Kevin J. O’Brien reports: Data protection officials in Germany reopened an investigation into Facebook’s facial recognition technology Wednesday, saying the social networking giant was illegally compiling a vast photo database of users without their consent. The data protection commissioner in Hamburg, Johannes Caspar, said he had reopened his investigation, which he had suspended in June,…
Sixth Circuit Rules That Pinging a Cell Phone to Determine Its Location is Not a Fourth Amendment “Search”
Orin Kerr offered some comments on yesterday’s opinion in U.S. v. Skinner, previously mentioned on this blog. Here’s part of his commentary: 1) Unless I’m just missing something obvious, the opinion seems pretty vague on the technological facts. The majority opinion initially says that the government obtained a court order ordering the cell phone company…
Former ACORN Worker Can Sue Right-Winger on Privacy Claim
Matt Reynolds reports: A federal judge refused to throw out claims that a right-wing activist violated the privacy of an ACORN worker who was taped counseling defendant James O’Keefe, who sought advice on how to fill his house with underage prostitutes. Juan Carlos Vera sued O’Keefe and his associate Hanna Giles in Federal Court on privacy claims,…
No Fourth Amendment violation when government looked at Facebook profile using friend’s account
Evan Brown writes: U.S. v. Meregildon, — F.Supp.2d —, 2012 WL 3264501 (S.D.N.Y. August 10, 2012) The government suspected defendant was involved in illegal gang activity and secured the assistance of a cooperating witness who was a Facebook friend of defendant. Viewing defendant’s profile using the friend’s account, the government gathered evidence of probable cause…