#FactCheck - Debunking Manipulated Photos of Smiling Secret Service Agents During Trump Assassination Attempt

Introduction

February marks the beginning of Valentine’s Week, the time when we transcend from the season of smog to the season of love. This is a time when young people are more active on social media and dating apps with the hope of finding a partner to celebrate the occasion. Dating Apps, in order to capitalise on this occasion, launch special offers and campaigns to attract new users and string on the current users with the aspiration of finding their ideal partner. However, with the growing popularity of online dating, the tactics of cybercriminals have also penetrated this sphere. Scammers are now becoming increasingly sophisticated in manipulating individuals on digital platforms, often engaging in scams, identity theft, and financial fraud under the guise of romance. As love fills the air, netizens must stay vigilant and cautious while searching for a connection online and not fall into a scammer’s trap. 

Here Are Some CyberPeace Tips To Avoid Romance Scams

• Recognize Red Flags of Romance Scams:- Online dating has made it easier to connect with people, but it has also become a tool for scammers to exploit the emotions of netizens for financial gain. They create fake profiles, build trust quickly, and then manipulate victims into sending money. Understanding their tactics can help you stay safe.
• Warning Signs of a Romance Scam:- If someone expresses strong feelings too soon, it’s a red flag. Scammers often claim to have fallen in love within days or weeks, despite never meeting in person. They use emotional pressure to create a false sense of connection.  Their messages might seem off. Scammers often copy-paste scripted responses, making conversations feel unnatural. Poor grammar, inconsistencies in their stories, or vague answers are warning signs. Asking for money is the biggest red flag. They might have an emergency, a visa issue, or an investment opportunity they want you to help with. No legitimate relationship starts with financial requests.
• Manipulative Tactics Used by Scammers:- Scammers use love bombing to gain trust. They flood you with compliments, calling you their soulmate or destiny. This is meant to make you emotionally attached. They often share fake sob stories. It could be anything ranging from losing a loved one, facing a medical emergency, or even being stuck in a foreign country. These are designed to make you feel sorry for them and more willing to help. Some of these scammers might even pretend to be wealthy, being investors or successful business owners, showing off their fabricated luxury lifestyle in order to appear credible. Eventually, they’ll try to lure you into a fake investment. They create a sense of urgency. Whether it’s sending money, investing, or sharing personal details, scammers will push you to act fast. This prevents you from thinking critically or verifying your claims.
• Financial Frauds Linked to Romance Scams:- Romance scams have often led to financial fraud. Victims may be tricked into sending money directly or get roped into elaborate schemes. One common scam is the disappearing date, where someone insists on dining at an expensive restaurant, only to vanish before the bill arrives. Crypto scams are another major concern. Scammers convince victims to invest in fake cryptocurrency platforms, promising huge returns. Once the money is sent, the scammer disappears, leaving the victim with nothing. 
• AI & Deepfake Risks in Online Dating:- Advancements in AI have made scams even more convincing. Scammers use AI-generated photos to create flawless, yet fake, profile pictures. These images often lack natural imperfections, making them hard to spot. Deepfake technology is also being used for video calls. Some scammers use pre-recorded AI-generated videos to fake live interactions. If a person’s expressions don’t match their words or their screen glitches oddly, it could be a deepfake.
• How to Stay Safe:-
  • Always verify the identities of those who contact you on these sites. A simple reverse image search can reveal if someone’s profile picture is stolen.
  • Avoid clicking suspicious links or downloading unknown apps sent by strangers. These can be used to steal your personal information.
  • Trust your instincts. If something feels off, it probably is. Stay alert and protect yourself from online romance scams.

Best Online Safety Practices

• Prioritize Social Media Privacy:- Review and update your privacy settings regularly. Think before you share and be mindful of who can see your posts/stories. Avoid oversharing personal details.
• Report Suspicious Activities:- Even if a scam attempt doesn’t succeed, report it. Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) 'Report Suspect' feature allow users to flag potential threats, helping prevent cybercrimes.
• Think Before You Click or Download:- Avoid clicking on unknown links or downloading attachments from unverified sources. These can be traps leading to phishing scams or malware attacks.
• Protect Your Personal Information:- Be cautious with whom and how you share your sensitive details online. Cybercriminals exploit even the smallest data points to orchestrate fraud.

