It's Time to Increase Online Privacy of Children

It is still uncertain as to what will happen to the “Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights” that was proposed by the White House. Discussions and debates persist despite the urgency of the need to provide better online protection. Many children on the internet share data which could be turned around and used against them. This was the topic that music and TV personality Nick Cannon brought out when he appeared on Capitol Hill.

Working with some legislators, Cannon endorsed the Do Not Track Kids Act. The older Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 will be amended by this one. The new bill’s main aim is to increase online privacy for children. This defines the extent of the ability of websites, advertising agencies and cellular providers to use the personal information of children. The law will no longer allow them to use targeted ads for children and prohibit them from tracking minors.

Online devices such as smartphones and other gadgets that store information on young consumers can now be easily accessed. Without their parents giving consent, these children are in danger of those who are capable of taking advantage of them. They can be simply tracked on the internet and their whereabouts can be monitored without difficulty.

Unknowingly, all online activities of children leave digital footprints - their emails, the topics they search, or pictures they post. These are then gathered by big corporations and data marketers, to be used right away or years later. No parents would be happy if their son is denied a job because of an offending picture of himself that he posted on the net when he was still minor.

There are critics who say that the bill is very broad in scope, which makes it unenforceable. They added that it might be technically impossible and very costly for companies to comply with it. It would also damage the internet because some services would not continue because of liability issues.

As to giving more protection to children online, it is still not clear even now. There always seems to be a battle between those who advocate privacy and those who defend the lifeblood of the internet. The “Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights” is more “favored” because it offers wider user protection regardless of age. But the final result can only be seen when the two camps can come to a “win-win” situation.

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Do You Still Resist Facebook?

Looking at the staggering number of 800 million Facebook users, one can readily say that this social networking site is really becoming a household name. This is a cross-section of many kinds of users – according to age, profession, online preferences, or even purposes in joining. This internet giant has totally reshaped the lives of these users. Many of them could not let a day pass without sharing pictures, posting comments, visiting digital links, and much more.

This trend of having the social networking experience everywhere puts pressure on those who still refuse to join. Whether they are simply technophobes or privacy advocates, they are not spared from the attraction to conform to what others are doing. Finally, there were those who, for many years would not give up, but are now excited to be making “friends”. They say that they should have discovered the benefits of having a social network account years ago.

There are several reasons why some people reject Facebook. There are those who say that it is just a waste of time. Others reason that there are so many social networking sites out there and they are overwhelmed. They could not choose which one would give the best experience, so, the best thing to do then, according to them, is to ignore them all.

Of course, privacy is another reason why some would not join Facebook. With the ongoing issues about giving users better online protection through legislation, many would opt to stay “safe”. The reality is that there is an abundant presence of online predators and scammers. Others feel that being on Facebook strips off their privacy, giving the chance for online criminals to make them victims.

It was found that among the fastest growing number of Facebook users are older Americans. Further research revealed that most of them use Facebook to stay in touch with their children. However, there are also a large number of older Americans who are not comfortable with joining the social network. Considering that they did not grow up in the information age, they have biases against taking the advantages of the new communication medium.

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The Obama Privacy Plan Unveiled

The privacy plan of the Obama Administration has stirred issues among consumers and the public in general. This has also dragged the White House into the center of the debates. After the announcement of the plan last week, controversies over online privacy have once again heated up.

The said proposal aims to gather together different entities that are related to online activities in order to have them unite. It would start by calling on those internet companies, law enforcement agencies, privacy groups, and state attorney generals. To start, they are encouraged to set aside their personal interests and to collaborate. They will work for a common purpose – to come up with voluntary standards that would defend consumer data to the highest degree.

Some groups are afraid that the Obama privacy plan could intimidate the internet. According to privacy advocates, they are hoping that the plan will be a good one. Others are hopeful that the United States will soon have a privacy law; one that supports innovation and gives more user protection.

The framework of the proposed law consists of four parts. These are: the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights, a multi-stakeholder process, an adequate enforcement model, and a commitment to strengthen interoperability.

The Bill of Rights framework also contains seven specific provisions. These are: individual control, transparency, respect for context, security, access and accuracy, focused collection, and accountability. With these, consumers can expect to have better control over data that they share online. The provisions of the multi-stakeholder process look into how companies can benefit from the privacy law. With the interoperability provisions included, other countries could possibly recognize and enforce the same law.

