Briar is in maintenance mode

This is a quick update about the status of Briar. Short version: the project is still active but we’re only making essential security updates and bugfixes for now.

Long version:

For several years we’ve been trying to find solutions to some of the longstanding issues with Briar, such as high battery usage and unreliable background operation on Android, missing features like account backup and file attachments, and a difficult user experience for adding contacts and communicating offline.

We considered completely rebuilding the application from the ground up, or even splitting it into separate applications for online and offline use. Meanwhile, the project didn’t have funding, we were reluctant to look for funding without having a long-term plan, and so we could only work on Briar in our spare time.

Last year, we decided that we wouldn’t realistically be able to solve these issues and so we reluctantly decided to shut down the project. We worked on releasing a final update for Android and desktop to allow the app to remain functional for as long as possible. In the meantime we were hearing a lot of supportive words from people we had told about our decision, and the app continued to attract new users. So finally we decided to continue the project in maintenance mode. We’re only making essential security updates and bugfixes for now, but eventually we hope to make some incremental progress on those longstanding issues.

We’re sending out this update because some rumours have been circulating that the project is shutting down, based on conversations we had with people in the internet freedom and privacy community last year. Those rumours are out of date: the project is continuing.

Briar has received funding from the Small Media Foundation, the Open Internet Tools Project, Access Now, the Open Technology Fund, the Prototype Fund, Internews, the NLnet Foundation, the Next Generation Internet programme, the ISC Project and eQualit.ie.
Contact

Nico Alt <nico@briarproject.org> [PGP key]

Torsten Grote <torsten@briarproject.org> [PGP key]

Michael Rogers <contact@briarproject.org> [PGP key]

Mastodon: @Briar

#briar #briarproject #tor #privacy

https://briarproject.org/news/2026-maintenance-mode/

€7.1B in cumulative GDPR fines. 443 breach notifications a day. A named body every EU resident can file a complaint with.

None of that exists without a data protection authority — and most jurisdictions don't have one.

New explainer: what's actually missing.

https://www.leaklens.org/explainers/what-a-data-protection-authority-does

#GDPR #DataPrivacy #Privacy

The protest group Everyone Hates Elon is taking on Meta Glasses over surveillance.

Huff Post: Kylie Jenner's Dystopian Meta Glasses Get Brutal Backlash: 'It’s Giving Fascism, Not Fashion Hun' https://www.huffpost.com/entry/kylie-jenner-meta-glasses-fascist_n_6a565e74e4b0540b8c7b111a @huffingtonpost #Meta #surveillance #privacy

I deleted Google in 30 days — diary

Photos, files, calendar, search — replaced in four weekends with free self-hosted apps. The hard part was starting; the shocking part was how little I missed.

https://selfhost.directory

#Sysadmin #Homeserver #Opensource #Privacy #Devops #Foss

WIN!

UK government decides not to "limit" VPNs

https://www.techradar.com/vpn/vpn-privacy-security/we-decided-not-to-limit-vpns-uk-government-u-turns-on-age-gating-privacy-tools

#cybersecurity #cybersec #vpn #vpns #privacy #onlineprivacy

Over The Edge 2.0: what independent researchers found about browser choice on #Windows

https://blog.mozilla.org/en/mozilla/browser-choice-windows-report-over-the-edge-2/

#privacy #Microsoft

"Midori 11.9 brings revamped Control Center, interface improvements, and better ad blocking"

"This release brings a reorganized Control Center, making it easier for users to customize their browsing experience. Astian has launched version 11.9 ofMidori, its cross-platform and open source web browser built onMozilla Firefox."

https://alternativeto.net/news/2026/7/midori-11-9-brings-revamped-control-center-interface-improvements-and-better-ad-blocking/

#Firefox #OpenSource #Privacy #Mozilla

LAPD lets contract with surveillance giant Flock expire, citing ‘serious concerns’ over civil liberties and privacy

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is reportedly ending its deal with Flock Safety, a surveillance company that helps law enforcement track vehicles using thousands of its license plate cameras placed across the United States.

#LosAngeles #California #LAPD #police #slpr #flocksafety #surveillance #privacy #technology #tech

https://techcrunch.com/2026/07/13/lapd-lets-contract-with-surveillance-giant-flock-expire-citing-serious-concerns-over-civil-liberties-and-privacy/

https://deflock.org/

An open-source project mapping license plate readers. These systems continuously record your movements without a warrant, probable cause, or even reasonable suspicion.

