Following the coordinated attack against 30 Minnesota water and wastewater utilities from July 26-27, 2026, hackers have attacked at least 11 other state water systems in the last week. As of July 30, 2026, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) confirmed that at least seven states were affected and issued an alert detailing the hackers’
Privacy & Data Security
Privacy Tip #502 – Kids’ Online Safety
The families of four teenagers who died by suicide recently sued Meta, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube, alleging that the teenagers’ use of the platforms over many years was addicting, and caused sleep deprivation, depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. The teenagers committed suicide at the ages of 13, 14, 17, and 18, respectively.
These are not…
AI Meeting Tools Face Wiretapping Wake-Up Call
A new California federal lawsuit against AI notetaking provider Granola highlights a growing privacy risk for companies using meeting transcription tools: consent cannot be an afterthought. According to the complaint, Granola’s software allegedly recorded a virtual meeting participant without giving notice that an AI notetaker was present or seeking permission to record. The plaintiff claims…
Embedded Tech, Real Privacy Risk: Courts Scrutinize Shopify Checkout Tools and NBA Tracking Practices
Recent privacy litigation against Shopify and the NBA highlights a shared theme: companies may face risk not only for what their websites say about privacy choices, but for how embedded technologies actually collect data behind the scenes.
In the Shopify case, a California federal court refused to dismiss claims alleging that Shopify collected California consumers’…
AI “Therapists” Draw State Scrutiny as Mental Health Chatbot Use Surges
AI-enabled mental health tools are moving quickly from novelty to mainstream use, and regulators are starting to draw sharper lines around what those tools can and cannot claim to do. Recent lawsuits against Character Technologies Inc., the company behind Character.ai, allege that the platform hosted bots that mimicked licensed therapists, including one persona that allegedly…
TCPA Residential Line Claims Stay on the Menu
A recent decision from a federal district court in Virginia adds to the growing body of Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) litigation over whether its “Do Not Call” protections apply to marketing texts sent to cell phones. In McGonigle v. Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants, Inc., No. 1:25-cv-01062, 2026 WL 2114507 (E.D. Va. July 22, 2026), the…
Pennsylvania’s New Telemarketing Law Dials In on Texts and Robocalls
On July 20, 2026, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed SB 992, updating and expanding Pennsylvania’s Telemarketer Registration Act of 1996 and strengthening restrictions on unwanted telemarketing communications. The law reflects that telemarketing is no longer limited to live calls and that texts, prerecorded messages, and other automated tools are increasingly reaching consumers and businesses…
Privacy Tip #501 – Fitness Trackers Lack Transparency, Privacy + Security Features
A recent Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) article reports that companies that make wearable trackers, whether for fitness or health, “are behind the times when it comes to basic privacy practices and transparency” and urges those companies to “improve those practices.”
The article, Most Smart Watches, Rings, and Bands Lack Basic Transparency Reports and Key Privacy…
White House Moves Toward Voluntary AI Model Review Framework
The White House is moving closer to a voluntary framework under which AI companies would submit their most advanced models to the federal government before public release. The White House’s Office of the National Cyber Director reportedly circulated the draft framework by to OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google, and those companies jointly submitted edits. Although the review…
Sony TV Privacy Suit Ends, But Connected TV Data Risks Remain
Sony smart TV owners have voluntarily dropped their proposed class action against Samba TV, an analytics company accused of collecting and selling television-viewing information to third-party advertisers in violation of state and federal privacy laws. DellaSalla v. Samba TV, Inc., No. 3:25-cv-03470 (N.D. Cal. 7/23/26).The dismissal came after the federal court had already allowed several…