EPIC – Senator Charles Schumer has denounced the data collection practices of “activity trackers” such as FitBit. “Activity trackers” are mobile devices that record highly personal information about the wearer and constantly analyze the wearer’s activities, including their diet, exercise, sleep, and even sexual habits. However, it is not clear whether federal privacy law protects this personal data from… Continue Reading
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Category Archives: E-Commerce
Virginia has the fastest Internet in the US – Study
PCWorld: “If you want the fastest broadband Internet in the US, consider moving to Virginia. That’s the takeaway from a new bit of research from communications firm Broadview Networks, which ranks average broadband speeds for all 50 United States and the District of Colombia. Virginia tops the list with an average connection speed of 13.7 megabits per second… Continue Reading
Privacy in Online Markets: A Welfare Analysis of Demand Rotations
O’Brien, Daniel P. and Smith, Doug, Privacy in Online Markets: A Welfare Analysis of Demand Rotations (July 1, 2014). FTC Bureau of Economics Working Paper No. 323. Available for download at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2477052 “We compare the private and social incentives for privacy when sellers can commit to transparent privacy policies that are understood by consumers. The… Continue Reading
Consumer Privacy Organizations Oppose Farcical Class Action Settlement
“EPIC, along with a group of consumer privacy organizations, has asked the Federal Trade Commission to object to an unfair class action settlement in California federal court. In 2010, Google was sued for sharing user web browsing information with advertisers. Under the proposed settlement agreement, Google will distribute several million dollars to a handful of organizations, many of… Continue Reading
HP Study Reveals 70 Percent of Internet of Things Devices Vulnerable to Attack
“HP Fortify on Demand is pleased to announce the release of its Internet of Things State of the Union Study, revealing 70 percent of the most commonly used Internet of Things (IoT) devices contain serious vulnerabilities. Why we did the study – Late last year, we were hearing a lot about Internet of Things, and a bit about IoT security,… Continue Reading
US-CERT: Backoff Point-of-Sale Malware
Systems Affected – Point-of-Sale Systems – Alert (TA14-212A) “This advisory was prepared in collaboration with the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center (NCCIC), United States Secret Service (USSS), Financial Sector Information Sharing and Analysis Center (FS-ISAC), and Trustwave Spiderlabs, a trusted partner under contract with the USSS. The purpose of this release is to provide relevant and… Continue Reading
FTC Staff Report on Mobile Shopping Apps Found Disclosures to Consumers Are Lacking
News release: “A new staff report issued by the Federal Trade Commission finds that many mobile apps for use in shopping do not provide consumers with important information – such as how the apps manage payment-related disputes or handle consumer data – prior to download. The report, What’s the Deal? An FTC Study on Mobile Shopping Apps, looked… Continue Reading
NY AG Releases Report Showing Rise In Data Breaches, Provides Security Tips To Small Businesses & Consumers
“Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today issued a new report examining the growing number, complexity, and costs of data breaches in the New York State. Using information provided to the Attorney General’s Office pursuant to the New York State Information Security Breach & Notification Act, the report, titled “Information Exposed: Historical Examination of Data Security in New… Continue Reading
26 Questions EU Regulators Want Google to Answer – WSJ
WSJ.com: “European Union privacy watchdogs grilled Google Inc. and other search engines for two hours on Thursday on how they are implementing the bloc’s new “right to be forgotten” online–and then gave them homework to do by next week, too. The main body that joins together the EU’s national data-protection regulators called the Brussels meeting with… Continue Reading
If It Prints, It Ships: 3D Printing and the Postal Service
“3D printers build physical objects out of digital designs, usually by assembling powders, metals, plastics, and other materials layer-by-layer with tremendous precision. Because the digital designs can be endlessly tweaked and modified, 3D printing turns customers into creators and taps into the current trend of mass customization. The technology is starting to have a significant… Continue Reading
FCC to ISPs: Inaccurate Disclosures Violate Transparency Rule
“Providers of broadband Internet access services must disclose accurate information about their service offerings and make this information accessible to the public. This requirement, known as the Open Internet Transparency Rule, has been in full force and effect since 2011. The Transparency Rule ensures that consumers have access to information that helps them make informed… Continue Reading
McKinsey – China’s digital transformation
“As individual companies adopt web technologies, they gain the ability to streamline everything from product development and supply-chain management to sales, marketing, and customer interactions. For China’s small enterprises, greater digitization provides an opportunity to boost their labor productivity, collaborate in new ways, and expand their reach via e-commerce. In fact, new applications of the Internet… Continue Reading