#deflock #flocksafety #alpr #surveillance #privacy

Leaving Google in 4 commands

Takeout → Immich → rclone → Nextcloud. 84GB moved home in an evening, Google demoted to a spam folder. The whole playbook lives in the directory.

https://selfhost.directory

#Devops #Linux #Bigtech #Privacy #Degoogle #Software

VPNs are key to cybersecurity.

They keep young people safe online. Remote working possible. Journalists, activists and whistleblowers protected. Public WiFi use secure.

But, parents should talk to children about VPNs and ensure they use a reputable company that protects data.

Find out more ⬇️

https://social.openrightsgroup.org/@openrightsgroup/116776718285610543

#vpn #cybersecurity #privacy #onlinesafety #ukpolitics #ukpol

Open Rights Group » 🌐 2026-06-19
@openrightsgroup@social.openrightsgroup.org

The UK government could announce restrictions on VPNs next month.

This would threaten our privacy and security.

VPNs keep young people safe from harassment. Businesses secure. Journalists, activists and whistleblowers protected.

Here's why we must #ProtectVPNs 🧵

Sign the petition if you agree ⬇️

https://action.openrightsgroup.org/tell-government-protect-vpn-use-uk

#vpn #vpns #cybersecurity #privacy #onlinesafety #onlinesafetyact #ageverification #StopKillingTheInternet #ukpolitics #ukpol

Fantastica Brave ads oggi 🤩

Swap Dash to/from anything 🔄

Dash ovunque 🌐

Milioni di persone stanno vedendo una delle grandissime novità di Dash 👀

Stiamo cucinando pesantemente e tutti cominciano a sentire il profumo 👨‍🍳👩‍🍳😜

💙

#Dash #Ads #Marketing #DEX #Swap #SelfCustody #Citiz3nGlitch #FinancialFreedom #LiveOnDash #LiveOnCrypto #DigitalCash #Web3 #BuiltToLast #Crypto #DAO #Privacy #Freedom #Trustless #Sovereignty #Fundamentals #Evolution 🧬

https://x.com/ItaliaDash/status/2077357608399237420?s=20

Alt...

Fantastica Brave ads oggi 🤩 Swap Dash to/from anything 🔄 Dash ovunque 🌐 Milioni di persone stanno vedendo una delle grandissime novità di Dash 👀 Stiamo cucinando pesantemente e tutti cominciano a sentire il profumo 👨‍🍳👩‍🍳😜 💙 #Dash #Ads #Marketing #DEX #Swap #SelfCustody #Citiz3nGlitch #FinancialFreedom #LiveOnDash #LiveOnCrypto #DigitalCash #Web3 #BuiltToLast #Crypto #DAO #Privacy #Freedom #Trustless #Sovereignty #Fundamentals #Evolution 🧬 https://x.com/ItaliaDash/status/2077357608399237420?s=20

🔒 Reports say cyberstalkers are abusing Google Chrome Sync to monitor victims’ web activity—without spyware—by briefly signing in on a device with an attacker-controlled Google account. Experts urge users to check connected Chrome accounts and remove any unfamiliar one. 🕵️‍♀️ https://cyberinsider.com/chrome-sync-increasingly-abused-to-stalk-unsuspecting-victims/ #cybersecurity #privacy #safety

Europe’s digital sovereignty push is reshaping how public organizations evaluate open source platforms, cloud providers, and infrastructure control. 🌍
The shift goes beyond software licenses, focusing on data portability, interoperability, security, and reducing dependency on external vendors. 🔓

🔗 https://fossforce.com/2026/07/what-europes-digital-sovereignty-push-means-for-open-source-platforms/

#TechNews #OpenSource #DigitalSovereignty #Europe #EU #Linux #Drupal #Privacy #Interoperability #DataProtection #Technology #Security #FOSS #Cloud #OpenWeb #Public #Government

Fake cell towers don't announce themselves.
RayHunter: hotspot + EFF detector for Stingray-style mass surveillance.
https://www.tindie.com/products/garden/rc400l-rayhunter-hotspot/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=rayhunter_awareness&utm_content=hacker_desk_1
#privacy #infosec

