Case Studies Highlighting Systemic Privacy Vulnerabilities

This lesson presents four impactful case studies that underscore significant systemic flaws in privacy protections across various sectors. Each case reveals critical gaps in data security, governance, and ethical practices, serving as cautionary tales for organizations and individuals alike.

1. Tracking US Soldiers in Germany

• Article: “How Phone Data Tracks US Soldiers and Spies in Germany”

• Key Insight:

Over 3 billion phone data points were used to track military movements, exposing vulnerabilities in how location data is collected and potentially exploited. This breach highlights the risks posed by the commodification of personal data, even in high-security contexts.

2. Meta’s €263M Fine for 2018 Security Breach

• Article: “Meta fined €263M over 2018 security breach that affected ~3M EU Facebook users”

• Key Insight:

A design flaw in Facebook’s “View As” feature allowed attackers to generate access tokens, compromising the data of millions of users globally. This breach underscores the importance of rigorous testing and proactive vulnerability assessments in platform design.

3. Microsoft Debunks Office AI Data Scraping Rumors

• Article: “Microsoft debunks Office AI data scraping rumors”

• Key Insight:

Misunderstandings arose regarding Microsoft’s use of customer data from Microsoft 365 apps for AI training. The confusion stemmed from ambiguous privacy settings for “optional connected experiences,” highlighting the need for clear and transparent communication about data use policies.

4. Volkswagen Systematically Recording EV Movement Data

• Article: “Volkswagen Recording EV Movement Data Exposes 800,000 Owners”

• Key Insight:

Volkswagen’s software subsidiary, Cariad, left sensitive movement data from over 800,000 EVs unprotected in Amazon cloud storage. This included detailed GPS location data linked to owners’ personal information, exposing serious risks to privacy and security.