On Monday the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) levied the largest fine to date on Google for a privacy violation. The slap was worth $22.5 million.
Google had been attempting to work around Apple’s Safari on its mobile devices. They were watching mobile users’ browsing habits, even if those same users had believed they had blocked that access.
This isn’t Google’s first interaction with the FTC. In fact, in addition to Google, Facebook and Twitter have also been charged with privacy violations before.
Interestingly enough, if you have been a regular listener to prophet.tv this would not have taken you off guard. Tune in to prophet.tv to ‘see the news before it happens’.
Facebook have bought the facially recognition technology company Face.com. The Israeli based startup already had apps used on Facebook, which looks at users photos, tagging friends automatically.
This move suggests Facebook are seeking to further develop their facial recognition technology. With the vast amounts of personal data Facebook holds on it’s users, and the millions of photographs stored on their servers of users, and users families and friends; should we be concerned at Facebook further pursuing the capabilities of complying databases which would enable them to recognise you whenever, and wherever they see your image? Should we be concerned as to the security of such data?
The EU has passed new laws which will significantly improve data protection for individuals online. The web has highlighted many data protection issues, and these will only increase. In the past, Facebook has come under attack for not being careful enough with it’s users personal information, and the case of Sony, when 77 million customers had their personal information stolen by hackers, made it very real what can happen to your personal data when mishandled.
The new laws will not only impose heavy penalties on those who breach the new rules, but also give individuals new rights as well, including the “right to be forgotten”.
As we increasingly use cloud technology and have our personal details stored all over the world in massive servers, we need to know those who control this information are doing so in a safe and responsible manner.
Random Events, Free Will, Pre-destiny or Something Darker ?