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The Digital Tattoo Project Podcast raises questions, shares stories, speaks with experts and encourages us to consider our digital lives.
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Digital Identity Digest (September)
Facebook’s largest security breach in history The biggest news of September came right in the end of the month. Facebook announced that an attack on its computer network had exposed personal information of almost 50 million users. The New York Times reported it was the largest breach in the company’s history. The attackers exploited a […]
In the News: Researchers develop sonar technology to steal smartphone passcodes
Last month, researchers from Lancaster University in England released work detailing a new technique where a smartphone’s built-in speaker and microphone can act as a sonar system to steal the phone’s unlock pattern. Sonar (Sound Navigation and Ranging) uses sound propagation to detect the surrounding objects and their movements [1]. In this case, the development […]
In the News: Smart Meters are Internet Connected Devices Too!
Thinking of upgrading your thermostat or doorbell to a smart, internet-enabled device? You may want to consider the consequences of creating a connection to certain parts or systems of your home through the internet. Smart electricity meters are one example of internet-enabled elements of a person’s home. These meters can read and send the monthly […]
In The News: US Prosecutor Obliges Suspect to Surrender Passcode
A recent development in a 2017 case in Louisiana has resulted in a suspect being compelled to surrender the passcode to his smartphone. In the case of State of Louisiana v. Sean-Paul Gott [1], one of the four defendants was ordered under a ‘Motion to Compel’ to reveal the password to his smartphone, which was […]
In the News: Facial Recognition Software at Tokyo’s 2020 Olympics
The organizing committee for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games announced their plans to use facial recognition software as a security measure to verify the identities of athletes, officials, and media representatives at entry checkpoints. The intention behind the added technology is for increased security, comfort, and convenience, as stated in recent press release [1]. […]
Canvas Exposed: The little problem with UBC’s big, expensive new tool
The little problem with UBC’s big, expensive new tool Last year, UBC introduced a new learning management system. Canvas by Instructure was rolled out to replace the aging and underperforming Blackboard Connect. When classes begin this September, UBC’s more than 60,000 students will only be using the new Canvas system. Learning management systems are useful […]
In the News: Facebook Pushes for Facial Recognition Software
Despite facing legal trouble in the US for violating state privacy laws by misusing biometric data [1], or the ongoing investigation into the data mining practices of the Cambridge Analytica scandal, Facebook recently announced plans to implement facial recognition software in Canada and the European Union. This software was originally introduced within the United States […]
Guest Blog Post: Predictive Policing in the Nation’s Capital
On October 24th 2016, the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) launched the Ottawa Police Strategic Operations Centre (OPSOC), an initiative to “use crime information to improve public and officer safety” [1]. A February 2017 article appearing on Motherboard, a Vice News channel, instead labelled OPSOC as a manifestation of a larger movement in police forces […]
Digital Rights Now – Sign the Petition
A few months ago, we proposed a bill of rights for learning data. While the need for reform within the context of our university systems is still real, events like the Cambridge Analytica scandal—which occurred in the interim—highlight the need for all Canadians to have a bill of rights to protect their digital identities. Today, […]
New on the Podcast: The City with Eyes
The Digital Tattoo Podcast – Episode 5 As the government of Canada slowly prepares to embrace the future of city building, a small plot of land races ahead to become the nation’s first smart city. Sidewalk Labs, a subsidiary of Google’s parent company Alphabet Inc., is developing a proposal for 12 acres on the downtown […]
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