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It’s no secret that privacy is important online. Many consumers worry about how much access search engines and social networks have to their personal lives. Now, companies are being forced to make big privacy policy changes. At the same time, China is responding in rapid force with a few transparency changes of their own. It’s all in this week’s Web Roundup.
Google’s Getting a New Privacy Policy
Digital consumers and gurus have always been a little bit suspicious of some of the major website’s privacy policies. Now, Google is getting called out on a global stage for their vague privacy policy. A recent investigation in the United Kingdom uncovered several areas where the search engine giant might have overstepped bounds. Now, Google has until June 30 to make the agreed-upon changes.
China Requires More Transparency
On the flipside, the Chinese government now requires more transparency by foreign companies that sell computer equipment to banks in China. Companies wanting to sell to the Chinese market will now need to disclose source code and audits. In addition, these companies must build backdoors into hardware and software. Many business-friendly organizations, including the United States Chamber of Commerce have responded saying that the rules are intrusive and overbearing. Some speculate that this is a way for China to avoid relying on foreign vendors at all.
China’s Also Tightening the Reigns on the Internet
It’s no secret that China has a rather tall firewall built up around Internet access in their country. Now, they’re tightening up their regulations and making the Internet even stricter. This week, China cracked down on top VPNs that are frequently used to circumvent the “Great Firewall.” This blocks services, such as Google and Facebook. The automations appear to be more dynamic and automated, making them harder to avoid.
First Reddit Transparency Report Released
For the first time in history, the popular social network, Reddit, released its transparency report. This came in response to its updates to the site’s privacy policy. According to Reddit officials, the decision to release the first report (which the company is promising to release annually) came after Reddit refused to hand over certain details about user behavior. The site reported that they received several requests for data from investigators on cases — many of which they refused to honor. This report shares how much Reddit actually exposed and how much privacy users have on the site.
Tesla Model X Caught on Camera
The Tesla plant location got a lot of buzz recently. Now, someone caught the new Model X SUV from Tesla on camera making test runs on the Alameda Airport test track. This car is expected to debut in the $35,000 price range. Although the video doesn’t show much, it’s enough to excite car and tech lovers. Stay tuned. It’s set to be released in the last half of 2015.