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Introduction

Personalised advertisements deploy a mechanism that derives from the collection of the user’s data. Although it allows for a more tailored user experience, one cannot ignore the method through which this is achieved. Recently, as per a report by the Indian Express on 13th November 2024, Meta has come up with a less personalised ad option on Facebook and Instagram for its users in the European Union (EU). This was done due to the incompatibility of their previous ad offer with the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). 

Relevant Legislation

In October 2023, Meta came up with a “Pay or Consent” option for their users in the EU. It gave the users two options: either to pay a monthly subscription fee to avail of the ad-free usage variant of Facebook and Instagram, or to give consent to see personalised ads based on the user’s data. This consent model was introduced in their attempts to comply with the EU’s DMA. However, this was found to be incompatible with the said mandate, according to the EU regulators, as they believed that the users should not only have the option to consent to ads but also have access to less personalised but equivalent alternatives. It is this decision that pushed Meta to come up with less personalised ad options for users in the EU. The less-personalised ad option claims to rely on limited data and show ads that are only based on the context of what is being viewed i.e. during a Facebook or Instagram session requiring a minimum set of data points such as location, age, gender, and the user’s engagement with the ads. However, choosing this option also allows for such ads to be less skippable. 

The EU’s Digital Markets Act came into force on November 1, 2022. The purpose was to make the digital marketing sector fairer and in doing so, identify what they consider to be “Gatekeepers” (core platform services such as messenger services, search engines, and app stores) and a list of do’s and don’ts for them. One of them, applicable to the case mentioned above, is the effective consent required by the user in case the gatekeeper decides to target advertisements enabled by tracking the users' activity outside the gatekeeper's core platform services. 

The Indian Context

Although no such issues have been raised in India yet, it is imperative to know that in the Indian context, the DPDP (Digital Personal Data Protection) Act 2023 governs personal data regulation. This includes rules for Data Fiduciaries (those who, alone or in partnership with others, determine the means and purpose of processing personal data), the Data Principal (those who give data), Consent Managers, and even rules regarding processing data of children. 

CyberPeace Recommendations:

At the level of the user, one can take steps to ensure limited collection of personal data by following the mentioned steps: 

• Review Privacy Settings- Reviewing Privacy settings for one’s online accounts and devices is a healthy practice to avoid giving unnecessary information to third-party applications.
• Private Browsing- Browsing through private mode or incognito is encouraged, as it prevents websites from tracking your activity and personal data.
• Using Ad-blockers- Certain websites have a user option to block ads when the user first visits their page. Availing of this prevents spam advertisements from the respective websites.
• Using VPN- Using Virtual Private Networks enables users to hide their IP address and their data to be encrypted, preventing third-party actors from tracking the users' online activities
• Other steps include clearing cookies and cache data and using the location-sharing feature with care.

Conclusion

Meta’s compliance with the EU’s DMA signals that social media platforms cannot circumnavigate their way around rules. Balancing the services provided while respecting user privacy is of the utmost importance. The EU has set precedence for a system that respects this and can be used as an example to help set guidelines for how other countries can continue to deal with similar issues and set standards accordingly.

References

• https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/meta-less-personalised-ads-eu-regulatory-demands-9667266/
• https://rainmaker.co.in/blog/view/the-price-of-personalization-how-targeted-advertising-breaches-data-privacy-and-challenges-the-gdprs-shield
• https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/magazine-features/fines-data-protection-violations/
• https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbestechcouncil/2023/09/01/the-landscape-of-personalized-advertising-efficiency-versus-privacy/
• https://iapp.org/news/a/pay-or-consent-personalized-ads-the-rules-and-whats-next
• https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/how-to/how-to-safeguard-privacy-in-the-era-of-personalised-ads/articleshow/102748711.cms?from=mdr
• https://www.business-standard.com/technology/tech-news/facebook-instagram-users-in-europe-can-opt-for-less-personalised-ads-124111201558_1.html
• https://digital-markets-act.ec.europa.eu/about-dma_en

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Introduction

The advent of Electronic Vehicles (EVs) represents a transformative leap towards a more sustainable and environmentally conscious transportation future by nations. However, as these vehicles become increasingly connected and reliant on advanced technological systems, a parallel concern emerges—data privacy. Integrating sophisticated technologies in EVs, such as GPS tracking, biometric authentication, and in-car connectivity, raises substantial questions about the collection, storage, and potential misuse of sensitive personal information. This intersection of automotive innovation and data privacy underscores the need for comprehensive solutions and regulatory frameworks to ensure that the benefits of electric vehicles are realised without compromising the privacy and security of their users.

