Privacy Papers for Policy Makers Event
For those of you who are unable to join us in person for the announcement of the leading “Privacy Papers for Policy Makers,” we have extended the following two options: To view the “Privacy Papers for Policy Makers” event live, click here: http://www.law.gwu.edu/News/Videos/Pages/Privacy.aspx This event will be available for viewing on September 15 from 8 […]
"HTTP Everywhere" Browser Security – A Step In the Right Direction
The following piece is a guest blog from Mark Goldstein, CIPP. Goldstein is a privacy/security consultant and previously served as a senior director in AOL’s consumer advocacy and privacy department. Most consumers are aware that they should look for the “padlock” icon on their browser when visiting their online bank. The “padlock” tells the consumer […]
The Future of Privacy Legislation: A Conversation with Congressmen Rick Boucher and Cliff Stearns
On Wednesday, Representatives Rick Boucher (D-VA) and Cliff Stearns (R-FL), Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet, spoke exclusively with the Future of Privacy Forum and a select group of privacy advocates, academics, and members of the business community about the discussion draft of privacy legislation the Congressmen […]
Google: Delete Here, Not There!
Our “privacy community” readers are probably very well aware that Google has recently admitted that the company’s Street View cars had been collecting the contents of communications sent over unsecured WiFi networks. The European authorities are incensed about this revelation and today we read reports that the FTC may be investigating. We trust that regulators, […]
Online Behavioral Advertising "Icon" Study
Executive Summary: In May 2009, the Future of Privacy Forum launched a research initiative to examine new methods for communicating with users about online advertising and privacy. This study assessed the communication efficacy of behavioral advertising disclosures based on icons and short disclosures placed near webpage advertisements as an alternative to providing transparency and choice […]
Ubiquitous Biometrics
Guest Post from privacy expert Kathy Harman-Stokes Speakers at the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) 2010 Biometrics Conference emphasized the value of “ubiquitous biometrics.” For biometrics to become ubiquitous, one speaker said biometrics should be widely used for facilities access, by employers for time and attendance recording of employees, and customer identification for various transactions, […]
Folks really need to get the message about flash cookies
Flash Cookies Could Become Hot-Button Privacy Issue Wendy Davis, MediaPost Web users are not yet deleting Flash cookies as often as they shed more traditional cookies, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to use Flash technology to track consumers online. That’s according to a new report commissioned by media audit company BPA Worldwide. […]
Social Networking: Your Key to Easy Credit
Social Networking: Your Key to Easy Credit? CNBC.com By Erica Sandberg January 13, 2010 You probably don’t analyze the chatter or quality of your social media connections, but creditors may be doing just that. In their quest to identify creditworthy customers, some are tapping into the information you and your friends reveal in the virtual […]
Important Comments by the FTC Chair and the Consumer Protection Chief to the NY Times Today
http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/11/ftc-has-internet-gone-beyond-privacy-policies/ Some key points excerpted here: “Previous commissions had looked at privacy under the framework of whether consumers were harmed, and with the basis that companies must advise consumers about what they’re doing and obtain their consent, Mr. Leibowitz said. But companies “haven’t given consumers effective notice, so they can make effective choices,” he said. […]
Major utitility launches Microsoft home energy manager – opt-in.
“It’s interesting that customers have to opt-in to Hohm, via Microsoft’s web site, rather than being automatically enrolled. It shows that the utility is probably looking to give its customers a choice.” So says expert commentator Katie Fehrenbacher at earth2tech. We love Katie’s reporting and have learned a great deal about the grid industry from […]