Privacy
UK Poll Shows 90% Reject Secret Surveillance Orders After Apple Row
A new poll reveals overwhelming public opposition to secret UK surveillance orders, while Ring rolls out encryption that limits police access and Flock faces a Senate probe.
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UK Public Overwhelmingly Opposes Secret Surveillance Orders, Poll Finds
A poll of 2,000 UK residents, conducted in April 2026 by the Centre for Democracy and Technology, found that only 12% support the government issuing secret orders to tech companies for data access. More than 90% of respondents affirmed a right to private online conversations, and 87% said the government should be legally obligated to inform individuals if their communications were accessed. The survey follows the UK government’s secret order to Apple regarding its Advanced Data Protection (ADP) service, which led Apple to withdraw the feature from the UK rather than comply.
Ring Introduces TAKE Encryption, Limiting Data Available to Police
Ring has begun rolling out a new default encryption system called TAKE, or Throw Away the Key Encryption, for all users worldwide. Under TAKE, camera footage is encrypted with keys that rotate every five minutes, and Ring’s copies of those keys are permanently deleted after 24 hours. The system allows Ring to temporarily process footage through an isolated AWS Nitro Enclave for cloud features like Smart Alerts, but after that window, the company retains no access. In response to valid law enforcement requests, Ring will provide only non-video information such as subscriber details, though a spokesperson noted encrypted video files could also be shared under valid legal process.
Ring rolls out new privacy-focused encryption that could limit what it can hand over to police →
Senator Hawley Launches Investigation Into Flock Safety’s License-Plate Network
Senator Josh Hawley has opened an investigation into Flock Safety’s network of more than 120,000 license-plate cameras across 49 states, which conducts roughly 20 billion vehicle scans monthly. Hawley’s letter to CEO Garrett Langley cited alleged abuse and misuse of personal data, including a civilian police employee in Missouri who used the system for personal purposes. The probe follows bipartisan criticism and recent contract cancellations in Tempe and Cave Creek, Arizona. Flock has responded with new safeguards, including cutting its default retention period from 30 days to seven and introducing automatic lockouts for abnormal activity, with full implementation expected by year-end.
Airport Wi-Fi Hack Exposes Data of 8.7 Million Passengers
Manchester Airports Group, which operates Manchester, London Stansted, and East Midlands airports, has confirmed a cyber intrusion affecting approximately 8.7 million passengers. The attack is believed to have occurred through airport Wi-Fi login systems, and MAG became aware of the breach on Tuesday. The full scope of the data compromised has not been disclosed, but the incident highlights the risks associated with public Wi-Fi networks at major travel hubs.
Hackers steal data of eight million passengers from airport Wi-Fi logins →
How to Permanently Delete Your Data From Dating Platforms
Dating apps retain sensitive user data including gender identity, sexual preferences, geolocation, and biometric verification data, and a January data breach at Match Group compromised an undisclosed number of Tinder, Hinge, and OKCupid profiles. Simply deleting the app or profile is insufficient; users must submit formal data erasure requests to customer support after deletion. Platforms may retain backups for 28 days to six months, while payment information and fraud logs are kept permanently. Regional laws like GDPR and CCPA require platforms to honor erasure requests, and a template request should cite the applicable law, list data types, and ask for written confirmation of deletion.
How to Completely Remove Your Data From These Online Dating Platforms →