Category «Privacy»

Senate Committee Approves Cyber Surveillance Bill

EPIC – “In a closed-door meeting, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence approved the Cyber Information Sharing Act of 2015. The bill would allow the government to obtain user information from private companies without judicial oversight. Companies would receive immunity for their disregard of existing privacy law. Senator Wyden, who opposed the measure, stated, “If …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Congress, Cybersecurity, Internet, Legal Research, Legislation, Patriot Act, Privacy

Cisco 2015 Annual Security Report

New Threat Intelligence and Trend Analysis – “Despite advances by the security industry, criminals continue to evolve their approaches to break through security defenses. Attackers are realizing that bigger and bolder is not always better. The Cisco 2015 Annual Security Report reveals shifts in attack techniques, emerging vulnerabilities, and the state of enterprise security preparedness. …

Subjects: Cybercrime, Cybersecurity, ID Theft, Internet, Privacy

Consumer Goods Industry Commits to New Guidelines on Consumer Engagement and Data Privacy

“In order to help build trust with consumers and shape the way companies, retailers and manufacturers use consumer information that is collected digitally, The Consumer Goods Forum today announced that its Board of Directors has agreed on a new set of ‘Consumer Engagement Principles’ (the “Principles”). The industry-wide Principles will act as a framework for …

Subjects: E-Commerce, Internet, Legal Research, Privacy, Social Media

Privacy elements of Apple mobile devices targeted in ongoing surveillance program

The Intercept: “Researchers working with the Central Intelligence Agency have conducted a multi-year, sustained effort to break the security of Apple’s iPhones and iPads, according to top-secret documents obtained by The Intercept. The security researchers presented their latest tactics and achievements at a secret annual gathering, called the “Jamboree,” where attendees discussed strategies for exploiting …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, E-Government, E-Mail, Internet, Patriot Act, Privacy

Wikimeida Foundation joined by civil rights groups in lawsuit against NSA surveillance

The Guardian – “The Wikimedia Foundation, Amnesty International and a host of civil rights groups sued the National Security Agency and the US Department of Justice on Tuesday challenging the mass surveillance programme uncovered by whistleblower Edward Snowden. “We’re filing suit today on behalf of our readers and editors everywhere,” said Jimmy Wales, founder of …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, E-Government, E-Mail, E-Records, Government Documents, Internet, Legal Research, Patriot Act, Privacy

Canada’s Proposed Antiterrorism Act

Via Darlene Fichter [who notes a key difference between Canadian and US legislation is no oversight body]  postings by Canadian law professors Craig Forcese and Kent Roach – [Note – Prof. Forcese also posts on national security issues here.] “Parliamentary committee hearings on bill C-51 begin next week. We have created a table consolidating recommended …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Government Documents, Internet, Legal Research, Legislation, Privacy

Federal Courts Considers FTC’s Data Protection Authority

EPIC – “A federal appeals court heard arguments today in FTC v. Wyndham, an important data privacy case. Wyndham Hotels, which revealed hundreds of thousands of customer records following a data breach, is challenging the FTC’s authority to enforce data security standards. In an amicus brief joined by legal scholars and technical experts, EPIC defended …

Subjects: Courts, Cybercrime, Cybersecurity, E-Commerce, Internet, Privacy

14 Consumer Groups Outline Shortcomings In WH Privacy Legislation

“Consumer Watchdog today joined 13 other public interest groups in a letter to President Obama outlining the shortcomings of the draft Consumer Privacy Bill Of Rights Act and pledging to work with the Administration and Congress to strengthen the “In 2 2012, you released your vision of the founding principles of consumer privacy — the …

Subjects: Congress, Cybercrime, Cybersecurity, E-Commerce, Legislation, Privacy

Rights of Passage: On Doors, Technology, and the Fourth Amendment

Braverman, Irus, Rights of Passage: On Doors, Technology, and the Fourth Amendment (February 1, 2015). Law, Culture and the Humanities, 2015, DOI: 10.1177/1743872114520893 ; SUNY Buffalo Legal Studies Research Paper No. 2015-017. Available for download at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2571482 “The importance of the door for human civilization cannot be overstated. In various cultures, the door has …

Subjects: Courts, Legal Research, Privacy

Identity Theft Tops FTC’s Consumer Complaint Categories Again in 2014

News release: “Identity theft topped the Federal Trade Commission’s national ranking of consumer complaints for the 15th consecutive year, while the agency also recorded a large increase in the number of complaints about so-called “imposter” scams, according to the FTC’s 2014 Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book, which was released today. Imposter scams – in which …

Subjects: Government Documents, ID Theft, Internet, Privacy

EPIC Challenges Samsung’s Surveillance of the Home, Files FTC Complaint

“EPIC has filed a complaint to the Federal Trade Commission about Samsung’s SmartTvs. “Samsung routinely intercepts and records the private communications of consumers in their homes,” EPIC wrote. EPIC detailed widespread consumer objections and charged that “privacy notices” do not diminish the harm to American consumers. In setting out the privacy violations, EPIC cited the …

Subjects: Congress, Legislation, Privacy