On July 1, Online Privacy Act AB 68, the nation's first privacy law directed at protecting consumers in online businesses transactions will go into effect. Among the requirements that the new law mandates are: online posting of privacy policies, providing detailed informing to consumers on the different types of personally identifiable information that is collected, informing users how they may change their personal information, and defining how changes in privacy policy will be communicated to customers.
First online privacy law looms , Computerworld, June 24, 2004
The workplace has evolved far beyond the four walls of the office suite to include a cyber existance that spans the globe. As electronic communications in the form of E-mail, instant messaging, peer-to-peer, blogs, broad Internet access, chat rooms, intranets, and interactive Web sites have found their way into the everyday work world. Now employers and employees are heading for a new challenge--the redefining of what is and what is not private.
Denny Strigl, president and chief executive officer of Verizon Wireless stated his opposition to a wireless directory of celephone customer numbers in a keynote address before The Yankee Group's Wireless Leadership Summit in New York. He based his opposition on customers' privacy, and control over their bills and unwanted calls.
As more consumers are lured into providing personal information to enter contest, receive freebees, and for other purposes the chance of that information findings its way on the web grows. The shrinking universe of private information that is still private will be felt more and more. The debate on the consequences of the new era of accessible personal information is just beginning.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is warning banks and financial institutions to be weary of sending personal financial information of customers to be processed in locals that do not follow strict standards for managing private information. The FDIC suggests that banks and financial institutions know the subcontractors who they are dealing with to ensure that privacy is a key component of the arrangement.
Wal-Mart is testing Radio Frequency Identification tags (RFIDs) at its Sanger, Texas, distribution centre and a number of retail outlets across the United States. Privacy rights advocates are working to get legislation in place to regulate the use of the technology prior to it becoming broadly used in consumer products. Wal-Mart and other companies, including chemical giant Procter & Gamble, have developed RFIDs reportedly with help from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Wal-Mart tests alternative to bar code, Special to The Globe and Mail, June 3, 2004
Six Connecticut residents took less than an hour to decide that monitoring of rental car drivers to see if they speed is okay. The Acme Rent-a-Car company located in New Haven, Connecticut used satellite tracking to monitor drivers and charging them for violations. The case involved a $450 deduction from the checking account of James Turner, an Acme rental car customer, who the company alleged was speeding in a van rented from them.
Philadelphia AIDS patients are being asked to participate in a survey that used confidential medical records to get their contact information. Philadelphia Health Department personnel 18 months ago began the survey under the supervision of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and their Department. Pennsylvania State law allows disclosure of personal health information for surveillance purposes, but not for research.
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) would love to start a security file on you. This summer coming to travelers is an offer they can afford to pass up: CAPPS 2.1: Computer-Assisted Passenger Pre-Screening System. What happens if you volunteer to have a background check done and the answer comes back that you are a security risk? Better learn to like long distance bus trips. Can you find out why you are a security risk? No. Can you correct incorrect information? No.
Travelers to lose privacy, gain security system, USA Today, June 10, 2004
Plans for the 24-hour camera surveillance of a large stretch of Baltimore City covering the area from the city's Inner Harbor to the Bay Bridge is in the works. The State of Maryland�s homeland security authorities have begun work on this video camera network scheduled to go live this summer. When privacy concerns are raised about this new system state officials reply �we�re at war.� The project is funded by a $24 million grant from the Homeland Security Department.
24-hour camera surveillance in city is part of bigger plan, Baltimore Sun, June 10, 2004
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority announced a change in procedure that will allow passenger searches. The change is in response to the bombing in Madrid Spain that killed 191 commuters earlier this year. It is expected that the new process will be in place for the Democratic National Convention July 26-29. Other forms of transportation will also see security procedures tightened: Greyhound Bus Stations will be using metal detectors.
Boston to search train commuters, USA TODAY, June 8, 2004
Federal government contractors are working for a new technology link up with RFID and the new immigration identification tracking laws. The basic idea involves equipping border stations with technology that can remotely read RFID-equipped identity cards to verify fingerprint information. The pressure is on to be able to rapidly identify people entering the country to prevent a human log jam at boarder crossing points.
U.S. May Use New ID Cards At Borders, Washington Post, June 5, 2004
Beginning on December 1st residents in western states will be able to order a free credit report from the big three credit reporting bureaus. Each credit bureau eventually will set up a Web site, a toll-free phone number and a mailing address for people to request reports. The free consumer credit reports are required under the consumer-privacy legislation President Bush signed into law last December.
The Federal Judiciary strongly opposes the presence of live transmission technology in courtrooms during proceedings. Now that picture cell phones are coming into common use the administrative office for Federal Courts is deciding on whether they will be allowed in Federal Courtrooms. Any decision by the administrative office would be voluntary, but some Federal District and Appeals courts already ban the use of cell phones during proceedings.
Cell phone cameras getting day in court--or not, CNET NEWS.COM, June 4, 2004
It could be the person who sent you the e-mail if they take advantage of an Internet web site called �didtheyreadit.com.� The site is offering a service that will report on whether e-mail sent to a recipient is opened. The covert surveillance e-mail service is drawing criticism from privacy rights groups like the Electronic Information Center (EPIC). In the past e-mail services like Eudora offer an option to let recipients volunteer to senders that they have received the e-mail. It�s almost like having an informant tell a visitor to your home that you are really there, but you are choosing not to respond to the door bell.
Who Got the Message? There's a Way to Know, New York Times, June 3, 2004
U.S. Supreme Court Justice William H. Rehnquist appointed Dee Benson to serve on the secretive 11-member intelligence surveillance court. Judge Benson who served as Utah's Chief Federal Judge will serve on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance court until 2011. The judges on the court rotate every week or so to hear cases. The U.S. Justice Department figures reflect that 1,727 warrants were issued by this Court in 2003, which is a huge increase over the 934 approved in 2001.
Work to spark the debate of RFID technology�s application in consumer products is attracting the attention of privacy activist and lawmakers. Several privacy groups have raised concerns about the rapid advancement of RFID technology into mainstream consumer products without the establishment of government regulation to determine their appropriated use. RFID technology may mean that although consumers purchase products�part of those purchases will remain under the control of the sellers or manufactures.
The Department of Homeland Security announced a five-year development contract with Accenture, a Reston, Virginia company for the U.S. Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology (US-VISIT) program. The first contract goal is to develop the program management structure for the US-VISIT program. The second goal is to implement the program at the 50 busiest US ports by December 31, 2004.
Legislation approved by the California State Senate would require employers to inform employees of cyber monitoring activity. The Senate Bill 1841 would force companies to disclose their review of employee e-mail, web surfing, and whether GPS tracking technology is present in company vehicles. In a 2003 survey of "e-policies and practices" the American Management Association found that 52 percent of organizations read employees' e-mail, an increase from a 2001 survey.
