It's interesting to see headlines like "Snapchat photo leak shows users' mistake was trusting each other." That was the takeaway from a commentator in the Los Angeles Times. But the real takeaway should be: Don't trust unauthorized third-party apps that claim to enhance or add convenience to your social media apps. At least, if you really want to use one, look into how it works and what it does … [Read more...] about So-called Snapchat hack & the question of where to place trust
Law & Policy
Virginia teen sexting case: (Somewhat) reduced injustice
It was a picture-perfect example of how a law intended to protect children can be used to victimize them. But the juvenile judge didn't comment on the perversion of justice – or the prosecution's victimization of a teenager by ordering police to photograph the boy's genitals and threatening even more abusive treatment. He just eased the punishment meted out to the boy (his girlfriend was not … [Read more...] about Virginia teen sexting case: (Somewhat) reduced injustice
Proposed ‘rightful’ framework for Internet safety
Internet safety is a basic right of Internet users. But it's not the only one. There are other fundamental rights that Net users of all ages have, and I propose that Internet safety will actually serve all Internet users better – and have much more relevance to the younger ones in our homes and schools – when we put it in context, in a framework of online rights. It's a framework for all users' … [Read more...] about Proposed ‘rightful’ framework for Internet safety
Textbook case of what NOT to do in teen sexting cases
The Washington Post has done some important reporting on a teen sexting case in Virginia, spotlighting what could (should) go down in history as a textbook example of how police can abuse rather than enforce child pornography law in the digital age. A 17-year-old boy "is facing felony counts of manufacturing and distributing child pornography," the Post reported. I'll let you read the Post … [Read more...] about Textbook case of what NOT to do in teen sexting cases
Remember: The ‘right to be forgotten’ is shared
A lot has been published and broadcast about Internet users' "right to be forgotten," long before and since last week's ruling by a high court in Europe (see the BBC), including the important points that… Scratching the surface. Suing a search engine to take down links to offending content doesn't mean the content itself gets taken down Who decides? A court has made search engines, of all … [Read more...] about Remember: The ‘right to be forgotten’ is shared