Privacy
Facebook's Privacy Parole Officer Faces an Immense Regulatory Task
Along with a multiple-billion dollar fine, Facebook is required to have an "outside assessor"–a sort of privacy cop–to monitor violations of users' privacy, the targeted spread of harmful content, and instances of collecting far more data than is warranted.
The Tricky Ethics of Using YouTube Videos for Academic Research
There's no one-size-fits-all for researchers to determine whether using publicly available data is appropriate, but there is certainly room for more discussion.
Gen Z'ers Are More Cautious Online Than Previous Generations
They grew up with phones in their hands—and learned early not to blindly trust the Internet.
What Does Chalking Tires Have to Do With the Fourth Amendment?
A court ruled meter maids are conducting searches without warrants, reflecting a shift from a privacy-based conception of rights to a property-based one.
Is the U.S. Government Getting Any Better at Protecting Consumer Data?
Looking back at the Equifax breach in 2017 shows how little the Federal Trade Commission or the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau have done to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The Questionable Ethics of Expanding Forensic DNA Testing
The use of genetic information collected by private companies in criminal investigations raises a number of issues about transparency and privacy.
Where Does Antitrust Law Fit in When Consumer Privacy Is at Stake?
A landmark decision in Germany's antitrust authority determined that Facebook could not combine data from its other entities without user consent.
Can the Government Force You to Unlock Your Phone?
It's an issue that focuses on the protections granted by the Fifth Amendment.
Not All Surveillance Is Created Equal
We're all being watched, but immigrants are among the most vulnerable to surveillance.
Credit Scores and the Growing Pervasiveness of Personal Metrics
The Department of Homeland Security wants to use credit scores to determine immigration cases. That sets a dangerous precedent.
How Local Legislatures Are Fighting for Better Broadband Privacy
In one instance, the New York City Council proposed a bill that would codify robust cable privacy rules governing all cable providers in the city.
Mail-Order Abortions Are Now Available in the U.S. What Does That Mean for American Women?
Aid Access will mail the two-drug cocktail used across the world to women in the United States.
Should There Be a Global Blueprint for How Governments Handle Biometric Data?
A recent court decision in India could provide some guidelines, but every solution should be based on an individual country's needs, demographics, and history.
How to Keep the Internet of Things From Killing Us All
Author Bruce Schneier warns about the coming hyper-networked world where all your devices are talking to each other.
Inside the Company Making California's New Climate Satellite
A hip factory in downtown San Francisco is producing miniature satellites with major implications for climate research and environmental preservation—and also for privacy.
Republicans' Use of Mollie Tibbetts' Death Highlights the Lack of Privacy Protections for Grieving Families
Immigrant rights advocates say the GOP is simply looking to capitalize on the Trump administration's apparent hostility to immigrants to motivate voters ahead of the November mid-term elections.
The Supreme Court Wrestles With Americans' Right to Privacy in the Digital Age
A recent decision by the Court is a win for Fourth Amendment advocates, but there are still many avenues for law enforcement to track Americans without a warrant online.
Amazon Markets Surveillance Technology to Law Enforcement
Amazon, one of many tech companies that have called for reform of government surveillance, is selling facial recognition services to cops.
Dispatches: What You Need to Know About Facebook and Cambridge Analytica
News and notes from Pacific Standard staff and contributors.
The Lede, Issue #11: Facebook Goes to Washington, Inside the Largest Passenger Cruise Ship Ever Built, Getting Sentimental About Science, and More
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PS Picks: The Reporting on Cambridge Analytica and How Facebook Doesn't Protect Your Privacy
PS Picks is a selection of the best things that the magazine's staff and contributors are reading, watching, or otherwise paying attention to in the worlds of art, politics, and culture.
Americans Should Be Concerned About China's Latest Privacy Violation
China is reportedly importing technology from a company headquartered in the U.S. to surveil supposed subversives in Xinjiang.
Facebook Will Now Prevent Advertisers From Targeting Groups That Propagate Hate Speech
The company has said it would remove all audience categories based on users' reports of their interests, education, and employment.
The Crisis of Patient Privacy in Nursing Homes
A report found 18 incidents in the last year in which employees at nursing homes and assisted living facilities posted unauthorized photos and videos of residents on social media platforms.