Carol J. Williams reports in the Los Angeles Times: Is there a constitutional right to informational privacy? That is a question that Chief Judge Alex Kozinski of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals is asking the U.S. Supreme Court, saying that the justices hinted at such a right 32 years ago and “never said…
Author: Dissent
Risks of sharing personal genetic information online need more study, Stanford bioethicists say
With just $399 and a bit of saliva in a cup, consumers can learn about their genetic risk for diseases from breast cancer to diabetes. Now, thanks to social networking sites set up by personal genomics companies, they can also share that information with family, friends and even strangers on the Internet. Bonding over…
World Privacy Forum files comments with the FTC regarding proposed rules for health care-related data breaches
The World Privacy Forum filed extensive comments with the Federal Trade Commission today regarding its notice of proposed rulemaking for data breaches of information containing actual health care information or health care-related information. The FTC rulemaking will apply to a variety of record holders, especially vendors of personal health records. The Forum supported much…
Octomom Nadya Suleman says she didn't tell sperm donor of her decision to implant remaining embryos
The Tribune Newspapers reports: Octuplets mother Nadya Suleman told a celebrity Web site that she wants her children to have a father in their lives but that the sperm donor was upset and resentful when he heard about her pregnancy. …. In an interview with Radar Online, she said she used sperm from the…
(Update) UK: Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust breaches the Data Protection Act
This is a follow-up to the incident previously reported here. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has found Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust in breach of the Data Protection Act after the Trust reported a desktop computer containing sensitive personal information relating to around 3,500 patients was stolen. Although the computer was password protected, it was…
(Update) Belfast: Bank details on stolen laptops
As an update on a story reported here, BBC is now reporting that the computers stolen from the Department of Finance and Personnel in Belfast contained personal financial details: An email informed them that the computers contained information such as national insurance numbers and bank account details. It read: “Two of the laptops contained a…