The Vermont Public Service Board has dropped its investigation into whether AT&T and Verizon shared Vermont residents’ telephone calling records with the National Security Agency (NSA). The Board said it was dropping the probe in light of the fact that the FISA Amendments Act passed in 2008 by Congress gave the companies immunity against any…
Category: Business
Barwatch: Privacy ruling a risk to public safety
A ruling by B.C.’s privacy commissioner that an identity-scanning technology used by dozens of bars and clubs in the province violates privacy laws may put public safety in jeopardy, the chairman of Vancouver Barwatch said Friday. “Our fear is that his ruling has put Barwatch out of business, and that every gangster and every nutbar…
Wal-Mart to revamp its privacy policy
One month from now, Wal-Mart will unveil a radically changed privacy policy, one that envisions a merged channel world, where consumers are as likely to use their phone and laptop to interact with Wal-Mart as much as they would walk into a store or speak with a call center. The policy talks about data not…
Amazon Kindle doomed to repeat Big Brother moment
Yes, Amazon chief Jeff Bezos has apologized for the Orwellian removal of Orwell from digital book readers tucked inside the pockets of American citizens. And yes, the new-age retailer has promised not to repeat its Big Brother moment. But that’s not a promise it can promise to keep. […] Amazon doesn’t distribute books to the…