Chairpersons Jackson and Correa, and members of the Senate Judiciary and Banking Committees:
Thank you for the opportunity to testify today on the topic of data breaches.
I’m Beth Givens, the director of the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse. We are a nonprofit consumer education and advocacy organization, based in San Diego and established 21 years ago in 1992.
With all of the media surrounding the Target, Neiman Marcus, and, now, Michaels data breaches (and potentially other retail outlets), it can be overwhelming to determine what you should do to protect yourself. Even though you can't prevent a breach, there are steps you can and should take to prevent future headache and harm.
Privacy has been a hot topic in 2013, and the New Year presents a perfect opportunity to examine how we protect our personal information and resolve to do better. Privacy Rights Clearinghouse poses ten questions to help you manage your privacy in the coming year.
PRC webinar hosted October 29, 2013
Assembly Privacy Hearing: Online Data Brokers and Fair Information Practices
Thank you Chairman Chau of the Select Committee on Privacy … and members of the Committee for the opportunity to speak at this hearing on Online and Mobile App Ecosystems.
Mobile is the consumer technology of the moment. The number of applications available to mobile device users appears set to continue its exponential growth. The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse decided to look at the information practices of one category of mobile apps in which the sensitivity of personal information is particularly significant—those that fall under the broad heading of health and fitness. The information in the reports below comes from our in-depth research and analysis of 43 popular health and fitness apps.
Summer is here and school is out. Kids and teens have a lot of free time which means they will be on their (or your) mobile devices even more than normal. Smartphones, tablets and other devices provide kids with countless beneficial apps and tools they can use to stay connected, entertain themselves, and learn. At the same time, these can also present privacy risks.
In researching our latest Fact Sheet 38: A Renter’s Guide to Privacy, we compiled a list of data brokers that provide tenant screening services to landlords. We shared this information with the Federal Trade Commission and indicated our concerns. In general, we receive more complaints about the data broker industry than any other privacy topic.
Most people will live in a rental property at some point in their lives. It doesn't matter if you rent a studio apartment or a mansion; you are likely to have privacy concerns both during the rental process and later as a tenant. Renters often contact the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse (PRC) with questions about their privacy rights. Now, renters can consult the PRC's new Fact Sheet 38: A Renter's Guide to Privacy: What to Know Before You Sign the Lease, While You Rent, and When You Move Out.
The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse (PRC) recommends the following 10 tips to protect your privacy.
