Reclaim The Net

1 day ago | reclaimthenet.org | Ken Macon

Apple and Google are facing mounting pressure from German authorities to remove the Chinese AI app DeepSeek from their app stores in Germany over data privacy violations. The Berlin Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information, Meike Kamp, has flagged the app for transferring personal data to China without adhering to EU data protection standards.

3 days ago | reclaimthenet.org | Ken Macon

A new Senate bill designed to strengthen online privacy protections for minors could bring about major changes in how age is verified across the internet, prompting platforms to implement broader surveillance measures in an attempt to comply with ambiguous legal standards. The Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (S.836) (COPPA 2.0), now under review by the Senate Commerce Committee, proposes raising the protected age group from under 13 to under 17.

4 days ago | reclaimthenet.org | Ken Macon

Recent amendments proposed by the UK government to the Crime and Policing Bill will raise concerns for those monitoring the expanding surveillance toolkit available to public authorities. Not yet enshrined in law (these changes are currently advancing through Parliament) their implications are already substantial.

1 week ago | reclaimthenet.org | Ken Macon

Efforts to impose strict age checks on social media are intensifying across Europe. A coalition of EU governments is now pushing for mandatory age verification rules that could force millions of people to link their internet use to real-world ID systems, raising serious concerns for privacy advocates. Eleven EU member states are pressing the European Commission to rewrite its guidance under the Digital Services Act to mandate age checks for social media platforms.

1 week ago | reclaimthenet.org | Ken Macon

Austria is moving forward with legislation that would authorize law enforcement to infiltrate encrypted communications, marking a pivotal shift in the country’s surveillance powers and stirring a fierce debate over digital privacy. The federal cabinet’s approval of the plan comes after months of negotiations, with proponents citing national security needs and opponents warning of expansive overreach.