Mozilla’s new CEO wants to make Firefox an “AI browser”
Mozilla has a new CEO and a new AI-focused direction. Former Firefox GM Anthony Enzor-DeMeo says trust means keeping AI optional and under user control.
Category: Privacy
AI Can Spot Your Race in a Cancer Slide, And That’s a Problem
A Harvard Medical School study reveals AI models used to diagnose cancer from tissue slides can infer a patient’s demographics, leading to biased results. The researchers’ FAIR-Path framework dramatically reduced these performance gaps, highlighting a critical need to audit medical AI for fairness.
That “Free” VPN Might Be Selling Your AI Chat Logs
A popular free VPN browser extension has been caught secretly collecting users’ private AI chat conversations. The tool, used by millions, sends prompts and responses to company servers, regardless of settings.
Pornhub Hack Exposes Premium Users’ Viewing History
According to PCWorld, a ransomware group is threatening to leak a 94GB dataset containing the private viewing habits of Pornhub Premium subscribers. The breach stems from a 2023 incident involving a third-party analytics partner.
UK MPs Want to Crack Down on VPNs. That’s a Terrible Idea.
In a recent debate on the Online Safety Act, UK MPs shifted focus to VPNs, arguing providers should prevent children from bypassing age checks. This push for regulation threatens the core utility of privacy tools for millions of adults. The government says it’s monitoring the situation and “will not
The NIMBY Revolt Against AI’s Power-Hungry Data Centers
A surprising political revolt is brewing in Republican-leaning areas against the massive data centers needed for AI. Residents are fighting back over noise, skyrocketing utility bills, and tax breaks for trillion-dollar tech companies, turning it into a potent local election issue.
Google Kills Its Dark Web Report Tool Next Year
Google is discontinuing its dark web report feature in early 2026. The company says user feedback indicated the tool, which scanned for personal info in data breaches, wasn’t providing helpful next steps. Users will need to delete their monitoring profiles before the February 16 shutdown.
Apple Loses Big in Epic Appeal, But Might Still Get a Cut
Apple’s appeal of a contempt ruling in the Epic Games antitrust case has largely failed. The court affirmed Apple violated the injunction but asked the judge to reconsider the total ban on collecting commissions for outside purchases.
You Don’t Need a Microsoft Account for Windows 11. Here’s the Catch.
Microsoft is making it tougher to use a local account on Windows 11, but it’s still possible with tools like Rufus. The daily experience is largely unchanged, but you might be giving up default device encryption, a significant security trade-off.
Swiss government backs down on surveillance law after tech revolt
The Swiss government has scrapped a controversial surveillance proposal following fierce opposition from the country’s privacy tech sector. The reversal, formalized on December 10, forces officials back to the drawing board and delays any new law by at least two years.