(B.N. Frank) Downloading “free” apps onto devices more often than not allows app providers to collect personal data on users. Of course, companies that manufacture and sell devices tend to collect personal data on users too (see 1, 2, 3, 4, 5). Having access to this data allows companies and providers to analyze users’ habits and preferences so they can market additional products and services to them. They can also sell users’ data to 3rd parties. This practice is sometimes referred to as “Surveillance Capitalism.” As more customers are becoming aware of this, more want to be able to “opt out” of privacy invasive data collection. Companies aren’t necessarily making this easy though. Recently Verizon was exposed for automatically enrolling its customers into a new program that scans users’ browser histories. Facebook, Google, and Snapchat are now also being exposed for continuing to collect data on without users’ knowledge or consent.
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Supreme Court Hears Free-speech Case with Student Snapchat Post a Center of Debate
(Joseph Weber) “I shouldn’t have to be afraid to express myself,” says former high schooler Brandi Levy whose Snapchat post is at center of case.
Teen Whose Profane Snapchat Message Got Her Suspended Sues School over Free Speech and Wins. Now the District Wants to Take It to the Supreme Court.
(Sarah Taylor) A Pennsylvania school district is requesting the Supreme Court weigh in on a case after a freshman cheerleader and her parents sued the district after it disciplined the teen for a profane message she shared on social media.
Snapchat And Teen Vogue Encouraging Teens To Create ‘Child Pornography’ During Quarantine, National Center For Sexual Exploitation Says
(Mary Margaret Olohan) Snapchat and Teen Vogue are encouraging teenagers to create “child pornography” during the coronavirus quarantine through sexting, the National Center on Sexual Exploitation said.
Pedophile Hunter: Vigilante Used Snapchat Filter to Pose as a Girl and Catch ‘Pedophile Cop’
(Jacob Geanous) A college student used Snapchat’s new gender filter pose as a teenage girl and snare an alleged pedophile police officer.
No Privacy: Employees Of ‘Sexting-Central’ Snapchat Spied On Users
(Zero Hedge) Employees at social media giant Snap have been abusing internal tools for accessing user data in order to spy on Snapchat users, according to an investigative report by Motherboard, which interviewed multiple current and former employees and viewed internal Snap communications.