It'd be an exaggeration to say that tech companies are falling over themselves to protect our privacy, but you might say that it's becoming a "social norm" for US businesses. At least, that's what the New York Times reports, and that must be at least a sign that it's true because it's far from normative for newspapers to report good news. As evidence, the Times cites a Microsoft executive saying … [Read more...] about Companies competing to protect our privacy?
online privacy
Why we do ‘let our guard down’: Online privacy
We care about our online privacy, but we also like convenience a whole lot. And not only convenience, but often a good deal or discount beats out any worry about data security. What do deals and convenience have to do with privacy? A whole lot. An article by Somini Sengupta at the New York Times is all about what is new about "letting our guard down," as I touched on yesterday. Why we (and our … [Read more...] about Why we do ‘let our guard down’: Online privacy
COPPA has likely increased minors’ risk: Study
If there were no Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, teens would be safer in social media, a new study from researchers at New York University indicates (pdf). Without COPPA, children under 13 would have little to no reason to lie about their age to set up a Facebook account, for example (this would be true of any COPPA-compliant site U13s want to join). We all know that, right? We also … [Read more...] about COPPA has likely increased minors’ risk: Study
Teens flocking to Twitter for privacy?
Now that so many parents are on Facebook, teens are defying predictions and adding Twitter to their social toolboxes, according to an article at MSNBC. The number of teens using Twitter has doubled in the past two years, to 16% of 12-to-17-year-olds last July (the latest data available), the article cites the Pew Internet & American Life Project as finding. "Teens tout the ease of use and the … [Read more...] about Teens flocking to Twitter for privacy?
Kids lying to Facebook, not their parents: Study
A whole lot of us know that 13 is Facebook's minimum age, but fewer of us know that the reason for that is not kids' online safety but a law called the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act designed to protect the privacy of kids' data – a law administered by the Federal Trade Commission, which right now has it under review. COPPA requires parental consent before sites can collect any data from … [Read more...] about Kids lying to Facebook, not their parents: Study