Singapore-based Chinese video game developer Cognosphere, dba HoYoverse, known for “Genshin Impact,” a role-playing game involving collectible characters with unique fighting skills, has agreed to pay $20 million to settle Federal Trade Commission (FTC) allegations that it violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and deceived players about the cost of winning certain prizes.
Supreme Court to Hear TikTok Case
By Linn Foster Freedman on
Posted in Enforcement + Litigation
The United States Supreme Court announced on December 18, 2024, that it will hear the TikTok ban case and has scheduled oral arguments for January 10, 2025, before the ban’s January 19, 2025 effective date.
The case stems from a bipartisan law signed by President Biden that required ByteDance, the Chinese-based parent of the app…
Privacy Tip #424 – Recent Big Win for Law Enforcement Over Cybercriminals
By Linn Foster Freedman on
Posted in Privacy Tips
I often get asked whether law enforcement is making any headway in catching cybercriminals. Although it is a challenging task, a recent example of a big win for law enforcement deserves celebration.
Authorities from 40 countries, territories, and regions came together to assist INTERPOL with a recent global cybercrime initiative known as Operation HAECHI-V. The…
Chinese Manufactured Batteries Pose Cybersecurity Threat to Critical Infrastructure
By Linn Foster Freedman on
Posted in Cybersecurity
The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, released its annual report to Congress this month. The 793-page report responds to the Commission’s mandate to “monitor, investigate, and report to Congress on the national security implications of the bilateral trade and economic relationship between the United States and the People’s Republic of China.” The report is…
Three More States Sue TikTok Alleging Harm to Young Users
By Linn Foster Freedman on
Posted in Cybersecurity
Following in the footsteps of Nebraska, the Attorneys General of North Carolina, California, and New Jersey filed complaints against TikTok and its owner, ByteDance, Ltd., on October 8, 2024.
The suits are lengthy and full of allegations against TikTok and how it is responsible for a “profound mental health crisis” of American teenagers. The…
Department of Commerce Takes Lead in Addressing Risks from Connected Car Technology
By Linn Foster Freedman on
Posted in Cybersecurity
As a Rhode Islander, I am a big fan of our former Governor and now Secretary of Commerce, Gina Raimondo. She has always had her eye on the ball of the rapidly developing data privacy and cybersecurity risks and threats to national security. She is showing her continued commitment to data privacy, cybersecurity, and the…
Privacy Tip #412 – Beware of Spamouflage
By Linn Foster Freedman on
Posted in Privacy Tips
A new report by Graphika, as reported by Cyberscoop, has identified a Chinese-linked group that is “creating American personas online and spreading content designed to denigrate both parties and candidates.”
The disinformation group, known as Dragonbridge, Taizi Flood, and Empire Dragon, “produces high-volumes of spammy, inauthentic content online in an effort to influence political and…
Privacy Tip #397 – TikTok and ByteDance File Suit Against the United States
By Linn Foster Freedman on
Posted in Privacy Tips
As threatened, TikTok, Inc. and ByteDance, Ltd., the owner of the TikTok app, filed suit against the United States on May 7, 2024, alleging that the Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (“the Act”) is unconstitutional and is a violation of the free speech of 170 million Americans who use the app. …
New Threat: Scattered Spider International Coalition of Hackers
By Linn Foster Freedman on
Posted in Cybersecurity
Cyber adversaries in China and Russia continue to be a formidable threat to U.S. based companies. In the past, scams might be detected because a word was misspelled or the context didn’t make sense. Now, with the help of young Western hackers, cyber adversaries in Russia will be able to use insider knowledge of language…
U.S. House of Representatives Passes Bill to Ban TikTok Unless Divested from ByteDance
By Linn Foster Freedman on
Posted in Data Privacy
Yesterday, with broad bipartisan support, the U.S. House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly (352-65) to support the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, designed to begin the process of banning TikTok’s use in the United States. This is music to my ears. See a previous blog post on this subject.
The Act would penalize…