privacy
Controversy Surrounds India?s Biometric Database
Questions about the security of India’s giant biometric database continue to be raised by privacy advocates. Established in 2009 by executive order, the Unique Identification Number Authority of India (UIDAI) has taken on the monumental challenge of issuing each resident of the country with a Unique Identification Number (UID), more commonly known as the Aadhaar […]
U.S. Congressman From Texas Introduces Bill To Protect Personal Biometric Information
Texas Congressman Steve Stockman introduced H.R. 4381, the Biometric Information Privacy Act. It would protect a consumer’s personal physiological biometric information from being passed onto third parties. Biometric data include personal identifying information such as DNA, fingerprints, retinal scans, or facial scanning, converted into binary code. “Consumers should not have to worry about third parties […]
Branford CT Neighbor Dispute Centers On Property Line, Surveillance Camera
Kamran Farid, owner of the home on the right, is taking the owners of the home on the left (Bob and Michelle DiLieto) to court, alleging the couple’s fence is encroaching on his property. The common property dispute has a twist — the DiLietos are accusing Farid of illegal surveillance, arguing that the camera (mounted […]
Federprivacy Presents New E-book On Video Surveillance And Workplace
It will be presented during the meeting on the same subject in the program Friday, April 11th at Arezzo, the new e-book "Video Surveillance & work environments" published by IPSOA and written by ‘Mr. Mark Soffientini, coordinator of the Scientific Committee of Federprivacy. In the special occasion, which there will be a panel discussion with […]
The Inherent Conflict Between Security And Privacy
For families, companies, and even nations, there is a struggle between security and privacy. While an individual may have some expectation of privacy or right to safeguard his or her identity, ensuring security relies on monitoring and assessing all activity on a given network or endpoint in order to determine if there is anything suspicious […]
Japan Civic Group Says Facial Recognition Project At Osaka Station A Violation Of Privacy
Mar 06, 2014 Ida Torres National 0 Civic group says facial recognition project at Osaka station a violation of privacy A civic group has requested that the planned two-year research project at the Osaka Station featuring facial recognition software be stopped as it violates the right to privacy of the public. The project is an initiative of the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology and is supposed to improve the evacuation process by studying people’s movements and behavior at the train station. One of the members of the group is Yasuhiko Tajima, a law professor at Sophia University. He says that their aim is to stop Japan from becoming a “surveillance society” and for this issue, they’ve already written to the institute as well as to the West Japan Railway Co , the operator of the train station. During the press conference, he stated that this project will violate the Constitution’s guarantee to the right to privacy . “Indiscriminate videotaping in a public place itself is a problem,” he said. The project is supposed to start next month and the 90 cameras have already been installed around Osaka Station City, including the train station itself as well as the commercial complex adjacent to it. The institute has guaranteed that they will make sure that when they process the video, individuals will not be identified and their privacy will be protected. They will also be forming a third-party committee and get outside consultants to help them conduct the project. […]
Source japandailypress.com
Salem MA Supports Advanced Surveillance At State’s Park & Ride Facilities
SALEM — The town will be supporting a proposed house bill that would allow for more advanced video surveillance at the state’s Park & Ride facilities. The Park & Ride facilities are owned by the state and managed by Concord Coach Lines, which operates the Boston Express service out of Salem. There are already video surveillance cameras at the eight facilities in the state, but the bill introduced by state representative Candace Bouchard would allow for increased resolution for the video cameras. Mark Sanborn, director of government relations for Concord Bus Lines, said the improved surveillance would help make the facilities safer and more secure. Similar high resolution cameras in operation in Maine have also helped assist police departments with drug and kidnapping cases, according to Sanborn. “These are safe and secure facilities right now, but this is another step we can take to continue to make that a top priority,” said Sanborn. Earlier this week, Salem selectmen joined the other communities with Park & Ride facilities, including Nashua, Londonderry, Portsmouth and Dover in sending a letter in support of the house bill by a 3-2 vote. Selectmen Stephen Campbell and James Keller voted against sending a letter in support of the house bill. Campbell said the bill raised issues concerning privacy, and noted that under the state’s Right to Know law, anyone from the public could put in a request for copies of the surveillance. Campbell said he has enough concerns with the government having access to the […]
Source www.unionleader.com
Video Surveillance In The Workplace – Update The Privacy Officer
Always at the center of the problems that the experts have to face, "Video surveillance in the workplace" will be the theme of the course of 8 hours valid for updating the Privacy Officer of Policy Advisors and Certified by TÜV Examination Institute, with the recognition 10 credits. There will also be 4 credits for lawyers, who have credited the event organized by Federprivacy for April 11, 2014 in Arezzo. The course has been structured to provide students with the knowledge necessary to implement in the workplace video surveillance systems in accordance with the Privacy Code, the Provisions of the Privacy of ‘08.04.2010 and the Workers’ Statute. The teacher will be the lawyer. Mark Soffientini, Coordinator of the Scientific Committee of Federprivacy, which in the early part of the day will explain all the topics of the program, while the second part will take over as moderator of a panel discussion with the directors of the Territorial Directorate of Labour of Arezzo and other employees the work will be working, taking an active part in the debate to analyze the most common cases, and outlining possible solutions to be in good standing and not be violating that often involve heavy fines, sometimes even criminal. The course will be held at the Congress Centre Hotel Etrusco Arezzo on April 11, and the rules for participation have two options: € 100 + VAT for non-members Federprivacy, including the registration fee for 1 year, or reduced fee 60 € + VAT for […]
Source www.federprivacy.it
Washington State Moves To Outlaw All Photography From “Drones” Even In Public Places
http://www.king5.com/news/politics/C…247311131.html Two drone bills passed the House Wednesday morning and were making their way through the Senate in Olympia. One bill sets rules on how state government can deploy drones; the other bill aims to protect citizens
School Security Cameras: Do Studies And Surveillance Mesh?
