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This six page letter (pdf) to Google's CEO, Eric Schmidt, is signed by 38 researchers and academics in the fields of computer science, information security and privacy law. Together, they ask Google to honor the important privacy promises it has made to its customers and protect users' communications [...]
I've been in Europe for a couple days now. I've logged into my Gmail account every day, and not seen any form of notice. However, I saw this today when logging into my Yahoo! junk mail account.Updated:This post originally contained incorrect information about Sentinel's products. That has been corrected (see below).
Attorneys general from a number of states have given their support to a collection of weak and ineffective age verification technologies, all of which aim to protect children on the Internet. At a meeting of [...]
Updated:This post originally contained incorrect information about Sentinel's products. That has been corrected (see below).
Attorneys general from a number of states have given their support to a collection of weak and ineffective age verification technologies, all of which aim to protect children on the Internet. At a meeting of [...]
Now that the FCC has delivered a smackdown to Comcast for its sketchy anti-BitTorrent activities, it's about time that some other company stepped up to the plate and breathed life into the Net neutrality debate. Surveillance State is happy [...]
Now that the FCC has delivered a smackdown to Comcast for its sketchy anti-BitTorrent activities, it's about time that some other company stepped up to the plate and breathed life into the Net neutrality debate. Surveillance State is happy [...]
Google announced on Monday that the company will be reducing the amount of time that it will keep sensitive, identifying log data on its search engine customers. To the naive reader, the announcement seems like a clear win for privacy. However, with a bit of careful analysis, it's possible to [...]
Google announced on Monday that the company will be reducing the amount of time that it will keep sensitive, identifying log data on its search engine customers. To the naive reader, the announcement seems like a clear win for privacy. However, with a bit of careful analysis, it's possible to [...]
If you thought that the National Security Agency's warrantless wiretapping was limited to AT&T, Verizon and Sprint, think again.
While these household names of the telecom industry almost certainly helped the government to illegally snoop on their customers, statements by a number of legal experts suggest that collaboration with [...]
If you thought that the National Security Agency's warrantless wiretapping was limited to AT&T, Verizon and Sprint, think again.
While these household names of the telecom industry almost certainly helped the government to illegally snoop on their customers, statements by a number of legal experts suggest that collaboration with [...]
An internal review by University of Colorado officials has found that a controversial research project conducted by a team of computer scientists did not constitute research misconduct. University lawyers have also stated their belief that the team probably did not violate US wiretapping laws.
As I reported in a [...]
An internal review by University of Colorado officials has found that a controversial research project conducted by a team of computer scientists did not constitute research misconduct. University lawyers have also stated their belief that the team probably did not violate US wiretapping laws.
As I reported in a [...]
A group of researchers from the University of Colorado and University of Washington could face both civil and criminal penalties for a research project in which they snooped on users of the Tor anonymous proxy network. Should federal prosecutors take interest in the project, the researchers could also face up [...]
A group of researchers from the University of Colorado and University of Washington could face both civil and criminal penalties for a research project in which they snooped on users of the Tor anonymous proxy network. Should federal prosecutors take interest in the project, the researchers could also face up [...]
The major national cable providers are all to sign a troubling yet major censorship deal with a private anti-child porn organization. The deal would give the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) carte blanche power to issue a takedown of any customer's content hosted on a cable provider's [...]
The major national cable providers are all to sign a troubling yet major censorship deal with a private anti-child porn organization. The deal would give the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) carte blanche power to issue a takedown of any customer's content hosted on a cable provider's [...]
In a major change of policy, the Transportation Security Administration has announced that passengers refusing to show ID will no longer be able to fly. The policy change, announced on Thursday afternoon, will go into force on June 21, and will only affect passengers who refuse to produce ID. [...]
In a major change of policy, the Transportation Security Administration has announced that passengers refusing to show ID will no longer be able to fly. The policy change, announced on Thursday afternoon, will go into force on June 21, and will only affect passengers who refuse to produce ID. [...]
In a major change of policy, the Transportation Security Administration has announced that passengers refusing to show ID will no longer be able to fly. The policy change, announced on Thursday afternoon, will go into force on June 21, and will only affect passengers who refuse to produce ID. [...]
Dear Readers,
I'll be taking the summer off from blogging here at Surveillance State.
On May 5, I started a summer internship at the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California. I want to avoid any possible conflict of interest regarding my blog posts, and so the simplest solution [...]
Dear Readers,
I'll be taking the summer off from blogging here at Surveillance State.
