"WhatsApp flaw allowed researchers to scrape data of 3.5 billion users"
Things that can never happen in #ArcaneChat since there is no phone number or any personal data required
cyberinsider.com/whatsapp-flaw…
Researchers uncovered a flaw in WhatsApp's contact discovery mechanism, allowing them to enumerate over 3.5 billion active accounts.Alex Lekander (CyberInsider)
Why do I get the feeling that lately, in so many countries, new regulations are popping up with only one purpose - to erode privacy 🔓? It feels like a bad joke. I can't keep up anymore.
I wish I could fight them all at once, put pressure everywhere 🌍, no matter where I live. But I don't have the time. I'm already drowning in an endless to-do list.
Why couldn't the government set a different deadline? Why are they so determined to push this through? My mind can't wrap around it 
I just hope they come to their senses and never implement it 🙏
#Privacy #HumanRights #Switzerland #SwissPrivacy #EU #ChatControl #FightChatControl #UK #OnlineSafetyAct #AgeVerification #Surveillance #StopSurveillance
Swiss surveillance could become worse than US
If passed, chat, email & VPN providers from #Switzerland must:
🚨 Log IP addresses
🚨 Ask for ID upon sign up
🚨 Decrypt data upon request
Swiss Bundesrat is still discussing this draft bill, decision will likely be made in 2026.
Let's fight for #privacy! 👉 tuta.com/blog/switzerland-surv…
Revision of Swiss surveillance law VÜPF would directly target VPN & encrypted chat and email providers based in Switzerland.Tuta
Saying No and refusing to use unethical tools and platforms can be a powerful way to protest.
Do not minimize the power you have by refusing to participate.
"Remember when you thought age verification laws couldn't get any worse? Well, lawmakers in Wisconsin, Michigan, and beyond are about to blow you away.
It's unfortunately no longer enough to force websites to check your government-issued ID before you can access certain content, because politicians have now discovered that people are using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to protect their privacy and bypass these invasive laws. Their solution? Entirely ban the use of VPNs.
Yes, really.
As of this writing, Wisconsin lawmakers are escalating their war on privacy by targeting VPNs in the name of “protecting children” in A.B. 105/S.B. 130. It’s an age verification bill that requires all websites distributing material that could conceivably be deemed “sexual content” to both implement an age verification system and also to block the access of users connected via VPN. The bill seeks to broadly expand the definition of materials that are “harmful to minors” beyond the type of speech that states can prohibit minors from accessing—potentially encompassing things like depictions and discussions of human anatomy, sexuality, and reproduction.
This follows a notable pattern: As we’ve explained previously, lawmakers, prosecutors, and activists in conservative states have worked for years to aggressively expand the definition of “harmful to minors” to censor a broad swath of content: diverse educational materials, sex education resources, art, and even award-winning literature."
eff.org/deeplinks/2025/11/lawm…
#VPNs #AgeVerification #CyberSecurity #Privacy #DigitalRights
It's unfortunately no longer enough to force websites to check your government-issued ID before you can access certain content, because politicians have now discovered that people are using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to protect their privacy and…Electronic Frontier Foundation
All I want from #Mozilla is for them to improve* the damn bookmarks organizer dialog (the one that shows up with Ctrl+Shift+O) & bookmark popover in #Firefox, but instead I get an opt-in hallucination engine that I'm never going to use 
: blog.mozilla.org/en/firefox/ai…
These, instead, are the kind of improvements I want:
* bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.…
* bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.…
* bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.…
* bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.…
* bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.…
* bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.…
AI Window is a user-controlled space we’re building in Firefox that lets you chat with an AI assistant and get help while you browse.Kristina Bravo (The Mozilla Blog)
Mozilla announces more AI in Firefox, still failing to understand that at this point their market share is made of tech savvy people who do not want that.
Mozilla, please. Stop chasing the fads. Get your own values.
People use Firefox to get access to an open web, use a sturdy browser, and not to be tracked. Build in that direction and that direction only.
Nobody from your current user base will recommend Firefox with AI to their friends.
blog.mozilla.org/en/firefox/ai…
AI Window is a user-controlled space we’re building in Firefox that lets you chat with an AI assistant and get help while you browse.Kristina Bravo (The Mozilla Blog)
@delta : With #ChatControl as a very possible future here in the #EU, do you have any updates on implementation of:
- on-device #encryption against #ClientSideScanning
- #PerfectForwardSecrecy
- #PostQuantumEncryption
If not, what can the community do to help you with these three points?
Each of these are so critically important for secure messaging apps.
Thank you for all your work!
