Balough
December 22, 2013
Companies would be required to obtain consent from consumers before mobile device monitoring software starts collecting information under a bill introduced in Congress. Sellers of mobile telephones and providers of mobile service or broadband would need to disclose the following information to consumers prior to activating or collecting information from them under the “Mobile Device […]
Balough
December 22, 2013
Even though about half of all cell phone users download apps, a majority of users have decided not to install a particular app once they discovered how much personal information they would need to share in order to use the app, a new study found. The study revealed that 54 percent of cell phone app […]
Balough
December 22, 2013
There is no reasonable expectation of privacy in data given off by a pay-as-you-go cell phone, the Sixth Circuit found. At issue in the case was geolocational information obtained by Drug Enforcement Administration officers who continuously “pinged” the pay-as-you-go cell phone of a suspect and his son who were driving from Arizona to Texas. Once […]
Balough
December 22, 2013
Illinois is the second state in the nation to prohibit employers from asking employees or applications for their Facebook and other social media passwords. Illinois Public Law 097-0875, which becomes effective January 1, 2013, is an amendment to the State’s Right to Privacy in the Workplace Act. The amendment makes it “unlawful for any employer […]
Balough
December 17, 2013
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has published its final report setting forth best practices for businesses to protect consumers’ privacy and give them greater control over the collection and use of their personal data. Entitled “Protecting Consumer Privacy in an Era of Rapid Change, Recommendations for Businesses and Policymakers,” the report recommends that businesses follow […]
Balough
December 17, 2013
Law enforcement officers do not need a warrant to search a suspect’s cell phone to obtain the phone’s number, the Seventh Circuit ruled. The court said obtaining the phone number was “minimally invasive of privacy” and justified because it was possible that the number could have been erased remotely before the arresting officers obtained a […]
Balough
December 17, 2013
Individual privacy rights would receive some protection online under a proposed “Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights” unveiled by the White House. The Bill of Rights would be enforced by the Federal Trade Commission and individual states attorneys generals. It would establish “safe harbors” for businesses that comply with guidelines established as part of an industry initiative. […]
Balough
December 17, 2013
Law enforcement officials must obtain a warrant before placing a GPS tracking device on an individual’s vehicle, the United States Supreme Court ruled. The decision was anticipated to be the first to define boundaries of what constitutes geolocational privacy, that is, whether there is any privacy in the location of a person. However, the case was […]
Balough
December 16, 2013
The use of information obtained by a warrantless-tracking of a New York state employee with a GPS device on his private car, even while he was on a week’s vacation, was approved by the state’s appellate court. The case involved an employee who was fired because of a pattern of taking unauthorized absences from work […]
Balough
December 16, 2013
The Mobile Marketing Association has issued a proposed model Mobile Application Privacy Policy Framework for mobile applications developers. The framework is intended to give mobile applications developers clear language for disclosing to users what data is collected and used by mobile applications. The framework proposes language that answers the following questions: Do third parties see and/or have […]
