privacy
Why Did John McAfee Abandon His Ghost Privacy Coin Project?
Crypto advocate and technology pioneer John McAfee recently announced on Twitter that he has abandoned his Ghost privacy coin project.
CBDC Privacy and Transparency: Double-Edged Sword of Blockchain
Privacy and transparency of CDBC, to enslave us or free us? that's the question.
Privacy Coins Monero, Dash, and Zcash to be Delisted on Bittrex, Dash Unhappy with Decision
Bittrex will be removing privacy coins Monero, Dash, and Zcash from its trading platform soon.
Crypto Exchange OKEx Delists Five Privacy Coins due to FATF Rules
Cryptocurrency exchange OKEx’s Korean arm will be delisting all five privacy altcoins including Monero (XMR), Dash (DASH), Zcash (ZEC), Horizen (ZEN), and Super Bitcoin (SBTC).
South Korea’s Financial Services Commission to Ban Privacy Coins from Exchanges
South Korea’s Financial Services Commission (FSC) will ban privacy-centric digital assets or “dark coins” from exchanges as they present a high money laundering risk.
A Dragonfly Researcher Breaks Mimblewimble’s Privacy, Proving That The Model Is Flawed
The esteemed privacy of Grin has been tampered with by a Dragonfly researcher who was able to unearth the real addresses of senders and receivers of up to 96% of transactions carried out in Grin’s blockchain.
IRS Criminal Investigations Puts $625,000 Bounty on Monero Privacy Crack and BTC Lightning Network Tracker
IRS Criminal Investigations have put a $625,000 bounty on the heads of Monero (XMR) privacy and BTC Lightning Network (LN) transactions.
Chainalysis Adds Compliance Support to Track Privacy Coins Dash and Zcash
Chainalysis has just launched support for two of the most popular privacy coins, Dash and Zcash. Privacy coins are cryptocurrencies with privacy-enhancing features that allow users to gain total anonymity when making blockchain transactions. Privacy coins protect the identity of the users and the origins of the transactions, taking the anonymous and private nature of Bitcoin to the next level. Comparatively, Bitcoin protects some information, hence remaining pseudo-anonymous. The rest of the information, including transactions, addresses, and balances, is recorded in a public and permanently available ledger.
Apple Faces Major Complaint for Tracking Code that Allegedly Violates EU Privacy Regulations
A complaint that alleges that Apple’s Identifier for Advertisers code (IDFA) is a privacy breach going against European laws has been filed.
Coinbase and Venmo Users Angered by Privacy Issues—Fintech Firm Faces Second Class Action Lawsuit
A second lawsuit has been filed against the fintech company Plaid, for violating user data privacy agreements they hold with major financial accounts that use Coinbase and Venmo.
Google Privacy Lawsuit: Google Chrome Incognito Records and Shares Private User Data
Google is being sued in a class-action lawsuit, filed on June 2, for the invasion of privacy and sharing users' data, even when they are browsing in private mode.
ECB Report: Striking the Balance Between Allowing Privacy and Ensuring Compliance with CBDC
The European Central Bank has recently developed an “anonymity voucher” to safeguard potential central bank digital currency (CBDC) users’ privacy for low-value retail transactions, while ensuring that high-value transfers are subject to anti-money laundering (AML) approvals.
Worldcoin (WLD) Advances Privacy with Personal Custody for Iris-Scanned IDs
Worldcoin introduces Personal Custody, enhancing user control over biometric data generated via iris-scanning orbs for secure ID verification.
McAfee's Ghostcoin Gets Backing as Payment in Hong Kong
John McAfee's Ghostcoin gets backing for use as a payment coin in Hong Kong across 60 vending machines including Disneyland.
Exclusive: What are Top 5 FinTech Career Advice for Graduates?
Prof. Aris Stouraitis presents how Master of Science in Finance (FinTech and Financial Analytics) offered by Hong Kong Baptist University strives to nurture interdisciplinary talents and he offers the top 5 career advice for graduates who wish to work in FinTech and blockchain industry!
Monero: Deep Dive
Monero (XMR) was the first cryptocurrency of its kind to offer advancements in privacy and fungibility.
Hong Kong Regulators Probe Worldcoin for Privacy Risks
Hong Kong's PCPD is investigating Worldcoin, linked to OpenAI's Sam Altman, for potential privacy violations in biometric data collection methods, highlighting global privacy concerns in the crypto and blockchain industry.