📌 Oggi nel mondo Dash 🧵

➡️ Riepilogo della giornata sul nostro gruppo Telegram 📩

🚨 Brave - Zebec - Everywhere 🌐🤩🚀

🤝 Unisciti a noi per discuterne liberamente 👇🗣
👉 https://t.me/dash_chat_italia/86303

🫶 Sostieni la crescita di Dash Italia con un caffè ☕️🌱
🔷 Indirizzo Dash: XxVhbTGzWoBzLFqJXzAFJYk5AxhsM14w1E
🔷 Evolution username 🧬: DashItalia - MascaSimo

$DASH #Dash #BuiltToLast #Crypto #Web3 #Privacy #Freedom #News #DashTo8000

Alt...

📌 Oggi nel mondo Dash 🧵 ➡️ Riepilogo della giornata sul nostro gruppo Telegram 📩 🚨 Brave - Zebec - Everywhere 🌐🤩🚀 🤝 Unisciti a noi per discuterne liberamente 👇🗣 👉 https://t.me/dash_chat_italia/86303 🫶 Sostieni la crescita di Dash Italia con un caffè ☕️🌱 🔷 Indirizzo Dash: XxVhbTGzWoBzLFqJXzAFJYk5AxhsM14w1E 🔷 Evolution username 🧬: DashItalia - MascaSimo $DASH #Dash #BuiltToLast #Crypto #Web3 #Privacy #Freedom #News #DashTo8000

ZDNet: Is that QR code a trap? How to spot quishing scams before it’s too late. “Quishing, or QR code-based phishing, embeds malicious links in QR codes to bypass traditional phishing filters and slip through security nets. The lure is the same: create a sense of urgency, appeal to our greed, instill fear and panic, or promise rewards for scanning the QR code with our phones and clicking the […]

Data brokers collect your address, relatives, income estimate, and daily routine. They sell it to anyone who pays.

#databrokers #privacy #indigoprivacy

Data brokers collect your address, relatives, income estimate, and daily routine. They sell it to anyone who pays.

#databrokers #privacy #indigoprivacy

Apple’s Hide My Email reportedly exposed users’ real email addresses through an unfixed flaw disclosed over a year ago, weakening a core privacy feature. 🔒
Researchers say Apple was notified in 2025, yet the exploit remains, highlighting transparency and user-control concerns for privacy tools. ⚠️

🔗 https://mashable.com/tech/apple-hide-my-email-major-vulnerability-leaks-email-addresses

#TechNews #Apple #iPhone #iOS #Mac #HideMyEmail #Email #Mail #Privacy #Cybersecurity #iCloud #EmailSecurity #DataProtection #Infosec #DigitalRights #Technology #Security

Apple’s App Store reportedly logs every tap and keystroke for personalized recommendations, with researchers claiming the data is tied to user accounts and sent unencrypted. 🔐
The reported collection cannot be disabled and raises transparency and user-control concerns for privacy, as Apple expands on-device activity tracking. ⚠️

🔗 https://www.osnews.com/story/145322/apple-adds-keylogger-to-ios-app-store-for-targeted-advertising-tied-to-your-account-and-unencrypted/

#TechNews #Apple #AppStore #Privacy #iPhone #iOS #Advertising #Ad #Cybersecurity #DataProtection #DigitalRights #Infosec #Technology #Security

Daily Digest | 15 July 2026

Your daily dose of Privacy, Data Protection, AI & Cybersecurity news.

5 stories you should not miss.

Read more: https://www.nicfab.eu/daily-digest/

#Privacy #AI #GDPR #Cybersecurity #TechLaw

Florida police records allege an officer used DMV data and a license plate reader to track a woman he met before stopping her in traffic. 🚔
Investigators say he knew the database access was unauthorized, highlighting surveillance abuse risks and the need for stronger oversight. 🔒

🔗 https://www.404media.co/footage-shows-cop-stalking-woman-he-met-on-a-tv-set-after-surveilling-her-with-a-license-plate-reader/

#TechNews #Surveillance #Privacy #LicensePlateReaders #LawEnforcement #Law #Cybersecurity #DigitalRights #DataProtection #Infosec #Technology #CivilLiberties #Government #Florida #USA #US