Jan. 25, 2012 – Who Would Pay $5,000 to Use Google? (You), SmartMoney
New research finds people fork over $5,000 worth of personal information a year to Google in exchange for access to its “free services” such as Gmail and search. While many view this as a fair trade, privacy experts say the Internet giant’s latest plan to pool user data from its various sites make it less […]
FPF to Present at the ICAC Tech Expo
Today, FPF will demonstrate its application privacy site, www.applicationprivacy.org, at the Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee’s 15th Annual Kickoff Reception and Technology Exhibition. The expo will be in the Hart Senate Office Building, Room 902 from 5 to 7pm this Wednesday evening. The event is open to the public, so please come to check out […]
FPF Survey: Free Mobile Apps Better than Paid on Privacy Policies
“We weren’t surprised to discover that free apps were doing better than paid apps, because free apps are more likely to be dependent on advertising and tracking and have more to disclose than paid apps,” explained Polonetsky. “Although a privacy policy isn’t the final word when it comes to communicating with consumers about how their data is used, companies providing policies show that they have taken an essential step to document their practices and provide legal accountability for their actions,” he added.
“With resources for app developers like our resource site, applicationprivacy.org, and privacy policy generators provided by TRUSTe and PrivacyChoice.org, there is no excuse anymore for app developers not to provide consumers with privacy policies,” said FPF Co-Chairman Christopher Wolf.[…]
Nov. 29, 2011 – FTC Slaps Facebook’s Hand Over Privacy Deception, Wired News
Facebook is settling government charges it “deceived” users that their information would be kept private, although it was “repeatedly” shared with the public, the Federal Trade Commission announced Tuesday. The deal, which carries no financial penalties, demands that the social-networking site obtain “express consent” of their 850 million users before their information “is shared beyond […]
Nov. 23, 2011 – Publishers Leak Usernames, IDs To Third Parties, Mediapost
Despite promising that they won’t reveal users’ personal data, some of the most highly trafficked Web sites transmit usernames, email addresses, addresses, and even birth dates to ad networks and other third parties, a new study confirms
Nov. 15, 2011 – Privacy Seems to Remain Facebook’s Biggest Problem, TechLeash
Being on Facebook always had its risks. You register, sign in and built yourself a pretty neat profile, but if you forget or are oblivious to making some adjustments to your privacy settings, you can be pretty sure that everybody might have access to your personal information and whatever you post on the site (ranging from pictures […]
Nov. 11, 2011 – Facebook-FTC Privacy Settlement Near, Leaks Say, Sci-Tech Today
It’s one of the drawbacks of being on Facebook: If you never make any adjustments to your privacy settings, you can assume everyone can see everything you post, or do, while using the giant social media network . Facebook, founded by Mark Zuckerberg in 2004 and now claiming an astonishing 800 million users seems ready to give […]
FTC Is Not Surprised That A Lot Of Children Are On Facebook
Mamie Kresses, Senior Attorney for the FTC’s Division of Advertising Practices, said she thought the findings from the research “miss the mark in some places” and that it is no surprise that there are a lot of kids on Facebook. Kresses added that parents want to be involved in their kids’ online activity and “that is what COPPA is about.” She emphasized that social networks have the option of providing notice and consent to allow children under 13 to participate under COPPA, while also recognizing that COPPA has costs associated with it.
French DPA Issues Guidance for Cookie Disclosures: Specific Consents Required for Specific Cookie Functions
In 2009, a French ordinance was put in place pursuant to the EU e-Privacy Directive (2009/136/EC), requiring online businesses and other websites to obtain prior user consent for the placement of cookies on users’ computers. The prior consent issue has been a contentious one in Europe recently, with the Article 29 Working Party rejecting proposals […]
FPF Advisory Board Member Professor Danielle Citron Comments on Study Showing Parents Facilitating Facebook Use for Kids Under 13
FPF Advisory Board Member Danielle Citron, the Lois K. Macht Research Professor of Law at the University of Maryland School of Law comments in Concurring Opinions on a study released this week by Danah Boyd, Eszter Hargittai, Jason Schultz, and John Palfrey that Professor Citron says “sheds new light on COPPA’s failings” and underscores the need for universal privacy […]