Entries tagged with: Cloud Computing
28 result(s) displayed.
Google Transparency Report Reveals Risks of Cloud-based Computing
According to a recent report from Google, the company received 20,938 requests for user data in the first half of 2012, up from 18,257 requests in the second half of 2011. The United States accounted for 7,969 requests in the...
European Expert Group Affirms Privacy Rules for Cloud Service Providers
The Article 29 Working Party, representing the privacy agencies of European Union countries, has released a new Opinion in which it states that cloud service providers will be subject to the EU Data Protection Directive. The expert group also advises...
Google Terms of Service Grant Company Broad Rights over Data of Google Drive Users
Google’s Terms of Service--which govern Google’s cloud-based file storage, Google Drive--give the company the right to “reproduce, modify, create derivative works” using uploaded content, as well as to “publicly perform, [and] publicly display” files. In 2009, EPIC asked the FTC...
Google Backs Off Privacy Policy Change for Federal Government
In response to growing concern about the impact of Google's proposed policy change on user privacy and cloud-computing services, the company said that its planned privacy changes will not apply to US federal agencies. A report from Safegov.org "Google’s New...
Twitter Adopts Privacy Enhancing Technique, Defaults to HTTPS
Twitter has joined the ranks of Gmail with a decision to implement HTTPS functionality by default for all users in order to encrypt data and protect privacy. The change stems from several security problems in early 2011, including two incidents...
Chairman Leahy Announces New Subcommittee on Privacy and Technology
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has established a new Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law as part of his commitment to protecting “Americans’ privacy in the digital age.” Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) will chair...
Facebook Enables Full-Session Encryption
Facebook will now allow full-session HTTPS. The switch to encrypted cloud-based computing promotes privacy and security, particularly when users access Facebook from public Internet access points. Previously, Facebook only used HTTPS when users’ passwords were being sent to the site....
NIST Seeks Comments on Guidelines for Cloud Computing
The National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) has announced that it is accepting comments on two draft documents on cloud computing: the NIST Definition of Cloud Computing and the Guidelines on Security and Privacy in Public Cloud Computing. The...
DHS Privacy Office Releases 2010 Annual Report
The Department of Homeland Security has released the Privacy Office 2010 Annual Report. The Agency's Chief Privacy Officer must prepare an annual report to Congress that details activities of the Department that affect privacy, including complaints of privacy violations, and...
Google Adds Two-Factor Authentication to Google Apps
Google announced today that it is adding two-factor verification for Google Applications. This will allow users to set up a one-time code delivered to a mobile phone, in addition to a regular password. Currently this option is only available for...
Pew/Elon Study: Cloud Computing Will Expand, Security and Privacy Issues Must be Addressed
According a recent Pew Internet and Elon University survey , most technology experts believe that the next decade will bring increased reliance on internet-based applications and cloud computing. The experts and social analysts surveyed also predicted greater use of mobile...
Congress Pursues Investigation of Google and Facebook's Business Practices
Following similar letters from other Congressional leaders, the head of the House Judiciary Committee has asked Google Inc. and Facebook to cooperate with government inquiries into privacy practices at both companies. Rep. Conyers (D-MI) noted that Google's collection of user...
Congress Urges FTC to Investigate Google Following Revelation that "Street View" Scarfed Wi-Fi Data
Congressmen Joe Barton (R-TX) and Edward Markey (D-MA) wrote to FTC Chairman Liebowitz about Google's collection of consumer's private Wi-Fi transmissions. The House members asked the FTC Chairman to investigate whether Google's actions violate federal privacy laws or consumer protection...
FCC Release National Broadband Plan, Privacy Strategy Unclear
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released its National Broadband Plan today. The FCC notes that “many users are increasingly concerned about their lack of control over sensitive personal data" and warns that "Innovation will suffer if a lack of trust...
EPIC Recommends Effective Consumer Privacy Standards, Calls Notice and Choice a "Failed Experiment"
At the third FTC Privacy Roundtable, EPIC senior counsel John Verdi will recommend that the Commission push forward with effective and meaningful privacy safeguards for American consumers. Mr. Verdi will say that the "notice and choice" approach has failed, and...
EPIC Seeks Records on Google-NSA Relationship
Today EPIC filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the National Security Agency, seeking records regarding the relationship between Google and the NSA. The press reported that Google and the NSA have entered into a partnership following a recent...
EPIC Urges FTC to Protect Users' Privacy On Cloud Computing and Social Networking Services
EPIC submitted comments to the FTC prior to the agency’s second privacy roundtable. EPIC warned of the ongoing privacy risks associated with cloud computing and social networking privacy, highlighting the Google cloud computing complaint and Facebook privacy complaint filed by...
FTC Tells FCC it is Pursuing EPIC's Cloud Computing Complaint
The Federal Trade Commission is urging the Federal Communications Commission to consider the privacy implications of cloud computing in formulating the National Broadband Plan, due to Congress next month. The FTC interest into cloud computing was prompted by an EPIC...
ENISA Report Examines Cloud Computing and Privacy
The European Network and Information Security Agency has released a new report on Cloud Computing. The ENISA report recommends that European officials determine the application of data protection laws to cloud computing services. The report also considers whether personal data...
Administration Announces Cloud Computing Initiative, but Privacy Umbrella Missing
Chief Information Officer Vivek Kundra announced the launch of “Apps.gov”, a website where federal agencies can obtain cloud-based IT services. The initiative is aimed at "lowering the cost of government operations while driving innovation." Currently, the administration's main goal is...
