What German startups really think of web privacy rules
As America and Europe try to harmonize their data protection regulations, startups in Berlin explain the benefits of a more level playing field. Read more »
EU v Google: Why ask one question when you can ask 69?
photo: Flickr / Thomas Leuthard
French data watchdog CNIL has sent Google a list of 69 questions about its new privacy policy that it must answer within three weeks. But the poser that Europe really wants to find an answer to is a simple one: why? Read more »
Should Apple Pay For The Bad Deeds Of Its App Makers?
A sprawling lawsuit filed in Texas this week targets Path, Instagram, Facebook and others for instructing their apps to suck up user address… Read more at paidContent »
The personalized web is just an interest graph away
You know how our social graphs are creeping into every aspect of our web lives, from search results to coupons? Well, get ready for something a lot more personal, a lot more targeted and, perhaps, a lot more creepy. Read more »
Lawsuits Mushroom Over Google Browser Tracking
photo: Getty Images / Justin Sullivan
The legal fallout continues over Google’s decision to circumvent privacy settings on the iPhone. Court records show that there are now at le… Read more at paidContent »
Facebook hasn’t fixed Friend Finder, says German group
Facebook has been slapped down again by the German authorities over privacy problems with its Friend Finder feature — but while reports suggest the social network has fixed the problem, the consumer group that launched the complaint says it is still not happy. Read more »
Senator states obvious: iOS, Android should ask before uploading photos, contacts
Almost a week after the New York Times demonstrated that iOS and Android apps could upload a customer’s photo library to a remote server without their express permission, Sen. Charles Schumer is stating the obvious: they should fix that — and he wants the FTC to investigate. Read more »
Being tracked by Google isn’t bad — it’s actually good
There has been a lot of outrage — bordering on hysteria — about Google’s new privacy policy, with some critics advising users to delete their search histories. But is there that much to fear from Google’s tracking? Not really. In fact, in many ways it is beneficial. Read more »
Why Google needs to fix Android’s image problem
One of Google’s core principles for Android was that app developers couldn’t access personal information unless they asked permission before the user installed the app. Turns out that Android doesn’t extend that protection to some of the most personal data on a phone: photos. Read more »
Google Privacy D-Day Arrives, Users Search For Snooki
At midnight, Google’s official blog posted a notice confirming that the company’s new privacy policy went into effect. Reaction so far sugge… Read more at paidContent »
Is Europe on a countdown to war with Google?
With Google and European officials clashing again, this time over the company’s new, simplified privacy policy, is it simply a one-off moment of friction — or part of an inevitable slide towards all-out conflict? Read more »
What the web is saying about Google’s privacy policy
With the launch of Google’s new privacy policy — which gives it the ability to share personal data across all of its services — European regulators are questioning its legality. Here’s what the web is saying about the spat. Read more »
Subscriber Content
The capex connection: Why we pay for privacy on the Web
For ad-supported web platforms such as Facebook, every dollar spent on infrastructure means even more money brought in by advertising — the culprit of many privacy issues. That has big implications for a company’s bottom line. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
Subscriber Content
Opportunities and challenges for mobile deals
Mobile deals combine location-aware discounts with mobile marketing campaigns. What are the largest pitfalls in this promising space, though? Privacy and security issues must be addressed to assure consumers their purchases are secure and their location is being closely guarded. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
Privacy Group Whiffs On Attempt To Enforce FTC’s Rules On Google
photo: Corbis
A federal judge today declined to order the Federal Trade Commission to take action against Google (NSDQ: GOOG) over impending changes to th… Read more at paidContent »
Stanford’s Jonathan Mayer On Fixing Privacy
photo: Jonathan Mayer's Stanford page
Jonathan Mayer is the grad student whose research on internet tracking set off an explosive series of media reports and a flurry of privacy… Read more at paidContent »
Big Tech, Obama And The Politics Of Privacy
photo: Flickr / Thomas Leuthard
The White House announced major privacy initiatives this week amidst a growing hubbub over how technology companies use consumers’ personal… Read more at paidContent »
Big tech, Obama and the politics of privacy
photo: Flickr / Thomas Leuthard
The White House announced major privacy initiatives this week amidst a growing hubbub over how technology companies use consumers’ personal data. The news sheds light on both the privacy debate and on how the players involved are attempting to maintain political control of the issue… Read more »
Mobile app companies agree to CA rules on privacy policies
Mobile privacy will still be a murky issue despite a new agreement between the state of California and six leading mobile companies over how best to help app developers comply with a California law requiring them to post a privacy policy. Read more »
Google Browser-gate: Here Come The Lawsuits
photo: Getty Images / Justin Sullivan
