privacy Archives

Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pa., arrives to the U.S. Capitol for the last votes of the week on Friday, Jan. 12, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

One House Democrat is pressing Commerce on the government’s spyware use

Rep. Summer Lee’s letter, first reported by CyberScoop, follows ICE confirmation of using spyware and news of a Trump ally becoming NSO Group’s executive chairman.

4 days ago By Tim Starks

A college student is suing a dating app that allegedly used her TikTok videos to target men in her dormitory

The woman’s lawyer told CyberScoop they believe the company edited her video to suggest she was a “friend with benefits” and intentionally geofenced it to men around…

May 4, 2026 By Derek B. Johnson

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., speaks at a press conference with other members of Senate Republican leadership following a policy luncheon at the U.S. Capitol on April 21, 2026. (Photo by Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Congress kicks the can down the road on surveillance law (again)

It’s the second extension of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act in 10 days, and a regular ritual for the Hill.

Apr 30, 2026 By Tim Starks

Rep. Delia Ramirez, D-ll., speaks during an oversight forum with Democratic members of the House Homeland Security Committee at the U.S. Capitol Building on July 22, 2025. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Rep. Delia Ramirez takes over as top House cybersecurity Dem

She replaces Rep. Eric Swalwell following his resignation, giving her the position of ranking member of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection.

Apr 28, 2026 By Tim Starks

Gartner data indicates that “regulators are shifting their efforts away from awareness to full scale enforcement,” marking a significant shift from even the last few years in how aggressively states are investigating and penalizing companies for privacy law violations. (Image Source: Getty)

U.S. companies hit with record fines for privacy in 2025

The increase is being driven by powerful privacy laws in states like California, new interstate partnerships and a renewed focus on the privacy impacts of AI and…

Apr 28, 2026 By Derek B. Johnson

U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., departs a Democratic luncheon at the U.S. Capitol on Nov. 6, 2025. (Photo by Eric Lee/Getty Images)

Senators seek answers about hackers obtaining sensitive student data from ostensibly anonymous tip line

Sens. Maggie Hassan and Jim Banks wrote to Navigate360 after a hacker claimed to compromise the school safety tool.

Apr 27, 2026 By Tim Starks

WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 16: The American flag flies above the U.S. Capitol building during a press conference on Capitol Hill. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

Latest spy power reauthorization bill leaves critics unimpressed

An April 30 deadline is looming to extend expiring Section 702 powers, and the newest legislation to re-up it is drawing fire from the left and right.

Apr 24, 2026 By Tim Starks

UNITED STATES – NOVEMBER 18: Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., speaks during a news conference with House Republican leadership in the Capitol Visitor Center on Tuesday, November 18, 2025. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

House Republicans roll out national privacy bill

Experts say the federal legislation takes inspiration from states laws in Virginia and Kentucky, but a lack of bipartisan support could spell trouble.

Apr 22, 2026 By Derek B. Johnson

Flowers adorn a garden in front of the U.S. Supreme Court building on March 31, 2026. (Photo by Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images)

The Supreme Court is about to decide how far geofence warrants can go

Chatrie v. United States asks whether a single warrant can justify a location-data dragnet — and what “probable cause” means when the search starts with basically everyone…

Apr 22, 2026 By Tim Starks

Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the United States Kash Patel is seen in the Capitol near a meeting on the administration’s use of FISA authority on March 18, 2026. (Photo by Alex Kent/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

The surveillance law Congress can’t quit — and can’t explain

Congress overhauled Section 702 in 2024 with 56 changes. Now, as the law nears expiration, supporters and critics can’t even agree on what the numbers show.

Apr 17, 2026 By Tim Starks