Privacy
Suffolk County Presses Flock Safety on 200 License Plate Cameras
Lawmakers question data retention, oversight of a 200-camera license plate reader network, while the ICO secures privacy changes from 10 AI developers.
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Suffolk County Lawmakers Question Flock Safety Over License Plate Reader Network
Suffolk County legislators questioned Flock Safety representatives at a public hearing Thursday about privacy, data security and oversight of a license plate reader network. Nearly 200 Flock cameras are deployed by the Suffolk County Police Department, the Sheriff’s Office, and 10 towns and villages. Flock said data collected in the county is retained up to 30 days before permanent deletion and that camera locations are subject to public records laws. Trevor Chandler of Flock Safety said the technology identifies vehicles, not people, adding: „It’s not facial recognition. It’s about vehicles, not people.” The District Attorney’s Office said the readers help solve crimes faster and can reduce unnecessary police stops. Several lawmakers said concerns were addressed but local legislation may still be needed to set guardrails on data access.
Long Island lawmakers question Flock Safety over privacy, oversight of license plate readers →
Topics: Flock SafetyLicense plate readers (ALPR)
New Jersey Remote Worker Alleges Firing Over AI Webcam Monitoring
A lawsuit filed in New Jersey alleges Glennis Von Sander-Timinski was fired by Sutherland Healthcare Solutions after refusing an AI-powered monitoring system that would photograph her via webcam roughly every three minutes, about 160 photos daily. She had worked remotely since 2018 with positive performance reviews. In August the company told her it would use Sentinel AI. She objected, fearing the pressure could trigger a lupus flare-up, and her doctor asked the company to make the facial AI monitoring intermittent or less frequent. The company offered three options: accept the monitoring, report to the office daily, or face termination. Returning would have meant a six-hour round trip. She was dismissed on 8 September. Her lawyers accuse the company of failing to provide a reasonable accommodation under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination.
Topics: Workplace surveillance and employee monitoring
ICO Secures Data Protection Changes From 10 AI Developers
Ten major AI developers have made or committed to changes in how they handle personal data, secured by the UK Information Commissioner’s Office after two years of scrutiny. The companies are Amazon, Anthropic, Apple, Cohere, DeepSeek, Google, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI and Stability AI. The changes include clearer information on how people’s data is used, stronger ways to exercise data rights, and tougher checks on safeguards. The ICO is monitoring delivery. Richard Nevinson, the ICO’s director of technology regulation, said the engagement secured commitments that will help people better understand and control how their data is used. The ICO also opened a six-week call for evidence on AI agents, with responses due by 20 November, and is researching public concerns about companion chatbots.
ICO secures data protection changes from 10 AI developers, turns to agents →
Topics: GDPR, AI and the EU Digital Omnibus
App Manager Exposes Hidden Android Trackers Without Google Play
App Manager is a free, open-source Android app that lists every app and service installed on a device, searchable and filterable, with per-app details including file access paths, usage data, last update date, and preinstalled bloatware. It shows which file types an app can open and whether the app contains trackers. Apps can be uninstalled directly from App Manager. An unlocker feature in the home menu indicates which software is safe to remove and, where possible, suggests open-source alternatives. Advanced users get extra tabs per app showing activity logs, connected services, and permission lists. App Manager is not on the Google Play Store; it is distributed via F-Droid, the open-source app store, which is at version 2.0. Installing F-Droid is required to obtain it.
Topics: Online tracking