Privacy Coverage

'Peace of mind' & search: Google updates privacy policy to allow you to remove some results

Google unveiled new privacy updates this week that lets US users have a wee bit more control over the search results that pop up about themselves online.

Private taxpayer data shared with Google and Meta, according to congressional report

The report highlights what legal experts described to CNN as a “five-alarm fire” for taxpayer privacy that could lead to government and private lawsuits, criminal penalties or perhaps even a “mortal blow” for some industry giants.

New data privacy framework receives approval from EU

The European Union signed off Monday on a new agreement over the privacy of people's personal information that gets pinged across the Atlantic, aiming to ease European concerns about electronic spying by American intelligence agencies.

NC State researcher says fitness app loophole may reveal users address

A loophole in the popular fitness app Strava may be revealing your home address to strangers.

Keely Arthur, WRAL consumer reporter

Virtual reality & your data: Be warned, security is lacking across emerging tech

Like with AI, there are concerns. VR has been less talked about but brings its own issues with security and privacy. And unlike other online platforms, privacy and security tools have yet to be widely developed for VR tech. Let's talk.

How they voted: North Carolina congressional votes for the week ending March 9

A look at how North Carolina members of Congress voted during the previous week.

Targeted News Service

How they voted: North Carolina congressional votes for the week ending March 2

A look at how North Carolina members of Congress voted during the previous week.

Targeted News Service

FTC: $520M settlement with Epic Games is 'gift of privacy for Fortnite players'

To settle the FTC’s charges, Epic has agreed to change its default settings for kids and teens from public to private, so it blocks open voice and text chat by default. Epic will also put a privacy program in place and pay a $275 million penalty to the U.S. Treasury.

Airbnb adds noise sensors – what’s next? – in party crackdown

Airbnb is expanding its anti-party stance, adding a new partnership with Minut in 60 countries including the U.S. And they’re cracking down in NC, too.

Seven North Carolina college campuses have secretly tracked social media posts of students, protesters

Big brother invasion of privacy or pro-active policing? That's the question after a new report revealed seven North Carolina universities use or have used powerful social media-monitoring programs to keep an eye on everything from campus protests to student well-being to drugs.

Seven North Carolina college campuses have secretly tracked social media posts of students, protesters

Big brother invasion of privacy or pro-active policing? That's the question after a new report revealed seven North Carolina universities use or have used powerful social media-monitoring programs to keep an eye on everything from campus protests to student well-being to drugs.

Cullen Browder, WRAL anchor/reporter

Google should limit location data collection to protect abortion seekers, US lawmakers say

In a letter written by U.S. lawmakers to Google's CEO, the co-signers allege that an "intentional choice" made by Google creates a "new digital divide."

Data breach: Popular identity authentication provider Okta confirms attack

A January cybersecurity incident at popular identity authentication provider Okta may have affected hundreds of the firm's clients, Okta acknowledged late Tuesday amid an ongoing investigation of the breach.

Jobless in the pandemic? You may be in a facial recognition database.

The company that verified identities for unemployment claims in North Carolina and other states says people can delete their selfies, but questions remain.

Travis Fain, state government reporter

Want to protect your privacy online? Consider using a fake email service

Many people use fake names when signing up for a new service online as a way to protect privacy. Turns out, that doesn't do a lot to keep companies from tracking you. But using an alternative or fake email address is an easy and more effective way to minimize tracking.

Monica Laliberte, WRAL exeuctive producer/5 On Your Side reporter

A fake email address can help protect your privacy

With pretty much every search you make, every website you visit, the people you connect with and everything you do on the internet is tracked and shared by big technology companies.

North Carolina hires the state's first Chief Privacy Officer to protect data from cyberattacks

The State of North Carolina has hired its first chief privacy officer.

How to find, close long forgotten online accounts

WRAL 5 On Your Side zeros in on all those online accounts that could put your digital privacy and security at risk.

New Wake schools technology policy allows device monitoring

The policy emphasizes the purpose of the policy is to maintain student safety and that the district will not discriminate in its implementation of the policy.

Emily Walkenhorst, WRAL education reporter

Proposed Wake policy would let officials monitor use of school Internet, school devices

The policy would emphasize the purpose of the policy is to maintain student safety and that the district will not discriminate in its implementation of the policy.

Emily Walkenhorst, WRAL education reporter

Privacy experts say Dark Patterns could be putting you at risk online

5 On Your Side's Monica Laliberte explains they are tricks in websites and apps that make users click on things they didn't intend to.

'Dark patterns' the newest consumer deception online

There is a new term for online annoyances: Dark Patterns. They are tricks in websites and apps that make users click on things they didn't intend to.

Monica Laliberte, WRAL executive producer/5 On Your Side reporter

Wilson Co. schools proposal would OK searches of students' cell phones for texts, pictures

Parents in the Wilson County school district are calling a proposed rule that would allow student's phones to be searched in school a breach of privacy.

Keenan Willard, WRAL Eastern North Carolina reporter

Vacation rentals can lead to costly invasions of privacy

Going on vacation could open a digital gateway, allowing strangers access to your online platforms. Worse, they can use that information to rack up a big bill on your credit card.

Monica Laliberte, WRAL executive producer/5 On Your Side reporter

Microsoft exec: Targeting of Americans’ records ‘routine’

Federal law enforcement agencies secretly seek the data of Microsoft customers thousands of times a year, according to congressional testimony […]