Nation's School Districts are Failing to Protect Children's Privacy
A Fordham Law School study found that state educational databases across the country ignore key privacy protections for the nation’s school children. The study reports that at least 32% of states warehouse children’s social security numbers; at least 22% of states record student pregnancies; and at least 46% of the states track mental health, illness, and jail sentences as part of the children’s educational records. Some states outsource the data processing without any restrictions on use or confidential

Worker Lost Her Job Over Error by FBI's NCIC Database
In July 2009, a woman lost a $58,000 a year accounting job with Corporate Mailing Services of Arbutus after a background check reported a non-existent criminal record. Her employer won a contact with the Social Security Administration (SSA), which required that the company submit all employees to a criminal background check. The FBI's National Crime Information Center database reported in error that the employee had a criminal record. The Social Security Administration reported back to her employer within 2 weeks acknowledging the mistake and stated that the account could in fact work on the project. The company has not reinstated the dismiss

Facebook Issues New Privacy Policy in Response to Canadian Privacy Office
Facebook released a revised privacy policy. The updated policy provides a more concise description of the privacy practices of the developers of third-party applications. Facebook also announced that it will evaluate the collection of user data by application developers. According to a blog post, the revised policy is a response to a complaint filed by Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic in 2008, an

Job Applicants May Have to Give DNA
University of Akron Ohio employment application process includes the possibility that a DNA sample may be requested so that a federal criminal background check can be conducted. The requirement may violate the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act. The University argues that there are positions at the institution, which require background checks to be performed. The University has not provided information on privacy questions regarding its collection, retention, sharing, and use of genetic information. How long DNA samples would be retained and who would h

Privacy Groups Seek Investigation of DHS Chief Privacy Office
Privacy Coalition members were joined by other organizations on a letter sent to the House Committee on Homeland Security urging them to investigate the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Chief Privacy Office. DHS is unrivaled in its authority to develop and deploy new systems of surveillance. The letter cited DHS ongoing use of Fusion Center, Whole Body Imaging, funding of CCTV Surveillance, and Suspicionless Electronic Border Se