Amazon Ring’s upcoming face recognition tool has the potential to violate the privacy rights of millions of people and could result in Amazon breaking state biometric privacy laws.
eff.org/deeplinks/2025/11/lega…
Many biometric privacy laws across the country are clear: Companies need your affirmative consent before running face recognition on you.Electronic Frontier Foundation
I hate that I can basically recycle my posts about Chat Control every month or so. These lobbyists are extremely motivated.
Let's show them that we are
even more motivated than them to protect privacy rights, human rights, and democracy! ✊🔒
You know what you have to do:
👉 fightchatcontrol.eu/
• Recent news:
"Just before a decisive meeting in Brussels, digital rights expert and former Member of the European Parliament Dr. Patrick Breyer is sounding the alarm. Using a “deceptive sleight of hand,” a mandatory and expanded Chat Control is being pushed through the back door, in a form even more intrusive than the originally rejected plan. The legislative package could be greenlit tomorrow in a closed-door EU working group session."
#ChatControl #Privacy #HumanRights #DigitalRights #Democracy #EUpol
It's time for an update! Check out our blog for a new update on:
- What we've accomplished in the last 3 months
- What's next for Accrescent
Thank you to our supporters for making this possible!
blog.accrescent.app/posts/road…
#accrescent #appstore #android #security #privacy
Three months ago, we published an update on our development progress as well as our roadmap for the next three months and beyond.Logan Magee (Accrescent Blog)
🚨 They are bringing back #ChatControl 🚨
Hummelgaard doesn't understand that no means no.
Discussion is scheduled for tomorrow, so act now: fightchatcontrol.eu/
#No2Backdoors #Privacy #Security
Source: noyb.eu/en/eu-commission-about…
netzpolitik.org/2025/interne-d…
Die EU-Staaten wollen Internet-Diensten dauerhaft eine freiwillige Chatkontrolle erlauben. Viele Staaten bedauern, dass es keine ausreichende Mehrheit für eine verpflichtende Chatkontrolle gibt. Weitere Änderungen lehnen sie strikt ab.netzpolitik.org
⚖️📚 The #EUCommission has secretly set in motion a potentially massive reform of the #GDPR. If internal drafts become reality, this would have significant impact on people's fundamental right to #privacy and data protection.
👀 Read more here 👉 noyb.eu/en/eu-commission-about…
The EU Commission has secretly set in motion a potentially massive reform of the GDPR. noybs first overview of the proposed changes.noyb.eu
Do you think there are enough organizations specifically dedicated to defending privacy rights?
#Privacy #PrivacyRights #DigitalRights #HumanRights #Activism
For the #privacy aware people in or around #Prague . The first #Privacy Coffee/Beer/Juice meeting in scheduled.
Come!
A meeting for (digital) privacy aware people who would love to discover some common topics, exchange ideas and approaches and maybe have some drinks together. RSVP no later than Nov-24, so we can book a table or two in a pub. There is no agenda.luma.com
Here is the invitation:
luma.com/htsn7h9o
Please RSVP before Nov-24
A meeting for (digital) privacy aware people who would love to discover some common topics, exchange ideas and approaches and maybe have some drinks together. RSVP no later than Nov-24, so we can book a table or two in a pub. There is no agenda.luma.com
🎯 We’re hiring!
Are you ready to change the Internet and bring #privacy back to the people?
At Tuta, we’ve spent over a decade building the world’s most secure email and calendar service, used by millions worldwide.
We’re growing our team and are looking for a passionate Software Engineer to join us!
If you have good knowledge in SW development (frontend and backend), JavaScript / TypeScript / Java (Rust = bonus)
Join us now!
📍 On-site in Hanover
🔗 Apply here: tuta.com/jobs/software-enginee…
Job Application for Software Engineer (Full Stack) on-site in Hannover | 32-40hTuta
Accrescent 0.28.0 is out, including:
- Download cancellation support
- Better update scheduling (especially on Android 14+)
- UI improvements and bug fixes
Full release notes below!
github.com/accrescent/accresce…
#accrescent #appstore #android #security #privacy
This release adds a "cancel" button for downloads, provides better update scheduling (especially on Android 14+), and includes a handful of UI improvements and bug fixes. Changed Perform gentle up...GitHub
🪟 Windows 10 končí.
🖥️ Počítač nemusí běžet jen na Windows.
Existují otevřené systémy jako Linux, které zvládnou všechno od běžného používání po práci i kreativitu — a bez reklam, telemetrie nebo nucených účtů.
☁️ A data nemusí být v cizích rukou.
Služby jako Nextcloud umí nahradit Google Drive, Dropbox, Microsoft 365 i iCloud. Sdílení souborů, kalendář, kontakty, poznámky, chat, videohovory… všechno běží otevřeně a s respektem k uživatelům – tak, jak to děláme na Oscloud.cz.
💡 Oscloud.cz nabízí Nextcloud i další open-source aplikace pro běžné uživatele, firmy i komunity.
