PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION
Activists breach Microsoft data centre construction site as protests spread in Europe
Activist groups have announced actions in 16 countries on Friday and Saturday, according to the "Stop Dirty Data Centres" coalition, which is rallying environmental groups and digital rights campaigns behind calls to pause large-scale construction.
Pro Kannada outfit meets Bengaluru airport firms, presses for higher local hiring
Kannada Rakshana Vedike held discussions to address local hiring concerns with companies at Kempegowda International Airport. KRV president T.A. Narayana Gowda emphasised the need for fair employment opportunities for Kannadigas. Several organisations participated in the meeting and expressed commitment to increase local hiring. Chief Minister DK Shivakumar encouraged private employers to utilise Karnataka's talent pool more effectively. The organisation plans further outreach to enhance employment for locals in various sectors.
Karnataka to probe electoral fraud, Form 7 misuse: Shivakumar
Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced a police investigation into alleged electoral fraud by the BJP. He accused the party of manipulating voter rolls and distributing pre-filled Form 7 applications. Shivakumar highlighted the removal of many voters, especially from marginalized communities, during recent electoral processes. He emphasized the importance of protecting voting rights and restoring names to electoral rolls.
Rahul Gandhi prefers street brawl than debate in Parliament, says BJP leader Sambit Patra
BJP leader Sambit Patra claimed that Rahul Gandhi avoids parliamentary debates and prefers street confrontations instead. He challenged Gandhi to engage with his own party members regarding the SIR exercise allegations. Patra defended the SIR process against Congress accusations and cited data on voter deletions. He emphasized the importance of the Election Commission as a constitutional body amidst opposition claims.
Warren Buffett’s retirement income strategy: How a 90/10 rule could help a 65-year-old turn $600,000 into monthly income
For a 65-year-old with a traditional IRA of $600,000, adopting Warren Buffett’s 90/10 investment strategy is a practical choice. This approach allows for a balanced monthly withdrawal that integrates Social Security and IRA funds. By allocating 90% to S&P 500 index funds and 10% to Treasury bills, one can ensure withdrawal stability.
Tata Motors PV says CERT-In-flagged app vulnerabilities addressed through updates
The vulnerabilities identified in the iRA 2.0 and iRA.ev applications have been addressed through software updates and enhanced security measures, a Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles spokesperson told.
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US airlines may face fresh scrutiny as Democrats plan probes into pricing and passenger rights
Following a significant midterm election victory, Democrats intend to scrutinize airlines regarding personalized pricing practices and passenger protection rules. The Federal Trade Commission has requested information from major airlines about the influence of personal data on pricing. Congress plans to revive protections that were previously withdrawn, including compensation for travel disruptions. Legislators are also exploring requirements for transparency in ticket pricing and additional passenger rights.

AI turns cyber threat into boardroom crisis
In India, State Bank of India disclosed that 375,000 customer records had been leaked on the dark web, while vulnerabilities in eMudhra’s digital certificate keys exposed websites to potential attacks.

Digital recruitment is creating a new cybersecurity risk for employers
Online hiring has made it easier for companies to reach candidates across locations, but it has also exposed recruitment processes to identity fraud, manipulated assessments and misuse of personal information. HR teams are increasingly responsible for protecting the integrity and security of the hiring process.

His grandfather died of pancreatic cancer: This Hyderabad startup founder is using AI to develop a personalised cancer vaccines
Hyderabad-based biotech startup PopVax, founded by Soham Sankaran, is developing AI-powered personalised cancer vaccines using mRNA technology. Inspired partly by his family's experience with pancreatic cancer, he aims to help the immune system identify and attack cancer cells using treatments designed around individual patients' tumour genetics.

Kaspersky flags QR code payment scams as a key cyber risk for Indians travelling to Indonesia
As more Indian tourists move to Indonesia, Kaspersky's cybersecurity experts are sounding the alarm on rising online threats. They point out that travellers should be particularly careful about things like fake QR codes and phishing attacks, which are becoming more common. It's crucial for tourists to stay vigilant to protect themselves from these digital dangers.

Govt mulls giving Cert-In enforceable powers to mandate patching
Last month, two critical flaws in the PHP programming language, discovered with the help of AI, created worldwide panic as hackers targeted the vulnerabilities millions of times, and led to governments including the US, UK, France, Germany and Japan taking down public websites. PHP powers 69.3% of websites worldwide.

India’s small companies need to see AI as more than an artificial promise
India MSME news: India's micro, small and medium enterprises are exploring the adoption of artificial intelligence to enhance productivity. AI is expected to generate significant economic value for these enterprises in manufacturing and services sectors. Various challenges remain regarding the integration of AI into existing workflows and overcoming cost barriers. Collaborative efforts among industry bodies, technology providers, and the government are essential for facilitating this transition.

Zee 5 launches ZAP with Saptharushi to deliver privacy-first audience intelligence
Zee 5 has introduced the Zee 5 Audience Platform, called ZAP, to enhance advertising through targeted audience insights. The platform uses viewing behavior and consented signals from various sectors to optimize campaigns. It allows brands to create precise audience cohorts based on specific business objectives and viewing patterns.

