The Information Warfare Monitor, a joint project of the Advanced Network Research Group, part of the Cambridge Security Programme, The SecDev Group and the Citizen Lab, an interdisciplinary laboratory based at the Munk Centre for International Studies, University of Toronto,…
Category: Privacy
On the “Anonymity” of the Facebook Dataset (Updated)
(Updated below with responses to comments by Jason Kaufman, one of the lead researchers on this project) (Another update: I'm pretty sure the "anonymous, Northeastern university" from where this dataset was derived is Harvard College. Details here) A group of…
Read More On the “Anonymity” of the Facebook Dataset (Updated)
Poll Reveals Amercians are Concerned about Online Privacy, but Grossly Misinformed
On the heels of the recent Pew study concerning cloud computing and privacy, Consume Reports has released a poll revealing that most Americans are very concerned about what is being done with their personal information online. Some highlights: 72% are…
Read More Poll Reveals Amercians are Concerned about Online Privacy, but Grossly Misinformed
Facebook *Really* Wants You to Use Beacon (Updated)
Remember Beacon? That a pervasive tool Facebook created for tracking, collecting, and publishing user purchasing habits across the Web? After enough uproar, Facebook was kind enough to offer users a way to opt-out of this surveillance assemblage. Well, I was…
Read More Facebook *Really* Wants You to Use Beacon (Updated)
Use of cloud computing increasing, despite privacy concerns
Pew Internet and American Life project released a new study revealing that 69% of online Americans rely on "cloud computing" for many of their communication and productivity needs, including web-based email, online data storage and file sharing, or software programs…
Read More Use of cloud computing increasing, despite privacy concerns
Technologies of Obfuscation and Resistance
During my studies in privacy and surveillance theory, I've gained an interest in technologies of obfuscation and resistance. Especially simple ones that nearly any average citizen can implement. TrackMeNot is a great example: a simple Firefox extension that periodically issues…
Catching Up – Link Dump
I’ve been ridiculously busy lately, and need to quickly catch up on some recent items of note: Scientific American has a nice special issue dedicated to "the future of privacy." Nothing new here for most privacy scholars, but it is…
Further Update on Local Library SSN Practices – Divulgence is Voluntary
This week I received a formal reply to my July 2 letter to the Shorewood, Wisconsin Public Library regarding its requiring I provide my social security number to obtain a library card, that confirms the anecdotal evidence that the library…
Read More Further Update on Local Library SSN Practices – Divulgence is Voluntary
Google Shortens Data Retention to 9 Months
Quickly, as I'm rushing out the door to teach: Google has announced it will (reluctantly) shorten the amount of time it holds fully-identifiable information, and will “anonymize” search records after 9 months, rather than the current 18 months. This is…
Update on Local Library SSN Practices
While I never received a reply to my letter to the Shorewood, Wisconsin Public Library regarding its requiring I provide my social security number to obtain a library card, I do have anecdotal evidence that the library might have changed…
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