Selling personal information is a lucrative business

May 3, 2011 under all posts

Selling personal information is a lucrative businessWe’ve all heard of personal information being stolen through hack attacks and accidental gaps in security. Something we hear about a little bit less, however, is the thousands of pounds worth of personal information being sold by people who have clear access to it.

The UK Information Commissioner, Christopher Graham, said that there has been a “modern scourge” in the illegal sale of confidential information by employees of companies who retain this data. Right now, the fines for offenders are up to £5,000 but Graham is calling for more, including jail time and tougher sanctions.

The sale of personal information not only harms the individuals involved but will inevitably cost the companies as they attempt to defend claims. When sensitive data is involved, not only should employers protect themselves against the prospect of an outside hack attack, but they should also periodically ensure their employees are following guidelines while making sure they have cover in place if they’re not.

See the full story on Computing.co.uk
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That Facebook message you just sent… that’s SPAM too

May 3, 2011 under all posts

That Facebook message you just sent... that's SPAM tooSPAM is no longer a term reserved for e-mails. That’s according to a recent American court ruling which has said that CAN-SPAM laws should apply to social media outlets as well.

In a recent case between social media giant, Facebook, and online marketer, MAXBOUNTY, the court has denied the latter’s requested dismissal of the case on the grounds that the US CAN-SPAM Act only applies to e-mail messages and not messages sent within Facebook. Instead, the court has asked that the CAN-SPAM Act be “interpreted expansively and in accordance with its broad legislative purpose.”

Social media is quickly becoming the world’s most influential marketing channel. While the law surrounding the legalities of spam marketing on sites like Facebook, LinkedIn and others has been slow to catch up, this case marks the start of something big and is catching on in other places too. For example, new ASA regulations in the UK have stated that social media sites will now be regulated like other advertising channels. This will mean an uncertain legal landscape for businesses seeking to take advantage of the mostly free commercial opportunities on these sites and an interesting year ahead while we all negotiate the grey area.

See the full story on the Citizen Media Law Project

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