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"[T]he answer is, of course, there’s no such thing as the private life anymore."

— Ellis Cashmore, author of the book “Celebrity Culture"

Welcome back to Snippets 👋 Here's what's been happening at the intersection of privacy, AI, and tech: 

  • KissCam debacle prompts new questions about the expectation of privacy in public
  • Experts worry about the rise of AI features in dating apps
  • Study exposes widespread violations by California data brokers
  • And so much more!
PUBLIC PRIVACY

KissCam debacle proves privacy in public is a relic of the past
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AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade, File
At a recent Coldplay concert, what began as a playful "KissCam" moment quickly became a viral storm that reignited debates about privacy and public exposure in the digital age.
  • The couple caught on camera, later identified as the CEO and Head of HR at software company Astronomer, faced intense online scrutiny, which eventually led to the CEO’s resignation.
  • The incident underscores how public moments, once fleeting and without record, are now amplified by smartphones and social media, erasing the boundary between public and private life.
  • The internet’s rapid identification efforts, often aided by AI, can also result in misdirected harassment—as seen when a third, unrelated individual was wrongly targeted following the event.
TRANSCEND NEWS

Report: 100% of organizations say consented data is essential for AI innovation 💡

Download this exclusive report to learn how consent and preference data go beyond compliance to power innovation, accelerate digital transformation, and unlock new revenue streams.

  • 100% of executive respondents say consented data enhances their organization’s ability to launch new products and services.
  • More than half of executives report being highly reliant on consented data for digital innovation initiatives like personalized marketing, product development, and AI.
  • More than 70% of executives say they struggle to proliferate communication preferences across their organization’s entire data ecosystem.

These findings are based on an independent survey of 265 privacy, security, and marketing professionals conducted by UserEvidence and commissioned by Transcend.
AI ON THE APPS

AI dating features are booming at the cost of user privacy
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As dating apps race to launch AI tools, they’re also collecting more and more user data, often without clear consent—raising serious concerns about privacy, transparency, and safety, especially for vulnerable communities.
  • From Tinder’s photo selectors to Grindr’s AI wingman to Bumble’s AI icebreakers, AI tools are growing rapidly, but they often lack clear user protections or explanations of how data is processed.
  • These platforms collect deeply personal information, including sexual orientation, preferences, locations, and private messages—sharing it with third parties and using it to train AI, which can put users, especially LGBTQ+ individuals, at risk.
  • Privacy groups and advocates are calling for stricter regulations, opt-in consent policies, and stronger legislation to protect users from data exploitation in the rush to innovate.
DATA BROKERS

UC Irvine study exposes widespread violations by California data brokers
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Steve Zylius / UC Irvine
A UC Irvine investigation revealed that nearly half of California-registered data brokers are ignoring consumer privacy requests, exposing serious legal gaps and raising alarms about the risks posed by unchecked data sales.
  • Of the 543 data brokers examined, 43% failed to respond to consumer requests under the California Consumer Privacy Act.
  • Many brokers asked for sensitive personal details, like Social Security numbers, to verify requests—ironically, putting consumers at greater risk while trying to protect their data.
  • Researchers also faced broken systems, inconsistent processes, and poor communication, all of which make it difficult for consumers to exercise their privacy rights.
  • The study warns that data brokers put users at risk of identity theft, fraud, and surveillance—calling for stricter enforcement and stronger global regulations.
IN OTHER NEWS
  • California and Connecticut make moves on privacy enforcement.
  • For renters, privacy and connectivity trump physical amenities.
  • Mark Zuckerberg settles $8 billion lawsuit with Meta investors.
  • Cloaked user privacy app adds AI-powered call screening.
  • Comparing Apple Intelligence privacy to the larger market.
VEHICULAR GROK

Grok AI’s inclusion in all new Teslas raises concerns about driver privacy
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ALLISON ROBBERT—Getty Images
Elon Musk’s decision to embed the Grok AI chatbot into Tesla vehicles unites his companies in a powerful technology crossover, but raises concerns about data privacy, surveillance, and consumer consent behind the wheel.
  • As of July 12, all new Teslas come with Grok AI built directly into the car’s interface, potentially exposing millions of users to new data-sharing practices.
  • While Tesla and xAI claim anonymized processing, their vague and outdated privacy policies don’t clarify what data Grok can access or how vehicle data might be used or shared.
  • Experts warn that cars, which already collect significant amounts of data, are becoming surveillance tools—with risks ranging from monetization to unconsented government access.
BROWSERS

Review: Epic privacy browser surpasses Firefox
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After testing numerous privacy-focused browsers, XDA author Saeed Wazir finds Epic Privacy Browser to be a standout—offering a familiar, Chrome-like experience with powerful privacy tools that surpass industry-favorite Firefox.
  • Epic blocks third-party cookies, fingerprinting, and pop-ups out-of-the-box without extensions. It also lets users erase data on close for stronger privacy.
  • Features like ad-blocker customization, a malicious URL blocklist, and a robust reading mode make Epic both secure and accessible.
  • Built on Chromium, Epic supports Chrome extensions like Grammarly and GoFullPage, delivering a seamless transition for Chrome users.
TRANSCEND NEWS

Is your brand's preference center causing churn?

In mature, loyalty-driven industries like travel, hospitality, subscription services, and telecom, growth rarely comes from rapidly acquiring new customers. Instead, growth is earned over time through consistent, high-quality brand experiences and a deep commitment to building lasting customer trust.

That’s why it’s critical that marketing leaders, digital executives, and privacy teams at loyalty-driven brands focus on maximizing customer lifetime value (LTV) by keeping existing customers loyal and engaged. Preference management sits at the heart of this effort.
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