Internet, Privacy | featured news

Google and privacy: 6 EU countries take action

Google - AP

Regulators in Google's largest European markets are taking joint action to try and force the company to overhaul its privacy policy.

 

Google Reader Was A Victim Of Privacy Concerns, Reports AllThingsD

After having its hand slapped for information collection and exposure mishaps -- from Buzz to, most recently, Wi-Spy -- Google is wary of running afoul of regulators over privacy mistakes. Liz Gannes at AllThingsD reports that company sources tell her this fear was part of the reason for the company's unpopular decision to pull the plug on Google Reader: [T]he shutdown wasn’t just a matter of company culture and bigger priorities, sources said.

 

Google hit by $7m Street View fine

Google has agreed to pay a record fine for collecting wi-fi data as part of its Street View service.

 

Financial info on celebs, officials leaked online

Authorities and celebrities were grappling Monday with how to respond to a website that posted what appears to be private financial information about top government officials and stars such as Jay-Z and Mel Gibson....

 

What you 'like' on Facebook can be revealing

Facebook Like - AP

Clicking those friendly blue "like" buttons strewn across the Web may be doing more than marking you as a fan of Coca-Cola or Lady Gaga. It could out you as gay. It might reveal how you vote.

 

Harvard Offers Explanation for Search of E-mail Accounts

Harvard said it had not notified most of the employees involved because it wanted to protect the one who inadvertently leaked confidential material to the news media.

 

Web-connected cars bring privacy concerns

Cars will soon be so linked into wireless networks they will be like giant rolling smartphones — with calling systems, streaming video, cameras and apps capable of harnessing the unprecedented trove of data vehicles will produce about themselves and the humans who drive them.

 

Tool Kit: Protecting Your Privacy on the New Facebook

Facebook

...And now, with Facebook’s newfangled search tool, it can allow strangers, along with “friends” on Facebook, to discover who you are, what you like and where you go. Facebook insists it is up to you to decide how much you want others to see. And that is true, to some extent. But you cannot entirely opt out of Facebook searches. Facebook, however, does let you fine-tune who can see your “likes” and pictures, and, to a lesser extent, how much of yourself to expose to marketers.

 

Twitter gives user info to US 69 percent of time

Twitter says it turns over user data to government agencies in the U.S. in 69 percent of the requests made for such information, according to a new transparency report released by the microblogging site.

 

Opaque Instagram ad policy change riles users

Instagram

Instagram, the popular photo-sharing service that Facebook bought this year, is the target of a storm of outrage on Twitter and other sites after a change in its user agreement hinted that it might use shared photos in ads.

 

Subscribe to this RSS topic: Syndicate content