The Archives

The collection of all scholarly commentary on law, economics, and more

Showing archive for:  “Privacy & Data Security”

Forbes commentary on Susan Crawford’s “broadband monopoly” thesis

Over at Forbes Berin Szoka and I have a lengthy piece discussing “10 Reasons To Be More Optimistic About Broadband Than Susan Crawford Is.” Crawford has become the unofficial spokesman for a budding campaign to reshape broadband. She sees cable companies monopolizing broadband, charging too much, withholding content and keeping speeds low, all in order to ... Forbes commentary on Susan Crawford’s “broadband monopoly” thesis

Federalist Society and AALS talks this week

I’ll be headed to New Orleans tomorrow to participate in the Federalist Society Faculty Conference and the AALS Annual Meeting. For those attending and interested, I’ll be speaking at the Fed Soc on privacy and antitrust, and at AALS on Google and antitrust.  Details below.  I hope to see you there! Federalist Society: Seven-Minute Presentations ... Federalist Society and AALS talks this week

FTC sacrifices the rule of law for more flexibility; Commissioner Ohlhausen wisely dissents

On July 31 the FTC voted to withdraw its 2003 Policy Statement on Monetary Remedies in Competition Cases.  Commissioner Ohlhausen issued her first dissent since joining the Commission, and points out the folly and the danger in the Commission’s withdrawal of its Policy Statement. The Commission supports its action by citing “legal thinking” in favor of heightened ... FTC sacrifices the rule of law for more flexibility; Commissioner Ohlhausen wisely dissents

New Technology in Europe

Last week the New York Times ran an article, “Building the Next Facebook a Tough Task in Europe“, by Eric Pfanner, discussing the lack of major high tech innovation in Europe.  Eric Pfanner discusses the importance of such investment, and then speculates on the reason for the lack of such innovation.  The ultimate conclusion is ... New Technology in Europe

I Will be Participating Today on the Live Webcast “This Week in Law”

Today at 11AM PT I will be participating on the live webcast “This Week in Law” along with TechFreedom Senior Adjunct Fellow Larry Downes. Denise Howell will be hosting and we will also be joined by fellow participant Evan Brown. This week we will be discussing various topics in tech policy including Senator Al Franken’s ... I Will be Participating Today on the Live Webcast “This Week in Law”

Privacy Interview

I was recently interview about privacy on the BBC Online Magazine by Kate Dailey.  Here is the interview: Magazine 26 January 2012 Last updated at 13:11 ET Could Google’s data hoarding be good for you? By Kate Dailey BBC News Magazine Google’s announcement that is now tracking users’ web movements has upset privacy advocates. But ... Privacy Interview

Privacy in Europe

The EU is apparently thinking of adopting common and highly restrictive privacy standards which would make use of information by firms much more difficult and would require, for example, that data be retained only as long as necessary.  This is touted as pro-consumer legislation.  However, the effects would be profoundly anti-consumer.  For one thing, ads ... Privacy in Europe

Carrier IQ: Another Silly Privacy Panic

By now everyone is probably aware of the “tracking” of certain cellphones (Sprint, iPhone, T-Mobile, AT&T perhaps others) by a company called Carrier IQ.  There are lots of discussions available; a good summary is on one of my favorite websites, Lifehacker;  also here from CNET. Apparently the program gathers lots of anonymous data mainly for ... Carrier IQ: Another Silly Privacy Panic

Privacy Again

Today’s Wall Street Journal has a long article-debate on privacy.  The strongest pro-privacy is Christopher Soghoian of the Open Society Institute.  He confuses commercial privacy with government privacy: “The dirty secret of the Web is that the “free” content and services that consumers enjoy come with a hidden price: their own private data. Many of ... Privacy Again

Amazon and Internet Commerce

Stewart Baker at the Volokh Conspiracy has a very interesting post on the new Amazon browser.  He thinks it might revolutionize doing business on the Web, with a tremendous increase in security.  This increase in security will entail a loss in privacy, so let’s hope the privacy guys don’t stop it.

Fretting over privacy

Gordon Crovitz, writing in today’s WSJ, notes that news that more than half of Americans over 12 have Facebook accounts powerfully suggests that people don’t care that much about “trading personal information for other benefits.”  He asks, “why is Washington so focused on new privacy laws?”  He’s referring, e.g., to the Obama administration’s call for ... Fretting over privacy

Proposed Privacy Legislation

The Obama Administration is advocating a privacy bill.  One provision will limit the use of data to the purpose for which it was collected unless a consumer gives permission for additional uses; another will give consumers increased rights to access information about themselves. Both of these provisions may actually reduce safety of data online.  One additional purpose for which ... Proposed Privacy Legislation