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In a follow-up to my 10/22/02 posting on trusted computing, globetechnology.com addresses the issue of how PC users will increasingly be forced to comply with industry imposed digital rights management solutions if they want to use most of the applications on the PCs.
American Online has launched AIM Enterprise Services. Using this technology, companies can now monitor all instant messages sent by employees. In addition, AOL hopes to realize some increased revenue as well, with a per seat cost of $35. See this Washington Post for more information.
EPIC has published The Privacy Law Sourcebook 2002, is a good choice for researchers who want to have the full text of major privacy laws and directives in one easy to use source, as well as associated links to privacy resources on the web.
Outlook 11, from Microsoft, will offer a whole range of new applications, but the one that is receiving special notice is a “back to the future” function that will purportedly help to kill spam. In version 11, preview mode will no longer provide access to imbedded images and HTML formatted text, which can actually be …
Web site privacy issues have received their share of press recently, accompanied by proposals to facilitate a greater sense of security for users concerning the collection and distribution of their personal data. However, there has been little in the way of associated follow-through in this area, on either the part of large, mainstream e-commerce sites …
The GAO today released their report, Employee Privacy: Computer-Use Monitoring Practices and Policies of Selected Companies. Balancing the employee’s right to privacy and the employer’s right to protect their organization against inappropriate use of PCs were key factors in this investigation. Information for the report was gathered through interviews and surveys completed by 14 of …
Formerly the UK Information Commissioner, Elizabeth France is now the “UK’s first telecommunications ombudsman.” She will be a forceful advocate on behalf of individual’s whose personal data has been disseminated without their knowledge or permission. Some background on the role of the ombudsman is here.
Advocacy groups the ACLU, EPIC, the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression and the Freedom to Read Foundation have sued the DOJ under FOIA in an effort to obtain documents related to the implementation of the Patriot Act that involve libraries, bookstores and newspapers.
Iwon.com has responded swiftly to a 10/22/2002 report by TechTV.com documenting iWon’s use of a malicious spyware program users were encouraged to downloaded as part of a promotional effort to win money. Not only was the use of this software in violation of iWon’s own stated privacy policy, it has proved to be almost impossible …
The trusted computing model is advocated by an alliance of technology heavyweights – Compaq, HP, IBM, Intel and Microsoft, and involves issues such as privacy, digital rights management, and the marginalization of open source software. The implementation of increasingly complex proprietary encryption programs automatically installed on PCs via software applications and required upgrades has resulted …
There are hidden consequences to downloading freeware programs from web sites. The cost of free software is often an agreement to be subjected to a constant barrage of pop-up ads. However, there is a higher price that may be involved – spyware programs that often tag along in download process. Once activated, spyware programs can …
The ABA has published a new book focused on protecting companies from claims associated with employee use of e-mail and the Web. The book is titled Employee Use of the Internet and E-Mail: A Model Corporate Policy With Commentary on Its Use in the U.S. and Other Countries. See the press release here.
