Tag Archives: Al Franken

OnStar Reverses Course on Controversial New Terms and Conditions

OnStar Logo

When in-car safety and concierge service OnStar announced its revised terms and conditions–which allowed the company to keep open its two-way cellular connection even after a subscriber cancelled the service, and to share or sell in-car data such as seat belt use and vehicle location and speed–the new language created widespread controversy. Current OnStar subscribers, privacy advocates and legislators including Democratic senators Chuck Schumer (NY) and Al Franken (MN) quickly and loudly denounced the new policies, which yesterday led to OnStar announcing it had reversed course. READ MORE »

Mobile Privacy Policies Irk Device Users, Politicians

Facebook Mobile Web Privacy Social Media

Researchers and industry specialists have begun to agitate for mobile privacy policies comprehensible to the average Homo sapien. Jim Brock, founder of PrivacyChoice, told reporters that his company, which compiled and analyzed data from hundred of Internet privacy policies, has created a tool to help write a cogent policy for a mobile app without incurring legal fees. READ MORE »

U.S. Senator Demands Privacy Policies for Smartphone Apps

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After firing off a letter to Apple CEO Steve Jobs last month then holding a senate hearing about mobile privacy, Senator Al Franken (D-Minnesota) is still hot about the location-tracking issue. This week he sent another letter to Jobs and Google CEO Larry Page insisting the companies create privacy policies for app makers to make sure third-party companies are not collecting, sharing or misusing customer information. READ MORE »

Sen. Franken’s Privacy Protection Request is No Joke

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Some folks may have already moved on from the recent Apple and Google privacy controversy, but not Senator Al Franken. The Minnesota Democrat has drafted another letter to both companies requesting that they require third-party app developers to have clear policy guidelines for consumers. READ MORE »