On May 5, I started a summer internship at the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California. I want to avoid any possible conflict of interest regarding my blog posts, and so the simplest solution [...]
Dear Readers,
I'll be taking the summer off from blogging here at Surveillance State.
On May 5, I started a summer internship at the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California. I want to avoid any possible conflict of interest regarding my blog posts, and so the simplest solution [...]
Updated on 5/19/08 with comment from RealPlayer (see below)
Users of YouTube and other video-sharing sites could face $750 per clip penalties if they have watched a video that was uploaded without the copyright holder's permission.
Copyright infringement in the United States strict liability offense. What this means, is that [...]
Updated on 5/19/08 with comment from RealPlayer (see below)
Users of YouTube and other video-sharing sites could face $750 per clip penalties if they have watched a video that was uploaded without the copyright holder's permission.
Copyright infringement in the United States strict liability offense. What this means, is that [...]
Updated on 5/19/08 with comment from RealPlayer (see below)
Users of YouTube and other video-sharing sites could face $750 per clip penalties if they have watched a video that was uploaded without the copyright holder's permission.
Copyright infringement in the United States strict liability offense. What this means, is that [...]
Over the past few weeks, things have heated up again in Lebanon, with the U.S.-backed government on one side and the Syrian-backed Hezbollah on the other.
To many U.S. observers, this might be just another case of tensions flaring up in the Middle East. Do not be fooled. This is [...]
Over the past few weeks, things have heated up again in Lebanon, with the U.S.-backed government on one side and the Syrian-backed Hezbollah on the other.
To many U.S. observers, this might be just another case of tensions flaring up in the Middle East. Do not be fooled. This is [...]
Over the past few weeks, things have heated up again in Lebanon, with the U.S.-backed government on one side and the Syrian-backed Hezbollah on the other.
To many U.S. observers, this might be just another case of tensions flaring up in the Middle East. Do not be fooled. This is [...]
The United Kingdom has the most surveillance cameras per capita in the world. With the recent news that CCTV cameras do not actually deter crime, how can the local town councils justify the massive surveillance program? By going after pooping dogs.
The United Kingdom has the most surveillance cameras per capita in the world. With the recent news that CCTV cameras do not actually deter crime, how can the local town councils justify the massive surveillance program? By going after pooping dogs.
A new IRS Web site that allows taxpayers to check on the status of their refund checks could lead to users being phished.
The new "Where's my stimulus payment?" site asks taxpayers to enter in their Social Security number, and a few other trivial bits of information before informing [...]
A new IRS Web site that allows taxpayers to check on the status of their refund checks could lead to users being phished.
The new "Where's my stimulus payment?" site asks taxpayers to enter in their Social Security number, and a few other trivial bits of information before informing [...]
There is no right to privacy at international borders. For those of us with laptops, this presents a pretty major problem: How do we get through U.S. Customs with our beloved portable devices, without having Uncle Sam peeking at every e-mail we've sent, every MP3 we've listened to, and [...]
There is no right to privacy at international borders. For those of us with laptops, this presents a pretty major problem: How do we get through U.S. Customs with our beloved portable devices, without having Uncle Sam peeking at every e-mail we've sent, every MP3 we've listened to, and [...]
The Transportation Security Administration is joining the 21st century. Just 5 years after security experts first outlined methods for faking boarding passes (and 2 years after the FBI raided my home for automating the process), TSA is finally testing out technology to neutralize this security threat. The [...]
The Transportation Security Administration is joining the 21st century. Just 5 years after security experts first outlined methods for faking boarding passes (and 2 years after the FBI raided my home for automating the process), TSA is finally testing out technology to neutralize this security threat. The [...]
A few weeks ago, I brought you news that Indiana's Governor had signed into law HB 1197, a data breach and encryption bill that I worked on.
What I have not revealed, up until now is the coercion and arm-twisting that accompanied the passage of this bill. While the [...]
A few weeks ago, I brought you news that Indiana's Governor had signed into law HB 1197, a data breach and encryption bill that I worked on.
What I have not revealed, up until now is the coercion and arm-twisting that accompanied the passage of this bill. While the [...]
European regulators sent shock-waves through the search engine industry earlier this week, when they proposed significantly tighter rules for logging data. If the EU adopts the proposed rules, Google, Yahoo and Microsoft will have to significantly reduce the amount of time they keep identifying search logs, and will have [...]