Expecting the possible consequences of the law, a researcher at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University has expressed his concern. The first problem that he foresees is the hurt that it could inflict among companies. For a long time, behavioral advertising has proven to be one of the most effective methods of gaining profits. Part of the revenue derived from behavioral tracking and data aggregation is used to offer free internet services such as web-based email and social networking. For ordinary internet users, these are the services that they use every day. The probable effect of regulation is that these services would no longer be free.

Being more responsible over what they do online is what consumers should learn more about. Many privacy issues could be solved if consumers would clean their own footprints on the internet. In this part, the Obama administration should put more weight on defending consumers by first educating them. The government should not overlook this in its efforts to protect consumers.

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Internet Users Become More Aware of their Privacy

The picture of internet users is changing as they become more concerned about their privacy. To see how it is, researches and studies are being conducted by different entities. Once this is done, there will be a profile of how users view or feel about their social networking activities. Pew Internet & American Life Project participated in this endeavor and reported its findings. Among others, it said that social networking sites users are becoming more careful when accepting a friend. Unlike before, they are taking more time to find out which contents must be deleted on their pages.

Pew also discovered that two out of three of all internet users have active social networking accounts. In 2009, the figures revealed that more individuals decided to delete some “friends” from their lists. When compared by gender, more women than men did so. By age, more young people tend to do the same than older ones. These findings were gathered in a span of one year.

An Associated Press insider said that users have shifted from being passive to being more conscious about other people’s comments. There are an increasing number of users who deleted comments on their profiles. Pew also mentioned that a large number of users “untagged” themselves from photos that they find “unsafe”. This tends to show that they want to stay on the “safe” side, not like in the past.

The profile options of whether to make it “public” or “private” are also useful to users. Only twenty percent have set their profiles to public, while fifty-eight percent set theirs to private. With this, more users want their profiles to be viewed only by friends. It is expected that the percentage of users who find it difficult to manage their privacy will decrease. At present, 49% said that they can manage their privacy without any trouble. This means that more social networking users are placing stricter limits on their privacy.

For the Obama administration, improved and stronger privacy protection for users of social networking sites is needed. Considering that technology for tracking users is becoming more sophisticated, there is a need for control and regulation. If this is not done, this technology is a threat to the privacy concern of users.

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Before Google’s New Privacy Policy Goes Into Effect, Learn How To Remove Your Search History

Google will be implementing a new privacy policy  on March 1, 2012.  This is a unified policy that will affect all of your Google accounts, and any information collected on you before March 1^st.  It will also include any information Google collects on you in the future.

Currently, all of your Google searches and visited sites (Google Web History) was kept separate from all other Google services.  Your Web History tells a story about you that you may not want others to know.  This story can include your location, gender, sexual orientation, age, health issues, spiritual beliefs and so much more.  

In order to stop Google from merging your Web History with any information gathered about you from Google + or YouTube, you should remove everything from your Web History.  Not only that, but you should also have the detailing of your Web History stopped from the present into the future. 

The steps you need to take in order to do this are as follows:

First, sign into your Google account.

Second, go to https://www.google.com/history

Next, click on “Remove all web history” button.

 Finally, click “OK”.

Notice that by removing your Web History, you are also pausing it.  The Web History will stay off until you decide to re-enable.

When your Web History is enabled, Google will keep your records indefinitely.  However, it you disable your Web History, your records will be partially cleared in 18 months.  Also, some customized search results that would normally be sent to you will be barred.   Following the advice in the Electronic Frontier Foundation’s Six Tips to Protect Your Search Privacy will help you to lessen the amount of records Google will keep on you.

Keep in mind that you will need to follow these steps for each Google account that you have.  It is also important to note that Google will still be able to store your  information to use internally.  Disabling Web History will not prohibit Google from sending any information stored to any law enforcement agency, if requested.

Facebook’s Timeline Causes Privacy Concerns

Facebook’s newest version is on its way to your computer.  Timeline hasn’t even made a widespread appearance yet, and it’s already causing people to bring up some privacy concerns.  As with all things Facebook, this newest version has its good points and its bad points.  However, if you read the Privacy Policy and take the time to set your privacy controls, you should be able to continue on with your love of Facebook without too much worry.

Most of the issues raised about Timeline involve the new feature, “Maps”.  This feature takes all of the information you ever posted to Facebook…events, locations, jobs, pictures…and uses it to “map” your Facebook life.  All of your friends will be able to see where you’ve been, what you’ve done and who you’ve been with.   All of this information is posted on your wall along with the dates that each particular thing happened.  This is one feature that you cannot opt out of.

