The Rutherford Institute is demanding that a Massachusetts school district cease its practice of requiring students to complete surveys asking overtly intimate and sexually suggestive questions without their parents’ knowledge or written consent. In a letter to the Fitchburg City School Committee, Rutherford Institute attorneys warn that by allowing these surveys to be administered to…
Category: Featured News
Wireless carriers reveal location privacy policies
Cecilia Kang reports: The nation’s top wireless carriers say they all collect personal information, including location data, about subscribers and use much of that information to tailor marketing pitches for more services. In letters responding to lawmakers’ questions, they described varied policies on protecting data and how long they retain location and other sensitive information…
Apple denies tracking iPhone users, but promises changes
Gregg Keizer reports: Apple today denied that it tracks iPhone and iPad users, saying that “users are confused” about the issue. In a statement posted on its Web site, Apple defended the practice, but admitted that there were bugs in its software that would be fixed “in the next few weeks” with an update to…
State Dept. proposes “Biographical Questionnaire” for passport applicants
Papers, Please! calls our attention to this stunning over-reach of surveillance: The U.S. Department of State is proposing a new Biographical Questionnaire for passport applicants. The proposed new Form DS-5513 asks for all addresses since birth; lifetime employment history including employers’ and supervisors names, addresses, and telephone numbers; personal details of all siblings; mother’s address…