Bruce Schneier is a security technologist and author of “Liars and Outliers: Enabling the Trust Society Needs to Survive.” “The Internet is a surveillance state. Whether we admit it to ourselves or not, and whether we like it or not, we’re being tracked all the time. Google tracks us, both on its pages and on… Continue Reading
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Category Archives: E-Commerce
Mobile Search Moments: Understanding How Mobile Drives Conversions
Google Mobile Ads Blog: “In this era of mobility, our smartphones are always with us, keeping us connected anytime and anywhere. With this constant connectivity, weve come to expect information (literally) right at our fingertips just a search away – whether its locating the nearest sushi restaurant or booking flights for your upcoming trip. In… Continue Reading
Research – Digital records could expose intimate details and personality traits of millions
“New research, published today in the journal PNAS, shows that surprisingly accurate estimates of Facebook users race, age, IQ, sexuality, personality, substance use and political views can be inferred from automated analysis of only their Facebook Likes – information currently publicly available by default. In the study, researchers describe Facebook Likes as a generic class… Continue Reading
FTC Staff Revises Online Advertising Disclosure Guidelines
News release: “The Federal Trade Commission today released new guidance for mobile and other online advertisers that explains how to make disclosures clear and conspicuous to avoid deception. Updating guidance known as Dot Com Disclosures, which was released in 2000, the newcover of dot com disclosures report FTC staff guidance, .com Disclosures: How to Make… Continue Reading
ProPublica Profiles Data Brokers
Lois Beckett – ProPublica: “Data companies are scooping up enormous amounts of information about almost every American. They sell information about whether you’re pregnant or divorced or trying to lose weight, about how rich you are and what kinds of cars you have. Regulators and some in Congress have been taking a closer look at… Continue Reading
Ethisphere – The 2013 World's Most Ethical Companies
“Ethisphere is proud to announce the 2013 World’s Most Ethical Companies. This year’s winners represent the companies that truly go beyond making statements about doing business “ethically” and translate those words into action. This year’s WME honorees gathered from around the world on March 5-6 at the Global Ethics Summit in New York City. At… Continue Reading
Whole Foods Market© commits to full GMO transparency
“Whole Foods Market announced today at Natural Products Expo West that, by 2018, all products in its U.S. and Canadian stores1 must be labeled to indicate if they contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs)2. Whole Foods Market is the first national grocery chain to set a deadline for full GMO transparency.” [beSpacific has no affiliation with… Continue Reading
EFF- How To Opt Out of Receiving Facebook Ads Based on Your Real-Life Shopping Activity
EFF: “Facebook has announced that its teaming up with four of the worlds largest corporate data brokers to enhance the ad experience for users. Datalogix, Epsilon, Acxiom, and BlueKai obtain information gathered about users through online means (such as through cookies when users surf the web) as well as through offline means (such as through… Continue Reading
FTC Staff Report Examines Growing Use of Mobile Payments Report Includes Recommendations for Industry
News release: “As part of its efforts to ensure that consumers are protected in the growing mobile marketplace, the Federal Trade Commission issued a staff report today highlighting key issues facing consumers and companies as they adopt mobile payment services. The report, titled Paper, Plastic or Mobile? An FTC Workshop on Mobile Payments, is based… Continue Reading
A look behind the scenes at the Google news retrieval algorithm
Frederic Filloux, guardian.co.uk: “Its official blog merely mentions “6 billion visits per month” sent to news sites and Google News claims to connect “1 billion unique users a week to news content” [see The press, Google, its algorithm, their scale]…But how exactly does Google News work? What kind of media does its algorithm favour most?… Continue Reading
Paper – Open Wireless vs. Licensed Spectrum: Evidence from Market Adoption
“The Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University is pleased to announce the publication of Open Wireless vs. Licensed Spectrum: Evidence from Market Adoption, authored by Yochai Benkler, and published in the latest issue of the Harvard Journal of Law & Technology [download here]. The paper reviews evidence from eight wireless markets: mobile… Continue Reading
Internet Users May Search, Pin, Tweet and Like – But Dont Know How Their Favorite Sites Turn a Profit
“The Search Agency, a global online marketing firm and the largest independent U.S. search marketing agency, today announced wave II results of its 2012 Online User Behavior and Engagement Study, conducted online by Harris Interactive among 2,006 U.S. online adults from August 14-16, 2012. In addition to other findings, the study shows that, while Americans… Continue Reading
