…from HP Enterprise Security 🙂
http://h20195.www2.hp.com/V2/GetPDF.aspx/c02963474.pdf
Contents:
Have fun!
This video gives a nice and clear description of your right for privacy and transparency as an EU data subject. It’s not particularly entertaining but worth hanging in there. The message is important. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqYlZosqpPE&sns=em
I just love this quote from Kimon Zorbas, the vice president of the Interactive Advertising Bureau Europe “most Europeans were not troubled by behavioural advertising” and “Customer profiling is a basic to any business, not just online business” then in response to the opt-in clause in the EU cookie directive “if that were to happen, I am afraid it would kill a significant part of the industry.” Read more at The New York Times.
Is it not more to do with re-thinking how they do this? Come-on these advertisers have been creative in coming up with the cookie thing, and not even given the consumer a choice, they eat cookies whether they like it or not. Zorbas also said that those that didn’t want cookies “could simply block them through the industry’s Web site”.
Sure, and then we come to those zombie cookies, they are pretty creative. They never go away. I write a post on this not long ago.
I have nothing against cookies, after all they are very convenient. What I am against is that I get them without being asked, that I need to opt-out. Opting out is not always so straightforward. There are some websites where I definately do not want cookies from. There should be a button on the main page, right in from of you that states in big letters OPT-IN. And when you have done that it changes to OPT-OUT. Then you feel that you have some control. You, the customer can choose who is tracking everything that you do online.
Saw this post by Danah Boyd on how search engine algorithms can produce “false positives” in  suggestions from auto complete. An interesting thought, but a bit slim on facts. I wonder  how much searching it takes to link names or terms together.
It is still interesting to think that the search engine algorithms, in their endless strive to optimize our quest for all, really just narrows the internet down to what we already liked and thought we knew. That they, in that way confirms our world view, whatever it may be.
The science fiction of the future is getting closer. You walk by a store and the large digital screen advertising products presents goods to you that are tailored to your age using facial recognition technology. This is here today, both Adidas and Kraft have plans for this type of digital ads. Read more at Forbes (http://www.forbes.com/sites/kashmirhill/2011/09/01/kraft-to-use-facial-recognition-technology-to-give-you-macaroni-recipes/).
Now what happens if this technology is connected to Facebook, so that they don’t need to guess how old you are based on how you look, but can see for a fact. Also that you have children, dogs, cats, and whatever more there is is glean, based upon how Facebook will organise unstructured data into a structured format so it is easy to link and process.
Now facial recognition technologies are also to deny access to casinos in Las Vegas. Now imagine if every club and bar could effectively do away with the traditional bouncer and instead implement this technology.
Previously I have talked a lot about storecards, RFID and how this type of invasion on privacy could make you vulnerable to tailored ads… although maybe you like this, it really depends on your viewpoint. However now, it really may not matter if you have a storecard, RFID, whatever, your face will reveal all, your FB account will feed the digital ads, and I guess you won’t have any say in this at all!
Largest biometric database being created in India with over 1.2 billion identities. Scary and a serious concern outside of the personal privacy aspect is the security of this database. From a positive standpoint and driving argument is that is provides the means to overcome the significant levels of corruption in India. Particularly for those living outside of the city and at the mercy of corrupt officials. In fact this database if implemented well would free these very persons from certain tyranny. Another dilemma ….
Interesting that participation is voluntary. Same as Sweden’s approach.
Read more here. It is fascinating reading and worth a visit 🙂 .
And what DLP solution would prevent this?
http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2011/09/02/247776/ICO-slams-Scottish-Childrens-Reporter-Administration-for-data.htm
Stricter legal guidelines in the EU means cookie providers need to ask your permission before handing out cookies. Clearly US not so happy about this 🙂
Read more here http://content.usatoday.com/communities/technologylive/post/2011/09/europe-taking-much-stricter-stance-on-do-not-track-rules/1.
Unless you opt out. At least that’s what some researchers are claiming. It seems that certain mobile phones, namely those hosting windows7 OS and the iPhone. Apparently the windows smartphone does this even after you’ve switched off this functionally.
This has gone to the law courts in the US now http://m.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/sep/01/microsoft-location-tracking?cat=technology&type=article.
Now you maybe thinking that well it is common knowledge that our phones can be tracked? And sure this is correct. However what is important here are 2 things 1) consent, the phone holder needs to consent to this, and 2) the data is actually in this example being collected and stored in a database. This means that not only are you being tracked without your knowledge, but this data can later be mined. Powerful personal data. And this is happening for your children who have mobile phones too…..