The ACLU has released a new report, ENFORCING PRIVACY: Building American Institutions to Protect Privacy in the Face of New Technology and Government Powers. The report was written by Jay Stanley. From the Executive Summary: Privacy laws are of limited value if institutions for enforcing such laws do not exist. The United States, unlike nearly…
Category: Misc
Police probe breach of NHS smartcard security as e-records launched in London
Tony Collins reports: An NHS trust at the forefront of work on the £12.7bn NHS IT scheme has called in police after a breach of smartcard security compromised the confidentiality of hundreds of electronic records. Patients in Hull have expressed their dismay that an unauthorised NHS employee has accessed their confidential records; and the local…
Biometrics sparks privacy fears in Ireland
Jared Yee reports: Collecting biometric information could put civil liberties and privacy at risk, despite considerable benefits, says the Irish Council for Bioethics (ICB). In its report, “Biometrics: Enhancing Security or Invading Privacy?”, the ICB explores privacy concerns stemming from the growing use of biometric technologies to counter identity theft. The technologies reviewed in the…
New ‘smart’ electrical meters raise fresh privacy issues for consumers
Daniel Silva reports: The new ”smart meters” utilities are installing in homes around the world to reduce energy use raise fresh privacy issues because of the wealth of information about consumer habits they reveal, experts said Friday. The devices send data on household energy consumption directly to utilities on a regular basis, allowing the firms…