According to a new report by Bloomberg, Apple and Meta, the parent company of Facebook, recently turned over a trove of users data to a group of hackers. With calls for greater data security in the United States con the rise and the EU proposing laws that do just that, the revelation that Apple and Facebook were tricked could not have come at a worst time.
According to the report, in mid-2021 hackers posed as law enforcement and contacted various tech giants. While usually police and prosecutors are required to secure a warrant before getting data from companies, the hackers made emergency requests which the major tech companies may exceptions for.
While SnapChat and others allegedly were also approached, it appears that only Meta and Apple were deceived by the ruse and provided the requested information to the hackers. Who the hackers were, what information was turned over, and why they wanted the information remains a mystery.
As data breaches become more and more common, American lawmakers will soon have to take action on how to address the issue. Data on American citizens is being collected and shared at incredible rates. Said information can be used to shape buying habits, steer public opinion, and effect elections. A failure to address the growing data iceberg could have titanic consequences in the future.
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