PRIVACY + SECURITY BLOG

News, Developments, and Insights

high-tech technology background with eyes on computer display

How HIPAA Was Undermined

HIPAA

The Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) of the DOJ has issued a highly suspect interpretation of the original HIPAA that seriously undermines the enforceability of HIPAA. Some background: In 1996, Congress Passed the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).  The Act, at 42 U.S.C. § 1320d-6, provided in part for the protection of medical privacy – […]

Identity Theft Fears and Online Shopping

Your Evil Twin Beyond the Idenitity Theft Epidemic

From a recent survey: Nearly half of U.S. voters say they don’t shop online because they fear identity thieves may capture their bank-account information, according to a survey released on Wednesday by a technology-industry trade group. These fears are heightened because of the rash of security breaches in recent months.   I previously posted about these breaches here and here.

Soup for Me at $5 but No Soup for You (Or Maybe at $10)

Behavioral Targeting

There is still more interesting grist from the national telephone survey by the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania.  The report has an extensive discussion of price discrimination – offering different prices for the same product or service to different customers based on behavioral profiling. This practice is already happening.  Supermarket discount cards are an example […]

Don’t Know Much About Privacy . . .

Ignorance about Privacy

More interesting results from a recent national telephone survey by the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania.  The report states: The survey further reveals that the majority of adults who use the internet do not know where to turn for help if their personal information is used illegally online or offline.  The study’s findings suggest a […]