CyberLaw Blog

Archive for the ‘Data Misuse’ Category

US orders data lock down in wake of Wikileaks release: “

Shuts stable door on ‘largest data spillage in American history’

The US government on Monday enacted new policies designed to prevent mass leaks similar to one rolled out over the weekend, when Wikileaks released thousands of classified diplomatic cables.…

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(Via The Register – Public Sector.)

EU data protection – protecting privacy and personal information

Safeguarding privacy in the digital age

Justice and citizens rights – 05/11/2010

Plans to give consumers more control over how personal information is collected and used.

In the age of the internet and globalisation, it’s getting harder to keep your personal details private. Shopping online or sharing photos and personal information on social networking sites such as Facebook have become part of daily life.

While the EU’s existing rules on protecting personal information are among the strongest in the world, they need to be updated to reflect changes in technology and the way we live. A new data protection strategy aims to ensure people are aware of what happens to the information they share with companies, public authorities and social networking sites.

Holders of personal information, such as internet service providers or search engines, would have to reveal who is collecting data and for what purpose.

The strategy will introduce the concept of the ‘right to be forgotten’ – to ask for your data to be completely removed once it has served its original purpose.

Currently, only telecommunications companies must inform consumers if their personal details are unlawfully accessed. The strategy would extend that requirement to other sectors, such as the financial industry.

Companies would only be able to send personal information outside the EU if the recipient was in a country offering a similar level of data protection.

Personal information held by the police and criminal justice authorities would also be protected. National data protection regulators would be strengthened and encouraged to work together more closely to prevent abuses.

The strategy also aims to cement a common approach across the EU. Because countries do not apply current rules consistently, it’s not clear what law apply in what circumstances. That can be an obstacle to doing business when it holds up the legitimate flow of information. Under the revised law, multinational companies would only have to deal with one set of rules.

You have until 15 January to share your thoughts on the strategy. Comments will feed into the proposed legislation, due out in 2011.

(Via .)

Facebook confirms applications’ breach of privacy rules: “Facebook has confirmed that some applications on the social networking platform are passing on the identity of users to third parties in violation of its policies.“

(Via OUT-LAW News.)

Law firm could face first £500,000 data leak fine: “A law firm could be fined up to £500,000 by the Information Commissioner after the sensitive personal data of thousands of people was reportedly made public in error.“

(Via OUT-LAW News.)

ACS:Law’s mocking of 4chan could cost it £500k: “

Doin’ it for the lulz

Off-the-cuff bravado aimed at internet pranksters has led to what must already rank as one of the worst ever data leaks, by the anti-filesharing solicitors ACS:Law.…

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(Via The Register – Public Sector.)

UK data watchdog to quiz Google on Streetview Wi-Fi database: “

What are you up to?

Sharp criticism of Google in Germany has today prompted the UK’s privacy watchdog to quiz the firm over data its Street View cars have collected about Wi-Fi networks.…

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(Via The Register – Public Sector.)

Google Street View whacked by German prosecutors, Czech data watchdog: “

Wi-Fi slurping spycars scrutinised in Europe

Google came under increased fire in Europe yesterday, after German prosecutors and the Czech data protection agency launched separate investigations into the company’s interception of private Wi-Fi data.…

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(Via The Register – Public Sector.)

Google Data Admission Angers European Officials: (New York Times)
European privacy regulators and advocates have reacted angrily to the disclosure by Google, the world’s largest search engine, that it had systematically collected private data since 2006 while compiling its Street View photo archive. After being pressed by European officials about the kind of data the company compiled in creating the archive — and what it did with that information — Google acknowledged that it had collected snippets of private data around the world. In a blog post on its Web site, the company said information had been recorded as it was sent over unencrypted residential wireless networks as Google’s Street View cars with mounted recording equipment passed by

(Via QuickLinks Update.)

Germany Asks Google to Surrender Private Data: “The demand by a German regulator increased pressure on the company over its collection of private data from unsecured home wireless networks.

(Via NYT > Technology.)

Google claims its privacy protections are adequate in response to regulators’ criticisms: “Google has responded to the criticisms of 10 privacy commissioners and their demands that it improve its record on the privacy protections in new product launches by saying that it is already doing enough on privacy.“

(Via OUT-LAW News.)