Bez reklam, bez sběru dat, s podporou v češtině.
Změna nemusí bolet. Jen začít pomalu — třeba od synchronizace souborů nebo kalendáře.
A zjistit, že svoboda není jen slovo, ale způsob, jak si technologie znovu přivlastnit.
oscloud.cz/
#opensource #nextcloud #linux #oscloud #privacy
🚨BREAKING: We've stopped #ChatControl for good!
Until a new Council Presidency tries again...
But for now, we can enjoy our success. Thanks everyone for fighting for #privacy along with us! ❤️ 👏
No more Microsoft Exchange. 🇩🇪German consultancy IAGO GmbH celebrates its decision to switch to Tuta Mail. 🎉
The benefit:
✅ Digital sovereignty
✅ Security
✅ GDPR-compliance
Check here what Niclas has to say about Tuta and what feature he loves most. ❤️
➡️ tuta.com/blog/iago-switched-fr…
#Privacy #DigitalSovereignty #EmailEncryption #MadeInGermany
From its own Exchange server to a secure European alternative: Why a German business consultancy chose Tuta Mail over US clouds.Tuta
I used the LINE messenger for the very first time the other day. Downloaded from the official source, my goal was simple: a single, private chat with one person, which LINE claims is protected by End-to-End Encryption (E2EE).
Our "conversation" was minimal – mostly just test messages. One single contact.
A few days later, I log in to find my account has been temporarily (for how long? =)) blocked.
This raises a cognitive dissonance for me:
Promise vs. Reality: We're told E2EE means no one, not even the company, can read our chats. If that's true, on what basis was I blocked? I have to assume it's related to something in the chat, because I literally did nothing else in the app. But if it is E2EE, how could they know? Does this mean E2EE is just a marketing buzzword and monitoring is happening anyway? I'd genuinely like to know what the real factors are.
Absolute Opacity: This is the real issue. I received zero explanation. No email, no warning, not even a vague hint at which policy I "violated." And look, I'll be the first to admit I didn't read the 100-page Terms of Service – who does? But that's not the point. Even if I did technically violate some obscure rule, the core problem is the total lack of transparency. I was left with no idea, not even a guess, as to what happened. This opaque, black-box process is the real problem.
This situation is deeply concerning. What if I lived in a country like Japan, where LINE is the default, essential messenger? I'd just be cut off from my digital life without cause or appeal. And if this happens on LINE, what stops WhatsApp from doing the same? (And let's not even talk about Telegram, which is 100% cringe and a lost cause for privacy anyway).
My takeaway: To be honest, I went into this as an experiment, and this incident 100% confirmed my expectations.
This isn't just a LINE problem. We see it constantly from Big Tech like Meta and Google. They ban users, often with no explanation, because they have the full legal right to do so. We all agreed to this when we blindly clicked "accept" on their Terms of Service.
This is exactly why my advice is this: you must factor in this risk with all commercial messengers. When you use any private, centralized platform, you have to accept the fact that you can be denied service at any time, for any reason, and they don't even have to tell you why. That is the price of admission we all paid.
The promise of a "private chat" apparently doesn't include the guarantee of access to the platform itself.
#privacy #E2EE #LINE #messengers #transparency #BigTech #Meta #Google #ban #DigitalRights #PlatformRisk #ToS #experiment #FuckTelegram
Ever wondered how to write an email to your lawyer or doctor? Let's hope they use encryption! 🔒 😎 But why does a business need end-to-end encryption?
✅ Protect sensitive data
✅ Stay GDPR compliant
✅ Build trust
Find out more: ➡️ tuta.com/blog/why-companies-ne…
#Security #Encryption #Privacy #CyberSecurityMonth #GDPR
From confidential contracts, communications, and employee records, unencrypted emails put your business at risk. Here’s why companies must ensure emails are end-to-end encrypted by default.Tuta
To anyone with questions about Meta's Ray-Ban glasses and how this is problematic for privacy and consent, I highly recommend reading this excellent article from Janus Rose at The Verge:
"“One way to think about it is protecting your community and the people you care about,” said Gilliard. “When you’re wearing these glasses, when you use your video doorbell, when you record everyone’s conversations, you’re not just surveilling yourself. And there’s no consistent and foolproof way to guarantee that information won’t be used against people you care about — to hurt trans and queer people, or hurt immigrant communities. I wish people would think about it in those terms instead of ‘did my package get delivered.’”
theverge.com/tech/807834/meta-…
#Privacy #Meta #RayBan #Consent #Safety
Legal experts explain the laws and ethics of recording other people with Meta’s new smart glasses and other wearables.Janus Rose (The Verge)
I see so many people (mostly men, this isn't random) talking about how Meta's Ray-Ban glasses are "incredible" or "still not ready" yet, I don't see anyone calling it what it is: Voyeurism.
