Ken Dilanian of AP grabs the exclusive: Years before Edward Snowden sparked a public outcry with the disclosure that the National Security Agency had been secretly collecting American telephone records, some NSA executives voiced strong objections to the program, current and former intelligence officials say. The program exceeded the agency’s mandate to focus on foreign…
Category: Govt
NSA reform bill lives or dies tonight
I know the headline sounds like a season cliff-hanger promo, but we really should see some drama tonight in Congress. Dan Froomkin writes: Nearly a year and a half after American citizens first learned they were being spied on by their own government, the U.S. Senate tonight will definitively vote to end bulk surveillance of…
FTC takes action against businesses that lie to us about threats to our computers
Sometimes I find out about FTC enforcement actions before the FTC has disclosed anything. Case in point (no pun intended), Courthouse News reports: Inbound Call Experts et al. defraud consumers by lying about threats to their computers, the FTC says. There is no mention of this case on the FTC’s site (yet).
TRUSTe Settles FTC Charges it Deceived Consumers Through Its Privacy Seal Program
From the FTC: TRUSTe, Inc., a major provider of privacy certifications for online businesses, has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that it deceived consumers about its recertification program for company’s privacy practices, as well as perpetuated its misrepresentation as a non-profit entity. TRUSTe provides seals to businesses that meet specific requirements for consumer…