"online privacy" entries
U.S. Senate to consider long overdue reforms on electronic privacy
The silver lining in the role of cloud-based email in the CIA Director's resignation is a renewed focus on digital privacy.
In 2010, electronic privacy needed digital due process. In 2012, it’s worth defending your vanishing rights online.
This week, there’s an important issue before Washington that affects everyone who sends email, stores files in Dropbox or sends private messages on social media. In January, O’Reilly Media went dark in opposition to anti-piracy bills. Personally, I believe our right to digital due process for government to access private electronic are just as important.
Why? Here’s the context for my interest. The silver lining in the way former CIA Director David Petraeus’ affair was discovered may be its effect on the national debate around email and electronic privacy, and our rights in a surveillance state. The courts and Congress have failed to fully address the constitutionality of warrantless wiretapping of cellphones and the location of “persons of interest.” Phones themselves, however, are a red herring. What’s at stake is the Fourth Amendment in the 21st century, with respect to the personal user data that telecommunications and technology firms hold that government is requesting without digital due process.
On Thursday, the Senate Judiciary Committee will consider an update to the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA), the landmark 1986 legislation that governs the protections citizens have when they communicate using the Internet or cellphones. (It’s the small item on the bottom of this meeting page.)
UPDATE: Senator Leahy’s manager’s amendment to ECPA passed but Politico’s Tony Romm reports that the full Congress is unlikely to pass ECPA reform in this session.
Passage of CISPA in the U.S. House highlights need for viable cybersecurity legislation
Cybersecurity bills must balance protection with online privacy and civil liberties.
The passage of the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA) in the U.S. House of Representatives has raised grave concerns about is potential effect on digital privacy and civil liberties.
FTC calls on Congress to enact baseline privacy legislation and more transparency of data brokers
Ed Felten has launched a new blog to explain tech to citizens and engage the technology community.
The FTC's consumer privacy report recommends Congress pass a strong consumer privacy law that provides rules of the road for entities that deal with sensitive data. FTC technologist Ed Felten offered common sense privacy guidance for startups and entrepreneurs.
At the eG8, 20th century ideas clashed with the 21st century economy
The eG8 shows online innovation and freedom of expression still need strong defenders.
While the first eG8 Forum in Paris featured hundreds of business and digital luminaries, some of the policies discussed should be of serious concern to entrepreneurs, activists, media and citizens around the world.
Apple iTunes gifts users with a privacy hole
An iTunes privacy issue uncovered by Andrew McAfee highlights the need for better privacy by design.
The Apple iTunes gift function comes with a privacy issue: whoever is making the gift can see if the recipient already owns a song, video or app. The mechanism illustrates why privacy needs to be baked into electronic commerce from the beginning.
The tricky mix of payment, identity and trust
Online payment requires confirmed identity, but who sees what is an open question.
Report excerpt: Online payment providers need to be sure you are who you say you are, but that's just the beginning. Is it possible to lead an active social life online and still have control over your online identity?
2010 Gov 2.0 Year in Review
Here are the themes, moments and achievements in the Gov 2.0 world that made an impact in 2010.
In a year of immense change, the issues that mattered most were the ones that made governments work better or improved the lives of citizens.
The convergence of Google, government and privacy
A look at the issues and toolsets driving the online privacy discussion.
Google's new privacy tools highlight the complexity of controlling data, identity and personal information online. Alex Howard takes an in-depth look at Google's current tools and he discusses upcoming services and updates with Google representatives.
ECPA reform: Why digital due process matters
The shift to cloud computing puts Electronic Communications Privacy Act reform in the spotlight.
Academics, technology companies, and privacy and civil liberties advocates are in agreement: the laws governing electronic privacy need an update. In these video interviews, four professors and the ACLU counsel reflect on "digital due process."