Socially Aware

March 17, 2016 - Data Security, Privacy, Product Liability
HIPAA and Health Care Apps: Is Your App Covered?
By: Erin M. Bosman and Julie Y. Park
Health care apps are one of the most important and growing segments in the ecosystem known as the Internet of Things (IoT). After the recent amendments to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) that—among other things—broadened the definition of a “Business Associate,”
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March 09, 2016 - European Union, Data Security, Privacy, Big Data
Privacy Shield vs. Safe Harbor: A Different Name for an Improved Agreement?
The European Commission (the “Commission”) and the U.S. Department of Commerce issued the draft legal texts for the much anticipated EU-U.S. Privacy Shield (the “Shield”), set to replace the currently inoperative Safe Harbor program (“Safe Harbor”). The new agreement is aimed at restoring the
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March 06, 2016 - Data Security, Privacy, Employment Law
Employer Surveillance of Internet and Email Use in the Workplace in Germany
Is an employer allowed to access an employee’s email account when the employee is on sick leave? To what extent is control permissible when an employee is suspected of illegal activities, e.g., of leaking trade secrets? In Germany, these questions are at the crossroads of
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February 03, 2016 - E-Commerce, Data Security, Privacy, Statistics
Consumer Privacy Survey Results
By: Aaron P. Rubin
As Socially Aware readers know, privacy presents real business risks that have the potential to negatively impact a company’s bottom line, from the legal fees associated with a data breach to revenue declines stemming from a loss of consumer trust. Late last year, Socially
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January 13, 2016 - FTC, Data Security, Privacy, Big Data, Compliance
Big Data, Big Challenges: FTC Report Warns of Potential Discriminatory Effects of Big Data
By: Mary Race and Julie O'Neill
In a new report , the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) declines to call for new laws but makes clear that it will continue to use its existing tools it to aggressively police unfair, deceptive—or otherwise illegal—uses of big data. Businesses that conduct big data analytics,
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October 13, 2015 - Data Security, Privacy
California Passes Four Bills Protecting Privacy Rights
By: Julie O'Neill
Last week was a big one for California’s privacy regime. In a landmark move, Governor Jerry Brown signed into law four bills further protecting Californians’ privacy rights: Three strengthen the state’s data breach notification statute and impose restrictions on operators of automated license plate
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