Week in Review
This week is thoughtful as the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has set out data protection guidelines that organizations must adhere to protect people’s privacy online when creating new advertising technology.
The privacy guidelines will serve as a reminder to enterprises developing new technologies of online advertising that they must comply with data protection laws in collecting and using excessive amounts of personal data.
Furthermore, the ICO with the UK’s Data Protection Authority (DPA)is investigating dozens of tech giants, including Google and Apple, after an investigation found that they were endangering children online and violating the UK’s new Children’s Code.
In addition, Google is rolling out its Chrome 97, which will give web browser users more visibility and control over their online privacy allowing them to delete their data from a website with a single click. Also, Avast has upgraded its free browser extension to give users more control over online privacy, data sharing, and online tracking.
WhatsApp is updating its privacy policy by adding more details and flagging the information for European users. The company announced that it has appealed against the fines, but it has modified its privacy policies to make them more transparent to users.
Top Stories and Updates
ICO calls on Google to eliminate privacy risks in online ads
One of the most significant proposals in the online advertising industry is the Google Privacy Sandbox, which intends to substitute the use of third-party cookies with alternative technologies that still enable targeted digital advertising. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has been working with the Competition and Market Authority (CMA) to assess how Google’s proposals will protect people’s personal information while also helping the CMA’s aim of guaranteeing competition in digital markets. Read more here.
The ICO questioned Google and Apple for endangering minors’ online privacy
The UK’s Data Protection Authority is investigating dozens of internet giants, including Google and Apple after an investigation concluded that they were routinely endangering children online and violating the ICO’s Children’s Code. The Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham stated that “we’re focusing our actions on online services where there’s information showing possible poor compliance with privacy standards and a substantial risk of potential harm to minors.” Read more here.
Google Chrome gets a long-deferred data privacy upgrade
This week, Google revealed that it has streamlined the ability to delete data stored on websites in its latest privacy and security settings chromium Beta release. According to Google, this improvement will provide users more control over their site’s storage settings, allowing them to better understand and manage their online privacy. In Chrome 97 Beta, the privacy and security settings page has been improved to allow users to delete all data stored on specific websites with a single click. Read more here.
Avast strengthens browser extension with privacy protection capabilities
Avast, a global leader in digital security and privacy, has updated its free browser extension to provide digital protection across all major browsers with an expanded feature set and a new appearance. Avast Online Security & Privacy (AOSP), which has been renamed Avast Online Security, combines effective online protection with Avast’s latest Privacy Advisor, which provides automatic contextual guidance to help individuals optimise their privacy settings across major websites and services. Read more here.
WhatsApp’s updating its privacy policy for EU after record fine of €225m
WhatsApp has updated its privacy policy for users in Ireland and across Europe, in response to the Data Protection Commission’s (DPC) findings earlier this year that it had breached data protection regulations. The DPC had ordered WhatsApp to remedy the problems with its privacy policy by implementing several corrective actions as part of its judgment. The company claims to have met these requirements, with the updated privacy policy going into effect this week. Read more here.
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