The Californian government is on privacy law passing streak. The newest is S.B. 46, a bill meant to protect personal information from prying eyes. Prior to this law, organizations would have to alert users in the wake of a data breach or suspected data breach that gave access to first and last name in addition to sensitive information, such as SSN, license or ID number, credit card number or medical information. Now, the new provision requires agencies to alert users when information that would allow an unauthorized user to access their account has been breached. According to S.B. 46, the combination of an email address or username and password would require businesses to report a data breach. Similarly, if either the log-in information and answer to a security question has…

While Capitol Hill focuses its laser on all things IRS and Benghazi, the States are talking online Privacy. Texas Online Privacy Law Action Last week, the Texas legislature sent Gov. Perry a bill, which requires investigators to get warrants to read private citizens’ emails.  A significant move since the bill goes a bit deeper than the 1986 federal law that guides such activity on a national level. Maine Online Privacy Law Action Also last week, Maine’s House of Representatives requiring warrants for officials seeking location information about cell phone users. The bill now goes back to the state’s Senate, which has already passed it, for enactment.  According to privacy advocates, each bill, if it becomes law, would be the first of its kind. California Online Privacy Law Action The California…

Facebook may find themselves the focus of yet another online privacy scandal. This time it has to do with the social network’s relationship with Datalogix – a Colorado-based marketing firm that claims to have information about “almost every U.S. household.” The Electronic Privacy Information Center Says Datalogix-Facebook Friendship Violates An Online Privacy Settlement The Electronic Privacy Information Center made a public announcement this week about their belief that the Menlo Park crew is improperly sharing personally identifiable information with the high-tech marketing outfit and they’re asking the FTC to open an investigation. What makes this possible online breach even more concerting to the Electronic Privacy Information Center is that Facebook recently settled a multi-million dollar online privacy lawsuit and vowed never to share data above and beyond a user’s privacy…

Over a relatively short period of time, the Internet, chat services, and smartphone apps have rapidly changed the way people communicate with one another. Unfortunately, this technological burst has birthed a few negative effects — namely an increase in data security crimes. Law enforcement has responded to the risk with a request for Internet and communications companies to install “backdoors” that will allow the police access to potentially criminal conversations. As you’d imagine, multiple interest groups are clashing over this situation. Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act Background Much of the controversy surrounding this proposal stems from the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act, or CALEA. This law was created in 1994 and amended in 2004 to require all telecommunications and broadband companies to provide information and assistance to law…

FTC Sets Its Focus On Online Privacy The Federal Trade Commission recently adopted a tough position on digital privacy and the rights of Internet users. This comes in the wake of accusations by the FTC that Internet giants Google and Facebook routinely violate the online privacy policies to which they supposedly adhere. With newly reappointed Chairman Jon Leibowitz heading the commission, both companies will have to undergo formal privacy reviews for the next 20 years. The tough new stance comes in the wake of the FTC’s anticipated March report, which finally established benchmarks that spell out a person’s rights in this digital era. FTC Meeting With Big Internet Players About Online Privacy Concerns Leibowitz also met with Mozilla, Square and several other high-tech firms in the San Francisco region last…