Trezor Strengthens Security Measures Amid Phishing Concerns
Trezor recently faced a security breach in its third-party support ticketing portal, potentially affecting 66,000 users. While user funds and device security remain secure, the incident raises concerns over increased phishing risks.
Privacy and Security Updates from Worldcoin in 2024
An overview of Worldcoin's recent steps in improving privacy, security, and user choice in 2024.
Bitfinex: Bitcoin (BTC) Community Adapts with Decentralized Privacy Solutions Amid Regulatory Scrutiny
Bitcoin (BTC) users shift towards decentralized privacy solutions following regulatory challenges.
Nostr Fuels the Growth of Decentralized Bitcoin (BTC) Apps
Nostr's decentralized protocol is driving a new wave of censorship-resistant Bitcoin (BTC) applications, enhancing privacy, security, and user autonomy.
Understanding the Data Ownership Protocol (DOP) and Its Impact on Web3 Privacy
Explore the Data Ownership Protocol (DOP), a breakthrough initiative enhancing data privacy in Web3 with zk-SNARKs and ECDSA technologies.
AssemblyAI Expands PII Redaction and Entity Detection to 47 New Languages
AssemblyAI enhances PII Redaction and Entity Detection, adding support for 47 new languages and 16 new entity types, improving global data privacy and insights extraction.
El Tor Enhances Tor Network with High-Bandwidth Bitcoin Lightning Integration
El Tor leverages Bitcoin Lightning Network to boost Tor's bandwidth, security, and decentralization. Users earn Satoshis by hosting Tor relays. Future plans include expanding the Directory Server and launching a testnet.
Web 3 Privacy and Its Potential to Transform DeFi
Discover how Web 3 privacy, led by Tea-Fi's innovations, could revolutionize decentralized finance (DeFi) by integrating swaps, lending, and decentralized trades.
Understanding Nym Tech (NYM): A Decentralized Privacy Solution
Nym Tech is a decentralized, privacy-focused project utilizing a mixnet to secure digital privacy through encryption and tokenized incentives. Discover how NYM tokens support its privacy infrastructure.
Character.AI Discloses Brief User Data Exposure Incident
Character.AI reported a brief incident where user data was exposed to others for ten minutes. The company has implemented additional safeguards to prevent future occurrences.
NVIDIA Enhances Data Privacy with Homomorphic Encryption for Federated XGBoost
NVIDIA introduces CUDA-accelerated homomorphic encryption in Federated XGBoost, enhancing data privacy and efficiency in federated learning. This advancement addresses security concerns in both horizontal and vertical collaborations.
Zcash is Clogging up in What Looks Like a Spam Attack
The Zcash protocol might be under a spam attack as analysts pointed out on Twitter in a long discussion that started on Wednesday. Being a privacy-focused protocol, Zcash’s “Shielded Transaction” feature designed for privacy is now being misused by the attacker.
Bitcoin Mixer - Shuffling Your Bitcoin For Anonymity and Privacy
Bitcoin Mixer offers a solution to the many risks posed by transacting Bitcoins online through a process known as Bitcoin shuffling.
TOFU: How AI Can Forget Your Privacy Data
TOFU, a AI model, tackles the challenge of machine unlearning, aiming to make AI systems forget specific, unwanted data while retaining overall knowledge.
Trump Signs TikTok Executive Order and Seeks to Clean the Free World's Networks of China State Tech Espionage
United States President Trump has issued two executive orders against Chinese social media apps TikTok and WeChat, which are suspected of sharing US citizens’ data with the Chinese Communist Party.
DOJ Wants to Bypass End-to-End Encryption to Fight Child Sexual Exploitation – Cause for Concern for Tech?
US government officials want to bypass encryption on websites, under allegations that child sexual exploitation runs unmonitored on strongly encrypted platforms.
Japan Concerned About AI Chatbots
A new survey in Japan reveals that 69.4% of the population wants stricter regulation in the development of AI chatbots. This comes as Japanese officials consider integrating AI into their systems.
Coinbase CEO Warns Exiting President Trump May Drop Crypto Wallet Regulation Bomb
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong shared rumors that the Trump Administration may rush crypto wallet regulations on traders with privacy-invading data-collection requirements.
BIS Conference Addresses Cybersecurity in Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC)
Agustín Carstens, General Manager of the Bank for International Settlements, highlighted the importance of cybersecurity for central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) during a conference in Basel, Switzerland, emphasizing the need for secure, user-friendly, and adaptable systems.
