You are reading the Executive Summary of Data Brokers and the Federal Government: A New Front in the Battle for Privacy Opens Report Links: Report Home & Executive Summary Download the full report (PDF) Jump to other sections of the report: Executive Summary | I. Introduction | II. Discussion | ...
You are reading Appendices A, B, and C of Data Brokers and the Federal Government: A New Front in the Battle for Privacy Opens Report Links: Report Home & Executive Summary Download the full report (PDF) Jump to other sections of the report: Executive Summary | I.Introduction | II. Discussion ...
FAQ: I am new to Facebook. What do I need to know about posting to someone else's Timeline? When you first join Facebook, you can discover many old friends, acquaintances and relatives you may have lost touch with and want to recontact. It can be exhilarating to find so many ...
Learn to protect mobile users and build safe mobile apps at the Mobile Privacy Summit Oct. 23 in Los Angeles. The office of California Attorney General Kamala Harris and the Federal Trade Commission join WPF's Pam Dixon and other privacy experts to discuss best practices and regulatory requirements you should be aware of to ensure the privacy of mobile app users. Registration is free of charge.
It is important to use SSL, or encrypted connections when you use web-based email. Yahoo does not automatically set SSL or secure mail connections by default. You have to set it manually until January 2014. These tips walk you through how to set Yahoo Mail to use secure connections.
The Washington Post published new revelations from Edward Snowden’s leaked documents that revealed that the NSA is scooping up millions of email and IM address books globally. This is a serious piece of snooping business, and it deserves immediate attention on a policy level. For people who are reading this and wondering what you can do today, right now, here are some immediate steps to take.
Japan -- Under the mai nannbaa-ho (マイナンバー法) My Number Act (enacted May 13, 2013, also called the Social Benefits and Tax Number Act), Japan's citizens will be assigned unique numbers to track income, social security, taxes, welfare and benefits, and certain information in disasters. Japan will start assigning numbers to its citizens in late 2015. The My Number Act brought with it concern about the use of the numbers as a unique national ID. As a result, Japan will establish a new independent Data Protection Authority called the Specific Personal Information Protection Commission, and will consist of a Chairman and six commission members. The Chairman and Commissioners will be appointed by Japan's Prime Minister, and confirmed by Japan's National Diet. The Commission will oversee the use of the new Social Security and Tax system numbers. Unlike many national ID numbering systems, Japan did not set up a centralized database for the numbers due to concerns about data breach and privacy. Professor Hiroshi Miyashita from Japan's Chuo University, and an Advisor to the Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) -- gave a talk Oct. 1 at a Privacy Laws & Business Asia Roundtable in London. He told PL& B that the new Commission is to "ensure the proper handling of personal numbers and other specific personal information, and provide guidance, advice and recommendations." Professor Miyashita said enforcement powers will be limited to requiring reports and conducting on-site inspections. Additional documents regarding the new DPA indicate that there will be a role for the Commission in overseeing release of personal information in disasters, and that the Commission will also issue guidance regarding the use of identifying numbers.
Today the World Privacy Forum published the first of a series of new tips for users of Facebook, Facebook Privacy FAQs. “We are publishing online privacy tips for Facebook users in bite-size pieces so people can decipher the complex Facebook privacy settings and make meaningful changes and choices,” said Pam Dixon. “We are finding that too many consumers are confused about what the choices mean and how to make them.”
Facebook gives you the option to use use secure browsing when a secure connection is available. This is a security option that all Facebook users should use. It is a no-brainer to say yes to. Facebook has turned this option on by default, but the rollout for this option may not have reached your area. Also, there may be some country-level differences. It is worth taking a few steps to make sure turn this option is on. It is well worth it, and we highly recommend it for all users.
San Diego -- The California AG's office and the US Federal Trade Commission are holding a mobile privacy summit October 23, in Santa Monica, California. The emphasis of the event is to learn how to protect consumers and build safe mobile apps, and is directed at app developers and businesses. ...
We have updated our much-visited Search Engine Privacy Tips in light of recent events surrounding online privacy. First, search engine encryption has become much more important for a number of reasons, which we discuss in the revised tips. Several search engines are now using encryption by default, including Google, DuckDuckGo and others. Additionally, WPF has been receiving reports from consumers about "fake" search engines containing viruses. Our new tipsheet has been refreshed to reflect these recent trends and issues.