Like night follows day, class action lawsuits follow privacy breaches. The Wall Street Journal (NSDQ: NWS) reported on Friday that Google (N… Read more at paidContent »
Why cops, cameras and the cloud aren’t a panacea for anything
Although the idea of police officers video-recording their use of Tasers has some claiming a small victory in the quest for better transparency, the issue isn’t that simple. From providing biased evidence to possibly invading privacy, video is ultimately no different than any other data type. Read more »
Google On Defensive Yet Again In Snafu Over Ad-Tracking In Safari Browsers
photo: Corbis / Stanley Eales
Google (NSDQ: GOOG) continues to find itself in compromising positions in 2012: the latest comes after an investigation by The Wall Street J… Read more at paidContent »
Google: Android Won’t Share Personal Info With Apps Unless You Let It
photo: Tetra Images / Corbis
In response to the uproar over how mobile iOS applications have had access to address-book data without having to inform the user, Google (N… Read more at paidContent »
Updated: Time For Apple To Fix How iOS Handles Contact Data
photo: Corbis / Stanley Eales
A week after mobile social network Path found itself in the tech industry spotlight for uploading iOS contacts without explicit permission,… Read more at paidContent »
Update: Netflix Pays $9 Million To Settle Video Privacy Lawsuit
photo: Flickr / HackingNetflix
Netflix (NSDQ: NFLX) disclosed this afternoon that it will pay to settle nationwide claims that it illegally retained customers’ rental hist… Read more at paidContent »
Think you’re unique? Let Yahoo’s data trove be the judge
It’s no secret that Yahoo analyzes a lot user data, but today it’s giving the world a striking peek into how all that data is used. A new tool lets visitors work their way through demographic data to see which news stories are the most popular. Read more »
Can big data help a family business compete in big medicine?
Startup AgeTak’ s software can help insurance companies and other health organizations bring together dispersed patient data in a secure manner, according to company co-founder Pratik Verma who will pitch AgeTak’s story to venture capitalists at StartX. Read more »
Good call: Path apologizes, erases all lifted address book data from servers
Path came under fire this week when it was discovered that its iPhone app uploads user address book data without notification. In a blog post Wednesday, Path CEO Dave Morin apologized, introduced a revised app, and said the company has erased the data from its servers. Read more »
Lessons from Path and Pinterest: Tell users everything
Path and Pinterest are getting some significant backlash because of recent decisions that appeared to put their interests ahead of their users and a lack of disclosure about that behavior. It’s a welcome reminder that the trust of users is not something to be taken lightly. Read more »
Subscriber Content
Facebook’s IPO filing: ideas and implications
This report outlines the myriad issues at play in Facebook’s move, from examining how CEO Mark Zuckerberg wants to rewire the world to understanding the company’s infrastructure dependency. But from every angle, it’s clear the effects will ripple throughout the startup and tech communities. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
Facebook Mobile Ads Developing: Sponsored Stories Coming ‘Within Weeks’
It’s not digital advertising in the sense of display ads and search results, but it looks like we are getting a bit more color on what it is… Read more at paidContent »
Europe Wants Google To Freeze Its New Privacy Policy
An influential European privacy body has urged Google (NSDQ: GOOG) to “pause” its new privacy policy due to be implemented in March. The Art… Read more at paidContent »
A Second News International Paper Faces Questions In Hacking Investigation
The hacking investigation that led to the shutdown of News of the World has spread to another News International newspaper, The Times, poli… Read more at paidContent »
Google Buys Online Ads In Pushback Over Privacy
Google (NSDQ: GOOG) is purchasing display ads on websites like the *Washington Post*, an unusual move that is part of the company’s strained… Read more at paidContent »
Feds Warn Of Data Deletion In Megaupload Case, Other Docs Still Under Seal
US agents have finished copying data from servers that contain information on Megaupload, the controversial file-sharing site shut down earl… Read more at paidContent »
Google, Facebook, Twitter Execs Grilled By UK MPs On Privacy
Google (NSDQ: GOOG) executives got a rough ride from a House Of Commons committee on Monday, when they declined to systemically filter law-b… Read more at paidContent »
Sign Of The Times: Google Graffiti Pops Up In NYC
Everyone wants to chime in on Google’s privacy polices including, it seems, graffiti artists. In recent weeks, an unflattering version of th… Read more at paidContent »
Would you cut Facebook a privacy pass if it paid you?
Rightly or wrongly, Facebook catches a lot of flak for impeding on privacy by selling user information to advertisers and generally enabling too much sharing. But would users care so much if Facebook gave them a cut of the profits it generates by selling their data? Read more »
Twitter Faces Censorship Backlash
photo: Shutterstock / Lisa F. Young
The social network Twitter is facing a storm of criticism from users, after revealing that it has implemented a system that would let it wit… Read more at paidContent »
Forget the EU: How to really empower users on privacy
In the fight to determine who dictates web privacy, web users are like a a chew toy at risk of being torn asunder by two competing dogs — played this week by Google and the European Union. But the best option is empower consumers themselves. Read more »
