Julia Davis

On December 23, 2014, U.S. District Judge Phyllis Hamilton in Oakland, California denied Facebook's bid to dismiss a class action lawsuit, accusing the company of violating user privacy by scanning the content of private messages for advertising purposes. Facebook alleges that the scanning of private messages is covered by an exception under the federal Electronic Communications Privacy Act for interceptions by service providers, occurring in the ordinary course of business. Judge Hamilton said that Facebook had "not offered a sufficient explanation of how the challenged practice falls within the ordinary course of its business." Judge ruled that “Facebook’s unwillingness to offer any details regarding its targeted advertising practice prevents the court from being able to determine whether the specific practice challenged in this case should be considered ‘ordinary.’” Continue reading:  http://www.examiner.com/article/judge-refuses-to-dismiss-lawsuit-against-fa...

 We’ve all been told that the whole body scanners are being implemented for our own good. We’ve been assured that our misapprehensions were unfounded. Body scanners penetrate clothing to provide a highly detailed image so accurate that it has been likened it to a virtual strip search. Technologies vary, with millimeter wave systems capturing fuzzier images, and backscatter X-ray machines able to show precise anatomical detail. During Department of Homeland Security hearings, Janet Napolitano assured the Congress (and this writer who was present at the hearing) that all images collected by the full body scanners are not stored, cannot be stored and are discarded as soon as they're viewed. Just last summer the Transportation Security Administration claimed that " scanned images cannot be stored or recorded ." Privacy advocates (including yours truly) cried foul. Turns out, they were right. Yet again we’ve been lied to by the government. Of course, as usual, the official ta...

The government proposed an unprecedented fine of $16.4 million dollars against Toyota, accusing the automaker of hiding a " dangerous defect " from regulators. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced the penalties the government is planning to levy against Toyota for faulty gas pedals that have led to a recall for millions of the company’s vehicles, including such popular models as Camry and Corolla. LaHood stated that documents obtained from Toyota show that the company was aware of the problem with the sticking gas pedals for several months before it issued a recall. This problem impacted 2.3 million vehicles. " We now have proof that Toyota failed to live up to its legal obligations," LaHood said in an official statement. " Worse yet, they knowingly hid a dangerous defect for months from U.S. officials and did not take action to protect millions of drivers and their families ." Secretary LaHood Announces DOT is Seeking Maximum Civil Penalty from ...