"Cloud and Mobile Privacy: The Electronic Communications Privacy Act"

What Technology Companies Don't Want You to Know

Discussion Paper 2012-02, Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School

February 2012

Author: Vivek Mohan, Research Fellow, Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program/Project on Technology, Security, and Conflict in the Cyber Age

Belfer Center Programs or Projects: The Cyber Project; Science, Technology, and Public Policy

SUMMARY

Consumer expectations of online and mobile privacy have in recent years diverged significantly from reality. In certain circumstances, the United States government has the ability to access a consumer's cloud-based email, location data gathered from their mobile phones, and information about what calls a user places on a mobile device—without a warrant. While a broad coalition is spearheading reform efforts in Washington, providers of these services should take proactive steps to bring consumer understanding of their privacy more in line with reality.

This work is funded by the Office of Naval Research under award number N00014-09-1-0597. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Office of Naval Research.

Statements and views expressed in this discussion paper are solely those of the author and do not imply endorsement by Harvard University, the Harvard Kennedy School, or the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs.

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