Privacy

Public Watchdog Calls for Boycott of Heath Database Over Privacy Issues

December 18, 2014 · Mark Reback

<div class="newsCategoryContent"> It didn’t take the spectacular hacking of Sony computers for consumers to be aware that their privacy is at risk every time someone new gets some of their data. Hackers attack everywhere—financial institutions, retailers, government, universities, medical institutions—and security precautions don’t seem up to the task.

Groups Skeptical Of Auto Makers’ Privacy Pledge

December 16, 2014 · Mark Reback

WASHINGTON (Dec. 16, 2014) — Auto makers’ formal pledge to protect the privacy of consumers is inadequate for that purpose, according to the <a href="http://www.autocare.org/Default.aspx?gmssopc=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Auto Care Association</a> (ACA) and advocacy group <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Consumer Watchdog</a>. The Alliance of American Manufacturers (AAM) and the Association of Global Auto makers (AGA) recently issued their “Consumer Privacy Protection Principles.” In that document, auto makers vowed to:

California Stem Cell Institute Unveils ‘CIRM 2.0’

December 11, 2014 · Mark Reback

The first life that California's stem cell research funding agency saves may be its own. With the clock ticking 10 years and $2.2 billion into an as-yet-unfulfilled quest for new cures, the San Francisco-based California Institute of Regenerative Medicine is overhauling itself with a new, business-friendly approach aimed at speeding therapies to patients' bedsides.

Consumer Watchdog Joins Call For FTC To Probe Topps For COPPA Violation

December 9, 2014 · John M. Simpson

<img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2838" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/images_toppslogo.jpg" style="width: 230px; height: 110px; float: right;" width="784" height="374" /> Consumer Watchdog has joined the <a href="http://www.democraticmedia.org/">Center for Digital Democracy</a> and eight other organizations in asking the <a href="http://FTC.gov">Federal Trade Commission </a>to investigate and take enforcement action against the <a href="http://www.topps.com/">Topps Company</a> for violating the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act.

Group Asks FTC to Investigate Michael Eisner’s Topps Company

December 9, 2014 · Mark Reback

A coalition of consumer and children's organizations has asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Topps candy and trading card company, which is owned by Michael Eisner, for allegedly violating the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act Rule, according to the Center for Digital Democracy, which filed the <a href="http://www.centerfordigitaldemocracy.org/sites/default/files/Topps%20Request%20for%20Investigation%20Final%20w%20Appx%2012.9.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">complaint</a> on Tuesday.

Complaint Says Ring Pop Campaign Violated Children’s Privacy

December 9, 2014 · Mark Reback

In many ways, it was a typical social media marketing campaign featuring user-generated content — only this promotion involved a brand popular with children.

European Action Focuses Debate On Right To Be Forgotten

December 6, 2014 · John M. Simpson

Op-Ed: Restore ‘Privacy by Obscurity’

December 5, 2014 · Mark Reback

Since a Court of Justice ruling in May, Europeans have had the right to ask Internet search engines like Google to remove links from their name to information that is inadequate, irrelevant, no longer relevant or excessive. Popularly, this has been dubbed the “right to be forgotten.” It’s an important way to protect privacy in the digital age. Google and the other search engines like Microsoft’s Bing and Yahoo should, if they care about users’ privacy as they claim, extend this important protection to Americans.

Editorial: Doctors Have Incentives To Drug Foster Kids

November 28, 2014 · Mark Reback

"Follow the money" is the rule in politics for figuring out the real reason something not quite logical is happening.

Yahoo Wants To Personalize Your Smartphone’s Home Screen

November 28, 2014 · Mark Reback

Mark Daiss’ smartphone is more knowledgeable than the average device. It memorizes the Yahoo employee’s habits and where he lives and works. It can guess his next move and help him find the way to his next meeting. When he plugs in his headphones, it knows he wants to listen to music. At any moment, his phone will suggest what he should know, and download information based on his location, the time of day and his own routine. It’s sort of like Samantha, the futuristic computer operating system in the movie “Her” — without the sexy voice.

Europe Votes For Fairer Search Results

November 27, 2014 · Mark Reback

<table class="maintd"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="archivestory" colspan="3"> European Parliament vote sends clear message to regulators to go tough on Google Internet giant Google, already found guilty of abusing its dominant market share in online search to give its own products and services an unfair competitive advantage, has been given a clear signal of disapproval from Europe.

AT&T To Pay California $52 Million In Hazardous Waste Disposal Settlement

November 20, 2014 · Mark Reback

Nov 20 (Reuters) - <a class="mandelbrot_refrag" data-ls-seen="1" href="http://www.reuters.com/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=T&lc=int_mb_1001">AT&T</a> Inc will pay $52 million in civil penalties and environmental compliance as part of a settlement with California over illegal dumping of hazardous waste but won't be required to clean up the resulting contamination, state officials said on Thursday.

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