Hacker News Recap December 16th, 2025 | 8M users' AI conversations sold for profit by "privacy" extensions
Dec 17, 2025
A controversial privacy extension has reportedly sold 8 million users’ AI conversations. A new tool, ALPR.watch, aims to improve license plate recognition using open-source libraries. Skepticism arises as critics argue current tech often fails to create meaningful change. GitHub prepares for pricing adjustments, raising concerns among developers. Fraudulent fundraising has targeted children with cancer, resulting in millions lost. Plus, a photorealistic synthesis method, leadership changes at Mozilla, and a new open-source OS for Kobo eReaders are discussed.
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Privacy Extensions Can Betray Users
- Browser extensions marketed as privacy tools can exfiltrate and sell sensitive AI conversations from millions of users.
- This reveals a fundamental mismatch between privacy claims and monetization practices in consumer tooling.
ALPR Made Easy With Open Tools
- ALPR.watch uses open-source libraries to extract license plates and track vehicle movements.
- Such accessible tooling makes deployment easy but raises ethical and surveillance concerns.
Hype Versus Practical Impact
- Many argue current tech trends often reinforce existing systems instead of solving core societal problems.
- Hype around AI and automation can obscure their limited practical impact on real-world issues.