In a world where technology evolves faster than our ability to keep up, the convergence of surveillance, privacy, and convenience often leaves us wondering which side we’re on…and whether we’re even aware of the battle taking place. The past few weeks have provided a particularly rich harvest of such moments, ranging from the unsettling reality of mass surveillance in Washington to the promising, if not slightly dystopian, arrival of AI-driven financial advice. Meanwhile, the tech titans (Meta, Apple, and Google) continue to test the limits of our digital footprint, all while we try to sort out what exactly constitutes a “right” to privacy in the age of instant data-sharing.
On one hand, governments are scrambling to control how much of our lives are surveilled, with Flock cameras now under scrutiny for potentially exposing sensitive location data. On the other, we have convenience-driven tech partnerships like OpenAI and Intuit’s collaboration to let ChatGPT handle your taxes, because why not outsource everything to an algorithm, right? And as if that wasn’t enough to chew on, cybersecurity, once a matter of preventing attacks, is now shifting to a more offensive posture, a game of digital tit-for-tat with international implications.
- Washington cities are pausing or turning off Flock license-plate cameras after a judge ruled the images and data are public records. Residents and officials fear the ruling could expose sensitive location data and allow misuse. The decision has sparked legal fights and calls for clearer rules on surveillance and privacy.
- Ultra-processed foods harm every major organ and increase risks of many diseases. These foods now make up more than half of diets in the UK and US and are growing worldwide. Experts warn urgent action is needed to reduce their production and marketing to protect global health.
- Intuit is partnering with OpenAI to let people use its financial apps like TurboTax and QuickBooks inside ChatGPT. This will help users get personalized financial advice and manage money more easily. Businesses can also use ChatGPT to improve sales and send smart marketing messages.
- Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) will end its program that sold flight records to the government without warrants. This decision came after pressure from lawmakers and reports about privacy concerns. ARC’s database showed travel details of millions of people booked through travel agencies.
- Google has released an emergency patch for a dangerous Chrome bug called CVE-2025-13223 that is already being exploited. This bug is a type confusion flaw in the V8 JavaScript engine that can let attackers take full control of your system. Users should update Chrome immediately to stay safe from this and another high-risk bug patched at the same time.
- The US is tired of being attacked by hackers and plans to take offensive action in cyberspace. A new National Cyber Strategy will focus on making attacks costly for enemies and involve both government and private companies. Experts say better defense alone is not enough and call for faster, smarter responses to cyber threats.
- Texas Gov. Greg Abbott named the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR as terrorist and criminal organizations. He announced they and their members are banned from buying or owning land in Texas. CAIR called the move baseless and said it will fight the proclamation in court.
- The FCC plans to vote on scrapping cybersecurity rules made after the Salt Typhoon attacks. These rules required telecom companies to adopt strict security measures, but the FCC says they were unlawful and ineffective. Instead, the FCC favors a flexible, cooperative approach with industry and government to improve security.
- ACLU and EFF sued San Jose over its deployment of nearly 500 Flock license-plate cameras that track residents’ movements. The lawsuit argues the system creates invasive, citywide surveillance and violates California privacy and search laws. Plaintiffs want courts to require police to get warrants before searching Flock’s location database.
- HOPE, a long-running hacker conference, says St. John’s University banned it after someone complained its materials promoted an “anti-police” agenda. The conference says the decision followed a secret investigation and surprised organizers who had received praise from university staff. HOPE may find a new venue or pause next year but insists it won’t change its mission of challenging authority and defending privacy.
- A judge ruled that Meta is not a monopoly in social networking. The decision spares Meta from being forced to sell Instagram and WhatsApp. The court said the social media market has changed and rivals like TikTok weaken the FTC’s case.
- Waymo will start self-driving rides next year in five new cities in Texas and Florida. The cars will first drive without passengers to learn local roads. Waymo already operates in several cities and plans more expansions soon.
- Apple’s macOS Tahoe 26.2 lets you connect several Macs using fast Thunderbolt 5 to create a powerful AI supercomputer. This cluster can run huge AI models efficiently while using much less power than typical GPU setups. It works with Mac Studio, Mac mini, and MacBook Pro without needing special hardware.
In the midst of all this, the question looms large: How much of this digital landscape do we want, and how much of it can we afford to ignore? The latest developments in tech, privacy, and security suggest that the answer to that question is changing daily.
–Ohmbudsman