Privacy Policies

We just wrote about the recent privacy SNAFU by Facebook and other mega-social media site that was reported on by the Wall Street Journal. If you want to hear some really smart people, plus me, talk about the issue, you should check out this brief podcast.
Continue Reading Don’t Want to Read About the Latest Facebook Privacy Problem? Then Listen to It

The Wall Street Journal wrote a series of articles on Monday about Facebook and other meda-social media sites passing User Identifications (UIDs) to its advertisers. The article has generated a huge amount of attention, begging the question whether the Wall Street Journal is exposing a significant privacy problem, or making something of nothing in the pursuit of web page impressions.
Continue Reading Facebook Again In the Spotlight for Privacy Blunders

An early March death of a University of Kansas student has many colleges and universities rethinking privacy policies regarding their students.

Recent news reports indicate that Jason Wren, a 19 year-old student from Colorado was ejected from university housing after repeated infractions involving alcohol. Reportedly, the university’s policy regarding its students’ privacy prohibited the disclosure of the basis for his removal from university housing to Mr. Wren’s parents.

On March 8, 2009, Jason Wren was found dead in his bed at a fraternity house in Lawrence, Kansas. The Kansas City Star reported that Jay Wren, the father of the deceased student, indicated that the university would not disclose to him the basis for his son’s removal from university housing. The Star further reported that Mr. Wren said he would have pulled his son out of school if he knew of an alcohol problem.

Kansas University has reported that it is examining the privacy issues (and policies) currently in place. Apparently the university will be examining whether any changes can or should be made to the policy, in light of these recent events.Continue Reading Death of University Student Call Into Questions Privacy Issues