News and Research articles on United States of America

Going global: Comparing Chinese mobile applications’ data and user privacy governance at home and abroad

Lianrui Jia, University of Toronto
Lotus Ruan, University of Toronto
PUBLISHED ON: 16 Sep 2020 DOI: 10.14763/2020.3.1502

This paper examines data and privacy governance by four China-based mobile applications and their international versions - including the role of the state. It also highlights the role of platforms in gatekeeping mobile app privacy standards.

Since Twitter labelled a tweet by Donald Trump as ‘potentially misleading’ and indicated that it was fact-checking the statement made, the US President signed an ‘Executive Order'. Amélie Heldt finds that far from being new, the situation illustrates how torn we are when it comes to intermediary immunity or rather liability.

Voter preferences, voter manipulation, voter analytics: policy options for less surveillance and more autonomy

Jacquelyn Burkell, The University of Western Ontario
Priscilla M. Regan, George Mason University
PUBLISHED ON: 31 Dec 2019 DOI: 10.14763/2019.4.1438

Personalised political messaging undermines voter autonomy and the electoral process. Use of voter analytics for political communication must be regulated.

Zero rating has emerged as one of the most contentious communications policy debates of the last decade. The offer of ‘free’ access to select applications compromises network neutrality, at the same time as it can present advantages to users with limited economic resources. How can we attempt to reconcile these conflicting dimensions of zero rating?

The privacy role of information intermediaries through self-regulation

Tatevik Sargsyan, American University
PUBLISHED ON: 16 Dec 2016 DOI: 10.14763/2016.4.438

This paper provides qualitative analysis of Google’s and Microsoft’s policies and examines case studies to enhance understanding about the privacy role of information intermediaries in self-regulatory arrangements.

Should we worry about filter bubbles?

Frederik J. Zuiderveen Borgesius, University of Amsterdam
Damian Trilling, University of Amsterdam
Judith Möller, University of Amsterdam
Balázs Bodó, University of Amsterdam
Claes de Vreese, University of Amsterdam
Natali Helberger, University of Amsterdam
PUBLISHED ON: 31 Mar 2016 DOI: 10.14763/2016.1.401

Personalised news websites can have serious implications for democracy, but little is known about the extent and effects of personalisation.

Max Schrems' boomerang hits Europe

Monika Ermert, Heise, Intellectual Property Watch, VDI-Nachrichten

PUBLISHED ON: 7 Oct 2015

The Safe Harbour Agreement between the EU and the US has been under fire for years. A landmark judgement by the European Court of Justice on 6 October not only invalidates the agreement. It boomerangs back to Europe in big ways.