November 21 — Today, the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) submitted comments in response to the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding a Trade Regulation Rule on Commercial Surveillance and Data Security. As EPIC explains: The unchecked spread of commercial surveillance over the last two decades has led to a data…
Category: U.S.
NCLA Files Class-Action Against Massachusetts for Auto-Installing Covid Spyware on 1 Million Phones
From the New Civil Liberties Alliance, information on a case that was filed on November 14: Case Summary: The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) worked with Google to auto-install spyware on the smartphones of more than one million Commonwealth residents, without their knowledge or consent, in a misguided effort to combat Covid-19. Such brazen…
Security firms are turning NYC’s street trees into surveillance posts for guards
Jake Offenhartz reports: New York City’s security companies are embracing a new tool in their mission to protect private property: public trees. In recent months, security contractors have quietly drilled electronic “tokens” into the trunks of city street trees. Guards scan the trackers with their phones, providing real-time data on the status of their patrols….
Amazon launches virtual healthcare clinic in U.S. for common ailments
Reuters reported: Amazon.com Inc on Tuesday launched Amazon clinic, a virtual platform where users can connect with healthcare providers to help treat common ailments like allergies and skin conditions. Amazon has for years sought to expand its presence in healthcare, where it is a small player. It bought online pharmacy PillPack in 2018, underpinning a…