The Lone-star Surveillance State

The Lone-star Surveillance State
This week in the Weekly News Roundup, we look at the increasing surveillance state through the app stores including Google and Apple Services. Meanwhile, many EU organizations are ditching US cloud-based companies for their services.

The Lone-star Surveillance State
Texas has passed a bill requiring age verification on all apps downloaded on app stores requiring accounts. This massive overreach has privacy-focused organizations concerned.

Texas Leading the Surveillance State
https://www.cpomagazine.com/data-privacy/new-texas-app-store-law-mandates-age-verification-for-all-users-beginning-in-2026/

https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2025/10/apple-voices-concerns-over-age-check-law-that-could-put-user-privacy-at-risk

https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB02420S.HTM

https://securityaffairs.com/183143/cyber-crime/discord-denies-massive-breach-confirms-limited-exposure-of-70k-id-photos.html

https://techcrunch.com/2025/10/13/california-becomes-first-state-to-regulate-ai-companion-chatbots/

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/13/california-law-online-age-checks-00606115

https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/10/13/governor-newsom-signs-bills-to-further-strengthen-californias-leadership-in-protecting-children-online/

https://legiscan.com/CA/text/AB1043/id/3273385

https://legiscan.com/CA/text/SB243/id/3273344

https://www.kidswebservices.com

https://www.k-id.com

Ditching the Surveillance State
https://news.itsfoss.com/schleswig-holstein-email-system-migration/