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1. Guests rejoice as Airbnb puts an end to spy cameras

In a significant move applauded by privacy advocates, Airbnb has announced plans to prohibit the use of surveillance cameras in its rentals, effective April 30th. ...

2. Transport for London accused of exploiting EU drivers for fines

European governments allege one of the largest data breaches in EU history as Transport for London (TfL) accused of illegally obtaining personal data for fines....

3. A disturbing surge in incidents reported to helpline 1480

Incidents reported to Helpline 1480 during the second quarter of 2023 have seen a notable increase of 47.97% compared to the same period in 2022, according to statistics released by the Ministry of Education on Wednesday....

4. Schools vulnerable to ransomware

The confidential documents stolen from schools and dumped online by ransomware gangs are raw, intimate, and graphic. They describe student sexual assaults, psychiatric hospitalizations, abusive parents, truancy — even suicide attempts....

5. Paphos woman arrested after TikTok video

A local TikToker in Paphos is being accused of spreading fake news following the publication of video content on social media about police officers and city officials...

6. Expert blames culture for elder mistreatment in Cyprus

Reports of elder mistreatment are piling up in the Republic of Cyprus, after a viral photo of a female patient on a hospital bed drew public condemnation and started a clash between health officials, with additional reports emerging about youths terrorizing senior citizens who live alone...

7. Pope declares being gay a 'sin' but not a 'crime'

Pope Francis has declared homosexuality a 'sin' but not a 'crime' as he branded laws that criminalize gay people 'unjust'....

8. Initial PEGA report - Cyprus is an appealing destination for spy goods

9. Cyprus still in the mix as EU probes Greek spyware

Cypriot Deputy Attorney General Savvas Angelides has fired back at allegations over a conflict of interest in an alleged cover-up involving Israeli-made malware, as Nicosia and other EU capitals have been feeling pressure to come clean following rumors of widespread unlawful surveillance...

10. Greek comedian gets suspended sentence for online sex videos

A Greek TV comedian was given a suspended prison sentence Wednesday after being convicted of posting on the internet sex videos of his former partner without her consent, a case that prompted a public debate on online privacy abuses....

11. Mayor says Cypriots let down in spy van case

Paphos Mayor Phedonas Phedonos says the Cypriot state let citizens down in the spy van case, suggesting it was settled with a fine and not a court trial to keep things hushed up...

12. Safe pass arrest sheds light on giant loophole

A man at a local store in Limassol was arrested on Wednesday after police officers who asked to inspect his Safe Pass determined the document did not match his ID card, but not everyone is on the same page regarding secondary inspections at the door...

13. Mammoth 1.3 Billion euro fine to Amazon

Italy's antitrust watchdog said on Thursday it had fined Amazon 1.13 billion euros ($1.28 billion) for alleged abuse of market dominance, in one of the biggest penalties imposed on a U.S. tech giant in Europe....

14. Commissioner slaps fine in spy van case

An Israeli-owned company in Cyprus known for its role in the country’s spy van case agreed to pay nearly one million in fines despite no evidence of spying on citizens, after an independent commissioner found there was no doubt that actions by WiSpear had at the very least breached principles relating to personal data...

15. Retailers furious over CovScan’s glitchy start

A controversial android app pushed by the government to help businesses authenticate Safe Pass holders had a rough first day on Monday, with retailers upset over reported failures ranging from vaccinated documents being flagged as invalid to two different devices scanning the same QR code but giving different results...

16. CovScan Cyprus starts running on trial basis

Door greeters at supermarkets started using the android app CovScan on Monday to verify the authenticity of their customers’ Safe Pass documents, but the program will run on a trial basis for two weeks following criticism that consumers and businesses had little time to prepare...

17. CovScan Cyprus mandatory but questions remain

Door greeters at supermarkets and other businesses will have to use an android app when checking Safe Pass, according to a Cabinet decision, but the policy going into effect on Monday has left many questions unanswered with citizens calling even pharmacies to get the latest scoop...

18. Legal doubts over detentions in Cyprus’ Azeri case

The legality of arrests of four Pakistani men, who were identified by Cyprus police as suspects based on phone records in connection with an alleged plot against Israelis, will be reexamined after the Supreme Court ruled that a law allowing indiscriminate data retention on all citizens violated European human rights...

19. Supreme Court slams unwarranted access to phone data

The Supreme Court in the Republic of Cyprus has found that a law allowing indiscriminate phone data retention for police purposes violates EU rights to privacy, with experts describing the decision as a major upset in ongoing criminal cases built on private information...

20. Cyprus’ spy van case too close to the bone

A police investigation in Cyprus has concluded there was no proof of illegal phone tapping in the spy van case, but prosecutors are still going after the main suspects on lesser charges despite reports of alleged contacts in the past with local officials...

21. Nicosia reacts to new Al Jazeera video

Nicosia has refuted allegations concerning a Cypriot minister and his trips to London, in reaction to an Al Jazeera secret investigation into how convicted criminals could take on new identities and launder money through ownership of English football clubs by deceiving authorities...

22. NSO denies knowledge of hacked list in Cyprus

Israel-based NSO Group is pointing the finger at customers who may misuse its Pegasus surveillance software, following reports that a list hacked in Cyprus contained thousands of mobile phone numbers believed to have been be targeted by the proprietary malware to spy on journalists and activists around the globe...

23. Cyprus raises bar for sake of normality

The President’s Cabinet in the Republic of Cyprus has added a few finishing touches on its latest Safe Pass measures as daily COVID cases continue to rise, with the government allowing more flexibility for businesses willing to cater to people who are vaccinated...

24. Legal defends blacked out passport report

The Legal department in the Republic of Cyprus has issued its final report on golden passports, but its decision to include privacy issues as a reason to black out information has come under media scrutiny...

25. Official says no data privacy after death

Cyprus’ privacy commissioner says a recent decision by the health ministry to withhold vaccination history in reported COVID deaths could not be based on privacy concerns but 'possibly other reasons'...

26. Official says hackers targeted vax website

The Cypriot government says it believes hackers were behind a cyber attack against the state’s website for vaccine appointment registration, after users said they were having technical problems using the site...

27. Minister grilled over digital ID bill

Recent discussion on electronic signatures has reintroduced persistent challenges in the digital ID debate, with Cyprus’ innovation minister facing tough questions this week during a House committee hearing...

28. Yiolitis says police acted lawfully

Justice Minister Emily Yiolitis says police did things by the book in the Twitter parody case, rejecting media reports that she blamed law enforcement for an investigation later deemed illegal by the Supreme Court...

29. Reporters to sit in on golden passport hearings

A number of reporters will be allowed from now on to attend ongoing probe hearings into alleged corruption in connection with Cyprus’ disgraced Citizenship by Investment Programme, with journalists being asked to commit in advance not to breach data privacy laws...

30. Legal experts pounce on Yiolitis case

A well-known Cypriot lawyer, who raised questions over a home search after Justice Minister Emily Yiolitis filed a criminal complaint against a Twitter parody account, has written to the Police Chief asking to obtain public information as a concerned citizen...