In a complaint filed this week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) alleges that a data broker sold geolocation data from individuals showing their movements to and from sensitive locations, including reproductive health clinics, places of worship, and substance use disorder clinics. Kochava, the broker in question, allegedly collects and sells GPS location data from consumers
GPS
Tracking Employees with GPS? New Jersey Law Requires Employers to Give Written Notice to Employees Before Using a Tracking Device in Employee Vehicles
By Robinson+Cole's Data Privacy + Cybersecurity Team on
Posted in Data Privacy
Private employers in New Jersey need to be aware of the latest employee privacy law that will take effect on April 18, 2022. A3950 prohibits employers from knowingly using a “tracking device” in a vehicle used by an employee without providing written notice to the employee.
Employers that violate this new law can be subject…
Privacy Tip #293 – Location, Location, Location-Based Services
By Linn Foster Freedman on
Posted in Privacy Tips
This is not the first post discussing location-based services on mobile phones [see posts here]. And it won’t be the last. After reading my colleague’s post on the priest who resigned from his high-profile position after his location was tied to Grindr, I thought it would be useful to remind readers to think…
Location Data Results in Resignation of High-Profile Church Official
By Kathleen Porter on
Posted in Data Privacy
Location data is data that marks the longitude/latitude location of a smartphone or other device at a particular time, or over a period of time. It works like this: each day our device, which has a unique identifier or ID, uses or connects to multiple location signals, like GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cell towers or other…
Surveyors v. Drone Photographers: First Amendment Debate
By Kathryn Rattigan on
Posted in Drones
A lawsuit filed in North Carolina claims that, under the First Amendment, surveyors cannot stop drone operators from selling photos taken from above and making maps.
Typically, a landowner contacts a surveyor to help establish a legal property line. However, what if you just want to see what your property looks like or create a…
Activist Hackers Claim They Archived Parler Content Leading Up to Riots
By Linn Foster Freedman on
Posted in Cybersecurity
Users of the Parler social media platform who participated in the riots last week at the U.S. Capitol are reportedly uneasy following the announcement that several activist hackers archived posts as they were happening in real time during the riots, and that they will release the posts publicly to assist law enforcement with investigations. Another…
AGs Express Concerns About Contact Tracing Apps and Protection of Consumer Personal Information
By Jean Tomasco on
As many states continue to reopen businesses and permit more gatherings, public health officials are looking to contact tracing as a key strategy for preventing further spread of COVID-19. In contact tracing, public health staff work with patients who have suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection to help them recall everyone with whom they had close…
U.S. Army Issues Memorandum Banning Use of DJI Products Due to Cybersecurity Issues
By Kathryn Rattigan on
Posted in Drone Privacy, Drones
Last week, the U.S. Army issued a memorandum discontinuing the use of DJI drone products due to cybersecurity concerns. The memorandum said, “Due to increased awareness of cyber vulnerabilities associated with DJI products, it is directed that the U.S. Army halt use of all DJI products. This guidance applies to all DJI UAS and any…
FBI Issues Warning about Internet-Connected Toys
By Linn Foster Freedman on
Posted in Children's Privacy, Cybersecurity
We previously reported about the microphone and video capabilities of Echo technology [view related post]. The FBI is also concerned about this technology being used in toys that are connected to the Internet.
The FBI is so concerned that yesterday, it issued a Public Service Announcement that warns consumers that Internet-connected toys “could present…
Privacy Tip #52 – Sharing Your Information with Your Rental Car
By Linn Foster Freedman on
Posted in Privacy Tips
I travel a lot and frequently rent cars in cities all over the country. Those of you who know me, (and my husband and children will attest), know that I will not ask for directions. I am definitely more like a man than a woman when it comes to refusing to stop and ask for directions.
But I also refused to download Waze ever since it required that you basically give up your entire contacts list to them, and I don’t like to put my location based services on for Google maps. So what’s a stubborn girl to do when I am in a foreign city trying to get to my destination?
Most rental cars now give you the option for GPS (and as soon as you turn the car on, it says “Welcome, Linn Freedman”) and the ability to connect your cell phone to the blue tooth feature in the car. So the last time I rented a car, I looked at that GPS screen that knew who the driver was, and I knew that they were also tracking everywhere I drove. And when the screen said to connect my cell phone to the blue tooth, I knew that it was tracking every telephone call I made, down to the exact number I called. Is that something that the rental car agency really needed to have? What would they do with that information? So obviously, I didn’t use the GPS, nor did I connect my phone.
Apparently, I wasn’t the only one concerned.
Continue Reading Privacy Tip #52 – Sharing Your Information with Your Rental Car