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Posts Tagged ‘Privacy’

White House taps former Twitter lawyer as first Chief Privacy Officer

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Two months after appointing Todd Park as Chief Technology Officer, the White House has picked Nicole Wong for the newly created position of Chief Privacy Officer. Details about the job are still MIA, but she’ll likely be working closely with Park. One thing’s for sure, though: Wong brings some serious Silicon Valley cred to the table, having worked on product copyright and privacy issues at Google for eight years and, more recently, serving as Twitter’s legal director. If you recall, the EFF gave that social network high marks when it released its annual report last week — an auspicious sign if we’ve ever seen one.

Filed under: Internet

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Via: CNet

Microsoft’s latest ‘Scroogled’ ad attacks Android with privacy fears

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Author: Jenny Zhao

Scroogled_papers_large

Microsoft’s anti-Google campaign is getting a fresh revival this week with a new focus on Google’s Android app store. After directly attacking Gmail and Google Shopping, Microsoft is now attempting to spread fear over Google’s policy of supplying the name, email address, and neighborhood of users who purchase apps on Google Play. In two fresh videos posted to the Scroogled site, Microsoft attempts to convince users to switch to Bing and Windows Phone over Android.

“If you can’t trust their app store, maybe you can’t trust them for anything,” says a narrator in one particular video, suggesting users try Bing. Another focuses on trying to push Windows Phones. The campaign centers on Google’s policy of providing basic information to…

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Facebook responds to Home privacy concerns, specifies what it will and won’t know

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Author: JohnnyBells

Some of the discussion about Facebook Home since its debut yesterday has related to concerns that it gives the social network too much access to user’s information, and now Facebook has responded. Its blog post specifies that Home is subject to the same controls as everything else in a user’s Facebook account. It states that Facebook will not track user’s location any differently than the existing app, and while it could see what apps are launched, it can’t observe what actions are taken within them beyond the already existing Facebook API hooks. As far as information that is collected, it will have a list of apps that are in the Home launcher, and tracks data including which apps are responsible for notification, which is kept identifiable for up to 90 days.

Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Google, Facebook

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Source: Facebook Blog

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Google Director of Privacy Alma Whitten to step down

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Author: Tiffany Shoman

Alma Whitten, who was selected Google’s supervisor of privacy for item and engineering in 2010 after the Street View WiFi brouhaha, will be leaving her post, Google has actually confirmed to The Verge. Throughout Whitten’s tenure, the search titan has combined its personal privacy policy and pushed its transparency reports, however it’s had a couple of bumps in the road too. According to Forbes, the ten-year Google veteran will be retiring, but is remaining on for a few more months to make sure the management shift is hassle-free. In Whitten’s stead, software engineering supervisor Lawrence You will get the personal privacy mantle for the search giant.

[Image credit: ccsrwebmaster1, YouTube]

Submitted under: Misc, GoogleCommentsSource: The Verge

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Alan Westin, scholar who helped shape internet privacy law, dies at 83

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Author: Jenny Zhao

alan westin obituary

Alan F. Westin, the lawyer and political scientist whose work shaped the way we define online privacy, died last week at the age of 83. As the New York Times reports, Westin had spent the past 40 years teaching at Columbia University, where he served as emeritus professor of public law and government. He is widely credited with spearheading the development of contemporary privacy law, most notably through his seminal book, Privacy and Freedom, published in 1967.

“He was the most important scholar of privacy since Louis Brandeis,” said Jeffrey Rosen, a professor of law at George Washington University, making reference to the Supreme Court Justice who, in the late 19th century, became the first to define privacy as a legal right. Westin…

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Privacy invasion or webcam art? ‘Screening Reality’ walks a fine line

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Author: Antonio Pierce

screening reality 1

Deep in the heart of Europe sits a huge display filled with live camera feeds from all over the world. Site visitors drop by to peer in on unsuspecting complete strangers, gazing blankly at scenes both intimate and banal– sleeping children, pedestrians, empty store fronts. A pc quietly churns nearby, bringing up brand-new video streams and with them, brand-new windows into the lives and routines of others.

It may seem like something out of a dystopian future, but for Pierre Derks, it’s reality.

Derks, 33, is a Dutch graphic designer and artist whose most recent installation, Screening Truth, assembles 805 live provides from insecure IP cameras to create a spectacular– if somewhat surprising– digital tapestry. The exhibition, which opened at the LhGWR Gallery in …

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FTC issues mobile privacy guidelines, values clarity and Do Not Track

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Author: Stefanie Jenkins

The FTC has actually made on-line personal privacy among its bigger missions as lately, presuming as to develop a full personal privacy framework that it wishes others will follow. Its counsel is extending to the mobile globe with a brand-new report complete of suggestions for personal privacy inside apps, advertisements and mobile operating systems. Some of the advice includes distinctly sound judgment measures, such as requesting privacy authorizations at a pertinent moment or requiring clear disclosures as to what info leaves the gadget. Other suggestions need more effort: the FTC would such as to see devoted privacy dashboards inside of apps, privacy policies that show up straight from app shops and a basic Do Not Track option baked into both mobile web browsers as well as ads. The recommendations aren’t binding, and they’re only mostly beneficial when we have actually currently seen functions like Do Not Track find their method into newer platforms like iOS 6 and Windows Phone 8. Still, the report is potentially a worthwhile read for designers– specifically those that wish to remain on the FTC’s great side.

