Lawsuit Accuses Amazon of Secretly Tracking Consumers Through Cellphones

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Key Points:

  • Amazon is facing a class action lawsuit filed in San Francisco federal court, accusing the company of secretly tracking consumers’ movements and selling the collected data.
  • The lawsuit claims Amazon used its Amazon Ads SDK code to allow app developers to collect geolocation data from users’ phones without their consent, revealing sensitive information such as religious affiliations, sexual orientations, and health concerns.
  • The complaint is led by Felix Kolotinsky, a California resident, who alleges that Amazon collected his personal data through the Speedtest by Ookla app.
  • The plaintiffs seek unspecified damages for millions of affected California consumers. The lawsuit cites violations of California state law related to unauthorized computer access and penal law.

Broader Implications:

  • The case highlights growing concerns about companies profiting from user data without proper consent, a trend that has sparked multiple lawsuits and regulatory inquiries in recent years.
  • The lawsuit comes amid other similar cases, such as a recent suit filed by Texas against Allstate for tracking drivers through cellphones.

Irish Data Regulator Seeks Information from DeepSeek on Data Processing

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Key Points:

  • Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC) has requested information from DeepSeek, the Chinese artificial intelligence company, regarding its data processing practices involving Irish users.
  • The request pertains to how DeepSeek handles data subjects within Ireland, despite not having designated Ireland as its EU headquarters.
  • The DPC typically oversees data protection for major U.S. tech companies with European operations in Ireland, but its reach now extends to DeepSeek due to the company’s potential processing activities in the EU.

Response and Implications:

  • The DPC’s inquiry suggests heightened scrutiny of global AI companies, particularly as they expand into regions with stringent data protection laws, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the EU.
  • DeepSeek’s response to the DPC’s request could set a precedent for future regulatory oversight of AI firms operating in Europe.

Mexico to Address Google’s Gulf of Mexico Name Change

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Key Points:

  • Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that the government will send a letter to Google in response to a name change in Google Maps for users in the United States.
  • Google confirmed that, in line with its policy for differing official names across countries, U.S. users would now see the Gulf of America instead of the Gulf of Mexico.
  • The U.S. government officially rebranded the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America on Friday, prompting this diplomatic move by Mexico.

Government’s Response and Plans:

  • Mexico intends to address the name change through official correspondence to Google regarding the implications of altering the geographical name.
  • This move signals ongoing tensions around national sovereignty and the proper recognition of international geographical features.