According to Telecompaper, Google has changed its privacy policy in the Netherlands to comply with its data protection laws. The Dutch privacy regulator (the "CBP") determined last year that Google combines and uses the personal
data of internet users without first obtaining permission according to its laws. Google acquires personal information about its users when they are logged into Google and from other data sources, such as Internet searches, location data, videos, and emails.
While this is a welcome development, why did the CBP have to threaten Google with a multi-million dollar fine before it agreed to change its privacy policy? Will Google soon change its U.S. privacy policy to actually protect the personal privacy of its users? Since Google led the charge to gut Maryland's student privacy law earlier this year, I doubt it will do so.
The bottom line is that the U.S. FTC and state attorney generals should follow the E.U.'s lead when it comes to protecting our digital privacy. The more data that companies such as Google, Facebook, data brokers, etc... are allowed to collect and utilize the less safe we become since privacy and security are bedrocks of a democratic society.
Troubling practices and antiquated thoughts about data privacy continue to be a national security threat. My hope is that our regulators and elected leaders will soon take the appropriate actions necessary to enforce and update our data privacy laws to better protect us and our children.
Copyright 2015 by The Law Office of Bradley S. Shear, LLC All rights reserved.
Showing posts with label Social Media Privacy Law Seminar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Social Media Privacy Law Seminar. Show all posts
Friday, July 10, 2015
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
Apple CEO Blasts Facebook and Google For Privacy and Security Practices
Earlier this week, I attended the Electronic Privacy Information Center's (EPIC) annual Champions of Freedom Awards Dinner. According to its website, "EPIC is an independent non-profit research center in Washington, DC.
EPIC works to protect privacy, freedom of expression, democratic values,
and to promote the Public Voice in decisions concerning the future of
the Internet." The event honored those who have made a significant contribution to protecting our personal digital privacy and cyber security.
This year, Richard Clarke, Tim Cook, Kamala Harris, and Susan Linn were honored. Each of these honorees have performed excellent work in furtherance of protecting our personal privacy and safety from online and offline threats. Richard Clarke and Susan Linn were in attendance while Tim Cook and Kamala Harris who both live in California spoke to the audience remotely.
The most passionate remarks of the evening came from Apple CEO Tim Cook. He discussed the importance of strong privacy protections in digital products and services and blasted those companies (i.e. Facebook and Google) that provide free services in exchange for selling their customers' personal information to data brokers.
I do not utilize Facebook or Google products/services for any private communications and I do not recommend anyone who values their digital privacy and safety to do so either because the practices of these companies enable very troubling data mining that may lead to discrimination when applying to college, applying for credit, and when applying for a new job. For several years, it has been known that Facebook sells its users' personal information to data brokers; however, Google's troubling data broker agreements were not as well known until The Wall Street Journal recently reported that Google is combining users' offline purchases with their digital activity.
Privacy is a civil rights issue and in order to stay a free society we must ensure that no private or public entity is allowed to destroy it. The bottom line is that digital privacy and cyber safety go hand and hand and organizations such as EPIC work to better protect us from companies such as Facebook and Google that have troubling privacy policies and practices.
Copyright 2015 by The Law Office of Bradley S. Shear, LLC All rights reserved.
This year, Richard Clarke, Tim Cook, Kamala Harris, and Susan Linn were honored. Each of these honorees have performed excellent work in furtherance of protecting our personal privacy and safety from online and offline threats. Richard Clarke and Susan Linn were in attendance while Tim Cook and Kamala Harris who both live in California spoke to the audience remotely.
The most passionate remarks of the evening came from Apple CEO Tim Cook. He discussed the importance of strong privacy protections in digital products and services and blasted those companies (i.e. Facebook and Google) that provide free services in exchange for selling their customers' personal information to data brokers.
I do not utilize Facebook or Google products/services for any private communications and I do not recommend anyone who values their digital privacy and safety to do so either because the practices of these companies enable very troubling data mining that may lead to discrimination when applying to college, applying for credit, and when applying for a new job. For several years, it has been known that Facebook sells its users' personal information to data brokers; however, Google's troubling data broker agreements were not as well known until The Wall Street Journal recently reported that Google is combining users' offline purchases with their digital activity.
Privacy is a civil rights issue and in order to stay a free society we must ensure that no private or public entity is allowed to destroy it. The bottom line is that digital privacy and cyber safety go hand and hand and organizations such as EPIC work to better protect us from companies such as Facebook and Google that have troubling privacy policies and practices.
Copyright 2015 by The Law Office of Bradley S. Shear, LLC All rights reserved.
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