Get The Knowledge – a collation of online articles by the people at Techdept. » Legal & Regulatory

EU bans pre-ticked website boxes to aid consumers

TechDept — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 09:00:18 +0000

EU ministers meeting in Luxembourg havepassed a set of rules aimed at strengthening consumer rights, which the EU parliament backed in June.

They mean online traders will have to disclose the total cost of a product – including fees – and customers will have to actively opt-in to extras.

Member countries will have two years to implement the rules nationally.

For BBC News: Europe, 11 Oct 2011.

Facebook checks out of check-ins, but not location

TechDept — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 09:00:52 +0000

For years, privacy issues have dogged the world’s largest social network, Facebook.

From changes that have gradually made the once-closed network more open to the world to advertising programs that were are little too creepy for comfort, Facebook arguably has more experience dealing with privacy flubs than any other company in the world.

So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Facebook continues to tweak its privacy features, as it preparing to do in a big way soon.

Yesterday, Facebook announced a significant privacy overhaul that will, amongst other things, enable its users to approve photos they’re tagged in before those photos show up in their activity streams, restrict who each post is shared with, and view how their profiles look to other users.

By Patricio Robles for Econsultancy, 24 August 2011.

Germany makes facebook “like” button illegal

TechDept — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 09:00:23 +0000

“Websites in Schleswig-Holstein must remove their Facebook Like button by the end of September 2011 or they will face a fine of up to €50,000 ($72,000).”

Northern Germany has announced that the Like button, with its ability to track a user’s movement across the internet, violates German and European privacy law. But without tracking plugins, how will corporations and advertisers record our activities and interests, so that they can better serve and satisfy? Via ZDNet:

Commissioner Thilo Weichert, of the Independent Center for Privacy Protection, said the social network’s “Like button” plugin illegally puts together a profile of their Web habits.

By Jacob Sloan for disinformation, 22 August 2011.

Telex to help defeat web censors

TechDept — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 12:58:30 +0000

Data smuggling software could help citizens in countries operating strict net filters visit any site they want.

Developed by US computer scientists the software, called Telex, hides data from banned websites inside traffic from sites deemed safe.

The software draws on well-known encryption techniques to conceal data making it hard to decipher.

So far, Telex is only a prototype but in tests it has been able to defeat Chinese web filters.

By BBC News: Technology, 19 July 2011.

5 legal considerations for your social media campaign

TechDept — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 18:59:07 +0000

Most companies enjoy the benefits of having a social media presence, but not every company also appreciates the legal risks that can lurk there. Companies have run into legal problems, and been forced to defend their social media campaigns in public, in front of regulators or in courts.

All of this, however, can be mediated with a little knowledge and forethought. Although each social media campaign should be evaluated individually, there are at least five legal considerations every company should note.

By Gonzalo E. Mon for Mashable, 11 July 2011.

This guy doesn’t have my macbook anymore!

TechDept — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 09:00:32 +0000

Remember that guy who stole a laptop and had his pictures posted all over the internet by victim Joshua Kaufman? Well consider justice served. Muthanna Aldebashi of Alameda was arrested yesterday by Oakland police on suspicion of possessing stolen goods.

Kaufman mentioned on the tumblr that despite filing a police report and providing the laptop’s location along with photos of the suspect, he received absolutely no help from the authorities. Only after his tumblr went viral (over 2 months after the incident was first reported) did the OPD take any action on Kaufman’s behalf.

By Michael Zhao for Gizmodo, 01 June 2011.

This guy has my macbook

TechDept — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 08:00:43 +0000

On March 21, 2011, my MacBook was stolen from my apartment in Oakland, CA. I reported the crime to the police and even told them where it was, but they couldn’t help me due to lack of resources. Meanwhile, I’m using the awesome app, Hidden, to capture these photos of this guy who has my MacBook.

Update: (June 1, 11:32 AM PST) The Oakland Police acquired my MacBook last night, and I picked it up this morning!

Update: (May 31, 8:37 PM PST) ARRESTED! An Oakland police officer just called me to let me know that they arrested the guy in my photos! BOOYA! The police used my evidence (email which pointed to a cab service) that he was a driver and tricked him into picking them up. Nice work OPD!

By Deddy for Tumblr.

Running a promotion on facebook? they’ve updated the guidelines!

TechDept — Thu, 19 May 2011 09:00:59 +0000

These Promotion Guidelines, along with the Statement of Rights and Responsibilities, the Ad Guidelines, the Platform Policies and all other applicable Facebook policies, govern your communicationabout or administration of any contest, competition, sweepstakes or other similar offering (each, a “promotion”) using Facebook.

Find out more

By Facebook.

Websites told to ensure cookies comply with UK law

TechDept — Mon, 16 May 2011 09:00:45 +0000

Websites are being asked to review how they track users ahead of imminent changes to privacy laws.

On 26 May European privacy laws come in to force in the UK which give people more control over what data websites gather about them.

This means changes to what websites can do with cookies – small text files used to log data about repeat visitors.

For BBC News: Technology, 10 May 2011.

Facebook will continue to share user addresses & numbers

TechDept — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 09:00:20 +0000

Facebook will continue a plan to share users’ home addresses and cellphone numbers with third-party developers despite criticism from privacy advocates, users and members of Congress.

The social network announced an update to its platform in a January 14 blog post that would allow Facebook apps and other external websites to access this information if the user gave them permission. Mobile phone numbers and addresses were given a permission category separate from “Access my basic information” that would ask users to approve third-parties to “Access my contact information”.

By Sarah Kessler for Mashable, 01 March 2011.