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Bill Closing Email Privacy Loophole Clears Committee December 03, 2012 
A bill to protect email privacy cleared a key U.S. Senate committee last week, buoying the spirits of privacy advocates. The proposed law would close a loophole in the 1986 Electronic Communications Privacy Act, which allows the government to peep on email more than 180 days old without a warrant. "We're very happy about it. It's a very good first step," said Chris Calabrese, legislative counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union.
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If You Believe Your Internet Content and Webmail are Private, Read This... November 14, 2012 
Do you really believe your Web-based email is private? Let's start with Terms of Service or Privacy Policies, which few people actually read. In 1986, the Stored Communications Act was initially designed to protect telephone records, not Internet activity. There was not much Web activity then, since there were no browsers.
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Facebook Welcomes Newbies With Privacy Grand Tour November 05, 2012 
Facebook has rolled out a round of security features intended to better educate new users about what information they can keep private and how. Now, when new users sign up for the site, they will have the option to take an online privacy tour to get information on its privacy policies.
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FTC Furrows Brows Over Facial-Recognition Tech October 24, 2012 
The FTC hopes to nip facial-recognition problems in the bud before things go too far. The agency offered guidelines for companies developing the technology in a staff report released this week. The purposes for using facial recognition tools range from identifying a criminal to displaying a highly customized ad.
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Compete Swallows Hard to Settle FTC Privacy Charges October 23, 2012 
Compete has agreed to settle FTC charges that it used its Web-tracking software to collect personal data without disclosing the extent of its information-gathering activities, and failed to honor promises it made to protect the personal data it collected. Under the settlement, Compete must obtain consumers' express consent before collecting any data.
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UK Blocks Extradition of UFO-Seeking Hacker October 17, 2012 
Gary McKinnon, a 46-year-old British computer hacker who admits to accessing U.S. government computers in 2002, will not be extradited to the U.S. UK home secretary Theresa May reportedly said that McKinnon was "seriously ill" and that the extradition request should be withdrawn. McKinnon says he hacked the U.S. computers searching for evidence of UFOs.
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EU Gives Google a Privacy To-Do List October 17, 2012 
It appears Google is catching flak from regulators on both sides of the Atlantic. European privacy authorities have asked Google to modify its global privacy policy in order to give users a better understanding of what personal data is being collected. The move comes on the heels of rumors that the Federal Trade Commission is about to launch an antitrust suit against the company.
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Facebook Scans Private Conversations to Pad Likes October 05, 2012 
It isn't too hard to see what Facebook users Like, but on Thursday reports surfaced online about something few if any users would find likeable. It appears that sending links via private messages through the social network results in extra Likes for the link targets -- never mind that the link you're sharing may concern something you abhor. Call it a case of Like fraud.
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FTC Wades Deeper Into Online Child Privacy Thicket September 28, 2012 
The Federal Trade Commission is working on an update of the rules governing the online collection of personal information, which have remained pretty much the same since 1998. The changes to the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, however, are likely to do as much to invade children's privacy as to protect it. The proposed changes have been debated since 2009.
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EPIC Worries Facebook Could Follow You to the Mall September 25, 2012 
Facebook came under fire again on Monday as a privacy advocate called for the Federal Trade Commission to investigate the social network's relationship with data marketer Datalogix. This wasn't just another instance of what have become typical privacy concerns with Facebook.
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Mobile Phone Privacy: Buck Stops With the User September 06, 2012 
Cellphone and smartphone users have a love-hate relationship with mobile apps. While they love the functionality and enhanced user experience they bring to the table, clearly many hate the perceived privacy intrusions, suggests a newly released report from the Pew Internet & American Life Project.
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Japan Sizes Up Social Media as an Emergency Response Tool August 30, 2012 
Today in international tech news: Japan's government engages in talks about devising an official social media emergency response system. Also: Sony unveils some nifty new gadgets in Berlin, including a water-resistant tablet; a journalist is arrested for hacking a blogger's email account; and Assange supporters go on strike.
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Huawei Bets Big on Lobbyists August 28, 2012 
Today in international tech news: A Chinese phone equipment company doubles down -- more like quadruples down -- on Washington lobbyists after the House launches an investigation into possible security threats. Also: Facebook has yet another problem in Germany; a report identifies the world's fastest-growing iOS and Android markets; and Samsung leaks an internal memo about Apple.
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DoJ Stamps Out Sites Allegedly Hawking Pirated Android Apps August 23, 2012 
The U.S. Department of Justice executed seizure orders against three website domains allegedly engaged in the illegal distribution of copies of copyrighted Android cellphone apps. It is the first time that website domains involving cellphone app marketplaces have been seized, the DoJ said.
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Ecuador to UK: Hell No, Assange Won't Go August 16, 2012 
Today in international tech news: The circus surrounding Julian Assange's asylum request is in full force. Also: Germany, ever wary of data collection, reopens an investigation into Facebook's facial recognition technology; the Megaupload case takes another turn; and England's Premier League talks about shutting down online streaming.
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German Regulators Shake Fist at Facebook Over Privacy August 16, 2012 
German data protection regulators reopened an investigation into Facebook's facial recognition technology Wednesday, claiming the social network failed to comply with official requests to alter its policies to match European regulations. The Hamburg Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information wants Facebook to delete the facial data it has on users or face further action from European officials.
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Court Ruling Puts Stamp of Approval on Warrantless Cell Tracking August 16, 2012 
Law enforcement agencies may be able to freely track cellphone users
without first getting a probable-cause warrant thanks to a ruling handed
down by the United States Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Jose on
Tuesday. The judges ruled 2-1 in the case of Melvin Skinner that the police did not breach Skinner's rights by tracking his location through the signals his cellphone sent to cell towers.
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Facebook Steps Out on Mobile App Ad Tightrope August 09, 2012 
Facebook announced Tuesday that it is testing a new ad program for mobile apps in a limited beta. The system is aimed at iOS and Android developers who want to grow the audience for their apps, according to Facebook engineer Vijaye Raji. Anyone who clicks on an ad for an app will be sent to the App Store or Google Play to download it, assuming it is not already installed on the device.
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The Cloud Privacy Illusion August 08, 2012 
Privacy in the cloud may be an illusion, given the known cybersecurity risks, not to mention the laws in the U.S. and around the world that permit government agencies relatively easy access to remote data including data stored in the cloud. Of course, businesses have relied on storing data in the cloud for more than 50 years.
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eBay May Put Out the Welcome Mat for Teen Shoppers July 30, 2012 
eBay may expand its customer base by opening the site to online shoppers under the age of 18. The etailer is considering plans that would allow users between the ages of 13 and 17 to buy and sell eBay's offerings online. Children under the age of 13 are protected under the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act. The legislation dictates what websites must include in their privacy policies.
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