The answer to this continues to be the topic of heated debates. Parents and legislators are all for the installation of school security cameras even though students and teachers vehemently oppose it. Learn more on a partner wiki by clicking go here for more info . The issue is one that strikes a really powerful chord in schools everywhere, and echoes the dilemma that confront lawmakers on a national scale. Which is a lot more critical – safety or personal privacy? Why the Require for School Security Cameras?.. Do security cameras belong in schools? The answer to this continues to be the topic of heated debates. For additional information, please consider checking out: advertisers . Parents and legislators are all for the installation of school security cameras while students and teachers vehemently oppose it. The problem is a single that strikes a extremely powerful chord in schools everywhere, and echoes the dilemma that confront lawmakers on a national scale. Which is a lot more critical – safety or private privacy? Why the Require for School Security Cameras? In recent years, the school has been the setting of many tragic and violent incidents. To avoid further bloodshed, educators and legislators have united to make schools safe once much more. Some of the strategies that sprang from the collaboration contain the deployment of a full-time security officer in school buildings. Like Us On Facebook includes further about the inner workings of this hypothesis. Another is coaching students how to handle potentially […]
Source www.online-persberichten.nl
Idaho Biometric Protection Bill To Get Full Debate
Biometric protection bill to get full debate BOISE — Businesses that collect and use hair samples, finger prints and retina scans to identify their customers could face tough sanctions for inappropriately handling such material, under a measure headed to the Idaho House. The State Affairs Committee Tuesday morning approved new privacy standards for full debate. Republican Rep. Ed Morse of Hayden Lake fears technological advances in collecting biometric information have outstripped laws governing how that information can be used. Morse says his bill, which carries with it fines of $1,000 for abusing biometric data including selling it without permission, helps "level the playing field." Though garbage companies collect trash with traces of DNA, the bill leaves them alone. And though this measure deals with the private sector, Morse says governments’ collection of data remains "fertile ground" for future regulation. Print
Source www.ktvb.com
A Watchful Eye In Hospitals
Neil Webb HANOVER, N.H. — DESPITE the intensely personal moments that happen in hospitals, patient privacy can be elusive. Hospitals are multimillion-dollar corporations that look like shopping malls and function like factories. Doctors knock on exam room doors to signal they are about to enter — not to ask permission. The curtain that encircles the hospital bed always lets in a crack of light. Yet we do expect some degree of privacy in hospitals. We trust doctors with our secrets in part because they take a 2,000-year-old Hippocratic oath to respect our privacy, an oath enforced by laws like the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act . But sometimes, doctors have to weigh patients’ privacy against their health and safety, and that’s when things get complicated. The use of video monitoring — covert or disclosed, of patients or providers — has proliferated as high-quality, inexpensive technology has become increasingly accessible. The possibilities range from watching elderly patients at risk of falling in their rooms to recording doctors and nurses at sinks to make sure they’re washing their hands. My hospital, where I am chairman of the bioethics committee, recently wrestled with the question of where patient and family privacy ends. Nurses in the neonatal intensive care unit (N.I.C.U.) worried that a premature infant, whom I’ll call Rickie to protect his identity, was being harmed by his parents. Rickie had been released a week earlier from our hospital to a penniless couple in their early 20s whom Child Protection Services […]
Source www.nytimes.com
Boulder Police Secretly Install Surveillance Cameras On Municipal Campus Between City Hall, Library
BOULDER, Colo. – Some Boulder residents are questioning their police department’s decision to install surveillance cameras in the park area between city hall and the public library, without letting the public know. The city quietly placed two cameras on the municipal building and one on the library in early January. When asked about the secrecy, Boulder Police Department spokeswoman Kim Kobel said, "The reason those cameras were installed is because we have an ongoing criminal investigation in the area." Kobel gave few details about the investigation, but did say police have received numerous complaints about criminal behavior, including assault, threatening behavior, urinating in public and drug dealing. "In some cases, we have drug dealing to high school students," she said. The cameras have touched a raw nerve with some residents, especially those who hang out in the public space. "They’re violating our rights and our freedom," said Bailey Flood. When asked if it would have made a difference if the city had been upfront about the cameras, Flood replied, "No, it’s an invasion of privacy." Not everyone looks at it that way. "They’re fine," said Jeff Swann, who admits that he drinks regularly while sitting on a park bench in front of City Hall. "Cameras are a part of life." Swann says he’s observed a lot of criminal behavior in the park. "There was a big fight here two or three days ago," he said. "It was a real live brawl. It lasted five minutes. Both guys were […]