San Diego, CA -- The World Privacy Forum is very pleased to announce the publication of a major undertaking, the complete update and revision to our landmark Patient's Guide to HIPAA. The new guide reflects the changes in HIPAA that took effect September 23, 2013. The Patient's Guide to HIPAA is a landmark publication because it is the first and to our knowledge -- only complete guide written expressly for patients. It offers a roadmap through the thicket of dense health privacy laws and rules that many patients have questions about. The purpose of this guide is to help patients understand how to make health privacy laws work to protect their privacy. Longtime World Privacy Forum contributor Bob Gellman is primary author of the Guide, including the new version. Begin exploring the update at the HIPAA Guide Home: https://www.worldprivacyforum.org/2013/09/hipaaguidehome/ .
October 2013 – Pam Dixon is speaking at Biometrics 2013 in London with Dr. Joseph Atick and Dr. Emilio Mordini, Director, Centre for Science, Society and Citizenship, Italy. The topic is Privacy at the Cross Road: A Debate on Frameworks. As biometrics become part of our daily lives, the issue of privacy and the protection of personal identifiable information (PII) such as biometric data is beginning to take centre stage. This debate will review the pressing issues with respect to privacy and the role of the biometrics industry in it. The audience will hear the views of prominent privacy experts that will explain what is at stake and why legal frameworks have been difficult to develop so far, and also from industry experts who will give the market perspective and the industry concern regarding the chilling effect of over-reaching privacy legislation. Delegates will also be invited to play an active role in what promises to be an exciting dialogue on the future of privacy and the role of the biometrics industry in it.
Seniors, scams, and sweepstakes -- The FTC busted an international sweepstakes scam that spanned 156 countries and raked in $11 million from consumers, primarily those over 65 years of age. "We are pleased the FTC has ended this scam," said Pam Dixon, WPF's executive director. "We are consistently seeing that ...
This resource page is a curated list of WPF public comments to agencies, as well as other public comments focused on privacy.
August 15, 2013 WPF Announces Updated Consumer Opt-Out Resource The World Privacy Forum is delighted to publish a new version of our Top Ten Opt Outs, a highly popular consumer resource online. We have continually published this guide for over xxx years. It has changed over time, as social media ...
WPF's new interactive map identifies Health Information Exchanges in California. A Health Information Exchange, or HIE, is technology that enables the electronic movement of health-related information among health care providers and others. HIEs are an increasingly popular way for hospitals, pharmacies, labs, and emergency room physicians to share patient information. HIEs can exchange records across one hospital, across multiple hospitals in a region, or across a whole state. If your health information is being shared through an HIE, your lab test results, medications, medical history, or other clinical information related to your health care may be included in the sharing. See more about HIEs and our California HIE Map here.
How unique are you? We played with a data privacy tool today here at WPF that showed us if the combination of our birthdate and zip code made us statistically unique. The more unique you are, the more identifiable you are in a sea of supposedly "anonymous" data. This tool was developed by Dr. LaTanya Sweeney at Harvard's Data Privacy Lab, and using it will tell you how easily you can be identified from records that may not even have your name on them.
A selection of articles, broadcasts, and media the World Privacy Forum or its researchers are quoted in. Listed chronologically, beginning with the most recent. For interviews, please contact the World Privacy Forum at +1 760.712.4281 or info@worldprivacyforum.org . If you are a member of the media on deadline, please call ...
Statement of the World Privacy Forum Regarding U.S. Department of Commerce NTIA Short Form Notice Code of Conduct to Promote Transparency in Mobile Apps July 25, 2013 -- Washington, D.C. The World Priavcy Forum, after a year of hard work as a leading part of the core drafting group in ...
July 15, 2013 New Consumer Tipsheets, FAQ, and Glossary about Health Information Exchanges Patients have a new resource that simplifies the clutter and confusion around Health Information Exchanges. WPF has published a new HIE Tipsheet and FAQ. These resources are written for consumers, and delivers bite-sized, digestible information about the ...
This FAQ, glossary, and tipsheet about Health Information Exchanges is designed to work in tandem with our HIE map and directory of California HIEs, available here. If you have questions about HIPAA beyond those answered here, please see our extensive resource, A Patient's Guide to HIPAA.
Data breach -- The state of California issues a first-ever statewide data breach report. In 2012, 2.5 million Californians had their data breached. Of those breached, the study found that The report found that "1.4 million Californians would have been protected if companies had encrypted data when moving or sending the data out of the company’s network."
NTIA -- The US Department of Commerce announced that the next NTIA Multistakeholder meeting will be July 25 in Washington, D.C. The final list of outstanding issues for stakeholders is here . Meeting information: Meeting 16 -- July 25, 2013, 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. ET (Location: American Institute of Architects, ...
CFP self regulation panel -- At this year's Computers' Freedom, and Privacy conference, Pam Dixon will be on a panel discussing the NAI self-regulation and comparing the now NAI to the NAI of 2007, when WPF published a strong report discussing the profound issues with the NAI at that time.