This technology will increase voyeurism and stalking aggressions in unacceptable ways. These glasses are a voyeur's dream weapon. Also a doxxer's and stalker's dream weapon.
Why are our laws and cultures not protecting us against this?
#ChatControl is OFF the table for now. 💪
But the Danish Minister of Justice and chief architect of the current Chat Control proposal, Peter Hummelgaard, wants to bring it back in December.
😡 He now even claims your activism was paid for by Big Tech! 😡
We must keep fighting for #encryption and our right to #privacy 🔒️
Source: netzpolitik.org/2025/absurd-un…
#No2Backdoors #CyberSecurityMonth #CyberSecurity #Security
Der dänische Justizminister versucht, mit wolkigen Anschuldigungen den Eindruck zu erwecken, dass die Proteste gegen die geplante Chatkontrolle von Big-Tech gekauft seien.netzpolitik.org
I'm old enough to remember when having your photo and fingerprints taken by the authorities was reserved to convicted criminals.
Now it will eventually be all of us.
All of us constantly tracked by governments and corporations alike, requiring our biometric data for anything they feel like.
Our privacy rights are going down the drain under the pretext of security.
But it will not make us safer, on the contrary.
Don't believe their authoritarian lies.
Accrescent 0.27.0 is here! This is the most significant release we've made to date:
- New, stable app store API
- Complete installer rewrite, resolving all known bugs
- Tons of new features
- More snappy, correct, & informative UI
Check it out! 👇
github.com/accrescent/accresce…
#accrescent #security #privacy #appstore #android
Happy release day! This release is the most significant Accrescent release to date, marking our migration to a new, stable app store API; completely rewriting our core logic to resolve all known in...GitHub
If only the #CAQ was concerned about such things, eh. Nah, let's have more wars against fabric and jewellry.
Lawsuit filed in Québec and targets more than 40 gaming companies, including Gameloft, Bandai, Nintendo, Microsoft, Ubisoft, etc. ctvnews.ca/montreal/article/qu… #gaming #children #privacy #personaldata #polQC #QCpoli #CAQASTROPHE
A legal battle could soon be taking place in the gaming world after a proposed class action lawsuit claims that certain games are gathering children’s data without parental consent.Swidda Rassy (CTVNews)
Great Intelligence2 episode with @pluralistic
open.spotify.com/episode/2DoEu…
I loved his call for #DigitalSovereignty. It is great how #FOSS provides countries to provide a viable alternative. Interoperability & being able to reverse engineer the products is key.
open.spotify.com/episode/2DoEu…
This would do so much for innovation, too. The whole focus on printer ink is such a great example, as is the nursing one. Monopolies are anti-capitalist & anti-innovation. Lots I hadn't considered for #privacy
Politiker wollen unsere Chats kontrollieren – wir schreiben Code, der das verhindert! 🔐
Komm in unser Team und kämpfe für Privatsphäre & Open Source.
👉 Bewirb dich für unser Entwicklerteam: tuta.com/jobs
#ChatControl #Privacy #OpenSource #Jobs #Hiring
Become a freedom fighter! We bring online privacy and confidentiality to everyone. For a better web. One where privacy is the default.Tuta
For you activist folk that still use Google services, get your shit off google and do it now. Don't store your files there and move your email to @Tutanota
If you can't make that effort you're not to be trusted. Look at the last item on the list in the linked article. Given the current fascist admin, it's clear your files are not safe, secure or private if stored on Google. Likely other US services too.
#privacy #security #google #fascism #democracy #resist
inverse.com/input/tech/google-…
It might be time to move any sensitive information to your hard drive.Matt Wille (Input)
Today's AWS debacle is the perfect example of the reason why in the last few years I started to be less enthusiastic about Signal, and more oriented to federated or even P2P solutions like XMPP and Jami. I wrote about it already:
gagliardoni.net/#im_battle_202…
Signal was down for few hours today, after an outage that affected AWS:
mastodon.world/@Mer__edith/115…
Let's ignore for a second the blind reliance on AWS or any other cloud provider. In a decentralized system, this would not have happened, or at least it would have not impacted so many users.
Yes, I am a cryptographer myself, I know that Signal's encryption is the best. But encryption is not everything. Availability issues, geopolitical troubles, risk of enshittification, limitations on users' freedom to use and control the software lead to a lack of trust, even in a supersecure solution. And I say that with honest admiration for the folks at Signal, who are doing a great job.
May they prove me wrong over and over again.
#signal #im #aws #amazon #privacy #security #digitalsovereignty #selfhosting #fediverse #federation #p2p #enshittification #xmpp #jami #politics #opensource #freesoftware #libre
PSA: we're aware that Signal is down for some people. This appears to be related to a major AWS outage. Stand by.