European regulators sent shock-waves through the search engine industry earlier this week, when they proposed significantly tighter rules for logging data. If the EU adopts the proposed rules, Google, Yahoo and Microsoft will have to significantly reduce the amount of time they keep identifying search logs, and will have [...]
Public interest groups, academics and members of the press have hammered Google for its lax privacy policies. The criticism has mostly focused on the log deletion practices and browser cookie policies at the search giant. Google claims that search quality and user privacy are a zero-sum game: deleting log data [...]
Hackers have turned their attention to Facebook's hundreds of independent applications. The results are not terribly surprising, but do not tell a good tale: app developers don't seem to know a thing about basic security, and are putting private user information at risk. As a result, malicious hackers are able [...]
Google's terms of service, while ignored by the vast majority of users, contain a pretty shocking clause: Under 18's are not permitted to use any of Google's Web properties. That's right, kids--no search, YouTube, Gmail, news, or images.
Under 18s wishing to watch YouTube videos of skateboarding dogs, or perform [...]
With a stroke of the Governor's pen on Monday, Indiana became one of the few states in the country to provide strong incentives for businesses to encrypt sensitive customer data. Unlike many of the laws that pass through state legislatures - this one was not ghost written by lobbyists or [...]
Facebook launched a bunch of new privacy controls today, and has received a significant amount of positive press as a result. The praise is perhaps not so deserving--as the new privacy controls can be easily evaded.
The [...]
Update at 10:10 a.m. PDT: The titles for Tessa Sproule and Guinevere Orvis have been tweaked.
Following closely on the heels of Norway, Canada's public broadcasting service is adopting DRM-free BitTorrent distribution for a major prime-time show.
On March 24, CBC will use BitTorrent to distribute this year's broadcast [...]
Google is now the first of the major search engines and e-mail providers to make a firm statement on the issue of the National Security Agency's wholesale surveillance of Internet content.
Google has stated it didn't help the NSA search your e-mails. More specifically the company denies participating in the NSA's [...]
In what appears to be a first, the US House of Representatives now has a Congressman who can code...in assembly. That's right, a Congressman with geek skills.
Democratic Representative Bill Foster won a special election this past Saturday in the 14th Congressional District of Illinois. This was the district that [...]
Apple's recent announcement of the iPhone application software development kit is drawing criticism from Net neutrality activists. While the company has previously angered many for its practice of bricking unlocked phones, it is now being accused of anticompetitive behavior.
Could Apple take Comcast's place as the poster child [...]
Update 2: MobiTV has backed down, and appears to have kissed and made up with HowardForums. See below.
Updated to include a statement from MobiTV (see below)
In a fantastic demonstration of the Streisand Effect, Silicon Valley startup MobiTV is currently engaged in an almost comedic yet futile effort [...]
The FISA fight is all about the e-mails, according to public comments made on Tuesday by a Department of Justice official.
For months, the debate has centered around immunity for telecom companies including AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint. The primary focus has been on the warrantless wiretapping of the phone calls [...]
A team of respected security researchers known for their work hacking RFID radio chips have turned their attention to pacemakers and implantable cardiac defibrillators.
The researchers will present their paper, "Pacemakers and Implantable Cardiac Defibrillators: Software Radio Attacks and Zero-Power Defenses," during the "Attacks" session of the 2008 IEEE [...]
For the last few years, frequent travelers have had the option to sacrifice their privacy (as well as some money) for speed at the airport. Now, thanks to some keen deal-spotting by bloggers, passengers can skip to the front of the airport security line for free. The question to be [...]
Customers of HSBC, Bank of America, and Washington Mutual suffer the highest rates of identity theft in the banking industry, according to an investigative study released Wednesday by a UC Berkeley Law School researcher.
The Federal Trade Commission received over 245,000 reports of identity theft [...]
Cable giant Comcast seems to have moved on from its anti-BitTorrent filtering, and now appears to be engaged in a fairly low-tech astroturf campaign--which one commentator has called a "Denial of Citizen attack."
The Federal Communications Commission held a public hearing at Harvard University yesterday, primarily [...]
Google could soon be forced to delete identifying user information from its search logs, statements by the European Union data regulators suggest. The search engine's lawyers have long argued that network addresses don't really count as personal information, and even if they did, the company's policy of masking the last [...]
Minor update: Boost uses the Nextel/Sprint network, not Alltel.
Apple's iPhones seem to have a monopoly when it comes to usable mobile Web browsing. Until now, freedom-loving users not wishing to get into bed with Steve Jobs were, for the most part, out of luck. This article explains how to [...]
