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Web 2.0: big brother or no big deal?
- Drunken midnight googles & superpokes? Google & Facebook can track & even sell that info. Is that OK? more info
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EPIC & Barr Trying to Bring Attention To Privacy
Since the beginning of his Presidential bid Rep. Bob Barr has been attempting to inject the issue of privacy into the 2008 election and policy debates. Sadly, even as Congress debated the largest overhaul of FISA and the surrounding policies since the 70s, little has come of the consistent attempts. Since the beginning of his Presidential bid Rep. Bob Barr has been attempting to inject the issue of privacy into the 2008 election an... more
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Oops! They lost it again!
More personal data has gone missing in yet another data disaster for the UK government.
So, with the communications data bill well on its way to being passed as UK law, the UK government will soon know the details of every person you emailed, phoned, text or IM'd ever. They'll know how long you spoke each time, they'll know how often you spoke, they'll know where you were when you spoke, along with plenty of other nitty gritty details I needn't go into.
That information will be made available to more than 1000 local authorities who can get access upon request if they deem it necessary. It's some very private data they will soon be collecting on us all, and yet their track record at *not losing* your private data isn't so great.
They've just managed to lose a hard drive with the details of 5,000 prison officers national insurance numbers, addresses, and prison office employee numbers on it. So, in light of the governments utter incompetence at keeping private data private, do you really want them to start collating data on every single person you've ever spoken to?
More details on the communications data act here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/aug/26/civ... More personal data has gone missing in yet another data disaster for the UK government. ... more -
Airlines may ask us to go on diet
With airlines cutting security and safety measures from onboard and inflight safety, I have to admit that perhaps we will be required to fly with risks for our own safety in the name of saving fuel costs.
This article states the reality of fear that perhaps not just having security screening which allow TSA officials to look at our naked bodies, but now, we'll have to disclose our weight to ticket and gate agents. Is nude flying next ?
I think I'll stop eating those outlandishly generous peanuts inflight to lose some kilos.
Danielmklopp With airlines cutting security and safety measures from onboard and inflight safety, I have to admit that perhaps we will be required ... more -
Could a spy satellite identify any of us from our shadow?
Spy satellites could soon be able to identify someone from space by looking at their shadow.
They would use a computer program that searches for the movement of shadows on the ground, and then identifies their owners from the way they walk.
The technique - called gait analysis - relies on the fact that someone's walking style is very difficult to disguise.
It could be used to monitor known criminals and suspected terrorists using satellites or spy planes. It could even be used in the hunt for Osama Bin Laden.
There is however a significant catch. The system, being developed by Nasa, is useless once the sun goes in.
And, although there has been an explosion in satellite imagery and technology in recent years, it is still impossible to recognise someone with confidence using pictures taken in orbit.
Images from high-altitude aircraft and spacecraft show only the tops of their heads.
Experts say aerial shots are no good for monitoring someone's stride length and walking rhythm.
However, that is not true of shadows. According to Dr Adrian Stoica of Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, video from space could provide enough data to confirm a suspect's identity - as long as details of the person's walking pattern were on file.
He has created computer software that can seek out and recognise the shadows of individuals in aerial video footage, reports New Scientist magazine.
It isolates moving shadows and uses data on the position of the sun and camera angle to 'correct' the shadows if they are foreshortened or elongated.
Dr Stoica, who presented his research at a security conference in Edinburgh, said the software then applies regular gait analysis to the corrected images.
In tests on video footage taken from the sixth floor of an office building, the software spotted shadows and extracted information that could be used to identify someone.
The technique is still at the earliest stages of development, and it could be many years before it is used by military, police and intelligence services.
It also has potential flaws. While satellite gait analysis might be useful in countries such as Pakistan and Iraq, trying to identify a suspected terrorist from a shadow in a rainy Manchester is likely to be fraught with difficulties.
The quality of satellite imagery may also not be good enough to reveal a sharp image.
Space imaging expert Dr Bhupendra Jasani at King's College London says the sort of geostationary satellites currently pointing their cameras down to the Earth simply do not have the resolution to provide useful detail.
'I find it hard to believe they could apply this technique from space,' he said.
Aerial surveillance - a key tactic in military spying
Minor differences in gait that can help identify individuals include the length of steps, walking speed, the wiggle of hips and the angles of the knee, ankle and hip.
Aerial surveillance has long been a key part of military spying - ever since 19th century armies began using hot air balloons to observe enemy positions on the battlefield - but in recent years the speed of technological advance has accelerated.
As well as orbiting satellites, spy planes such as the RAF's Nimrod can circle at high altitude watching the movements of individual enemy gunmen on the ground, by day or night, using high definition thermal cameras.
