Privacy
Coverage of the way technology is changing the kinds of data state and local government collects about citizens, how it uses that data and the ethical and security implications of that. Includes stories about police body cameras, facial recognition, artificial intelligence, medical data, surveillance, etc., as well as privacy policy nationwide.
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A voter-approved charter change banned the devices, but a city councilman said residents may be reconsidering. Mayor Justin Bibb’s “Vision Zero” safety plan includes restoring some.
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A new type of artificial intelligence is helping city governments spot problems like potholes faster and with more accuracy than ever before, but government must maintain traditional privacy standards.
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The growing presence and sophistication of school surveillance tech — combined with differing legal processes and local decision-making — leave open questions about how footage is accessed, shared and governed.
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The Kettering Police Department, outside Dayton, Ohio, will dramatically increase its use of automated license plate readers this year. Capacity is expected to rise by 300 percent.
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As we head into the rest of 2024 and the buzz around artificial intelligence continues unabated, here's advice on how government can make practical use of the new tech — and ensure it remains secure in the process.
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A plan to limit police use of facial recognition technology is likely to pass in this year’s session of the General Assembly. The bill would allow police to use the tools to investigate violent crimes and serious offenses.
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A human error reportedly exposed thousands of U.S. Internet’s customer email addresses online. The company said Thursday that the problem has been resolved, and it's assessing how much data may have been accessed.
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A new feature being tested with a small user group would allow ChatGPT to memorize information and data about its users. The software would recall personal preferences to customize the user experience, company officials say.
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A new report from U.S. News reveals that around 61 percent of survey respondents had their personal data breached at some point. Another 44 percent reported that they had this happen multiple times.
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California’s largest state employee union fell victim to a ransomware attack last month that likely exposed Social Security numbers, home addresses, birth dates and other sensitive information.
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A proposal to create a cyberstalking task force is before state lawmakers for the third year in a row. The task force would be charged with developing best practices for preventing online harassment and for treating victims.
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The nonprofit Internet Safety Labs found that exposure to trackers and behavioral ads on school devices vary by race and income, and often the source of the problem is the school’s own official website.
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A June 2023 hack of the city of Fort Worth’s website may have leaked more information than initially thought. A review by an outside firm revealed hackers may have accessed driver’s license numbers, dates of birth and more.
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More invasive devices have prompted new debates about privacy and freedom. But it’s important to keep in mind that other technologies already sense and shape our thoughts, a neuroethicist argues.
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Lawmakers in the state are considering legislation that would make the unauthorized use of tracking technology, like surveillance software and GPS devices, a felony.
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Senators on both sides of the aisle criticized the heads of large social media companies during a Washington, D.C., hearing on Wednesday for failing to adequately protect childrens' safety online.
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Benton County Sheriff's detectives want to use controversial software from Clearview AI to compare suspect images against a database of about 30 billion publicly available images. Not everyone loves the plan.
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Stalking victims would be armed with stronger protections if proposed changes to a Florida law outlawing unauthorized use of wireless tracking devices are enacted.
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The bill is also being paired with a crackdown on distracted driving in the state, a combination that recently drew concerns from the families of Iowans killed in distracted driving incidents.
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Clients of social service programs in 18 Minnesota counties may have had sensitive information stolen in a ransomware attack on a Clay County electronic document management system.
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The Pasadena Police Department plans to use $1.2 million in asset forfeiture funds to purchase a cell site simulator that will help "trick" nearby mobile phones into sharing their data in real time.