Sony has apparently agreed to pay $1 million to settle Federal Trade Commission (FTC) claims that the company illegally collected information online from children under the age of 13 in violation of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).
Because of potential liability, it is rarely a good idea to have your website target minor children. Collecting data from them is an even bigger risk. In most cases (unless your business model is built on selling toys or other things for kids), it just isn’t worth dealing with the hassle. That’s why Read the rest
The subhuman cretins who terrorized Mumbai with a killing spree allegedly used Google Earth to plan their attack. According to the Times Online, Google Earth accused of aiding terrorists, the Bombay High Court (India) is considering whether to order Google to blur its online satellite imaging in the interests of national security.
Although there are indeed privacy and national security issues involving Google Maps and Google Earth, let’s put things in perspective. The Indian government has done almost nothing to defend itself against terrorism despite horrific attacks against the United States, Spain, London, Bali, etc. since 2001.
When you’re fighting a ‘cold war’ for control of Kashmir with people who from time to time do use terrorism to further political and religious interests, maybe you should take a few precautions. The first that comes to mind is actually defending your borders.
What’s behind the litigation against Google Earth? Competition. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is about to launch competing satellite imaging called “Bhuvan” (Earth). What an amazing coincidence.
In essence, the court is being asked to Read the rest
Your website’s privacy policy is one of the most important legal protections you have on your website. If you don’t have one, get one immediately. If you do have a privacy policy, review it to make sure it accurately describes what you’re actually doing with information collected from visitors to your website.
You don’t collect information from your visitors? What about cookies? Or how about data for your advertisers? If there’s Google Adsense on your site or third party banner ads, think they’re collecting info from your visitors? if so, what are they doing with it. And do you collect e-mail addresses, credit card numbers, names, addresses, etc. as part of your ecommerce?
Some online business owners use a privacy policy template if they can’t afford to Read the rest
