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Key developments
Supreme Court preserves FCC privacy fines
The Supreme Court ruled 8-1 on Thursday that the FCC lawfully imposed fines on AT&T and Verizon for sharing customer location data without consent. The decision rejected the carriers' argument that the agency's forfeiture process violated jury-trial rights and leaves intact a key enforcement tool for privacy regulators. The underlying FCC cases involved nearly $200 million in penalties over alleged failures to protect location data and prevent resale through brokers.
Why it matters
It preserves a major administrative route for punishing privacy violations involving consumer location data.
Sources & driving stories
THE RECORD · Suzanne Smalley
The Record coverageYAHOO · Lindsay Whitehurst
Yahoo coverageMicrosoft tightens controls after Azure inquiry
Microsoft said it completed an inquiry launched after reporting that the Israeli military used Azure to store intercepted Palestinian phone calls. The company said its factual findings were unchanged but will add new human-rights governance measures, including tighter oversight of employees with foreign-government security clearances, periodic reviews when political circumstances change, and stronger due diligence in conflict-affected areas. The move follows months of scrutiny, protests, and pressure over Microsoft's dealings with national security customers.
Why it matters
It shows Microsoft is changing governance around sensitive government-linked cloud work after surveillance-related backlash.
Sources & driving stories
THE GUARDIAN
The Guardian coverageWFP investigates Gaza aid data breach
The World Food Programme said unauthorized parties accessed personal data in its Gaza self-registration application, which is used to register people for food and cash assistance. Exposed information included names, ID numbers, phone numbers, and location details such as neighborhood information. A WFP spokesperson said the incident may affect about 600,000 Palestinian households and that the breach occurred on May 14, but the agency has not identified the attacker or confirmed whether the data was leaked.
Why it matters
The breach puts highly sensitive aid-recipient data at risk in an active conflict zone.
Sources & driving stories
THE RECORD · Daryna Antoniuk
The Record coverageBLEEPINGCOMPUTER · Sergiu Gatlan
BleepingComputer coverageWorth noting
WORTH NOTING
iFood confirms 1.2 million-user breach
The Brazilian delivery company disclosed exposed names, addresses, phone numbers, and CPF numbers, while disputing claims of a much larger theft.
WORTH NOTING
FTC weighs modifying X privacy order
A reopened privacy settlement could change how the agency handles deceptive data-collection practices by major platforms.
Still unclear
OPEN QUESTION
Will other agencies expand administrative privacy fines?
The Supreme Court ruling could encourage regulators to use forfeiture orders more aggressively in future privacy enforcement.
OPEN QUESTION
Can WFP confirm whether data was leaked?
The agency has not said whether the Gaza aid records were exfiltrated, leaving the scope of harm unresolved.