Scott Cleland writes: How the FTC handles the EFF petition charging that Google has violated its enforceable pledge to protect K-12 students’ privacy will speak volumes to the world about two big things. First, whether FTC Commissioners believe Google is subject to U.S. privacy law, or not. And second, whether Google’s uniquely bad privacy rap sheet, combined with its unique “mass…
Category: Govt
White House to Establish Privacy Council
Tara Seals reports: The White House has announced plans to establish a new Federal Privacy Council, which will serve as an ecosystem for strategic thinking on privacy implementation. It will serve as a central place to coordinate and share ideas, best practices and successful approaches for protecting privacy across the government, “bringing together the best…
IRS promises to get a search warrant before spying on cellphones
Jessica Conditt reports: The IRS will no longer use “Stingray” cellphone-tracking devices unless the agency receives a search warrant supported by probable cause, in accordance with the Department of Justice’s Policy Guidance, IRS Commissioner John Koskinen says in a letter. The agency’s use of Stingray surveillance devices went public in October, though at the time it was unclear…
AU: Privacy hooliganism: Alan Jones, the NSW police and the ‘secret soccer shame file’
Public Eye reports: Last week, an odd tale emerged from the world of soccer of a government agency potentially breaching privacy law. The case has embroiled two NSW public sector agencies as well as the sport’s governing body, Football Federation Australia, and prompted talk of a lawsuit against The Sunday Telegraph. Our main interest, however, is…