Klout, Who has time for Internet games

05/05/2012

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We Internet users are a funny breed. We quite rightly object to intrusion from the Government and authorities, plus plans to restrict our freedoms online, but we happily sign up to new social networking sites.

One such site is Klout. The first thing this blogger knew of Klout was an Internet acquaintance tweeting her score on Klout. For me that was 43 although I had not even heard of the site.

Of course curiosity whetted this blogger checked it out and signed up a few days later. That to date has been her involvement with Klout. Will she do more? Probably not. Whilst there is nothing wrong with the site, and in time it could take over from sites such as Facebook, it is yet another drain on your time.

Social networking could be a bigger part of your life than mine though. The problem is that if you write online time is always so precious. Some networking is necessary to promote your work. Networking simply as a social event is also fine at times but, after all, just who all these people are is not always easy to determine. If you believe what many write you may think that they are all highly paid, highly intelligent professionals.

 During the last few years the growth of Internet groups such as fans, followers, friends or call them waht you will has grown out of all proportion. Whilst some online activity may pass a little time in harmless Internet fun too much is bad news IMHO. It is not healthy by any means.It is though an advertisers dream. Information is so often gathered about you, your followers, your family, your life, your opinions and more. As a blogger who ignores all facebook game requests perhaps she is unusual. Who wants to to spend all day and night on the Net though?.

When you join any new social website all of the possible privacy problems and more should be kept in mind. Remember to set your profile so that only a limited amount of personal data is revealed. Just how much is up to you. This blogger likes to change her birth date for example to protect against identity theft.

So will you be joining Klout or are you already a fully fledged klouter?

Tags: Klout, social networking, personal data, internet gangs
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US Internet privacy changes

28/02/2012

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Obama Privacy Bill of Rights: Is It What the U.S. Needs Or Not? 

The post here was written in February 2012. Today July 11, 2012 there is news which relates to the article. Find it at the end of the report, after you refresh your memories as to the original content.

This blogger receives updates from various companies online. The latest included information on possible Internet privacy changes. It seems that many Western countries are intent on preventing us maintaining our Internet freedoms. Recently TEK reported that the Canadian government were looking at making changes. The UK has limited its users freedoms also. The latest email contained information about proposed US changes. Here is what it said:

"The Obama Administration announced a privacy plan last week in hopes of increasing protections for consumer privacy. The Administration has been working toward this effort for several months and has created a framework consisting of a Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights, a multi-stakeholder process to determine how the rights will apply to the context of business, an adequate enforcement model, and a commitment to strengthen interoperability between the privacy standards in the U.S. and its global partners.

While privacy advocates welcomed the proposal, for the most part, some of them have voiced concerns about the enforcement of the plan. Others, including Adam Thierer, a senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, have also spoken out in opposition of the White House’s proposal.

According to Thierer, the intentions at the core of the plan appear to be good, but the consequences that may result instead could be very harmful. For instance, he believes the framework is strikingly similar to the privacy laws and regulations in Europe.

He told us that, if fully executed, the Administration’s approach could be damaging to consumers and competition for Internet businesses. In addition, Thierer said the plan could limit new services and lead to more government regulations over the Web.

In the White Paper released, the Administration asks Congress to adopt the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights and give the FTC and state attorneys general the power to enforce them. However, given the election year and other pressing issues, Thierer pointed out that it was unlikely that anything would happen in this regard this year.

Do you think the U.S. needs “Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights”? We’d love to hear your opinion"

There you have it. It is for you to decide how this may affect you and whether you find it acceptable. 

July 11, 2012, RT has reported that last Friday US President Obama "quietly" signed an Executive Order allowing the White House to control all private communications in the country in the name of national security. What!
 
The full RT report can be found here.

A pertinent line or two that you may find interesting reads, In explaining the order, the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) writes that the president has authorized the DHS "the authority to seize private facilities when necessary, effectively shutting down or limiting civilian communications." 

Make of that what you will!


Tags: SOPA, internet privacy, Obama signs order, US President Obama, US privacy

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