Tag Archives: Ethics
iPhone software update 4.3.3: limits tracking cache
Good to see that Apple has now released a software update (iOS 4.3.3) that means that iPhones will no longer retain information about where they have been! As Apple, states: “This update contains changes to the iOS crowd-sourced location database … Continue reading
Your iPhone is being tracked
I wonder how many iPhone users are aware that their movements are automatically being logged in a small, easily accessible application on their ‘phones? Recent, important work by Alasdair Allen and Pete Warden has shown just how easy it would … Continue reading
Google and privacy
I am often criticised for my concerns over Google’s ethical claims. Most people seem to like the apparently ‘free’ services that the company offers, and are not greatly concerned about the implications of sharing private information with a corporate giant … Continue reading
ICTs, citizens and the state: moral philosophy and development practices
Great to see my latest paper just published in The Electronic Journal on Information Systems in Developing Countries – thanks to Mark Levy and Vignesh Ilvarasan for all their editorial work on this. The paper examines the moral implications of … Continue reading
Filed under Development, Ethics, ICT4D
Watching the watchers watching…
In recent months I seem to have posted several photos of ongoing surveillance, generally by people acting on behalf of the state. Perhaps I should start a collection of these! So, here is another one (Camden CCTV again) patrolling the … Continue reading
Filed under Ethics, Photographs, UK
UK government set to re-examine Google’s infringements of privacy
Great to see the announcement reported by the BBC that Britain’s privacy watchdog is to re-examine the personal information that Google has gathered from private wi-fi networks. As the BBC article commented, “The Information Commissioner’s Office had investigated a sample … Continue reading
Many popular Android apps share location and unique identifiers with advertisers
A recent report on the BBC website notes a study by researchers from Intel Labs, Penn State and Duke University which shows that “Some of the most popular apps written for Google’s Android phones do not tell users what is … Continue reading
UK Government switches off child database
I have previously raised concerns about the creation of the national ContactPoint database of all children that was put in place in 2009. I’m therefore delighted to note that this is to be shut down. The BBC reports that the … Continue reading
ICTs and Special Educational Needs in Ghana
Godfred Bonnah Nkansah and I are delighted that our paper on the contribution of ICTs to the delivery of special educational needs in Ghana has just been published in Information Technology for Development, 16(3), 2010, 191-211. The paper not only … Continue reading
Filed under Accessibility, Africa, Education, Ethics, ICT4D
Who’s watching who at LHR?
The extent of state surveillance in the UK increases apace. Imagine my surprise when I saw this police car with a surveillance camera on the roof when I was recently passing through London Heathrow! Perhaps we should all start taking … Continue reading
Filed under Ethics, Photographs
