Cecilia Kang reports: As LinkedIn prepares to sell its stock to the public, the social network for professionals is warning of a potential threat to its business: Internet privacy laws. In a filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission this month, the startup said a push by federal regulators to create first-time privacy rules “could…
Category: Business
GunnAllen Financial executives settle with SEC over charges they failed to protect confidential customer information
The Securities and Exchange Commission has charged three former brokerage executives for failing to protect confidential information about their customers. The SEC’s investigation found that while Tampa-based GunnAllen Financial Inc. was winding down its business operations last year, former president Frederick O. Kraus and former national sales manager David C. Levine violated customer privacy rules…
UK: No prosecution will be brought against Phorm and BT for breaching privacy laws
The crown prosecution service (CPS) has said there is not enough evidence to bring a case against a software company accused of breaching data protection laws. Phorm provoked controversy when it trialled a targeted-ad system through internet service provider BT. The trial, which took place in 2006, was conducted without the knowledge or permission of…
Do certain mobile apps violate the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act?
Caroline Belich writes: According to the Wall Street Journal and other sources, federal prosecutors in New Jersey are investigating whether certain mobile applications for smartphones have illegally obtained or transmitted information about their users. Part of the criminal investigation is to determine whether these app makers made appropriate disclosures to users about how and why their personal…