AI Archives : Page 4 of 6 : PIA

Feb 10, 2021 |
Glyn Moody |
General Privacy News, Governments, Surveillance,

Code is law: why software openness and algorithmic transparency are vital for privacy

This blog has written a number of times about the growing threat that low-cost, rapid DNA sequencing represents for privacy. The increased use of genetic material by the police to identify suspects poses particular problems. A recent case in the US involving a DNA sample raises a new issue. Because of its importance, both the … Continue reading “Code is law: why software openness and algorithmic transparency are vital for privacy”

Dec 15, 2020 |
Glyn Moody |
General Privacy News, Governments, Surveillance,

Should we worry about the possibility of police surveillance using autonomous drones with added AI ? Too late: it’s already here

A couple of weeks ago, Privacy News Online wrote about France’s controversial Global Security Law. One striking element was the authorization of drones for routine police surveillance. These particular “eyes in the sky” have been discussed a number of times on this blog. But a recent article in the New York Times shows that we … Continue reading “Should we worry about the possibility of police surveillance using autonomous drones with added AI ? Too late: it’s already here”

Nov 2, 2020 |
Glyn Moody |
Censorship, General Privacy News, Governments, Surveillance,

Abusive surveillance in the name of public health is a widespread problem around the world, new report says

When Privacy News Online first wrote about Covid-19, in February, we noted that it would touch on key concerns of this blog: freedom of speech, surveillance and privacy. Already by March, it was becoming clear that the actions taken by governments to deal with the pandemic posed a serious threat in that regard. Since then, … Continue reading “Abusive surveillance in the name of public health is a widespread problem around the world, new report says”

May 13, 2020 |
Glyn Moody |
Cybersecurity, General Privacy News, Governments, Surveillance,

Here’s how China has made mass surveillance a “killer application” for AI: will the US do the same?

It’s increasingly evident that the coronavirus pandemic will cause a radical re-shaping of many aspects of society, not least in the world of privacy. Many people are trying to discern the shape of that new world in the current evolving situation. An interesting analysis from Naomi Klein picks up on many themes that have appeared … Continue reading “Here’s how China has made mass surveillance a “killer application” for AI: will the US do the same?”

Mar 13, 2020 |
Glyn Moody |
General Privacy News, Governments, Surveillance,

Police forces around the world continue to push for routine – and real-time – facial recognition capabilities

Facial recognition crops up on this blog more than most technologies. That’s in part because the underlying AI is advancing rapidly, boosting the ability of low-cost systems to match faces to those in databases. The Clearview saga is a good example of this, where an unheard-of startup has put together what is claimed to be … Continue reading “Police forces around the world continue to push for routine – and real-time – facial recognition capabilities”

Mar 5, 2020 |
Glyn Moody |
General Privacy News, Surveillance,

This is where workplace surveillance leads: towards algorithmic, automated management

A couple of years ago, Privacy News Online wrote about a new kind of surveillance, taking place in the workplace. The aim of these systems back then was to keep an eye on workers, and they were often designed to spot problems. But two years is a long time in today’s digital world, and things … Continue reading “This is where workplace surveillance leads: towards algorithmic, automated management”

Feb 13, 2020 |
Glyn Moody |
Cybersecurity, General Privacy News, Governments,

What happens to privacy when China has personal data and the social graph of nearly everyone in the US?

The speech by US Attorney General William P. Barr hardly seems earth-shattering. But buried within its business-like announcement of the indictment of four Chinese military hackers, there is the following statement, which has huge implications for privacy: For years, we have witnessed China’s voracious appetite for the personal data of Americans, including the theft of … Continue reading “What happens to privacy when China has personal data and the social graph of nearly everyone in the US?”

Dec 18, 2019 |
Glyn Moody |
Cybersecurity, General Privacy News, Governments, Surveillance,

Smile as you buy your holiday goods in a store – you are probably being watched, tracked and analyzed

Amazon may have started out by selling books, but it is now getting heavily into the surveillance market. There are four main sectors where it is already working on solutions that pose risks to privacy. Three of them have been covered extensively in this blog before. They are: the home, with its Alexa devices; the … Continue reading “Smile as you buy your holiday goods in a store – you are probably being watched, tracked and analyzed”

Nov 7, 2019 |
Glyn Moody |
General Privacy News, Governments, Social Media,

Google, Facebook and many others are coming for your health data: watch out for your privacy

Last week, Google announced that it would be buying Fitbit, valuing the 12-year-old company at $2.1 billion. Many have seen this as an attempt to boost Google’s position in the wearables sector. So far, the company’s Wear OS platform has made relatively little impact. The acquisition certainly improves Google’s position, but it is only part … Continue reading “Google, Facebook and many others are coming for your health data: watch out for your privacy”

Jun 21, 2019 |
Glyn Moody |
General Privacy News, Surveillance,

When AI-enhanced customer service is on the line, so is your privacy

Customer service is a crucial part of many businesses, so it comes as no surprise that digital technologies are increasingly being applied to this field. By its very nature, a customer service system is about people, and often stores and processes highly-personal information. As a result, the new generation of advanced, computer-aided customer service systems … Continue reading “When AI-enhanced customer service is on the line, so is your privacy”