The so-called "Internet of Things" has drawn the attention of the Federal Trade Commission, which recently announced plans to hold a workshop examining privacy and security issues surrounding the concept. Some consumer advocates say the FTC's move isn't coming a moment too soon.» 0 Comments
AOL can finally close the chapter on one of the worst privacy breaches of the last decade: the company's decision to publicly release users' search queries. U.S. District Court Judge Claude Hilton in Alexandria, Va. late last month approved a deal that calls for the company to pay around $5 million to settle a class-action lawsuit over the data breach.» 1 Comments
Online video company Aereo recently went on the offensive in court by filing a new lawsuit against 18 CBS local affiliates. The Barry Diller-backed startup is asking U.S. District Court Judge Alison Nathan in New York to declare the service is legal. This week, the local stations responded by arguing that the lawsuit was premature. "Aereo's anticipatory lawsuit should be rejected," the local stations argue in a brief filed with U.S. District Court Judge Alison Nathan in New York.» 0 Comments
Google recently agreed to pay $6 million to settle allegations that its app company, Slide, violated a federal text-spam law by sending SMS messages to people without their consent. The agreement calls for the company to set aside some of that money for consumers, but then donate any unclaimed funds to the International Association of Privacy Professionals. But the judge isn't ready to sign off on that deal just yet, according to court records.» 0 Comments
The Direct Marketing Association is weighing in on a privacy lawsuit that it says "threatens to rewrite the rules of Internet commerce." The case, which was filed as a potential class-action against online measurement company comScore, was brought in 2011 by two panel members who say they installed comScore's software after downloading a free product -- like a screensaver, game or program that creates greeting cards.» 1 Comments
The Supreme Court decided today that it won't hear an appeal of a decision clearing Embarq of liability for working with the defunct behavioral-targeting company NebuAd.» 0 Comments
Apple is slated to go on trial on June 3 for conspiring to increase the price of ebooks, but at this point any hearing might be a formality. That's because U.S. District Court Judge Denise Cote, who will decide the case, has already said she believes that the Department of Justice will be able to prove that Apple violated antitrust laws.» 0 Comments
Penguin will pay $75 million to settle claims by a coalition of state attorneys general that it conspired with other publishers and Apple to increase the price of ebooks. A portion of that money will go to consumers who purchased the publishers' titles, though at this point it isn't known how refunds will be allocated. Penguin was one of five publishers sued by the Department of Justice and a group of state attorneys general for allegedly conspiring to violate antitrust laws.» 1 Comments
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has made no secret of his hope that the city will become a high-tech hub. But local courts don't seem quite as fond of tech entrepreneurs. Consider, earlier this month an appellate judge blocked Uber from rolling out an app that lets people hail yellow taxis in the city. Uber can continue to operate other services, but faces a potentially lengthy, expensive battle if it wants to roll out its yellow-cab app, which is opposed by groups representing livery car drivers.» 0 Comments
Changing course, AT&T has decided to allow all users -- including those with unlimited data plans -- to use the FaceTime video chat app on its cellular network.» 0 Comments