At the same time unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs - ranging from huge jets the size of an airliner to tiny hand-launched drones a couple of feet across - are now widely used in Iraq and Afghanistan, where commanders on the ground increasingly rely on the images beamed from flying cameras to allow them to track approaching enemies or spot dangers in hostile built-up areas. Spy satellites could soon be able to identify someone from space by looking at their shadow. ... more -
UK banking giant de-pants irate customer over password
Lloyds TSB is the fifth-largest banking group in the UK, but the bank's recent actions prove it still cares about the little guy. When it isn't partnering to sponsor the London Olympics in 2012, or recognizing the contribution of Asians to British society via the Asian Jewel Awards, the banking giant enjoys rooting through customer records and changing passwords it finds offensive, then refusing to change them back.
Steve Jetley of Shrewsbury discovered this firsthand, after he changed his telephone banking password to "Lloyds is pants" ("rubbish" to us American sods on the wrong side of the pond). Upon calling in, Jetley discovered that his "pants" password didn't match what was in the system. Instead, his password had been changed to "no it's not." Initially, this was no big deal.
"I thought it was actually quite a funny response," Jetley told the BBC. "But what really incensed me was when I was told I could not change it back to 'Lloyds is pants' because they said it was not appropriate. I asked if it was 'pants' they didn't like, and would 'Lloyds is rubbish' do? But they didn't think so."
"Barclays is better," didn't meet with approval either, seeing as how Barclays is another, even larger UK bank and a Lloyds competitor. At that point, Jetley was suddenly told that passwords had to be one word. When he offered "censorship" up as an appropriate password, he discovered passwords were required to be just one word, and no more than six letters long (not terribly secure, that). This undoubtedly came as something of a surprise, since his previous password had been accepted by the system, but the staff manager in question was apparently adamant.
Lloyds has since apologized, and told Jetley that the staff member had been let go. The bank also clarified its password policy, stating, "Customers can have any password they choose and it is not our policy to allow staff to change the password without the customer's permission." Lloyds did note that it is "disappointing" that Jetley chose to express his dissatisfaction by changing his password, indicating, perhaps, that he should have expressed his satisfaction by finding a different bank.
There's no word on whether or not Jetley got his "pants" back, but this isn't the first time Lloyds has come under public scrutiny for how it treats its customers. Earlier this year, Lloyds customers mounted a campaign to have certain charges refunded after the bank refused to do so. Oystar, a British group, released a parody of "I Fought the Law," called "I Fought the Lloyds." The song detailed the customers' struggles, and was popular enough to hit number 25 on the UK singles chart. Given these sorts of cases, we'd suggest Lloyds give Jetley back his coveted pants, and perhaps take a Carnegie course or two.
Is this outragous or funny?
What do you think? Lloyds TSB is the fifth-largest banking group in the UK, but the bank's recent actions prove it still cares about the little guy.... more -
Bank of NY Mellon data breach affects 12.5M
Kevin Heine, a spokesman for the New York-based company, said the number of affected individuals had risen by 8 million from the 4.5 million reported earlier. Connecticut Gov. Jodi Rell estimated the total number of customers that could be affected at 10 million.
According to Connecticut officials, the case stemmed from the bank's February 27 loss of six to 10 unencrypted tapes, while it was transferring back-up tapes that contained names, addresses, birth dates and Social Security numbers. Kevin Heine, a spokesman for the New York-based company, said the number of affected individuals had risen by 8 million from the 4.5 m... more -
Microsoft sfida Google sulla privacy
Microsoft lancia un nuovo motore di ricerca in grado di sfidare il gigante Google, offrendo agli utenti un'inedita tutela della privacy, come scrive il Financial Times. Il browser InPrivate, infatti, consente agli utenti di accedere ai siti web senza mostrare le proprie abitudini di navigazione sulla rete, che i siti utilizzano per ricerche di mercato e per inviare messaggi pubblicitari mirati. Proprio su questo Google basa il proprio business, grazie alla neoacquisita DoubleClick. Microsoft lancia un nuovo motore di ricerca in grado di sfidare il gigante Google, offrendo agli utenti un'inedita tutela della p... more
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Bank customer data 'sold on eBay'
A computer containing a million bank customers' personal data has reportedly been sold on internet auction site eBay.
Appparently, an ex-worker for archiving firm Graphic Data sold it for £35 on eBay without removing sensitive information from the hard drive.
The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and its subsidiary, Natwest, have confirmed their customers' details were involved. It said historical information relating to credit card applications for their bank and others had been on the machine. The information is said to include account details and in some cases customers' signatures, mobile phone numbers and mothers' maiden names.
