In this reprinted 1991 guide (updated 1999), Phil Zimmermann describes why he built Pretty Good Privacy, arguing that email and electronic communication lack the inherent privacy once guaranteed by face-to-face conversation. He contends that government surveillance of digital communication is far cheaper and easier than intercepting paper mail or phone calls, prompting him to create software letting ordinary people encrypt their messages.
philzimmermann.com
· 2026-10-14
Governor Newsom signed SB 923 on September 27, 2026, amending the CCPA so consumer deletion requests cover personal information a business acquired from brokers or other third parties, not just data collected directly. The law also requires online-only businesses to offer a web form or portal for privacy requests, not just an email address, by January 1, 2027. The same day, Newsom vetoed a separate bill, AB 1542, that would have banned outright sales of sensitive personal information.
getprivisy.com
· 2026-09-28
Senator Josh Hawley is calling on Flock Safety's chief executive to testify before the Senate next week over the company's automated license plate reading network. Hawley argues that the surveillance technology, deployed widely across the country, threatens Americans' basic privacy expectations during everyday activities like commuting or attending church.
gizmodo.com
· 2026-09-18
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