President Biden Amplifies AI Safety and Security Measures with Executive Order
President Biden has issued an Executive Order on October 30, 2023, aiming to improve AI safety, security, and trustworthiness. The order requires rigorous testing of critical AI systems, advocates for data privacy legislation, and promotes AI's positive impact on healthcare, education, and the labor market.
China's Blockchain Initiative Hits Roadblock as Stakeholders Refuse to Share Private Data for Free
China’s blockchain initiative is going ahead full steam, but local and provincial officials are facing some resistance from stakeholders who are not enthusiastic about sharing their data.
Finland Tracks Monero in High-Profile Cybercrime Cas
Finnish authorities traced Monero transactions in the Julius Aleksanteri Kivimäki trial, highlighting challenges in tracking privacy-focused digital currencies, a significant development in cryptocurrency-related cybercrime investigations.
U.S. IRS Chief Requests More Power To Collect Crypto Transfer Data
U.S. Internal Revenue Service Commissioner Charles Retting told Congress that the authority needs more permission to collect cryptocurrency transfer data, Reuters reported Tuesday.
Meta Urged to Halt Metaverse App for Minors
Advocacy groups, including Airplay and Common Sense Media, have written to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg calling for the company to halt its plans to allow minors onto its metaverse app, Horizon Worlds. They argue that Meta must first assess the potential risks of allowing youth on the app, citing concerns around harassment and privacy violations.
First Bitcoin Mixer Slapped with $60M Fine by FinCEN in Money Laundering Crackdown
FinCEN charged a Bitcoin-mixing operator with a $60 million civil money penalty for violating anti-money laundering regulations.
US Department of Homeland Security Can Now Trace Illicit Monero Cryptocurrency Transactions
The United States Department of Homeland Security will now be able to track transactions of the most privacy-oriented cryptocurrency coin Monero (XMR).
Jack Daniel’s Parent Company Brown-Forman Targeted for Ransomware by Notorious REvil
Brown-Forman, Jack Daniel’s parent company and a giant powerhouse in the alcoholic industry, recently suffered a ransomware data breach originating from REvil.
Coinbase Reveals Firm Received Around 2000 Subpoenas From Authorities Over Customer's Data
Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has revealed in its newly released transparency report that it got served a sum total of 1,914 government requests.
The Rise of the Anon: Protecting Innovation
Anonymity is increasingly offering protection to innovators as well as their ideas.
Coinbase CEO Defends Decision to License Analytics Platform to US Secret Service
CEO of Coinbase Brian Armstrong sold his blockchain analytics software to US Secret Service, and addressed any worries investors might have concerning privacy issues.
NIST's Call for Public Input on AI Safety in Response to Biden's Executive Order
NIST is seeking public input to create AI safety guidelines following President Biden's Executive Order, aiming to ensure a secure AI environment, mitigate risks, and foster innovation.
Misuse of Facial Recognition: The $10M Macy's and Sunglass Hut Legal Battle
Harvey Eugene Murphy Jr. sues Macy's and Sunglass Hut for $10 million over wrongful arrest and assault, highlighting flaws in facial recognition technology and its serious consequences.
ChatGPT in Finance: A New Era of Ethical Considerations and Solutions
ChatGPT is revolutionizing the finance sector, bringing innovative applications and ethical challenges. This article explores its uses, the ethical concerns it raises, and potential solutions for a responsible future in finance.
European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS) Letter on Benefits and Challenges for Children in the Metaverse
The European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS) has highlighted the potential benefits and challenges for children in the metaverse. While the metaverse can enhance creativity and learning, it also poses risks related to privacy, harmful content, and exploitation. Both the European Union and the private sector are taking steps to protect children, but more efforts are needed to ensure their safety in this virtual environment.
Kraken to Delist Monero in UK as Crackdown on Privacy Coins Takes a New Twist
Kraken has shared details of its plans to delist privacy coin Monero in the United Kingdom by the end of November 2021, as exchanges scramble to adhere to local regulations.
Blockchain Solution in Healthcare: Google Secretly Collects Health Data From U.S Patients
Blockchain provides a fourth model that can enable secure sharing of lifetime health data across providers and business partners. The use of blockchain is a potential solution to the case associating Google to have reportedly collected medical data from U.S patients in secret.
Zcash-Commissioned Research Find Cybercriminals Prefer Bitcoin Over Other Cryptocurrencies
Independent research commissioned by the Electric Coin Company (ECC), the parent firm of privacy-focused cryptocurrency Zcash, concluded cybercriminals are much likely to use Bitcoin over other digital assets.
