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Privacy-focused news from TechCrunch • Updated every 3 hours
Last generated: 1/14/2026, 3:38:45 PM
The infamous spyware maker released a new transparency report claiming to be a responsible spyware maker, without providing insight into how the company dealt with problematic customers in the past.
Tech companies are increasingly warning their customers that they have been targeted by governments with advanced government spyware, such as NSO's Pegasus or Paragon's Graphite. What happens after receiving a threat notification?
Zuckerman, who used to run the stalkerware apps SpyFone and SpyTrac, claimed the ban is hurting his unrelated business.
Based on a leaked video, security researchers alleged that Intellexa staffers have remote live access to their customers' surveillance systems, allowing them to see hacking targets’ personal data.
On Wednesday, the Indian telecom ministry said Sanchar Saathi, an anti-theft and cybersecurity protection app, would remain voluntary and that smartphone makers would no longer be required to preload it on devices they sell.
Apple updates its App Store rules to restrict apps from sharing personal data with third-party AI without disclosure and explicit permission.
A group of Democratic lawmakers asked governors in California, Colorado, and other states to block ICE from accessing their residents’ driver’s license data without their knowledge.
Government surveillance vendors want us to believe their spyware products are only used in limited and targeted operations against terrorists and serious criminals. That claim is increasingly difficult to justify, given the broad range of victims — journalists, activists, and now political consultants — that have come forward.
WhatsApp notified the consultant, who works for left-wing politicians, that his phone was targeted with spyware made by Paragon.
Security researchers found a government hacking campaign that relies on Windows spyware developed by surveillance tech maker Memento Labs. When reached by TechCrunch, the spyware maker's chief executive blamed a government customer for getting caught.
Google now lets you recover your accounts using your phone number or trusted contacts.
NSO Group confirmed to TechCrunch that an unnamed group of American investors has taken “controlling ownership” of the surveillance tech maker.
From phone spyware and facial recognition to phone unlocking technology and databases and more, this tech powers Trump's deportation machine.
The federal contract shows ICE spent $825,000 on vans equipped with “cell-site simulators” which allow the real-world location tracking of nearby phones and their owners.
Hundreds of Eufy customers have donated hundreds of thousands of videos to train the company’s AI systems.
The U.K. Home Office is seeking access to Apple users’ encrypted iCloud backups for a second time, after an earlier attempt failed earlier this year.
Age-verification laws are a privacy and security nightmare. This startup performs age checks on-device, without users having to upload their IDs to the internet.
A new call recording app is gaining traction for offering to pay users for voice data from calls, which is sold to AI companies.
X's new encrypted messaging feature, XChat, has some red flags.
There have been more border device searches than ever before, per new data, despite the constitutionality of whether these searches are legal.