Canadian Press

Source: Canadian Press


Extent of N.S. software breach still unknown, Microsoft blames ransomware gang

HALIFAX — Microsoft security experts say hackers affiliated with the notorious Clop ransomware group are behind an attack on a third-party file sharing system that resulted in the theft of personal data belonging to Nova Scotians. The Nova Scotia government said it is still trying to determine how many people had their data stolen in […]

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Nova Scotia investigating theft of personal info through file transfer service MoveIt

The Nova Scotia government says it is investigating the theft of personal information stolen through a global privacy breach to a third-party file transfer system the province was using. The province has yet to determine what information may have been taken or how many Nova Scotians could be affected by the breach to software company […]

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Why are people in Britain talking about Boris Johnson’s WhatsApp messages?

LONDON (AP) — Critics accuse the British administration of running “government by WhatsApp” because of the popularity of the messaging app with politicians and officials. So it feels inevitable that a tussle over WhatsApp messages is at the heart of Britain’s official inquiry into how the country handled the COVID-19 pandemic. Thousands of messages exchanged […]

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In gun law push, Tennessee governor’s office memo says NRA prefers to ’round up mentally ill people’

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee’s administration accused the National Rifle Association of wanting to use involuntary commitment laws “to round up mentally ill people and deprive them of other liberties,” according to documents drafted by the Republican’s staffers as part of their initial attempt to pass a gun control proposal earlier this […]

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Utah district bans Bible in elementary and middle schools ‘due to vulgarity or violence’

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Good Book is being treated like a bad book in Utah after a parent frustrated by efforts to ban materials from schools convinced a suburban district that some Bible verses were too vulgar or violent for younger children. And the Book of Mormon could be next. The 72,000-student Davis […]

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Amazon to pay $31 million in privacy violation penalties for Alexa voice assistant and Ring camera

WASHINGTON (AP) — Amazon agreed Wednesday to pay a $25 million civil penalty to settle Federal Trade Commission allegations it violated a child privacy law and deceived parents by keeping for years kids’ voice and location data recorded by its popular Alexa voice assistant. Separately, the company agreed to pay $5.8 million in customer refunds […]

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EU data authority launches probe into Frontex migrant interview breaches

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union’s border and coast guard agency is collecting information from migrants that could end up identifying vulnerable people seeking sanctuary from persecution in their homelands, according to a report by the EU’s data protection watchdog. The European Data Protection Supervisor, or EDPS, also announced that it is launching an investigation […]

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China warns of artificial intelligence risks, calls for beefed up national security measures

A meeting headed by party leader and President Xi Jinping on Tuesday urged “dedicated efforts to safeguard political security and improve the security governance of internet data and artificial intelligence,” the official Xinhua News Agency said. Xi, who is China’s head of state, commander of the military and chair of the party’s National Security Commission, […]

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Census Bureau again delays release of most detailed data from 2020 census

The U.S. Census Bureau said Wednesday that it would delay the release, and narrow the scope, of some of the most detailed data from the 2020 census — until next year. Detailed numbers dealing with household types — such as if the household is a family — broken down by race and ethnicity, and whether […]

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FTC charges Amazon with privacy violations over Alexa and Ring cameras

WASHINGTON (AP) — Amazon will pay more than $30 million to settle alleged privacy violations involving its voice assistant Alexa and its doorbell camera Ring. The Federal Trade Commission voted to file charges in two separate cases Wednesday that could also force the company to delete certain data collected by its popular internet-connected devices. In […]

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Nevada becomes latest to enhance penalties for election worker intimidation after statewide exodus

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — Those who harass, intimidate or use force on election workers performing their duties in Nevada could soon face up to four years in prison under a new law signed by the Western swing state’s Republican governor on Tuesday. The law is meant to deter attacks against those in state and […]

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B.C. creates anti racism data committee, releases research priorities

VANCOUVER — The British Columbia government has released 12 priorities for anti-racism research in its first update since the Anti-Racism Data Act came into effect last June. The province says the focus will be in areas such as racial diversity within the public service, interactions with the justice system and how health care and education […]

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