privacy – Page 21 – SSL and internet security news

The Concept of “Return on Data”

May 20, 2019 infossl

academicpapers, datacollection, dataprotection, economicsofsecurity, privacy, Security technology

This law review article by Noam Kolt, titled “Return on Data,” proposes an interesting new way of thinking of privacy law. Abstract: Consumers routinely supply personal data to technology companies in exchange for services. Yet, the relationship between the utility (U) consumers gain and the data (D) they supply — “return on data” (ROD) — … Read More “The Concept of “Return on Data”” »

Reverse Engineering a Chinese Surveillance App

May 13, 2019 infossl

china, privacy, reverseengineering, Security technology, surveillance

Human Rights Watch has reverse engineered an app used by the Chinese police to conduct mass surveillance on Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang. The details are fascinating, and chilling. Boing Boing post. Powered by WPeMatico

Judging Facebook’s Privacy Shift

March 13, 2019 infossl

datacollection, essays, facebook, privacy, Security technology, trust, whatsapp

Facebook is making a new and stronger commitment to privacy. Last month, the company hired three of its most vociferous critics and installed them in senior technical positions. And on Wednesday, Mark Zuckerberg wrote that the company will pivot to focus on private conversations over the public sharing that has long defined the platform, even … Read More “Judging Facebook’s Privacy Shift” »

On Surveillance in the Workplace

March 12, 2019 infossl

biometrics, employment, privacy, Security technology, surveillance, tracking

Data & Society just published a report entitled “Workplace Monitoring & Surveillance“: This explainer highlights four broad trends in employee monitoring and surveillance technologies: Prediction and flagging tools that aim to predict characteristics or behaviors of employees or that are designed to identify or deter perceived rule-breaking or fraud. Touted as useful management tools, they … Read More “On Surveillance in the Workplace” »

Detecting Shoplifting Behavior

March 7, 2019 infossl

artificialintelligence, behavioraldetection, privacy, Security technology, surveillance, theft

This system claims to detect suspicious behavior that indicates shoplifting: Vaak, a Japanese startup, has developed artificial intelligence software that hunts for potential shoplifters, using footage from security cameras for fidgeting, restlessness and other potentially suspicious body language. The article has no detail or analysis, so we don’t know how well it works. But this … Read More “Detecting Shoplifting Behavior” »

The Latest in Creepy Spyware

March 4, 2019 infossl

airtravel, alarms, google, internetofthings, privacy, Security technology, spyware, surveillance

The Nest home alarm system shipped with a secret microphone, which — according to the company — was only an accidental secret: On Tuesday, a Google spokesperson told Business Insider the company had made an “error.” “The on-device microphone was never intended to be a secret and should have been listed in the tech specs,” … Read More “The Latest in Creepy Spyware” »

Facebook’s New Privacy Hires

February 4, 2019 infossl

employment, facebook, privacy, Security technology

The Wired headline sums it up nicely — “Facebook Hires Up Three of Its Biggest Privacy Critics“: In December, Facebook hired Nathan White away from the digital rights nonprofit Access Now, and put him in the role of privacy policy manager. On Tuesday of this week, lawyers Nate Cardozo, of the privacy watchdog Electronic Frontier … Read More “Facebook’s New Privacy Hires” »

How Surveillance Inhibits Freedom of Expression

November 26, 2018 infossl

censorship, china, privacy, Security technology, socialmedia, surveillance

In my book Data and Goliath, I write about the value of privacy. I talk about how it is essential for political liberty and justice, and for commercial fairness and equality. I talk about how it increases personal freedom and individual autonomy, and how the lack of it makes us all less secure. But this … Read More “How Surveillance Inhibits Freedom of Expression” »

The PCLOB Needs a Director

November 20, 2018 infossl

nsa, privacy, Security technology, surveillance

The US Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board is looking for a director. Among other things, this board has some oversight role over the NSA. More precisely, it can examine what any executive-branch agency is doing about counterterrorism. So it can examine the program of TSA watchlists, NSA anti-terrorism surveillance, and FBI counterterrorism activities. The … Read More “The PCLOB Needs a Director” »