CyberLaw Blog

Archive for the ‘Data Protection’ Category

Privacy Concerns: German Towns Saying ‘Nein’ to Google ‘Street View’: “Google’s corporate slogan might be ‘don’t be evil,’ but some communities in northwestern Germany see something nefarious in the company’s photographing all their streets and houses. If they get their way, they will remain black holes in Google’s ambitious mapping of the universe.”

(Via SPIEGEL ONLINE - International.)

Silent calls fine for Barclaycard: “Barclaycard has received the maximum possible fine for the ‘most serious’ case of silent calls ever seen by the regulator.”

(Via BBC News.)

Liberal Democrats broke privacy laws with 250,000 calls: “The Liberal Democrats broke anti-spam laws by placing 250,000 automated telephone calls last week without prior consent, according to the UK’s privacy chief. If the party continues placing such calls, it has been warned that it could face prosecution.”

(Via OUT-LAW News.)

American ISP giants: If we Phorm, we’ll get consent: “

‘No need to legislate’

After months of controversy over ISP-level ad targeting systems from the likes of Phorm and NebuAd, three of America’s four largest ISPs have told Congress that such behavior-tracking shouldn’t exist unless web surfers give their explicit approval.…

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(Via The Register - Comms.)

Rejected From College Because Of Your Facebook Profile?: “We’ve all seen the stories about potential dates or employers scanning your social network profiles to decide what they think of you, but what about your potential university? Slashdot points us to a study suggesting that 10% of universities now examine social network profiles as part of their efforts to evaluate applicants. And, in some of those cases, the profiles hurt candidates to the point of having admissions directors change their minds. Other universities claim that they don’t think it’s right to view such ‘personal’ spaces, but you have to wonder if that view will change over time. Personally, I don’t see anything wrong with universities doing this. They’re used to just seeing a carefully controlled image of the student, and what’s on their social networking sites may reveal a lot more useful info. However, it seems like students should at least be aware that this public display of information is being added to their ‘permanent record’ for consideration at universities.

(Via Techdirt.)

Police drop BT-Phorm probe: “

‘Move along please, nothing to see’

Exclusive City of London Police have decided not to formally investigate BT and Phorm for their allegedly illegal secret ISP-level adware trials, arguing that there was implied consent from customers and it would be a waste of public money.…

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(Via The Register - Public Sector.)

Data protection watchdogs to hold hearings with Google: “An influential group of European privacy experts said this week that it will lead hearings with Google over the search giant’s claim that EU data protection laws do not apply to it.”

(Via OUT-LAW News.)

UK government responds on Phorm: “A controversial ad-serving system can be rolled out in the UK but only under strict guidelines, says the government.”

(Via BBC News.)

Bill seeks guidelines for US laptop searches: “

Some rules for border agents, please

US border agents can still snatch and search your laptop, mobile phone, or hard drive without reasonable suspicion of wrongdoing. But a bill introduced in Congress last week may enforce some guidelines on how the inspection is done.…

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(Via The Register - Public Sector.)

IPhone Takes Screenshots of Everything You Do Says Hacker: “In a webcast Thursday, iPhone hacker and data-forensics expert Jonathan Zdziarski explained that the iPhone stores a screenshot of everything you do — and that these screenshots are potentially accessible to hackers and law enforcement officials.

(Via Wired News.)