The problem first came to light when the person who bought the computer noticed and raised the alarm.
Last year the Financial Services Authority fined the Nationwide Building Society £980,000 for a security breach, after a lap top containing customer data was stolen from an employee's home. A computer containing a million bank customers' personal data has reportedly been sold on internet auction site eBay. ... more -
Fingerprints are so 1990; it's all about the palm now
"Palm scans are about to make their American debut. Used in Japanese automated teller machines for more than five years, the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) recently announced that by next year all students who want to attend business school will be required to take a palm vein scan to verify their identity.
"It's easy to steal a fingerprint," said Hiroko Naito, a member of Fujitsu's PalmSecure Team that developed the technology. "Palm vein information physically resides inside the patient, making it harder to steal." ..." "Palm scans are about to make their American debut. Used in Japanese automated teller machines for more than five years, the Grad... more -
A private life
A West Wales man has gone on trial claiming the right to cultivate his own cannabis.
Neil Christopher James Morgan, 52, told police officers they were infringing his rights under the European Human Rights Act--and even lit up a cannabis reefer in front of them.
A jury at Swansea crown court heard how four police officers armed with a search warrant descended on a group of caravans parked in woodland off the B4333 Newcastle Emlyn to Cynwyl Elfed road.
Neil, who is representing himself during the trial, told the court his defence was Article 8 of the Human Rights Act, which, he said, guaranteed his right to a private life.
Neil said he would not deny cultivating the plants. But he would argue that his arrest and prosecution were illegal.
A spokesman for the Legalise Cannabis Alliance, said: Neil's case is particularly interesting as nobody else was involved, there is no allegation of supply, and he lived so far away from anyone else in a wood in South Wales.
"Moreover, in a previous court appearance in Swansea, police stated that although what he was doing was illegal, they did not consider it to be a criminal activity! Nobody was at risk of harm and nobody's own Rights were being effected.
"Nevertheless, Neil has been taken to court and is about to appear again this time at Crown Court in Cardiff on September 2nd. This time he may be sent to prison -- for what?
If Neil is not entitled to his private life in that situation, then none of us are. It means that police can force their way into their homes without good reason, and get away with it. The police are breaking the law and in some countries the prosecution would be disqualified. In Britain it appears there is nowhere we can go for a Private Life -- even miles from our nearest neighbours"
Neil has openly admitted that he grows cannabis for his own use -- but the system seems set in concrete and he has made very little progress gaining support for his defence.
The trial continues at Cardiff Crown Court on 02/09/08 -- The LCA will be there to support him, please try and be there A West Wales man has gone on trial claiming the right to cultivate his own cannabis. ... more -
FBI to allow warrantless investigations
Another attack on freedom! Civil rights are dying in the USA!
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"Big Brother IS watching - RFID tags could be used to track you!"
"Radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags are embedded in a growing number of personal items and identity documents. Because the tags were designed to be powerful tracking devices and they typically incorporate little security, people wearing or carrying them are vulnerable to surreptitious surveillance and profiling. Worldwide, legislators have done little to address those risks to citizens.
If you live in a state bordering Canada or Mexico, you may soon be given an opportunity to carry a very high tech item: a remotely readable driver’s license. Designed to identify U.S. citizens as they approach the nation’s borders, the cards are being promoted by the Department of Homeland Security as a way to save time and simplify border crossings. But if you care about your safety and privacy as much as convenience, you might want to think twice before signing up.
The new licenses come equipped with radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags that can be read right through a wallet, pocket or purse from as far away as 30 feet. Each tag incorporates a tiny microchip encoded with a unique identification number. As the bearer approaches a border station, radio energy broadcast by a reader device is picked up by an antenna connected to the chip, causing it to emit the ID number. By the time the license holder reaches the border agent, the number has already been fed into a Homeland Security database, and the traveler’s photograph and other details are displayed on the agent’s screen."
MUCH more at link (you know Sciam) but worth the read! "Radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags are embedded in a growing number of personal items and identity documents. Because ... more -
This week in Current – 8/18-8/22
Another week has flown passed us like a whirlwind, and while people are still focused on the Olympics, it does seem like the buzz has died down a bit now that Michael Phelps has closed out his quest for gold.
Of course, that didn’t put an end to any of the controversies coming out of the Beijing Olympic games.
