German data protection authorities are investigating whether Google’s web traffic measurement system Google Analytics routinely infringes privacy laws, according to a German newspaper report. Zeit reports that several regional authorities, as well as the national Federal Data Protection Commissioner, are investigating whether the use of the system is a breach of web users’ privacy rights…
Ad trade body urges ‘non-disruptive’ interpretation of cookie law
A trade body representing advertisers has called on European countries not to implement new EU cookie laws in ways that would “disrupt” use of the internet. The World Federation of Advertisers (WFA), which claims to represent the companies behind 90% of the world’ advertising spending, has warned that new EU laws on websites’ use of…
Computer hacker Gary McKinnon to be extradited to US
Afua Hirsch reports: Computer hacker Gary McKinnon is at serious risk of suicide, relatives said today, after the home secretary rejected a last-ditch attempt to prevent his extradition to the US. In a letter today Alan Johnson ordered McKinnon’s removal to the US on charges of breaching US military and Nasa computers, despite claims by…
Ca: Privacy law helps the government hide
Les Leyne has this column in the Times Colonist: When reporters were briefed a couple of weeks ago on how the Olympic torch relay would go down, they were told no identities of the runners would be supplied, because of “privacy law.” Apparently the people who eagerly volunteered to wear bright white suits while carrying…