According to Facebook’s Privacy Policy:  “We receive data from the computer, mobile phone or other device you use to access Facebook.  This may include your IP address, location, the type of browser you use, or the pages you visit.”  When you agree to the Terms and Conditions, you are letting Facebook know that you have read, and understood everything in their policies.  You should know and understand that there is information gathered about you and that information will be shared with others in the Facebook community.

Each time you or a friend uploads a picture to Facebook from a GPS enabled phone, you are tagged to the location and the information goes on your “map”.  Whenever you update your profile to show a new home town, or new job, that information will also have a place on your “map”.  Even if you don’t update often, your map will show past updates, pictures and posts regarding your life events.

Even your choice of music will be public knowledge if you listen using Spotify.  When Spotify first became available, you had no say in the posting of what you were listening to.  Due to an outcry from users, you are now offered an option called “Private Listening”.  There is a slight problem with this though:  if you restart the application for whatever reason, or you don’t use it often, you have to remember to reset the “Private Listening” option.

 Now, think of all the times you posted an RSVP on Facebook by clicking on “Will Attend” to an event.  Also, how often do you click on the “Like” button for a particular product, cause or service?  Each time you do this, the people on your friends list will be asked to either attend or “like” because you are “attending” or that you “Like” them.

Another thing you need to be aware of is that if you use an app to read an article on line, and that app asks for permission to “Allow” your information to be used, you are not just allowing for that one particular time.   You are “allowing” that app to get your information every single time you read something.   Each time you read an article, that information will be posted on your Facebook wall.  If you don’t want people to know what you’re reading, don’t click on “Allow” unless you think very carefully about what this would mean at a later date.

Yes, this is a lot for you to have to think about, but isn’t your privacy worth taking a little bit of time and effort?  Read and fully understand all of Facebook’s policies, then once your account is switched over to Timeline, carefully select the privacy preferences you feel most comfortable with.  And, please remember that clicking on “Attending” or “Like” isn’t as harmless as you would have thought when it comes to your privacy. 

Why Should You Use A Proxy Server?

Have you ever thought about how cyber-criminals are able to steal your identity?  They do this by following the digital tracks you leave behind whenever you log onto the internet.  This new brand of crook sits waiting for someone to let their guard down, so he can pounce. 

When you go to your favorite coffee shop to have your morning coffee…or even if it’s to unwind after work… and you decide to take out your laptop to send out some e-mails, or do some shopping, you could be putting your identity at risk.  Whenever you use a public hotspot, the WiFi connection may be free, but the penalty could be very costly.  Think about it…how many other people are also using this connection?  You see all of the open laptops, but some of those people may be hard at work hunting for information.

The internet connections in public places leave you vulnerable to identity theft.  Any information you send through this connection  is unencrypted, which means anyone who can find your IP address can intercept your data stream and see everything that you are doing.  

The internet is such a vital part of all of our lives and we are at the point where we don’t give a second thought to entering our personal information.  Every day, we sign up for online newsletters and interesting websites.  We shop on line because that way, we’re not limited to store hours.  Each site asks for a user name, an e-mail address and a password.  If we enter this information over an unencrypted connection, that cyber-criminal posing as a fellow businessman will be able to use it.

With so many websites, newsletters, and social networking sites to sign up for, at one time or another, we have all been guilty of using the same user name (usually an e-mail address) and password for everything.  After all, how can we be expected to remember 20 different passwords?  If a cyber-criminal has intercepted your data stream while you were sending e-mails, he now has your e-mail address and a password.  Once he has this information, he can go through all of your e-mails and collect information from them.  He also now has a password that he can potentially use to open other areas of your on line life.  Bank accounts, on line shopping accounts…your life will be laid out before him.  

If you use the same password for your social networking site, this thief can get into your account, which will tell him your name, location and names of your family and friends.   He is now armed with your name and city, so now it’s not only your identity that is in jeopardy, but also your home and family. 

The only way to deter a cyber-crook, other than never again using a public hotspot, is by using a proxy server.  With a proxy server, not only can you surf the net anonymously by hiding your IP address, but all of the information you enter is encrypted.  Even if someone could intercept your data stream, he won’t be able to decipher any of the information, so it would be useless to him.   

Don’t let a cyber-criminal into your life.  Start using a proxy server today!