Hackers unearth more underage gymnast allegations:
http://current.com/items/89222275_
Olympics aside, this was certainly an interesting week in Current:News. Some stories of note include a tangled child support settlement, the sudden shutdown of MP3 sharing site Muxtape, canine morality, energy implications of windmills in NYC, demands for mandatory sick days, and the discussion of polygamy as a secret to a longer life. It was a packed week, so if you missed any of these take a look:
16-yr-old to pay child support to 19-yr-old mom:
http://current.com/items/89213469_
R.I.P. Muxtape:
http://current.com/items/89193344_
Living with humans has taught dogs morals, say scientists
http://current.com/items/89223042_
Bloomberg proposes windmills on New York City bridges, skyscrapers…
http://current.com/items/89219683_
Multiple states push for mandatory paid sick days
http://current.com/items/89219922_
Polygamy: the key to a long life?
http://current.com/items/89218114_
// VC2 Leaderboard Update //
On the VC2 Leaderboard front, we want to give a hearty congratulations to VC2 producer Sareye for her pod, “Mad About Gas? Dunk a Shell Employee.” It was this week’s leaderboard winner, so I clipped it to this post for everyone to check out. Way to go!
// Top Commented Stories on Current.com //
Have you ever wonder what the most discussed stories are on Current.com? Do you ever find yourself asking, “What was everyone discussing this week?” Well, have no fear, I’m going to start recapping the top commented stories each week in our recap posts. Here goes:
USDA refuses to ban sick "downer" cows from U.S. food supply
http://current.com/items/89212057_
This story clocked in at 70 responses. There were many comments that stuck with me from this thread, but elegua’s really sums it up:
“scary. mad cow can have a 30 year gestation period. let's see who's around in 2038.“
Obama takes issue with McCain's definition of 'rich'
http://current.com/items/89214533_
With a title like this, it’s no wonder this story gathered 73 responses. Much of the discussion centered on determining whether McCain’s comment was taken out of context. What do you think?
Should the legal drinking age be lowered to 18?
http://current.com/items/89218300_
Umm, this one seemed destined for popularity. This was well-clipped item by ivxx that asks the simple question, and that resulted in an 83 response discussion. Very nice!
HS Principal outs teenage lesbian to parents
http://current.com/items/89221845_
The mix of privacy rights violations and the handling of the situation culminated in 124 responses from the community, making this the most discussed story on Current this week.
Did any other stories grab your attention this week? Clip them in a response below, and let us know what made them compelling to you. That’s it for this week!
Mario
Online Community Team
Connect on Current.com: http://current.com/people/mario_a
Follow the Current.com team on Twitter: http://twitter.com/current_com
Follow me on Twitter? http://twitter.com/manima Another week has flown passed us like a whirlwind, and while people are still focused on the Olympics, it does seem like the buzz has ... more -
Do Social Networks Bring the End of Privacy?
Social-networking sites allow seemingly trivial gossip to be distributed to a worldwide audience, sometimes making people the butt of rumors shared by millions of users across the Internet. Public sharing of private lives has led to a rethinking of our current conceptions of privacy. Existing law should be extended to allow some privacy protection for things that people say and do in what would have previously been considered the public domain.
He has a name, but most people just know him as “the Star Wars Kid.” In fact, he is known around the world by tens of millions of people. Unfortunately, his notoriety is for one of the most embarrassing moments in his life.
In 2002, as a 15-year-old, the Star Wars Kid videotaped himself waving around a golf-ball retriever while pretending it was a lightsaber. Without the help of the expert choreographers working on the Star Wars movies, he stumbled around awkwardly in the video.
The video was found by some of the boy’s tormentors, who uploaded it to an Internet video site. It became an instant hit with a multitude of fans. All across the blogosphere, people started mocking the boy, making fun of him for being pudgy, awkward and nerdy. Social-networking sites allow seemingly trivial gossip to be distributed to a worldwide audience, sometimes making people the butt of ... more -
U.S. citizens' border crossings tracked - Kept on record 15 years
The federal government has been using its system of border checkpoints to greatly expand a database on travelers entering the country by collecting information on all U.S. citizens crossing by land, compiling data that will be stored for 15 years and may be used in criminal and intelligence investigations. The federal government has been using its system of border checkpoints to greatly expand a database on travelers entering the country ... more
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Oscuramento Pirate Bay: L'Italia Passa I Dati Dei Propri Internauti Ad Una Ma...
Il PM oscura il sito ed indirizza gli utenti su una pagina con il logo della GD, ma la pagina è gestita dalla Ifimi e tramite la quale è possibile accedere alle informazioni personali degli utenti italiani. Il PM oscura il sito ed indirizza gli utenti su una pagina con il logo della GD, ma la pagina è gestita dalla Ifimi e tramite la quale... more
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Iran Starts Inspecting the Cell Phones of Young Female and Male in Public Places
Last year, a report on “mobile policing” caused an uproar in the media. NAJA, an acronym for security agents, officially denied inspecting young men’s and women’s mobile phones in public places. Nonetheless, a special crime prevention and combat squad in Eastern Azerbaijan province took the first step in this regard and became the first to enforce the mobile phone inspection law.