Amun AG: What are the Top Valuation Approaches for Altcoins?
We continue to explore the top Bitcoin valuation approaches stated in Part 1, which include NVT, NVRV, NVHR, Cost of Mining and Active Address method. In addition, we also looked at the field of altcoin valuation, including Ethereum, top privacy and payment coins.
Secret Network to Restructure as Nonprofit with 'Transparent Operation'
Two Secret Network-promoting groups argued publicly before the vote.
EARN IT Act Introduced in US House of Representatives, Critics View It as Threat—What This Means for Crypto
Despite being perceived as an “anti-security bill” by many, the EARN IT Act has made its way to the US House of Representatives and currently awaits approval.
Japan supports OpenAI amid concerns
Japan expressed interest in incorporating OpenAI’s technology into government systems, provided privacy and cybersecurity concerns are addressed. OpenAI CEO, Sam Altman, visited Japan and met with government officials to discuss the potential of the technology and how to maximize its benefits while minimizing risks. Meanwhile, OpenAI is being investigated by Canada’s privacy commissioner for allegedly collecting and utilizing personal information without consent.
Ethereum Founder Vitalik Buterin Co-Authors Paper on Blockchain Privacy and Compliance
Ethereum's Vitalik Buterin, along with researchers and privacy advocates, published a paper on September 6, 2023, titled "Blockchain Privacy and Regulatory Compliance: Towards a Practical Equilibrium." The paper introduces "Privacy Pools," a smart contract-based protocol designed to reconcile financial privacy with regulatory compliance.
Blockchain for Emails: What are the Benefits?
Blockchain has an array of benefits that could solve some of the problems in the email marketing field. Eliminating spam and enhancing privacy are some of the major benefits of this technology.
Coinbase is challenging the U.S. Treasury over the recent tornado cash sanctions
Coinbase is suing the U.S. Treasury for listing Tornado Cash on the SDN List, arguing it violates digital privacy and regulatory authority in the cryptocurrency sector.
Shapella Upgrade, Privacy Concerns, Hacks, and Financial Inclusion
The DeFi space had a busy week with the successful completion of the Shapella upgrade on Ethereum, concerns over privacy related to staking, a major DeFi hack, and a partnership between Fonbnk and Tanda to increase financial inclusion in Africa. The top 100 DeFi tokens had a bullish week, and Glassnode predicted only a small percentage of staked ETH would be withdrawn.
Huobi to Delist Monero and Privacy Tokens on Regulatory Account
Huobi Global has unveiled its plans to delist privacy tokens, counting Monero (XMR), Dash (DSH), Decred (DCR), Firo (FIRO), Verge (XVG), Zcash (ZEC) and Horizen (ZEN) as the digital assets that will be affected.
US States Challenge CBDC as Legal Tender
Four U.S. states - Utah, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Tennessee - have filed bills to exclude Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) from their legal definitions of money, reflecting rising state-level resistance and concerns over privacy and federal overreach.
Mr Dark's Depraved Rape and Child Porn Site Brought Down by Blockchain Analysis
A Dutch national has been indicted by a federal grand jury in the District of Columbia for operating a depraved and violent pornography site featuring minors and sexual assault. Michael Rahim Mohammed, known as Mr Dark, allegedly profited around $1.6 million which was paid in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Bitcoin-like Wisdom: Edward Snowden's Call for Algorithms to Replace Institutions
Edward Snowden's vision of AI and Bitcoin's financial revolution share a common theme of decentralization and replacing traditional institutions, highlighting concerns about surveillance and public trust.
ZCash Celebrates First Halving, Unveils Canopy The Network's Fifth Upgrade
ZCash has undergone its first halving at block 1,046,400 and the event coincides with the network's fifth upgrade dubbed Canopy.
AI Nude Generators: Technology, Tools, and Privacy Concerns
AI nude generators are software tools that use deep learning models to create realistic nude images, including anime characters and mythical beings. These tools can be categorized into general AI image generators, inherent NSFW AI image generators, and dedicated AI nude or clothes remover tools. However, concerns about legality, security, and privacy arise from the potential misuse of these tools. Companies like Stability AI, SoulGen, OnlyFakes, DeepNudeNow, and DeepSukebe have secured funding for their open-source systems.
