Welcome to the latest edition of the Privacy Insider Newsletter. Each week, we send you the latest and smartest news in the world of data privacy.
Here are the top stories from last week you might have missed:
- TikTok has dominated privacy news this week.
CEO Kevin Mayer said the company will release details of its content moderation algorithms and reveal its data flows to regulators. Mayer called on other social media platforms to do the same. Link
Over the weekend, President Trump publicly mulled banning the TikTok over data security concerns. Link
Meanwhile, Microsoft is in advanced negotiations to acquire the company. The acquisition would include the app's operations in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
- A Deloitte study found that 83% of consumers are worried about how marketing affects their privacy. This survey focused on an Australian audience, but we've seen similar concerns in North America and Europe. Upfront, granular choice in your cookie banners will continue to be something that your users expect and support. Link
- The Electronic Frontier Foundation ("EFF") voiced their concerns with the California Privacy Rights Act ballot initiative. The EFF argues that the bill is a "mixed bag." There are improvements in data minimization requirements, but these are offset by steps back on the right to deletion, biometric privacy, and a private right of action. Link
- A group of 13 U.S. senators is seeking a privacy bill as part of the next stimulus package. The privacy bill aims to address public reluctance to adopt contact tracing apps due to concerns about how the data will be used. The Privacy Insider has previously covered the need to get sufficient adoption for contact tracing to be useful at containing outbreaks. Link
- India banned 47 Chinese apps last week. The move follows the Indian government banning 59 apps last month, including TikTok. The newly banned apps are mostly clones of the previously prohibited ones, but it signals sustained concerns about Chinese internet businesses invading Indians' privacy. Link
- The majority of Americans (87%) describe data privacy as a human right, yet most don't take basic security precautions with their information. A recent study from KPMG found this inconsistency in survey data they released last week. Nearly all (97%) American consumers indicated data privacy is important to them. Yet, more than 40% still reuse passwords, use public Wi-Fi, or store credit cards on file at online stores - all dangerous privacy practices. Link
- Google debuts "trust tokens" as a modern alternative to third-party cookies. Google and other web browser companies announced earlier this year that they would block third-party cookies on Chrome. Trust tokens are more secure because they authenticate users without knowing their identity and do not track users across websites. Link