privacy

Charlize, 8, plays with the Kidizoom Multimedia Digital Camera made by VTech in 2009. A recent data breach hacking sensitive information, including kid's photos, is prompting parents to look twice at their children's technology usage.

At School And At Home, How Much Does The Internet Know About Kids?

4:13pm December 08, 2015

by NPR Staff

Look both ways when you cross the street and don't tell toys your name and address — privacy concerns are some of the latest worries for parents in the digital age.

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CIA Director John Brennan made this case against encryption on Monday at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C.

After Paris Attacks, Encrypted Communication Is Back In Spotlight

6:38pm November 16, 2015

Security officials say the Paris attacks are an example why law enforcement needs to access encrypted data. Privacy advocates and the tech industry say such "back doors" are not the best solution.

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This Week In Data Collection News, And The Privacy Paradox

10:43am October 10, 2015

by Alina Selyukh

As California tightened its digital privacy protections, news involving Google, Pandora and other firms highlighted the way companies increasingly rely on data about their users. How much do we care?

Jonathan Zittrain, co-founder of the Berkman Center for Internet and Society, says the right to be forgotten online is "a very bad solution to a real problem."

Debate: Should The U.S. Adopt The 'Right To Be Forgotten' Online?

12:10pm August 18, 2015

by NPR Staff

People don't always like what they see when they Google themselves. EU residents have a right to request that unflattering material be removed from online search results. Should the U.S. follow suit?

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Carol and John Iovine say the health coach their insurer assigned John after he had a torrent of grave health problems in 2014 has helped them get the medical care he still needs. And it's helped keep him out of the hospital.

Insurer Uses Personal Data To Predict Who Will Get Sick

5:31pm June 09, 2015

by Todd Bookman

A Philadelphia health insurance company analyzes its clients' health data and other factors to find the frailest and assign them health coaches. That may improve health, but is it a breach of privacy?

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Apple CEO Tim Cook speaks in New York on April 30. This week, he said some of Silicon Valley's most prominent companies have

National

Apple's Cook Takes Rivals To Task Over Data Privacy

7:04pm June 08, 2015

by Laura Sydell

Tim Cook didn't mention Google, Facebook or Twitter by name, but it's pretty clear those were the companies he meant. But is Apple faultless on privacy issues? It collects lots of data too.

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License plate scanners have helped police locate stolen vehicles and have even assisted in murder investigations. But with their ability to track a person's every move, skeptics worry about privacy.

National

Questions Remain About How To Use Data From License Plate Scanners

9:05pm May 30, 2015

by Martin Kaste

The scanners are standard equipment for police, but what's not settled is what happens to all the data collected. That data can link people to certain addresses and flag unusual activity.

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High-definition video cameras with 30x magnification keep watch over the Boston Marathon finish line, where two bombs detonated in 2013, killing three people and injuring hundreds.

National

Boston Marathon Surveillance Raises Privacy Concerns Long After Bombing

8:15am April 17, 2015

by Curt Nickisch

Boston jurors in the marathon bombing trial watched a nine-minute video pieced together from different surveillance cameras — some with surprisingly high resolution.

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Athos workout wear includes sensors that measure muscle activity.

Will Smart Clothing Amp Up Your Workout?

10:55am April 03, 2015

by Christina Farr

Startups are developing clothing with sensors that measure heart rate, breathing and muscle activity. Fitness enthusiasts are the target market. But the garments could be used for health care, too.

After a post has been flagged for review, Facebook intervenes with a supportive message.

Facebook's Suicide Prevention Tools Connect Friends, Test Privacy

3:41pm March 17, 2015

by Emma Bowman

When online social networks open up spaces for suicide prevention with untrained peer support, they walk the fragile line between invasion of privacy and supporting those who need help.