Tag: Privacy

Don't be Evil1 March 2012 Changes made by Google to its privacy policy are in breach of European law, the EU's justice commissioner has said.
The policy change, implemented on Thursday, means private data collected by one Google service can be shared with its other platforms including YouTube, Gmail and Blogger.

Anger is growing in Europe about new Washington data sharing demands, in what they call a move to stop potential terrorists from entering the U.S. The requirements include fingerprints, DNA samples and cross border payments - data considered by many as private and sensitive. Travellers from countries refusing to share the information will have to apply for a visa to enter the U.S. However some EU states - like Austria and Germany - have already agreed to hand over the personal data of its citizens.

In June the EU and the United States signed the so-called SWIFT deal, giving American government officials access to all bank transactions within Europe. Eva Lichtenberger - an Austrian politician and member of the European Parliament - says there are no guarantees the data won't be misused if provided.

Lora Bentley spoke with Ashley Katz, the executive director for Patient Privacy Rights, a national non-profit consumer health privacy watchdog, just before the organization released its privacy report cards for five personal health record systems that are available for consumer use. The goal, she says, is to inform the public how the data is being used, as well as give regulators a tool with which to determine how best to regulate the emerging market for PHRs.

Make sure a privacy fence actually delivers privacy

You may build a 6-ft. high privacy fence only to find that the next-door neighbors can easily see over when they're lounging on their deck. Or you may find that your 6-ft. tall privacy fence only needed to be 4 ft. tall because surrounding areas slope away from your yard. Either way, you're wasting materials, money and time building a fence that doesn't suit your yard.

As President Barack Obama marks his 100th day in office today, weve set out to grade the 44th presidents performance on the bread-and-butter issues near and dear to Wired.com:
copyright, cyber security, science, net neutrality, transparency and privacy.
Obama scored high marks in some, but in others he may have to go to summer school.