Declared under: Cellular phones, Net, MobileCommentsVia: ReutersSource: FTC

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New Glasses Thwart Facial Recognition Scanners, Marking Trend In Privacy Wearables

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Author: Jamie Colby

In an unexpected twist against the rising tide of image-capturing modern technologies, an engineer has created glasses that thwart facial acknowledgment scanners. Tokyo’s National Institute of Informatics Teacher Isao Echizen ’ s “ Privacy Visor ” emits an infrared light source that supposedly puzzles facial acknowledgment software. Last week, an additional designer revealed a stealth hoodie that shuts out the thermal radiation scanners used by spy drones, marking exactly what can be a trend in personal privacy wearables.

“ Essential measures for avoiding the invasion of privacy triggered by photos absorbed secret and unintentional capture in camera images is now needed, ” said Professor Echizen, whose clunky-looking prototype still needs an individual wallet power source to operate. Previously, users can cake on hefty make-up or turn their head 15 degrees to puzzle scanners, but, according to Slate, the teacher found that Google ’ s Picasa envision management software might still recognize him – prompting him to prepare a more sophisticated disguise.

Last week, designer Adam Harvey introduced a line of “ Stealth Use ” for what he jokingly described as the “ fashionably paranoid market. ” Harvey ’ s concept line consists of an “ anti-drone ” hoodie with metalized material and unique cell phone pouch to shut out cellular phone tracking.

Harvey was an early pioneer in the room, making headlines for an anti-paparazzi handbag that immediately gives off a photo-obscuring burst of light in response to camera bulbs.

The government, however, isn ’ t waiting for the private sector to discover a fashion-friendly solution to personal privacy concerns. Facebook ’ s recurring efforts into automatic photo-tagging software and retail mannequins that scan buyers have prompted aggressive advances from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to regulate the brand-new modern technologies.

Obviously, similar to any philosophical motion, there ’ s a minimum of an equal and contrary reaction. Last autumn, British maker OMG Picture (yes, that ’ s their actual name) revealed Autographer, a high-resolution wearable camera that automatically logs up to 2,000 images a day.

With any luck, paranoid individuals and lifebloggers will spark a privacy/life-capturing arms race of ever-clunkier wearables. Because, truthfully, we wear ’ t have enough to consider currently.

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Google updates Santa tracking algorithm, reopens North Pole privacy debate

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Author: James Cliff

Old Saint Nick may be full of mystery and magic most of the year, but as soon as December 24th rolls around, all eyes are on the jolly fat man, especially in this era of always-on social media. Sure, it’s not the first to track Santa, but Google’s been in on the sled following game since 2004. Naturally, the company has refined its approach a bit over the years, and for 2012, Google’s offering up a new algorithm to track Mr. Kringle and his eight tiny reindeer’s route. The site counting down to the start of the Google Earth tracking is now live and you can also get in on the fun via a new Chrome Extension. As to whether you’ve been naughty or nice, you’ll just have to consult the traditional social media channels.

Filed under: GPS, Transportation, Internet, Software, Google

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Via: Google Maps Blog, Google+

Source: Santa Tracker, Google Chrome Store

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FTC introduces changes to Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, parental permission now required to collect information

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Author: Brittany Turner

The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (or COPPA) was first introduced back in 1998, but you don’t have to look very far to realize the internet has changed quite a bit since then. Today, the FTC is attempting to address some of those changes by introducing the first major revision to the act. Among the biggest changes is that operators of websites or online services will now have to seek permission directly from parents in order to collect information from anyone under the age of 13 when they have “actual knowledge that they are collecting personal information through a child-directed website or online service.”

In another change related to that, the FTC has also clarified that “personal information” now includes geolocation data in addition to photos and videos, and it says it has closed a loophole that allowed apps and websites to collection information through plug-ins. The agency will not, however, hold companies like Apple and Google liable for apps from other companies which attempt to collection information from children, and it will permit “contextual advertising” to children without the need for parental consent. You can find the FTC’s full announcement of the changes after the break.

Continue reading FTC introduces changes to Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, parental permission now required to collect information

Posts Tagged ‘Privacy’

White House taps former Twitter lawyer as first Chief Privacy Officer

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Microsoft’s latest ‘Scroogled’ ad attacks Android with privacy fears

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Facebook responds to Home privacy concerns, specifies what it will and won’t know

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Google Director of Privacy Alma Whitten to step down

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Alan Westin, scholar who helped shape internet privacy law, dies at 83

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Privacy invasion or webcam art? ‘Screening Reality’ walks a fine line

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FTC issues mobile privacy guidelines, values clarity and Do Not Track

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New Glasses Thwart Facial Recognition Scanners, Marking Trend In Privacy Wearables

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Google updates Santa tracking algorithm, reopens North Pole privacy debate

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FTC introduces changes to Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, parental permission now required to collect information

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