News and Data Privacy in 2022
February 3, 2023
Sometimes we think that certain things do not have anything to do with others. But the reality is all is connected even more than we thought. And you will be thinking… what make you came to that conclusion?
Well, you see… As we already know, in 2022 in the USA was penalized the abortion, and this cause many calls to protect data privacy emerged after the overturning of Roe v. Wade. And who are Roe and Wade?
Roe v. Wade
Let me tell you! It was a big judicial case in the 70s, specifically in 1973 about the abortion.
The implicates were Norma McCorvey, known in court documents as Jane Roe, who brought the case against Henry Wade, Dallas County District Attorney, who enforced a Texas law prohibiting abortion except to save a woman’s life.
The U.S. Supreme Court, in a 7-2 decision, affirms on January 22, 1973, the legality of a woman’s right to have an abortion under the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution.
Where the Court held that a woman’s right to an abortion was included in the right to privacy (recognized in Griswold v. Connecticut) protected by the Fourteenth Amendment. The decision granted a woman the right to have an abortion during the entire pregnancy and defined different levels of state interest in regulating second and third trimester abortion.
The ruling affected laws in 46 states.
Overturning the ruling
On Friday, June 24, 2022, the Court decides to overrule the case, meaning that henceforth abortion rights will be determined by the states unless Congress acts. Nearly half of the states have already passed or will pass laws banning abortion, while others have enacted strict measures to regulate the procedure.
What Says the Amendment about the Right to Privacy?
The 14th amendment states that “no State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”
Now that you already know the background, especially to protect data privacy. Here’s a roundup of the most-read stories about data privacy in 2022.
1. Accelerometer Data
The companies and cyberattackers use accelerometer data from cellphones to their benefit, underscoring how even the most mundane data is mined from users.
2. Amazon, Oracle and The Abortion Data Sales
As data privacy concerns surfaced after the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, lawmakers put greater pressure on companies but were not satisfied with their commitments to data privacy.
3. Can Data Collection Persist Amidst Post-Roe Privacy Questions?
The ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade called into question data collection practices, in particular when it comes to apps that track users’ locations and menstrual cycles.
4. Cambridge Analytica Scandal
Following the 2016 presidential elections, D.C. sued Mark Zuckerberg for his role in the data breach that allowed political consulting group Cambridge Analytica to target Facebook users.
5. Google Is Sharing Our Data at a Startling Scale
A report conducted by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties found that Google collects the location and browsing data from Americans and Europeans more than 70 billion times a day across both regions.
6. Meta Hit With 8 Suits
Meta faced litigation claiming their Facebook and Instagram algorithms target young people and have resulted in addictive and destructive behaviors.
7. Meta Sued
Meta was sued after claims that Facebook’s Pixel tracking tool is redirecting confidential medical data to Facebook when users sign in to online healthcare portals.
8. My Body, My Data
The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade sparked questions about the data privacy of those who choose to have an abortion.
9. FBI Searched Data of Millions of Americans Without Warrants
The FBI searched the electronic communication of over 3.4 million Americans without a warrant. This was legal under Section 702 FISA.
10. U.S. Websites Run Afoul of European Data Privacy Law
It has been found that leading U.S. websites do not meet the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation, particularly in terms of transparency around data collection.
