SnapChat, Facebook and other apps have voiced concern over upcoming changes in Apple’s iOS. Apple is going to require that users actively “opt in” to tracking on its devices. Facebook, etc., say the changes threaten their business. Although it looks like Apple is just doing the right thing, MDM blog has noted that what Apple gives with the right hand, it takes with the left. Using the language of “tracking” in relation to its competitors ability to collect user data while offering to “personalize ads” themselves, means they are not being entirely honest when it comes to privacy. “Apple defines privacy in a way that benefits its own commercial interests and harms the commercial interests of its competitors.”

Meanwhile, The Verge has reported that Jack Dorsey, CEO of Twitter is hoping to “decentralize” social networks, in the style of a block-chain. His idea is based around users choosing algorithms from a marketplace, with the idea that no one company would control what a user sees or has access to. It might, conveniently, also remove some of the heat coming from the US government to review Section 230.

If you’re number one, why try harder? Google is phasing out third-party tracking cookies as part of its “privacy sandbox” which should also appease legislators and consumers. They can probably afford to narrow their profit margins if it means regaining everyone’s trust. However, no one believes that’s the end of tracking for Google – they’re just using different means. 

A hack rivaling the massive Solarwinds breach last year has resulted in 30,000 American organizations being infiltrated, via Microsoft’s email software. In a separate incident, hackers were able to gain access to 150,000 security cameras in police stations, hospitals, and Tesla factories.