Civil Liberties in the Digital Age: Weekly Highlights (4/13/2012)

In the digital age that we live in today, we are constantly exposing our personal information online. From using cell phones and GPS devices to online shopping and sending e-mail, the things we do and say online leave behind ever-growing trails of personal information. The ACLU believes that Americans shouldn’t have to choose between using new technology and keeping control of your private information. Each week, we feature some of the most interesting news related to technology and civil liberties that we’ve spotted from the previous week.

California bill would block cellphone tracking without warrant [Los Angeles Times]
"A state senator recently introduced a bill to prohibit government entities from obtaining location information from cellphones without a warrant. State Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) proposed S.B. 1434, an amendment to the Penal Code, to clarify the use of this ubiquitous and near-constant data stream in our pockets."

Even worse than SOPA: New CISPA cybersecurity bill will censor the Web [RT]
"An onrush of condemnation and criticism kept the SOPA and PIPA acts from passing earlier this year, but US lawmakers have already authored another authoritarian bill that could give them free reign to creep the Web in the name of cybersecurity."
See Also CISPA: SOPA's Evil Twin [Infographic] [Read Write Web]

Feds Want Way to Hack Xboxes and Wiis for Evidence [Wired]
"The Department of Homeland Security has launched a research project to find ways to hack into gaming consoles to obtain sensitive information about gamers stored on the devices."

As Some Companies Choose "Do Not Target" Over "Do Not Track," What Are User Attitudes? [EFF]
"The trend of user positions on online behavioral advertising is clear, but even as companies continue advertising their support for Do Not Track, some of them are still collecting data when users send the Do Not Track header."
See Also Making Do Not Track a Reality [Blog of Rights]

Maryland becomes first state to ban employers from asking for social media passwords [Baltimore Sun]
"Moving to the forefront of social media privacy law nationwide, the Maryland General Assembly has passed legislation prohibiting employers in the state from asking current and prospective employees for their user names and passwords to websites such as Facebook and Twitter."
See Also Maryland Legislature to Employers: Hands Off Facebook Passwords [Blog of Rights]

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