Mark Richards @markalanrichards@librem.one
A software engineer that likes enjoyable and responsible software engineering.
A researcher into privacy problems online.
Interested in learning more about federation, decentralisation and self sovereign systems.
Curious about web3, seems like there should be an opportunity to do something great, but so far, from what I've seen, it doesn't quite make sense to me.
Joined Aug 2019
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NSPCC (Childline) wants troubled kids visiting YouTube when looking for support content - an online harms site that invades their privacy.
This flies in the face of their campaigns to protect children from online harms, leading some of the most vulnerable to one of the platforms that poses a high risk to them.
Mark Richards
boosted
In the run up to the UK General Election, we're asking people to call on all candidates and political parties to protect digital rights in the next Parliament.
Contact your local candidates today ➡️ https://action.openrightsgroup.org/ask-your-candidates-back-digital-rights
#GeneralElection #DigitalRights #DigitalRightsAreHumanRights #privacy #freedomofexpression #Manifesto #ukpolitics #dataprotection
Invasive tracking ‘endemic’ on sensitive support websites
https://www.computerweekly.com/news/366587398/Invasive-tracking-endemic-on-sensitive-support-websites
Mark Richards
boosted
"If Britain is so bothered by China, why do these .gov.uk sites use Chinese ad brokers?"
https://theregister.com/2024/04/24/ads_on_gov_uk_websites/
@metoffice https://metoffice.gov.uk/ads.txt
After decades in this space, privacy eroding adtech has flourished in great part due to a lack of effective enforcement. I don’t think we can rely on the UK ICO.
Will this be the next Post Office Scandal?
Most UK banks give remote access to customer accounts to various third parties, in one case including a Chinese firm the bank likely has no contract with.
Access would appear as customers’, includes to users passwords and allows spoofing of bank features.
It’s not just banks, get in touch if you are worried about any sites you use.
They can be you!
The computer said you did it: Who doesn't have remote access to your bank account? thttps://markalanrichards.com/posts/2024-01-23-the-computer-said-you-did-it/
Mark Richards
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Fujitsu bugs that sent innocent people to prison were known “from the start”
Software bugs were hidden from lawyers of wrongly convicted postal workers.
Bitrot happens. Love with it
Another kids charity and one that isn’t afraid to tell you that it’s sharing kids data with adtech https://kidsharms.com/coram-voice/#article
Mark Richards
boosted
🔴 BREAKING: 28 civil society organisations and privacy experts have written to the EU Commission to raise concerns about the threat that UK data reform poses to European citizens’ data rights.
“The UK government’s determination to deregulate data protection is putting the adequacy agreement with the EU in jeopardy, which is a risk that the UK economy cannot afford.” – @marianods
#DPDIBill #GDPR #dataprotection #ukpolitics
Find out more here ⬇️
Kids in crisis should have respect for their privacy.
Instead another children’s charity using ad tech to track their behaviour.
Mark Richards
boosted
Youtube have been accused of collecting data on children under 13. What they’re watching. What device they’re using. A complaint has been raised with the ICO to protect children’s privacy. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-64786968
Another children’s charity directing kids to online harms, tries to remedy it by removing YouTube and instead ends up with Vimeo.
Better? Maybe, but Vimeo isn’t so far from YouTube that I would recommend it as the type of site you want troubled kids on… kids who are actively trying to find material for depression could run into who knows what… search around and you’ll see.
How hard is it for kids charities to host support videos on their own site?
Mark Richards
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New APVI entry: platform certificates used to sign malware
Found by yours truly :)
NSPCC (Childline) wants troubled kids visiting YouTube when looking for support content - an online harms site that invades their privacy.
This flies in the face of their campaigns to protect children from online harms, leading some of the most vulnerable to one of the platforms that poses a high risk to them.
Open rights group are raising funds to take legal action against the UK data protection authority (ICO) for failing to act on adtech invasion of privacy
https://action.openrightsgroup.org/help-us-protect-your-data-illegal-ads
I don't think any Covid19 tracking app can avoid increasing the opportunity for law enforcement surveillance.
However, I do think the risks can be minimised, law enforcement and the public can be made aware of the increased capability and democratic systems can not only make the right decision for here and now in a pandemic, but know what to stop doing when the elevated risks are over.
https://eandt.theiet.org/content/articles/2020/05/developers-find-new-flaws-in-source-code-of-nhs-contract-tracing-app/
A software engineer that likes enjoyable and responsible software engineering.
A researcher into privacy problems online.
Interested in learning more about federation, decentralisation and self sovereign systems.
Curious about web3, seems like there should be an opportunity to do something great, but so far, from what I've seen, it doesn't quite make sense to me.
Joined Aug 2019