Source www.thedenverchannel.com
The Challenging Future Of American’s Privacy
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/02/technology/when-no-one-is-just-a-face-in-the-crowd.html?_r=1 Fitbit, Nike, and Garmin could sell your personal fitness data without your permission: Fitness-minded Americans have started wearing sporty wrist-band devices that track tons of data: Weight, mile splits, steps taken per day, sleep quality, sexual activity , calories burned—sometimes, even GPS location . People use this data to keep track of their health, and are able send the information to various websites and apps. But this sensitive, personal data could end up in the hands of corporations looking to target these users with advertising, get credit ratings, or determine insurance rates. In other words, that device could start spying on you—and the Federal Trade Commission is worried. "Health data from [a woman’s] connected device, may be collected and then sold to data brokers and other companies she does not know exist," Jessica Rich, director of the Bureau for Consumer Protection at the Federal Trade Commission, said in a speech on Tuesday for Data Privacy Day . "These companies could use her information to market other products and services to her; make decisions about her eligibility for credit, employment, or insurance; and share with yet other companies. And many of these companies may not maintain reasonable safeguards to protect the data they maintain about her." Several major US-based fitness device companies contacted by Mother Jones —Fitbit, Garmin, and Nike—say they don’t sell personally identifiable information collected from fitness devices. But privacy advocates warn that the policies of these firms could allow them to sell data. When you buy one of these bracelets or clip-on devices, you have […]
Source massprivatei.blogspot.com
UK Schools Fast To Adopt Biometrics: 1M+ Pupils Registered
New research has been published that shows more than one million children in England have had their fingerprints taken by their school, demonstrating a high demand for the technology despite possible privacy concerns. The figures come from a Big Brother Watch report " Biometrics in Schools " which calculated that over 1.28 million students had been fingerprinted in secondary schools and academies (based on data from the 2012-13 academic year). The research, gathered from Freedom of Information Requests to more than 3,000 schools, shows that at the start of the academic year 2012-13 an estimated 40% of schools in England are using biometric technology. Laws governing the enrolling of biometrics in schools were enshrined in the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012. Before that Act came into force, Big Brother Watch estimates that 31% of schools did not consult parents before enrolling children. Under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, the rules for schools and colleges that use biometric recognition systems, such as fingerprint identification and facial scanning, now state: For all pupils in schools and colleges under 18, they must obtain the written consent of a parent before they take and process their child’s biometric data. They must treat the data with appropriate care and must comply with data protection principles as set out in the Data Protection Act 1998. They must provide alternative means for accessing services where a parent or pupil has refused consent. A spokesman at the Association of School and College Leaders – which represents secondary […]
Source www.planetbiometrics.com
Wisconsin’s Rep Larson Introduces Bill Preventing Schools From Collecting Biometric Data
Rep. Tom Larson (R-Colfax) introduced a bill barring schools from collecting or using students’ biometric data, such as blood pressure, without their parents’ or guardians’ consent. No school district in Wisconsin is known to engage in these practices. In fact, no Wisconsin law exists regarding the collection or usage of biometric data one way or another, but times are changing fast. “As technology and teaching methods evolve, who can say what’s coming ten, twenty or thirty years down the road?” Larson asked. Larson said his bill is about preventing a potential problem. “I believe the legislature owes it to students and their families to be proactive and address the issue of biometric data before it can become a problem.” Larson introduced the bill in response to a recommendation from the Assembly Select Committee on Common Core Standards.
