From MoneyGram confirming data theft in the United States (US) to X resuming services after ban in Brazil, here’s everything we covered at Digital Rights Monitor (DRM) this week.
Read our weekly news roundup.
Google testing verified checkmarks in search results
Google is testing a display of verified checkmarks next to search results related to certain businesses to ensure reliability, a spokesperson said Friday.
The development comes as Google ramps up its efforts to enhance online safety across its search engine by providing users more trustworthy content.
The blue verified checkmarks will indicate that the companies they appear next to in search results are real and genuine, and not an imitator trying to feed off a known brand.
“We regularly experiment with features that help shoppers identify trustworthy businesses online, and we are currently running a small experiment showing checkmarks next to certain businesses on Google,” a Google spokesperson has said.
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US: MoneyGram confirms data theft in cyberattack
MoneyGram, a US-based money transfer service, has confirmed in an official statement that it was hit by a cyberattack last month.
The company has admitted that personal information and transaction details of its customers were breached in the attack.
In a statement released on Monday, MoneyGram disclosed that unauthorised third party “accessed and acquired” customer information during the attack that took place between September 20 and 22, 2024.
Following the cyberattack, the MoneyGram website and mobile application stopped working. The services were restored shortly after, however. The attack caused widespread inconveniences to millions of MoneyGram customers around the world, according to reports.
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PAKISTAN: X rejected content takedown requests, claims govt official
X (previously Twitter), which has surpassed nine months of suspension in Pakistan, turned down several requests made by the government for content removal, an official has claimed, according to a report by Dawn.com.
The official told the Sindh High Court (SHC) on Tuesday that X rejected the government’s requests because it did not find the reported content to be in violation of the platform’s guidelines.
The documents were submitted by Additional Attorney General Ziaul Haq Makhdoom as the court heard petitions filed by various individuals against the restrictions on social media and internet shutdowns during and after the February 8 general elections.
The report submitted by the official added that X demanded additional information related to the flagged content for review. The report does not elaborate on the number of requests the government made seeking removal of content from X in Pakistan.
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BRAZIL: X back online after ban lifted
X started coming back online to users on Wednesday after the Supreme Court ended its suspension of the social media platform in Brazil, according to reports.
The ban was lifted after X complied with the court’s orders, named a new legal representative, and paid over $5 million in fines. The platform remained inaccessible for over a month in the country.
Last week, the Brazilian Supreme Court announced a new penalty on X for “circumventing” the ban. X became available to some users in September after what it claimed was an update its communications network.
Brazil is among X’s largest markets with nearly 40 million users.
X was suspended on August 31, 2024, following a flaring feud between Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes and X owner and billionaire Elon Musk. The saga unfolded in April after Brazilian authorities accused X of spreading hate and misinformation.
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