Apple: Enemy of consumer privacy
CFC sponsored a bill to restore privacy protections, permitting online businesses to collect only a customer’s zip code and other limited information necessary to combat fraud or identity theft. Apple is leading the opposition. Read More ›
Mobile health and fitness apps: What are the privacy risks?
by Editor, Privacy Rights Clearinghouse
Consumers should not assume any of their data is private in the mobile app environment—even health data that they consider sensitive. Users must weigh the benefits of the service with the realistic possibility that they are revealing information about their health not only to the app developer or publisher but also to third parties. Read More ›
Google starts placing ads directly in Gmail inboxes
by Stephen Shankland, CNET
Trying a new method of making money off its free e-mail service, the Internet giant has begun putting ads in Gmail’s “promotions” category. Google has begun showing advertisements in the space reserved for e-mail messages in Gmail users’ inboxes, a new step in the company’s effort to turn its free services into revenue sources. Read More ›
State Auditor vindicates CPUC Intervenor Compensation Program
The California State Auditor released a favorable report – surely to the dismay of AT&T, Verizon and PG&E – that reviewed intervenor compensation awarded to advocacy groups participating. The program provides consumers an effective voice before state regulators when utilities seek unwarranted rate hikes or rules that harm ratepayers. Read More ›
National healthcare reform sparks concern about scams
by Anna Gorman, Los Angeles Times
The national health reform law is expected to open the door for identity theft and insurance scams when millions of uninsured Americans begin enrolling in coverage this fall, officials and advocates warn. The Federal Trade Commission said dozens of consumers have reported fraud since last summer’s Supreme Court ruling upholding the law, and officials predict widespread abuse when enrollment begins in October. Read More ›
Infographic: Who’s checking your credit score?
by Juan Rodriguez and Kristie Aronow, creditcards.com
While 94 percent of consumers said they know that making credit card payments on time will help raise their credit score, the study found most consumers don’t realize who may be evaluating their credit score to measure their creditworthiness. Read More ›
How to protect your privacy from Facebook Graph Search
by Elizabeth Palermo, TechNewsDaily
After keeping it in beta for six months, the social networking site has finally unveiled its much-hyped new feature, which mines the data found in millions of Facebook profiles — and it could reveal more about you than you’d like. Read More ›
Senator Elizabeth Warren: It’s obscene that the government profits off of student loans
by Chris Morran, Consumerist
Proponents of the idea say the profit will be used to pay down the national debt, but Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts believes it’s wrong to saddle young borrowers with higher interest just because the government hasn’t been able to maintain its books properly. Read More ›
Millions of US license plates tracked and stored
by Ed Pilkington, The Guardian
A new report from the ACLU has found an alarming proliferation of databases across the US storing details of Americans’ locations. The technology is not confined to government agencies – private companies are also getting in on the act, with one firm National Vehicle Location Service holding more than 800m records of scanned license plates. Read More ›
Electronic medical records allow more people access to your private health information
by ABC, News 10
Privacy advocates are now bracing for full implementation of the Affordable Health Care Act, which calls for more electronic record keeping and more opportunities for database mining of health records by marketers, credit agencies and law enforcement. Read More ›
Billboard seeks to name and shame in California automobile forced arbitration case
by Will Carless, Voice of San Diego
A San Diego consumer bought a “certified” used car that turned out to be a nightmare. His ordeal has been featured in Consumer Reports magazine and is garnering national attention about forced arbitration clauses in contracts. See the YouTube video about his plight that has attracted over 550,000 views so far. Read More ›
Senate confirms Cordray to head Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
by Kevin Lam, Reuters, Washington Post
The Senate confirmed Richard Cordray to head the CFPB, ending years of contentious political wrangling over the leadership of one of the most influential agencies in Washington. The vote came hours after lawmakers averted a showdown over Senate rules governing whether a filibuster could be used to block presidential appointees. Read More ›
Hazardous lead paint: Legal battle comes to trial in California
by Howard Mintz, San Jose Mercury News
From old cottages in Berkeley and Palo Alto to ranch-style homes in Silicon Valley, the remnants of a hazardous past can lurk in the walls — lead paint. And now 10 California cities will finally get to try to make the powerful paint industry pay dearly to remove those poisonous ghosts from millions of homes around the state. Read More ›