David Kravets reports: Google “likely” breached a U.S. federal criminal statute in connection with its accidental Wi-Fi sniffing — but not for siphoning private data from internet surfers using unsecured networks, a former federal prosecutor said Tuesday. Ironically, says former prosecutor Paul Ohm, it’s likely Google did not violate wiretap regulations, but instead might have breached…
Category: Featured News
Appeals court absolves firm that exposed man’s SSN
What constitutes a privacy harm? For those of us covering data breaches and privacy breaches, there’s been a somewhat disturbing trend by courts to restrict the notion of “harm” to unreimbursed financial harm due to a breach. Worry, embarrassment, time lost, and increased risk of future harm are recognized as being consequences, but generally, plaintiffs…
Got porn? Australian customs can search your computer
Chris Anderson reports: By now you probably already know that if you head to Australia, customs officers can search electronics devices for porn upon entry. A question has appeared on Incoming Passenger Cards asking people if they are carrying pornography. If a passenger ticks “Why yes, yes I am carrying porn officer!” then that passenger’s…
Adoptees in Argentine DNA fight defend right to not know where they come from
Usually when I read a story about adoptees and privacy, the issue is the adoptees wanting to be able to determine their biological parents. Michael Warren of the Associated Press has an interview with some adoptees in Argentina who do not want to be forced to give DNA if it proves that their adoptive mother,…