Source chippewa.com
UPDATE: Mechanicsville Restaurant Owner Arrested For Security Cameras In Bathroom
MECHANICSVILLE, VA (WWBT) – The owner of a Mechanicsville restaurant is facing charges for having security cameras in the bathroom. Dennis Smith, 54, owns the Calabash Seafood Restaurant and Midway Lounge. Smith was arrested Wednesday, and charged with one count of unlawful videotaping. Smith says he’s dealt with repeated, expensive vandalism in the mens’ bathrooms of his restaurant. He says the cameras are legal, since they weren’t angled towards anyone’s private areas. However, Smith got backlash from some customers over privacy rights. Investigators seem to agree, after an investigation, and now charges. Cameras in bathrooms are legal in Virginia, according to NBC 12 legal analyst Steve Benjamin, as long as no one’s private areas are recorded. The owner’s wife says the cameras have been moved into the hallway of the restaurant. Smith is awaiting trial in Hanover County Circuit Court. Get the latest from NBC12’s Kelly Avellino on Facebook and Twitter . Copyright 2013 WWBT NBC12 . All rights reserved.
Source www.nbc12.com
Google Glass Face Recognition App Coming This Month, Whether Google Likes It Or Not
Screen Shot 2013-12-15 at 5.09.17 PM Since Google Glass first appeared, its potential for facial recognition has been seen either as a privacy nightmare or as one of the headset’s first truly intriguing uses. Google has declared itself in the first camp. Stephen Balaban is in the second, and he’s about to share his vision with Glassheads everywhere, whether Google likes it or not. At the Chaos Communications Congress hacker conference in Hamburg later this month, 24-year-old Balaban and his startup Lambda Labs plan to release an unauthorized app for Glass that allows users to collect and catalog images of faces seen through its lens, along with other recognizable objects ranging from computer screens to license plates. The app, which Balaban is calling FaceRec, will give Glass-wearers the ability to integrate that data with location coordinates to create a map of who or what the user saw when and where. And on Friday, Lambda Labs will also begin taking pre-orders for an Android-based, Glass-like device it’s calling the the Lambda Hat, a $255 camera-enabled cap designed to be even better suited for that always-on computer vision. “As you collect data over time, you can start to ask questions like, who was that person I talked to during the last month at the Rosewood?” Balaban says. “Give it a geolocation, and you can find all the pictures and timestamps at that location, and it will show you all the people you saw.” Lambda’s app, to be clear, isn’t meant for wide adoption even […]
Source www.forbes.com
Video Surveillance Cameras: The Good, The Bad, And The Hype – Lessons From Boston
We hear it again and again. Video surveillance cameras can accomplish what humans can’t. There’s simply no way, we are told, in a situation like the Boston Marathon bombing, with all the thousands of people in attendance, to be able to track suspects without video footage of the scene. To try to rely merely on eyewitnesses in that case is just too difficult, if not impossible, a real case of sensory overload. The problem is that it’s not entirely true. Law enforcement, through video surveillance footage, clearly narrowed down who the suspects were. However, part of the reason they could identify them was because one of the injured, a man who lost both legs to the bomb, clearly identified an individual putting down a bag just before the blast. With the help of a sketch artist and subsequent video footage, a suspect was clearly identified. Instead of being able to plan another attack, the two brothers were suddenly on the run, and in a matter of couple of days one was dead, another captured. However, it was the combination of human intelligence and video surveillance technology that made this possible, not exclusively one or the other. After this terrible tragedy, some have asked, “But does this now mean that cameras will now be everywhere? What about privacy?” It’s hard to believe that in the year 2013 that question is still being asked. The reality is: cameras more and more are everywhere. Try to walk through any major metropolitan area […]
Source www.sdmmag.com
ACLU: More Surveillance Cameras Don’t Make You Safer
video.surveillance.205×205.jpg Big images below. In a post last month , we told you about a new website called CommunityCam , which planned to use crowd-sourcing techniques to document and map all the security cameras in public areas throughout Denver and other nearby areas . The site’s founder mainly portrayed such surveillance devices as good things — no surprise, given that his main company sells and markets them. But the ACLU of Boulder’s Judd Golden doesn’t equate more cameras with more safety and is concerned about other possible infringements on personal privacy as they proliferate. Golden isn’t new to this issue. Back in August, he talked with us about license-plate readers , which he said had the technical capability of allowing authorities to track every driver in Boulder and beyond . So it’s no surprise he looked at the CommunityCam concept with a critical eye. Here’s a CommunityCam screen capture of Colorado from our original post. community.cam.denver.1.jpg Next, take a closer look at Denver metro, with designations for the number of cameras in assorted suburbs, plus Boulder and the city itself: community.cam.denver.2.jpg Finally, here’s a zoom-in of downtown Denver, with icons marking the locations for dozens of cameras, many just steps away from each other: community.cam.denver.3.jpg In the view of CommunityCam’s Josh Daniels, maps like these provide locals with “primarily social benefits — things like being able to plan safer, monitored routes for jogging, biking and walking. Obviously, Denver has a very active outdoor population of people, and this allows […]
Source blogs.westword.com