According to reports by Shahab News, an order was issued on Tuesday morning to special crime prevention and combat squads in Eastern Azerbaijan province to inspect the mobile phones of “people of interest” selectively in public. Authorities in Eastern Azerbaijan province stressed that the operation is intended to counter those who are promoting corruption using Blue-Tooth technology, and that the operation will be conducted in cooperation with the judicial office. Violators will be detained, their mobile phones will be confiscated, and their cases will be sent to the local general and revolutionary court for review.
Although a similar announcement has not been made in other provinces, and inspecting young citizens’ mobile phones is considered illegal, there is a possibility that a special crime prevention and combat squad will begin implementing similar surveillance in other provinces.
The Shahab News report indicated that Malek Azhdar-Sharifi, chief prosecutor in Eastern Azerbaijan province, emphasized confronting Blue-Tooth users who are alleged to use immoral material. Mr. Azhdar-Sharifi stated: “Those responsible for distributing immoral CDs and Blue-Tooth technology with be prosecuted to the full extent of the law”.
Mr. Azhdar-Sharifi further added: “the subject of immoral CDs and Blue-Tooth technology is a very sensitive subject and on certain occasions has offended the public. It appears that this issue is another tactic to exploit and subvert our Islamic ways and values by [importing] the outside world’s corruption. We should consider this issue very serious”.
On implementing this law Mr. Azhdar-Sharifi stated: “security forces and dedicated revolutionary guards must coordinate their actions with the judicial office to take an effective step in eradicating these promoters”.
In his statements Mr. Azhdar-Sharifi turned his attention to prosecutors across the province and reminded them: “considering the enormity of the situation across the province, no compromises should be made when combating promoters and distributors of immoral products”.
According to a Fars report, which initially published news on this subject, Yahya Mirza-Mohammadi, the general and revolutionary prosecutor for Tabriz, also made a statement in this session and said: “young people, instead of spending their time being educated and using their energy in positive ways, are swayed toward these corrupt ways that are very destructive”.
The chairman of the special crime prevention and combat squad added: “it is a worrisome situation […] we should counter the issue legally and seriously”.
The chairman further added; “security, intelligence and revolutionary agents are requested to uncover and arrest those responsible for such a destructive phenomenon and take legal action in combating and turning them in to the judicial system”.
Mr. Mirza-Mohammadi stressed confronting the promoters of corruption in a serious way and stated: “I can earnestly announce the I and other colleagues in judicial offices, especially the offices responsible for reviewing issues related to morality, will confront the corrupt individuals without any reservation. It appears to me that there is no difference between these violators and those who are considered irredeemably corrupt, and we can treat these types of violators in the same way that we deal with irredeemable violators. Last year, a report on “mobile policing” caused an uproar in the media. NAJA, an acronym for security agents, officially denied inspec... more -
US 'can no longer play Big Brother'
Turkish President Abdullah Gul says the Georgia conflict has proved that the US could no longer control the entire world from one centre.
In an interview with The Guardian newspaper published on Saturday, President Gul said the conflict in Georgia indicated that Washington could no longer shape global politics on its own, and with other countries.
"A new world order, if I can say it, should emerge" and the United States should begin sharing power in a new world order, he added.
The remarks were made a couple of days after Russia pushed Georgia back from the breakaway region of South Ossetia. Georgia faced a harsh response from Moscow in its military action to retake control of the region last week.
"There are big nations. There are huge populations. There is unbelievable economic development in some parts of the world" the president said.
"So what we have to do is, instead of unilateral actions, act all together, make common decisions and have consultations with the world," Gul concluded. Turkish President Abdullah Gul says the Georgia conflict has proved that the US could no longer control the entire world from one cent... more -
"Can companies beam advertisements into my brain?"
Welcome to the world of focused audio beam advertising...
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Google: big, friendly giant or a greedy Goliath?
Every day, all over the world, millions of us use Google. Founded 10 years ago by two students, it is now so powerful that it threatens to swallow up all other media while global leaders queue for its blessing. But just as we seek knowledge from Google, so Google gleans secrets from us. Has the cool baby grown up into a sinister corporate threat to privacy? Every day, all over the world, millions of us use Google. Founded 10 years ago by two students, it is now so powerful that it threaten... more
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