# Privacy
This year
2023
Politicians back calls to stop publishing election candidates' home addresses
Some have said that it is putting potential candidates off running for election.
London City Hall bans TikTok on devices over security concerns
The Greater London Authority (GLA) said the rule was implemented as it takes information security “extremely seriously”.
Last year
2022
EU court rules Google must delete inaccurate search information if proven wrong
Search engines must “dereference information” if the person making the request can demonstrate the material is “manifestly inaccurate”.
DPC proposes 'range of fines' on Irish TikTok operation for its processing of children's data
The Dublin based business provides services related to content moderation and data controlling in Europe
Six UK public figures suing publisher of Daily Mail over alleged spying
Lawyers for Harry, Elton John and others said they are bringing claims for misuse of private information.
People will be able to leave WhatsApp groups without alerting others under new privacy update
Users will also be able to hide that they are online as part of the new features.
All time
WhatsApp Ireland allowed to challenge €225m GDPR fine in High Court
WhatsApp claims the fine constitutes the imposition of a criminal sanction
Facebook ends facial recognition over privacy fears
The announcement came as the tech giant battles one of its worst crises ever.
Department apologises after 'careless' data breach of people attending mother and baby home redress meetings
Those affected by the breach are “deeply upset and distressed” by the sharing of their email addresses without their consent.
$650 million settlement approved in privacy lawsuit against Facebook
The legal action concerned the use of photo face-tagging and other biometric data without users’ consent.
WhatsApp to roll-out in-app banner in bid to help explain privacy update after concerns raised
It will also display messages in the Status section of the app.
Meghan Markle wins privacy claim against Mail On Sunday over letter to her father
Justice Warby ruled that the publication of Meghan’s letter to her father was ‘manifestly excessive and hence unlawful’.
WhatsApp reassures users of privacy as people flock to Signal and Telegram
“We can’t see your private messages or hear your calls, and neither can Facebook,” WhatsApp said in a blog post.
Data Protection Commission investigating Instagram over handling of children's personal data
The Data Protection Commission launched an investigation last month following a number of complaints.
Concerns over Google Play Services reignited over Covid apps but HSE warns against conflating issues
The HSE has said it is important not to conflate issues with how Google enables apps through the store with the functionality of this particular app.
Opinion: Ireland is in prime position to hold social networks to account - and we must
Lawyer Paul Tweed says it’s ‘absurd’ for such companies to claim they are ‘merely a platform, not a publisher’.
HSE's contact tracing app will be wound down in 90 days if it's deemed ineffective
The app will record if a user is in close contact with another user by exchanging anonymous codes.
HSE suspends practice of notifying some employers of Covid test results before informing employees
HSE Chief Executive Paul Reid said he was aware of one case where test results were shared with an employer.
World's first legal challenge over police use of facial recognition tech to be taken to appeals court
Ed Bridges says his face was scanned while doing Christmas shopping in 2017 and at a protest in 2018.
Bale requests Real Madrid do not publish medical records
The Welshman’s future remains a topic of discussion after he exercised his right to personal privacy over his latest lay-off.
Facebook warned that new privacy rules could aid terrorism and child abuse
The social media network has been dogged by several privacy scandals in recent years.
Facebook launches new privacy tool to limit data-scraping from third-party websites and apps
The tool was first announced by CEO Mark Zuckerberg last year.
Facebook paid contractors to transcribe audio clips from Messenger users
Facebook said audio snippets reviewed by contractors were masked so as not to reveal anyone’s identity.
'A gross violation': Asylum seekers say post is being opened without consent
Residents in Direct Provision centres have claimed the practice is commonplace.
Facebook set for $5 billion fine in the US over privacy and data protection failings
It’ll be the largest penalty ever imposed by the US Federal Trade Commission over privacy violations.
Cliff Richard launches campaign calling for anonymity for sexual offence suspects
Police raided Richard’s home in 2014 during an investigation into a sexual assault claim.
Privacy champion Johnny Ryan is on a mission to clean up 'dirty adtech'
The chief policy officer at privacy-focused web browser Brave recently testified before US senators.
La Liga fined €250,000 for accessing users' microphones and locations on its smartphone app
Spanish football’s top league was reportedly attempting to detect pubs and bars that were illegally showing matches.
Tens of thousands of Irish users' emails and phone numbers were exposed in last year's Facebook hack
Confidential emails from the social networking giant reveal the local fallout of the September attack.
'Digital gangsters' at Facebook knowingly violated data privacy and 'bullied' other tech companies
A report by the UK government has examined the tech giant’s role in spreading fake news.
Apple fixes bug that allowed FaceTime users to listen to a person before they answer call
In some cases, users could also watch a person before they answered the FaceTime call.
Bug allows Facetime users to listen to and, in some cases, watch a person before they answer call
Apple is working to fix the issue.
Timeline: The Public Services Card saga
Last week the Data Protection Commissioner said it will not publish its report in full, following an investigation into the rollout of the cards – which experts claim breaches data protection laws.
Employee seen taking breaks on CCTV used in 'Isis' graffiti investigation had rights breached, court told
It was argued that the use of data arising from a criminal investigation breached Cormac Doolin’s data protection rights.
Union fears privatisation as Bus Éireann routes 101, 101x and 133 to be put out to tender
The NTA first announced its intentions to put routes up for competitive tender in October.
'Unjustified invasion of privacy': New Zealand customs given power to demand access to your device
Border guards now have the power to demand your passwords and pins to open your smartphone.
Facebook says that up to 50 million of its accounts have been breached
The social media giant says the breach is something that is “incredibly important”.
Google records people's movements even when told not to
The privacy issue affects some two billion Android users and hundreds of millions of iPhone users worldwide.
Cliff Richard wins €235,000 court case against the BBC
The action was taken over the BBC’s decision to broadcast a police raid on Richard’s home in 2014.