Consent managers search for viable revenue model as registration nears
Consent managers are intended to help individuals manage, review and withdraw consent for the processing of their personal data, and they're required to be registered with the Data Protection Board of India (DPBI). A consent manager is data-blind, and processes metadata, consent artifacts, and cryptographic routing instructions.

Coast Guard chief stresses importance of human judgement amid rise of AI, emerging tech
Indian Coast Guard Director General Paramesh Sivamani has said artificial intelligence and emerging technologies can strengthen maritime security but cannot replace human judgement, conscience or courage. Addressing Karnavati University's convocation, he outlined the Coast Guard's expanding technological capabilities, highlighted India's maritime security priorities and urged graduates to place integrity and responsibility at the centre of their careers.

Early voting jumps across Senate battlegrounds as millions more Americans vote ahead of Election Day
Early voting has seen a significant increase compared to the last midterm election across various states. In Texas, over 6.3 million voters participated, reflecting a 50% rise from four years ago. Competitive Senate races have contributed to enhanced turnout in other states like Maine and Michigan, which report similar increases. Nationwide, more than 43 million Americans have cast their ballots early or returned mail-in ballots.

Cathay Pacific reports personal data security incident involving Amadeus IT
Cathay Pacific Airways has reported a data security incident linked to a third-party service provider. The incident reportedly affected around 53,000 bookings associated with the airline, due to unauthorized access to Amadeus' systems. Personal information such as booking references, passenger names, and flight details were accessed during the breach. However, investigations continue, and there is no evidence of access to financial or payment information.

Reddit posts search traffic declines, will push visitor sign-ins to curb data scraping
Reddit CEO Steve Huffman outlined a plan on Thursday to make signing-in mandatory for most content as the company grapples with data scraping and declining search referral traffic in recent months.

SC cracks down on banks, seeks mandatory payouts to cyber fraud victims
The Supreme Court has questioned the Reserve Bank of India's effectiveness in preventing digital fraud. Financial institutions must be held accountable for their role in cybercrime under new regulations. A mandatory liability clause is essential to ensure victims are compensated for losses. The court emphasizes that banks should enhance preventive measures against unusual transactions. The Attorney General mentioned that the RBI is working on regulations to address these issues.

Cyberattacks hit NBFCs; Pine Labs Q2 profit zooms
Cyber criminals are targetting smaller NBFCs with specialised AI toolkits. This and more in today’s ETtech Top 5.

Meesho Q2 loss narrows; Info Edge names Sanjeev Bikhchandani CEO
Happy Thursday! Meesho’s losses shrunk as revenue grew in the second quarter of FY27. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.

41,000 US Homeland Security employee names leaked in major hack
A significant data breach has exposed personal details of more than 40,000 Department of Homeland Security employees. The leaked information includes identities, contact details, and job titles of various officials. Distributed Denial of Secrets claims responsibility for releasing the data, asserting a right to access such information. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed it is actively addressing the breach while ensuring employee protection.

PHP scare sparks calls for urgent corp DPDP audits to plug all gaps
The incidents underline the need to identify gaps in companies’ security practices and clarify what constitutes reasonable safeguards before the law takes effect, they said. The DPDP Act is being implemented in phases, with a May 2027 deadline for full compliance obligations.

Government open to media suggestions on Digital Personal Data Protection Act, promises to uphold press freedom
The Government of India is willing to consider suggestions from news organisations about the Digital Personal Data Protection Act. Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that journalistic freedom is guaranteed by the Constitution and will not be affected. Concerns have been raised about the Act's provisions potentially infringing on press freedom and the Right to Information Act. The Digital News Publishers Association argues for exemptions for journalism activities within the DPDP Act.

Centre open to changes in DPDP law to protect press freedom, says Ashwini Vaishnaw
The Centre aims to amend the Digital Personal Data Protection law to address concerns raised by news publishers. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that the law does not limit press freedom. This response follows a Supreme Court notice regarding a petition from the Digital News Publishers Association and others. Publishers argue the lack of exemption for journalism could jeopardize investigative reporting and confidential sources.

Anthropic IPO rocks Indian IT; Why Walmart is in no hurry to list Flipkart
Anthropic’s US IPO filing sent Indian IT stocks lower on Tuesday. This and more in today’s ETtech Top 5.

Supreme Court issues notice to Centre on media groups' challenge to privacy law
A petition from the Digital News Publishers Association challenges provisions of India's digital privacy law. The law may restrict journalistic activities by requiring consent from individuals under investigation. News publishers argue that this could hinder the freedom of the press and expose confidential sources. Concerns regarding the potential penalties for non-compliance have also been raised by the petitioners.

Clock’s ticking for data protection, but the boardroom remains empty
Under the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Rules, 2025, the framework for registering consent managers with the DPBI is scheduled to start on November 13. But a government response to a Right to Information (RTI) application shows that the board spent not a single rupee on salaries, office expenses, rent or information and communication technology equipment as of September 30 this year.
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