Electronic vehicles primarily record three types of data;

1. Driving behaviour and patterns: The e-vehicle records braking and driving patterns, including acceleration, speed, and swerve. Some vehicles even track air conditioning usage and airbag deployment to determine the point of failure in the event of a crash.
2. Location data: The e-vehicles also track GPS systems to gauge the speed and direction of the vehicle.
3. EV functions and use of telematic services: Monitoring of EV functions includes battery use management, battery charging history, battery deterioration, electrical system functions and software version information.

Data Privacy requirements of companies

Companies manufacturing e-vehicles are saddled with several data privacy requirements as concerns about consumer safety. Data collected by e-vehicles may be sensitive in nature. Location tracking is a key issue that has garnered attention. The constant recording of a driver's whereabouts can lead to the creation of detailed profiles, raising questions about the potential misuse or unauthorised access to this sensitive information. The risk of surveillance, stalking, or even theft of valuable personal data is a genuine concern for EV owners.

Moreover, integrating smart features, such as voice recognition, biometric authentication, and in-car personal assistants, adds another layer of complexity. These features require the collection and processing of personal data. If not handled securely, they may become vulnerable to hacking or unauthorised access, leading to identity theft or other malicious activities. Additionally, Smart charging systems offer convenience by allowing remote monitoring and control of charging, but they also gather extensive data. The geographical data collected during charging may raise concerns about location privacy.

Striking a delicate balance between leveraging this data for enhancing vehicle performance and user experience while safeguarding the privacy of EV owners is paramount. Transparent privacy policies, secure data storage practices, and stringent encryption protocols are essential components of a comprehensive approach to data protection. If a company is eyeing the international market or utilising cloud-based software with decentralised global data storage, it must also navigate international privacy and data protection laws. A prime example is the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), a globally recognised and stringent data protection law applicable to both European-based companies and international entities providing goods, services, or monitoring activities of residents within Europe. 

Manufacturers of these vehicles are subjected to compliance with this comprehensive legal framework. Obligations on companies are levied by them being data fiduciaries; dual liability may also emanate since some data fiduciaries may also qualify as data processors. Special care must be taken when data is being transferred to third parties. 

Further, compliance with consumer safety laws is also an important consideration. In India, the Consumer Protection Act of 2019 safeguards the rights of consumers, holding manufacturers, sellers, and service providers responsible for any harm resulting from faulty or defective products. This extends the Act's coverage to include manufacturers and sellers of internet and technology-based products. When read with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act of 2023 (DPDP Act), the Consumer Protection Act of 2019 takes on additional significance. The DPDP Act, focusing on the security of an individual's digital personal data, introduces provisions such as mandatory consent, purpose limitation, data minimisation, obligatory security measures by organisations, data localisation, and enforcing accountability and compliance. These provisions apply to information generated by and for consumers, offering a comprehensive framework for protecting digital personal data.

Conclusion

The intersection of e-vehicles and data privacy necessitates a careful and comprehensive approach to ensure the coexistence of automotive innovation and user security. As electric vehicles record intricate data related to driving behaviour, location, and telematic services, companies manufacturing these vehicles must navigate a complex landscape of data privacy requirements. The potential risks associated with location tracking, smart features, and the extensive data collected during charging underscore the importance of transparent privacy policies, secure data storage practices, and stringent encryption protocols. Moreover, as companies expand globally, compliance with international privacy laws like the GDPR becomes imperative. Balancing the enhancement of vehicle performance and user experience with the safeguarding of privacy is paramount. Manufacturers, deemed as data fiduciaries, must exercise diligence, especially when transferring data to third parties. Additionally, adherence to consumer safety laws, such as the Consumer Protection Act of 2019, further emphasises the need for a holistic and vigilant approach to ensure the responsible use of data in the evolving landscape of e-vehicles.

References

• https://digitalcommons.law.scu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1556&context=chtlj 
• https://cyberswitching.com/electric-car-charging-and-data-privacy/#:~:text=Smart%20charging%20systems%20provide%20convenience,in%20safeguarding%20EV%20user%20privacy