Privacy - this is getting ridiculous (2 Viewers)

[Sand]

Also reported here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/08/26/social-security-data-cloud-whistleblower
And archived here: https://archive.ph/FKBq0

The U.S. DOGE Service uploaded a copy of Americans’ Social Security data to the digital cloud, risking the security of critical personal information for more than 300 million people, a whistleblower in the agency alleged.

Chief Data Officer Charles Borges raised concerns that DOGE staffers bypassed safeguards, circumvented a court order and created a copy of the Social Security Administration’s entire collection of data on the U.S. public on the cloud. Borges said the SSA had no oversight of who had access to the file.

Borges did not allege that the cloud had been hacked or compromised but warned that hosting a copy of one of the government’s most sensitive datasets on a cloud without security controls substantially threatened the safety of Americans’ information. The data includes people’s names, birth dates and other information that could be used to steal their identities.

From what I have read elsewhere, their end result is so they can use our personal data for their AI so they can better advertise to us. However, could you imagine the fallout if their database gets hacked and all of our SS numbers and personal info is out there for any bad actor to use.

This could cause catastrophic harm to us, but it is an afterthought in the media.

The Chinese already have all this, including my fingerprints. Not sure what else I have left to leak.

I am more worried about ransomware groups from india, Russia, Nigeria, or other countries with large ransomware operations getting the data.

The country of China probably already has a database on us citizens.

not probably

I believe you, but do you also have a link? It’s only for further reading and not to inconvenience you or cast doubt upon your assertion.

Just off the top of my head:
They hacked all OPM information
They hacked equifax

Yep, they got my SF_86 in the process. That document has more information about me than I could probably recall today. Not to mention a good amount of information on family, friends and neighbors.

same

same same

 

[fatness]

Americans traveling to most of Europe will have fingerprints scanned under new regulations set to take effect

Americans traveling to Europe will soon have their fingerprints scanned and picture taken when they arrive in countries like France, Italy and Spain under new regulations being rolled out across the continent starting next month. Those who don't provide such biometric data will be told au revoir, arrivederci or adiós.
The change comes as the European Union rolls out its new Entry/Exit System for not just Americans but all visitors from outside Europe's Schengen Area, a group of countries that allows people in the zone to travel across borders freely without going through customs checks. The new system will be introduced gradually over a roughly six-month period starting Oct. 12. It will eventually replace passport stamps, according to the EU.

In addition to the fingerprint scan and being photographed, Americans will have to provide details from their passports like their full name and date of birth. The system will also collect when and where they're entering and leaving the Schengen Area. "U.S. citizens traveling to most European countries should expect new automated border checks and to have their biodata digitally collected upon arrival and departure," the State Department said in a social media post.

 

[Sand]

Reason #364 to have dumb housewares. AWS outage has smart mattresses overheat and get stuck upright.

Schwing!

 

[Riffraff]

AT&T reached a $177M data breach settlement.​

AT&T has reached a combined $177 million settlement over two data breaches. And impacted consumers have a little over a month left to file a claim for their chunk of the money.

Several lawsuits emerged across the U.S. — and were later consolidated — after AT&T notified millions of customers that information ranging from Social Security numbers to call records were compromised in these breaches last year. Plaintiffs alleged that the telecommunications giant “repeatedly failed” to protect consumer data. While AT&T has continued to deny wrongdoing, it opted to settle earlier this year.

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Pet peeve: These global comm beasts crazy overpriced services can still afford (multiple) sports arenas off customer's dimes. $177mil is just a bump in the road, doesn't hurt them much. And prices go up each year to improve the customer experience (yeah right).

 

[Sand]

Samsung with ads on their (expensive) fridges. That would drive me up the wall. If folks haven't followed this story, Samsung unilaterally, after folks had already bought these fridges, decided to inject ads into the fridges. Just did it.

 

[Riffraff]

Samsung with ads on their (expensive) fridges. That would drive me up the wall. If folks haven't followed this story, Samsung unilaterally, after folks had already bought these fridges, decided to inject ads into the fridges. Just did it.

Gotta love some of the comments on the link.
Pay a monthly fee FOR ads.
Pay a monthly fee to keep it cool or within a temperature range.
Pay a monthly fee or the doors won't open.

LOL

I just hope the ads aren't like gas station pumps - I can just imagine the fridge yelling random stuff (okay ads on a cycle) in the middle of the night.

OR you had to wait for a 30 second ad before you can open your fridge door. AND another 30 second ad in order to close it!

 

[rockaction]

Samsung with ads on their (expensive) fridges. That would drive me up the wall. If folks haven't followed this story, Samsung unilaterally, after folks had already bought these fridges, decided to inject ads into the fridges. Just did it.

I don't think anybody will be surprised when I suggest we do tons of stuff that is questionable should they seek to make these things standard. I'm not sure we will and I'm not sure what the punishment will be but this strikes me as less than funny and more like a provocation that entails a legitimate Charlton Heston response.

 

[belljr]

Samsung with ads on their (expensive) fridges. That would drive me up the wall. If folks haven't followed this story, Samsung unilaterally, after folks had already bought these fridges, decided to inject ads into the fridges. Just did it.

There's a great bit on silicon valley TV show about this exact topic.