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Back to To the Point

To the Point

Profits, Privacy and Your Personal Data

Edward Snowden's revelations about Internet spying by the National Security Agency put pressure on the Obama White House. Last week, it issued two reports — not on privacy threats from the NSA, but from corporations that use the same techniques for collecting what's called "meta data" from America's millions of Internet users.

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By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

Edward Snowden's revelations about Internet spying by the National Security Agency put pressure on the Obama White House. Last week, it issued two reports — not on privacy threats from the NSA, but from corporations that use the same techniques for collecting what's called "meta data" from America's millions of Internet users. It's focusing on the way private companies find patterns in your online habits to create a "digital persona" you don't even know about. The goal is not just to market products you might like. It's also used to predict whether you're a good credit risk, job prospect or candidate for insurance. Privacy advocates welcome proposals for regulation, but Silicon Valley's saying, "Not so fast." We hear from both sides.

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Warren Olney

    former KCRW broadcaster

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    Benjamin Gottlieb

    Reporter, Fill-in Host

  • KCRW placeholder

    Mike Kessler

    freelance journalist

  • KCRW placeholder

    Katie Cooper

    Producer, 'One year Later'

  • KCRW placeholder

    Brendan Sasso

    National Journal

  • KCRW placeholder

    Elizabeth Dwoskin

    Silicon Valley correspondent for the Washington Post

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    Carl Szabo

    NetChoice

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