Image-based abuse: tracking the law, the tech, and the gap between them
46 entries in this thread.
Category
Our Privacy category unravels the complex web of data security in the intimate digital sphere. We dissect headline-grabbing incidents like the We-Vibe class-action lawsuit, which exposed the risks of collecting user data from smart sex toys. The section explores innovative solutions, such as Lovense’s implementation of end-to-end encryption for app-controlled devices, setting new standards for user privacy. We delve into the murky waters of data collection on dating apps, examining how Grindr’s sharing of HIV status information sparked global debates on sensitive data handling. The category also scrutinizes adult content platforms, from Pornhub’s controversial age and consent verification systems to OnlyFans’ measures to prevent content leaks. Blockchain’s potential in ensuring user anonymity is explored, with platforms like SpankChain leading the charge in secure, decentralized adult entertainment. We also investigate the privacy implications of emerging technologies, such as VR porn’s data collection practices and the potential risks of deepfake technology in intimate content. From Mozilla Foundation’s “Privacy Not Included” guide for sextech devices to the European Data Protection Board’s guidelines on dating apps, we provide a comprehensive look at the regulatory landscape shaping digital intimacy. Our aim is to empower users with knowledge, helping them navigate the delicate balance between sexual exploration and data protection in the digital age.
46 entries in this thread.
95 entries in this thread.
A consent guide covering smart sex toys, dating apps, deepfakes, and consent apps explains where sextech enables or undermines informed, ongoing agreement between users.
Meta is removing ad targeting options for sensitive topics including sexuality and LGBTQ categories from January 19, raising concerns about harm to non-profit health organizations that relied on those tools.
ISO's first international sex toy safety guide omits cybersecurity entirely, leaving connected and app-controlled devices without data privacy standards despite growing risks.
Patreon is rolling out age and consent verification requirements for adult creators, driven by Mastercard's tightened rules on explicit content platforms.
A new AI app enabling 'one-click' deepfake porn creation from a single photo is fueling extortion scams, with scammers harvesting Instagram images to blackmail victims.
Apple delayed its iCloud child abuse image-scanning system after a privacy backlash, with digital rights groups calling the proposal dangerous surveillance that should be scrapped entirely.
Apple defended its iCloud CSAM photo-scanning system against accusations of government spyware, but stopped short of guaranteeing the technology couldn't be repurposed for broader surveillance.
NSW Police proposed AI scanning of dating app messages for sexual violence red flags and direct access to assault reports filed with platforms like Tinder, raising significant privacy concerns.
Australia's draft Online Safety Act would let the eSafety Commissioner mandate face scans and AI-based age checks for adult content access, raising serious privacy and sex worker livelihood concerns.
Mozilla's 2021 Privacy Not Included report found 21 of 24 dating apps and half of 26 smart sex toys fail basic security standards, with Match Group's portfolio among the worst offenders.
Security researchers at vpnMentor found user images from defunct adult app Fleek sitting in an unsecured S3 bucket years after the app closed, alongside evidence of fake bot accounts used to extract payments.
Pen Test Partners found critical security flaws in Qiui's Cellmate smart chastity cage, allowing anyone to remotely lock devices and exposing precise user location data via an unprotected API.