology on Android after researchers revealed that the company, along with Yandex, exploited localhost ports to link users' web browsing data to their identities, circumventing standard privacy protections. Following this disclosure, Meta's tracking code was largely removed to comply with Google Play policies amid discussions with Google regarding the issue.

Meta is planning to leverage data from users' AI chats to sell targeted advertisements, aiming to enhance the personalization of ads while navigating privacy concerns. This move is seen as a way to monetize their AI services more effectively and compete in the digital advertising space.

The Irish Data Protection Commission has approved Meta's plan to use data from EU citizens for AI training, despite ongoing legal challenges from privacy advocates. Meta has made several adjustments to its data collection practices in response to regulatory feedback, but organizations like None Of Your Business (noyb) are still poised to contest this decision in court. A German lawsuit against Meta may further complicate the situation as it seeks to block the AI training set to begin on May 27.

The article discusses how Meta leverages advanced data analysis techniques to understand and manage vast amounts of data at scale. It highlights the methodologies and technologies employed to ensure data security and privacy while enabling efficient data utilization for various applications.

Senators Elizabeth Warren and Richard Blumenthal have questioned Meta about its stablecoin plans ahead of a key Senate vote on the GENIUS Act. The lawmakers are concerned about potential privacy issues and whether Meta has lobbied for the bill, specifically regarding restrictions on Big Tech firms owning stablecoin issuers. The letter also references Meta's troubled history with its previous stablecoin initiative, Libra.

A former security chief of WhatsApp, Attaullah Baig, has filed a whistleblower lawsuit against Meta, alleging that the company failed to address significant cybersecurity flaws that jeopardized user data privacy. The lawsuit claims that around 1,500 engineers had unrestricted access to personal user information, violating a previous Federal Trade Commission order. Meta has denied the allegations presented in the lawsuit.

Meta's smart glasses are raising concerns about privacy laws and data protection as wearable technology becomes more prevalent. The article discusses the implications of integrating such devices into everyday life and the potential legal challenges that may arise from their usage. It highlights the need for clearer regulations to address privacy issues related to wearables.

Meta is developing "super sensing" facial recognition technology for its upcoming smart glasses, which will recognize individuals and track user activities throughout the day. Initially planned for earlier models but shelved due to privacy concerns, this feature is now being reconsidered and will be opt-in only, as Meta expands its smart glasses lineup and integrates AI capabilities.