Posted by Jeff MeisnerEditor, Microsoft on the Issues
In this edition of The Week in Tech Policy, we have stories on a new Pew Center study focused on mobile app privacy, the Federal Communications Commission’s plans to measure mobile broadband speeds and more.
Pew Center study: app users are worried about privacy. A study released by the Pew Center on Sept. 5 indicates that “than half of mobile application users have uninstalled or avoided certain apps over privacy concerns,” according to a report in Hillicon Valley. “The study found that 54 percent of app users have avoided an app when they discover how much personal information it collects or shares. About 30 percent have uninstalled an app that was already on the phone when they learned how it was using their data.”
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Editor’s Note: This post is part of a monthly series from Microsoft’s Citizenship team that appears at 6 a.m. PT on the second Wednesday of every month. Pulse on Citizenship provides insight and commentary on topics and trends in corporate citizenship.
Posted by James RooneyProgram Manager, Technology for Good, Microsoft
In less than a month, Microsoft will host the annual NetHope Summit here on campus. More than 150 IT officers from 34 of the world’s largest international development agencies will attend, including World Vision, CARE, Red Cross, Mercy Corps, Save the Children, Oxfam, The Nature Conservancy and many more. It gives everyone a chance to listen, learn, share information, and think about how the power of technology can change the world.
When looking at this year’s agenda, it’s clear that the nonprofit technology space is changing. It’s not immune to some of the complicated side-effects of the fast pace of innovation. The shift from on-premise to the cloud for, well, everything. The democratization of IT with every employee wanting his or her personal devices connected to the network.
In this edition of The Week in Tech Policy, we have stories on cybersecurity, e-mail privacy and new research that seeks to weigh in on the recent debate on whether college is still worth the investment.
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to focus on cybersecurity. FERC announced on Sept. 20 that it will create a new office intended to help the agency focus on “potential cyber and physical security risks to energy facilities under its jurisdiction.” The new office, which will be called the Office of Energy Infrastructure Security (OEIS), “will provide leadership, expertise and assistance to the Commission to identify, communicate and seek comprehensive solutions to potential risks to FERC-jurisdictional facilities from cyber attacks and such physical threats as electromagnetic pulses.”
Posted by Lori HarnickGeneral Manager, Citizenship & Public Affairs, Microsoft
Last week, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and Executive Vice President of Legal & Corporate Affairs Brad Smith launched a new big bet for the company, Microsoft YouthSpark, a companywide initiative that will create opportunities for 300 million young people around the world over the next three years. As Brad noted during the live webcast, we are mobilizing the company behind this initiative because of something we’re seeing and deeply care about – the emergence of an opportunity divide – a gap between young people who have the access, skills and opportunities to be successful and those who do not.
I am proud to be part of this exciting and challenging endeavor, which represents a shift in our citizenship focus to dedicate the majority of our corporate philanthropy to organizations that serve young people as well as new global programs and cash grants to help connect young people with opportunities for education, employment and entrepreneurship.
Editor’s Note: This is a guest post from Theresa Payton, a cyber security expert on America Now News Magazine who manages Fortalice®, LLC, a security consulting company. Ms. Payton was chief information officer at the White House from May 2006 to September 2008.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, 10 million people will be a victim of identity theft every year. Add to that, the Department of Homeland Security recently reported that they are seeing a new type of attack roughly every 90 seconds. And, in a recent study by the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA), less than half of the people polled said they feel safe from cyber threats and cybercrime.