PIED TYPE
privacy
Stay tuned for new TSA search techniques
CNN anchors are currently discussing the possibility that a woman arrested this morning on a flight diverted to Bangor, Maine, had an explosive device surgically implanted in her body. Reportedly an inspection by several doctors on board confirmed that she’d had no recent surgery (although not all surgical incisions are visible externally … ). Any … Continue reading
Perpetual war, perpetual power
CNN’s Fareed Zakaria is one of the few remaining good things about this flailing, failing news network. He is intelligent, thoughtful, knowledgeable, and in every way professional. His commentary on this morning’s “GPS” was notable for its explanation of just how big our paranoid Department of Homeland Security has grown — even as the U.S. … Continue reading
CISPA: Will Obama stop SOPA 2.0?
Today I came across a bit of background on CISPA, the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act, on Congress.org. I really dropped the ball letting something so important get all the way through the U.S. House before I noticed it on my radar — said radar having been focused more on recent legislation threatening women’s … Continue reading
The religious rape of American women
Catholic men of America — and all conservatives who support them — you’re not going to win this debate. You are not going to deprive American women of the benefits of 21st Century science, medicine, and law. You are not going to inject your archaic religious beliefs into American jurisprudence and drag women back into … Continue reading
Embryos gain personhood in Oklahoma bill
Oklahoma, sometimes referred to as the “reddest” state in the union and the “buckle on the Bible belt,” is working hard to keep those titles. The Oklahoma Senate has approved a bill that says “personhood” begins at conception. The bill (SB 1433) will now go to the House, where it is expected to pass. Republican … Continue reading
Here comes the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act
Here we go again. Hot on the heels of the SOPA/PIPA shelving, Harry Reid and the Democrats are launching a new assault on Internet privacy — the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2012. This time the attack is not being led by the recording industry; it’s being done by our own government in the name … Continue reading
Once upon a time in America, there was a Fourth Amendment
Gotta give the government credit. They’re always coming up with new and better ways to catch bad guys. Now it seems they have a gadget called a “stingray” that can track cell phones, even if they aren’t being used to make a call. I’m all for law enforcement dreaming up new ways to catch the … Continue reading
A reminder about online privacy
I just saw a CNN report on Internet privacy and how so many entities track your every move for fun and profit. Far too many Internet users never give and thought to privacy — and then they wonder why they get so much spam, junk snail mail, and robocalls. The story reminded me that since … Continue reading
The unpatriotic Patriot Act
In the wake of 9/11, Congress took advantage of a fearful public and a rare moment of national unity to pass the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act, or USA PATRIOT Act. The legislation gave unprecedented and unchecked power to the president and cavalierly suspended many … Continue reading
Beware of geotagging when posting photos and videos
About a year ago I wrote about why you shouldn’t post children’s pictures on the Internet. As an addendum to that, please remember that many of today’s smart phones and cameras embed geotag information in their photos and videos. This information can tell people where the photo was taken and if was taken at your … Continue reading
TSA searches lack probable cause
I’ve already ranted about the TSA’s invasive groping and scanning in the name of national security, so I won’t launch into that again. However, I do want to lift my glass to the New Hampshire legislature for proposing a law that would criminalize such behavior. As noted in its introductory text, the NH bill (HB628-FN) … Continue reading
Happy Birthday, Roe v. Wade
The Roe v. Wade decision was handed down 38 years ago today. In it the Supreme Court said all women have the right to privacy in making medical decisions for themselves, including abortion if they so choose. In the 21st Century, despite all the advances of medicine, science, law, and education, there are still some … Continue reading
Questioning the constitutionality of TSA searches
In today’s Washington Post, Jeffrey Rosen presents a compelling case against the TSA’s new airport security measures. What many of us felt in our bones, he spells out in detail. If you’re still on the fence about the TSA’s revealing scans and intimate pat-downs, you owe it to yourself to read Rosen’s “Why the TSA … Continue reading
Back off, TSA
In the wake of public outrage over its security measures at US airports, the Transportation Security Administration has come out with all sorts of defensive statements about how thoroughly its screeners are vetted and trained. As if that were the issue. The outrage is over intrusive pat-downs of women’s breasts and everyone’s inner thighs (supposedly … Continue reading
Wiretapping, Obama-style
Two days ago this story appeared on the New York Times website: U.S. Tries to Make It Easier to Wiretap the Internet Shades of George Bush and his warrantless wiretaps. Only this time it’s the Obama administration wanting easier access to Americans’ Internet activities. Law enforcement and national security officials want to be able to … Continue reading
Further Facebook folly
Here and elsewhere you’ve read cautionary tales about privacy, or the lack of it, on Facebook. Now comes another one. It seems that if you’re suing someone, the court may allow them access to your Facebook page — including private or deleted posts if they relate to the case. Of course, if you know for … Continue reading
I should stop knocking Facebook, but …
I’ve already made it abundantly clear how I feel about Facebook, its invasions of and disregard for privacy, its myriad hazards, and the ultimate silliness of it all. I’m probably a minority of one in thinking this, since I’m a cranky senior citizen/hermit with no particular liking of social networks of any kind. Anyway, considering … Continue reading
Email, browsing, and bugs
I’ve learned something new this week about Internet security and privacy. Web bugs. Also known as web beacons. If you already know about them, you’re wondering what rock I’ve been living under. If you don’t know about them, listen up. Web bugs are tiny, transparent 1 × 1 pixel objects that advertisers or other snoopy … Continue reading
Please don’t post kids’ pictures
Today I accidentally stumbled onto someone’s personal website and saw names, other personal information, and some lovely family photos that I’m pretty sure weren’t meant to be accessible to the public. Seriously, folks, it’s been said many times before, but it bears repeating: Do not post pictures of children on the Internet! It’s far too … Continue reading
Facebook ‘deactivation’ does not equal ‘cancellation’
If you value your privacy, you may have decided to cancel your Facebook account. You may even think you’ve already done that by deactivating your account. If so, you’d be mistaken. It’s fairly easy to go to Facebook and “deactivate” your account. Probably because doing so doesn’t actually delete your information. It only removes your … Continue reading
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