Kaiser faults California’s exchange for lack of quality ratings
by Chad Terhune, Los Angeles Times
Healthcare giant Kaiser Permanente and two other insurers say California’s insurance exchange is withholding crucial information from consumers by not posting quality ratings alongside health plan rates. Read More ›
Keeping Seniors Safe, additional elderly protection bills signed into law
CFC and Legal Assistance to the Elderly, Inc., co-sponsored AB 849, authorizing assistance programs serving victims of elder and dependent adult abuse to help them apply to the Safe at Home address confidentiality program. Read More ›
Building insulation flammability standard in hands of State Fire Marshal
Once implemented, AB 127 will make building insulation safer and less toxic, without reducing fire safety for building occupants. We are pleased that Governor Brown has signed this important bill and welcome the State Fire Marshal’s updated building insulation flammability standards. Read More ›
Dozens of furniture makers settle over chemicals
by Stephanie Lee, San Francisco Chronicle
More than 30 furniture companies, including Ikea, J.C. Penney and Kmart, have agreed to settle for a total of $2.3 million in civil penalties after a Berkeley watchdog group alleged they sold furniture with high amounts of flame retardants in violation of California’s Proposition 65. Read More ›
Facebook loosens privacy policy on teens’ posts
by Jessica Guynn, Los Angeles Times
Social network Facebook lifts restrictions on kids 13 to 17 that kept them from sharing information with people they do not know. Critics say the move puts teens at risk. Read More ›
Kids’ personal data needs protection from tech firms
by John Simpson, Consumer Watchdog
The educational technology software industry is an estimated $8 billion market. The concern is that instead of using kids’ data only for educational purposes, their privacy will be invaded and the data will be used to market products to kids and their families.
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Shoppers getting ripped off by tiny, high-tech cash register skimmers
by Herb Weisbaum, Today.com
Crooks who steal credit and debit card numbers have found a devious new way to snag this information. They’re using a small and relatively cheap piece of off-the-shelf technology to compromise computerized store cash registers. Read More ›
Airlines new ‘slimline’ seats squeeze more passengers into coach
by Joshua Freed, 10News.com
Some passengers seem to mind the tighter squeeze more than others. The new seats generally have thinner padding. And new layouts on some planes have made the aisles slightly narrower, meaning the dreaded beverage cart bump to the shoulder happens more often. Read More ›
California governor vetoes state email privacy bill
by Kate Tummarello, The Hill
Governor Jerry Brown vetoed a state online privacy bill that would have protected residents’ electronic communications accounts from warrantless access by law enforcement agencies. Read More ›
To File a Complaint
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Online: https://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm Phone: (888) 225-5322 TTY: (888) 835-5322 Fax: (866) 418-0232 E-mail: fccinfo@fcc.gov Mail: Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street SW Washington, DC 20554 Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Online: https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/#&panel1-1 Phone: (877) 382-4357 TTY: (866) 653-4261 Mail: 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, … Read More ›
What Are Our Legal Rights?
Unfortunately, laws have not kept pace with changing technology. The first iPhone was released in 2007, and since then there has been an explosion of smartphone technology. Existing Federal Law: The Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) Enacted in 1986, ECPA (18 U.S.C. §§ 2510-3127) includes the Wiretap … Read More ›
Smartphone Privacy Tips
Never leave your smartphone unattended. Use Wi-Fi networks cautiously and turn Bluetooth off when not in use. Disable photo geotagging on your phone. Research apps before you download them: When browsing an app store, look at how many people have downloaded the app you are interested … Read More ›
How Are Smartphones Attacked?
Criminals Can Physically Gain Access to Your Smartphone A person who gains access to your smartphone can physically install surveillance spyware. An online search for “smartphone spy” pulls up software that promises “it doesn’t matter if the user tries to delete their tracks by deleting their … Read More ›