This privacy digest highlights critical threats including malicious LLMs empowering hackers, the UK’s controversial digital ID plans, and the rise of online blackmail targeting children. We also cover the FTC’s actions against Amazon for unauthorized Prime enrollments and the potential for AI-driven smart toys to compromise children’s privacy. Stay informed to protect your data and navigate the evolving landscape of digital threats.
Top 5 Critical Privacy Alerts
- Malicious LLMs empower inexperienced hackers with advanced tools: Unrestricted LLMs are generating malicious code, enabling ransomware and lateral movement. Read more
- The UK Has It Wrong on Digital ID. Here’s Why.: EFF argues the UK’s digital ID scheme threatens privacy and human rights, potentially leading to exclusion and surveillance. Read more
- Prompt Injection Through Poetry: Researchers found that turning LLM prompts into poetry can jailbreak the models. Read more
- One in 10 UK parents say their child has been blackmailed online, NSPCC finds: NSPCC reports a rise in online blackmail of children, including threats to release intimate pictures. Read more
- After a teddy bear talked about kink, AI watchdogs are warning parents against smart toys: AI watchdogs are warning parents against smart toys due to surveillance and lack of regulation. Read more
Privacy Laws & Regulations
- The UK Has It Wrong on Digital ID. Here’s Why.: EFF argues the UK’s digital ID scheme threatens privacy and human rights, potentially leading to exclusion and surveillance. Read more
Data Minimization & User Consent
- Who’s eligible for a refund from Amazon?: Amazon is issuing refunds after being charged by the FTC for enrolling users in Prime without consent. Read more
- When sharing your info online leads to unwanted and unlawful telemarketing calls: The FTC warns about companies selling your information to telemarketers without permission. Read more
Cross-Border Data Transfers
- How Amazon turned our capitalist era of free markets into the age of technofeudalism: Yanis Varoufakis argues Amazon’s AWS controls digital infrastructure, turning entities into serfs. Read more
Security
- Malicious LLMs empower inexperienced hackers with advanced tools: Unrestricted LLMs are generating malicious code, enabling ransomware and lateral movement. Read more
- GreyNoise launches free scanner to check if you’re part of a botnet: GreyNoise’s free tool checks if your IP is involved in malicious scanning, like botnets. Read more
Uncategorized
- This Medicare Open Enrollment season, learn how to protect yourself from scams: The FTC advises on spotting scams during Medicare Open Enrollment. Read more
- Thinking about selling your timeshare? Key steps to avoid scams: The FTC warns about timeshare selling scams. Read more
- Before you donate, find out where the money is going: The FTC highlights a case of a fraudulent charity using vehicle donations. Read more
- How to spot a job scam: The FTC provides tips on identifying job scams. Read more
- How to avoid an online shopping scam this holiday season: The FTC offers advice on avoiding online shopping scams during the holidays. Read more
- An “agent” told me to stay off the internet. Is it a scam?: The FTC warns about scammers posing as agents and advising against seeking outside help. Read more
- Use this action plan to avoid scams: The FTC introduces a tool to help avoid scams. Read more
- Help kids protect their devices: The FTC provides steps to protect children’s devices from hackers and scammers. Read more
- Prompt Injection Through Poetry: Researchers found that turning LLM prompts into poetry can jailbreak the models. Read more
- More than 1,000 Amazon workers warn rapid AI rollout threatens jobs and climate: Amazon workers express concerns about the impact of rapid AI adoption on jobs and the environment. Read more
- After a teddy bear talked about kink, AI watchdogs are warning parents against smart toys: AI watchdogs are warning parents against smart toys due to surveillance and lack of regulation. Read more
- The best Black Friday 2025 deals in the UK on the products we love, from window vacs to sunrise alarms: A guide to Black Friday deals in the UK. Read more
- My family’s excitement about Outer Worlds 2 was short-lived | Dominik Diamond: A review of the game Outer Worlds 2. Read more
- EFF’s Holiday Gift Guide: The EFF promotes its online store with holiday gift ideas. Read more
- ‘A step-change’: tech firms battle for undersea dominance with submarine drones: Tech firms are competing to develop autonomous submarines for naval applications. Read more
- One in 10 UK parents say their child has been blackmailed online, NSPCC finds: NSPCC reports a rise in online blackmail of children, including threats to release intimate pictures. Read more
- Small changes to ‘for you’ feed on X can rapidly increase political polarisation: Research suggests that minor changes to X’s algorithm can significantly increase political polarization. Read more
- The 20+ best US Black Friday tech deals on TVs, tablets, phones, smart watches and more: A guide to Black Friday tech deals in the US. Read more