Phantom Wallet CEO Ensures User Privacy Amidst Quests Feature Concerns
CEO Brandon Millman of Phantom wallet reaffirms the company's commitment to user privacy and addresses concerns over the Quests feature and data handling practices.
OpenAI's ChatGPT Under GDPR Investigation in Italy: Facing 30-Day Defense Deadline
Italian Data Protection Authority, Garante, has raised concerns over potential GDPR violations by OpenAI's ChatGPT, requiring OpenAI to defend its processing of personal data for 30 days.
US Election 2020: Can I Change My Vote?
The United States 2020 election day approaches, and a large number of US citizens have already cast their votes, but what if they wanted to change their votes before Nov. 3?
Europol Cybercrime Report Identifies Monero, Zcash, Dash and Privacy Wallets as Emerging ‘Top Threats’
Europol assessed the new developments in cybercrime in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic and identified certain cryptocurrency wallets as top threats.
Vitalik Buterin Advocates for Privacy in Modern Cars and Crypto Governance
Vitalik Buterin recently highlighted privacy issues in modern networked cars and emphasized the need for transparency and public legitimacy in crypto governance. His comments on the automotive sector's data privacy and crypto companies' accountability provide crucial insights for these evolving industries.
UK Advancing Towards a Digital Pound: Exploring CBDC Feasibility
The UK's Bank of England (BoE) and HM Treasury are advancing into the second phase of exploring the feasibility of a digital pound, also known as "Britcoin." A final decision is yet to be made, with a focus on user privacy and coexistence with cash.
OpenAI Launches Bug Bounty Program
OpenAI has launched a bug bounty program to address privacy and cybersecurity issues, inviting security researchers and ethical hackers to identify and address vulnerabilities in its systems. The program offers cash rewards ranging from $200 to $20,000 for qualifying vulnerability information.
CBDCs on the Rise: What the Decline of Physical Cash Means for Blockchain and Privacy
The decline in the use of physical cash raises important questions about the loss of personal freedom and privacy. As central banks explore the development of CBDCs, the design and implementation of these digital currencies will play a critical role in balancing convenience and personal liberties.
Italy Blocks OpenAI ChatGPT Over Data Breach Concerns
Italy’s data protection agency has temporarily blocked OpenAI’s ChatGPT due to suspected data privacy breaches following a recent data breach on March 20. The agency also cited concerns over the lack of information for users regarding data collected by OpenAI and the lack of legal basis for mass data collection by the AI platform. In addition, ChatGPT's potential breach of its own data protection rules and the risk to minors who may be exposed to unsuitable content were also highlighted. The Center for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Policy has filed a complaint against ChatGPT, describing it as "biased" and "deceptive" and a risk to public safety and privacy.
Seven Web3 Firms Form Alliance Focusing on Data Privacy
According to the Universal Privacy Alliance's official statement, their aim is "to protect privacy regardless of the blockchain or technology stack."
CBDC Surveillance Concerns Spark Legislative Action
Congressman Tom Emmer's CBDC Anti-Surveillance State Act aims to address surveillance risks in government-issued digital currencies, emphasizing privacy and autonomy in the evolving digital financial landscape.
Rabbit Inc Introduces AI-Powered r1 Device for Mobile Interaction
Rabbit Inc's r1, an AI-powered mobile device featuring the innovative Large Action Model OS, was showcased at CES 2024, offering a novel approach to mobile interaction and user convenience.
AI-Driven "Nudify" Platforms: A Deep Dive into the Alarming Surge and its Implications
Graphika reports a significant increase in AI-driven "nudify" services, with over 24 million users in September, raising privacy, legal, and ethical concerns.
EY: How Blockchain Revolutionizes Tax Operations for Businesses in 2 Ways
Following Part 1 of the interview, we looked at Ernst & Young’s perspective on how blockchain can be an effective tool for huge tax savings. Jimmy also shared the progress of Nightfall, zero-knowledge proof technology on the role of privacy transactions on public blockchains.
Australia Evaluates Mandatory AI Rules in High-Risk Areas
Australia is considering mandatory regulations for AI development in high-risk areas, balancing innovation with public safety, ethical concerns, and global alignment in AI governance.
Privacy blockchain platform Aztec to shut down Aztec Connect
Privacy-oriented blockchain platform Aztec is set to shut down Aztec Connect, its network's privacy infrastructure serving as the encryption layer for Ethereum. Aztec will no longer run a sequencer from March 2024, and the current system will no longer publish rollup blocks processing Aztec Connect transactions.