28th International Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners' Conference

The last week held in London, the annual Conference of Data Protection and Information Commissioners.

A communiqué was agreed by the Commissioners at the 28th International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners. The Commissioners have also adopted several important resolutions.

As technological advances increase the amount of surveillance the Commissioners have recognised the challenges facing data protection. They have identified the key areas where they will work together to overcome these issues and reinforce the fundamental importance of data protection and privacy. These include:


• Assessing the effectiveness of their traditional approaches, and adapting where necessary, to ensure they remain relevant in a fast changing world.

• Engaging with policy makers and citizens more effectively about privacy issues.

• Developing communications to raise awareness of individuals’ data protection rights.


Documents

Surveillance society report
Report
Appendices

Summary report
English
French
German
Spanish

Public discussion document
English
French
German
Spanish

Privacy chiefs vow to fight surveillance together

Privacy chiefs vow to fight surveillance together, is an article published at Out-Law.com


A group of international data and privacy protection commissioners has decided to act together to challenge the surveillance society which they claim is developing. Commissioners from the UK, France, Germany and New Zealand will adopt common policies.

At the annual Conference of Data Protection and Information Commissioners, held last week in London, a joint set of objectives was adopted by the international commissioners aimed at tackling what they see as a growing international issue of constant citizen surveillance.

Read full article at: OUT-LAW

Tracking traffic with cell phones

Credits: Photo by unapersona

Cell phones to track traffic, but at what cost to privacy? article published at CHRON
Associated Press


In some places, costly cameras and radar systems are mounted high above highways to watch traffic at strategic points. Transportation agencies also dig up roads to install sensors that monitor the flow. And helicopters roam the skies of the busiest cities, relaying information to media outlets.

A schematic of how the IntelliOne system works (monotoring.co.za web site)

Atlanta's horrendous traffic has inspired two companies that are looking to monitor more roads and highways at a much lower cost. Their approach: Track the signals of cell phones inside cars.

Read full article at CHRON

Links:

IntelliOne

AirSage

Driving Impulse Shopping with a Smart Cart

Photo: unpersona

Text source: Technology Review
By Duncan Graham-Rowe


Radio frequency identification (RFID) technology may not only be useful for streamlining inventory and supply chains: it could also make shoppers swarm. A new study suggests that supermarkets could increase their revenues by using information gleaned from RFID tags to make shoppers behave like an impulse-buying collective.

Impulse buying currently accounts for about 40 percent of all supermarket purchases, says Ronaldo Menezes, an expert in swarm intelligence at the Florida Institute of Technology, in Melbourne, FL. But his research suggests that impulse buying could be significantly increased if information was fed back to shoppers about what others are buying.

Full article at Technology Review

Microsoft Announces New Identity Management System

Source text epic website


Microsoft recently announced a new identity management system "CardSpace Identity Selector" that will be included as a Windows component embedded in the Vista operating system. Microsoft executives described CardSpace as an "identity metasystem" that allows a user to create multiple virtual ID cards. Kim Cameron, chief identity architect at Microsoft, said each virtual card created by the user would only contain the minimum amount of information that individuals will need to divulge to carry out a transaction applicable to the card. If the system works as advertised, it will be a welcome change from Microsoft's original proposal for an Internet-based identity system, dubbed "Passport."


More info at epic website

Kim Cameron's Identity Weblog