• House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr., D-Mich., recently sent letters to Facebook, Inc. and Google, Inc. in connection with recent reports of privacy-related issues involving the two companies. Concerns have arisen that Facebook has provided third parties with access to personal information about its users, even if the users thought they were limiting such access to their own group of friends. Although Facebook has recently announced new privacy controls for its users, Conyers requested that the company explain with whom and under what circumstances personal information was shared, and how the new policies will restrict access to such information. The privacy concerns relating to Google, Inc. involve the company’s use of “Street View” cars that collect private content sent over open wireless networks while mapping the locations of those access points. Several lawsuits have popped up in recent weeks claiming that both companies have violated end user contracts and privacy rights as a result of their practices. The letter to Facebook is available here. The letter to Google is available here.
  • As many as 25,572 Social Security numbers once stored on Penn State computer systems may have been exposed during security breaches in recent weeks, the university recently reported. Penn State issued a statement saying that it has no evidence that any unauthorized people have accessed the Social Security numbers which appear to belong to alumni. All of the affected individuals have received or will receive notices from Penn State, encouraging them to be vigilant in monitoring their personal data and to prevent identity theft.