The promise to local police departments is simple: Buy our software, and we will help you prevent crime before it happens. How? Through a social media “listening lens.” Called “SnapTrends,” the web-based service sifts through every Facebook status, Tweet, Instagram photo, YouTube video and other social media post within a [Keep reading]
The Electronic Information Privacy Center has filed a formal complaint with the Federal Trade Commission over Facebook’s now-infamous research project, alleging the social media giant “purposefully messed with people’s minds.” The complaint raises interesting legal issues. Because Facebook was already operating under a consent decree with the FTC for a [Keep reading]
What does the nation’s leading privacy researcher, and a frequent but even-handed Facebook critic, think of the Facebook mood manipulation study controversy? It’s a case of “shooting the messenger,” he told me. It’s also a rare peek “through the looking-glass” at the future of privacy. Alessandro Acquisti’s name might be [Keep reading]
There was another round of confused Facebook outrage this weekend when a story in the Atlantic revealed the social media giant had intentionally toyed with users’ mood — allegedly for science, but in reality, for money. FB turned up the sadness dial on some users’ news feeds, and found out [Keep reading]
We live in a time of too many words. Remember Bruce Springsteen’s song “57 Channels (And Nothings On)?” Seems quaint now, doesn’t it? Today we have 100 million websites and often, nothing’s on. This phenomenon gives rise to one of my favorite phrases about our times: “Words without content.” Our [Keep reading]
Rarely does a U.S. Supreme Court ruling have an immediate impact on the everyday lives of Americans, but this one might. The U.S. Supreme Court pushed American law into the 21st Century a bit on Wednesday, ruling that cops can’t search through the contents of suspects’ cell phones before obtaining [Keep reading]
When 140 characters is too much, there is Yo. In one sense, Yo is a new app that lets you send two characters to anyone in your contact list — bet you can guess what those two characters are. In another sense, Yo is another sign of the apocalypse. Yo [Keep reading]
What ailment is so devastating that its symptoms can range from an incorrect medical diagnosis, to (virtually) killing you, to hurting your kids’ chances of getting college financial aid? That distinctly digital-age malady? Identity theft. In a world of overused metaphors, this one is spot-on: If Franz Kafka were writing [Keep reading]
“We’re improving ads based on apps and sites you use, and giving you more control,” says the notice I received this morning from Facebook. Uh oh. Any time a company says they are giving me “more control,” I know something bad is happening. When did I lose control? I clicked [Keep reading]
Like father, like son. Hey, if the NSA can do it, why can’t we? A Wisconsin town council is considering an ordinance that would require every bar owner to install cameras, record every patron that comes in and out of the bar, store the video for 21 days, and……here’s the [Keep reading]
Bob Sullivan