Author: Lucy

This proposed regulation would allow smartphone users to ask apps to delete their information.

U.S. Representative Hank Johnson (D-Georgia) has proposed mobile security legislation that would make it possible for smartphone users to be able to request that apps cease the collection of their personal data, and that they delete information that has been previously collected about them.

The American lawmaker has released a discussion draft for the change to the current law.

The release was made regarding the Application Privacy, Protection, and Security Act. This proposed bill would require mobile security measures to be taken by all apps, in that they must provide their users with notice about the data that they collect, and they must receive consent from those users before they will be permitted to collect any personal information.

This mobile security proposal would also allow the users to control the information being collected or held.

Beyond simply requiring permission to collect the personal information in the first place, this mobile security measure would also make it possible for users of apps to be able to tell the developer that they will no longer be using the app and that they wish the collection of their information to stop. This would mean that the developers would not only need to cease the collection of the data, and would also have to delete any personal data that has already been collected “to the extent practicable”, said the discussion draft.

Rep. Johnson used the AppRights.us website in order to solicit ideas for the mobile security and privacy bill that he wanted to propose. The website was initially launched in July 2012. He explained in a statement that “Because the majority of the feedback that we received on AppRights expressed strong support for user control, transparency, and security, we incorporated these principles into the bill.”

He also added that “Many of you also told us that simple mechanisms are important to protecting your privacy on mobile devices.” He went on to say that after he had heard the concerns that were raised, he was able to write provisions that would address them in a way that would provide increased mobile security, without threatening the integrity or functionality of the “apps that you love.”

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnAEsnjA8kE]

Two photographers have taken the mobile technology to a new level and created a fascinating exhibition.

Two photographers, named Nate Larson and Marni Shindelman, have joined efforts to create a photographic exhibition that they have entitled “Geolocation” due to the use of this form of mobile technology as they pursued public tweets and snapped images of the places where they took place.

In a unique and modern form of capturing the moment, this new style has drawn considerable attention.

The geolocation project is ongoing, as the artists continue their efforts to match moments with the places in which they occurred. The two photographers create the pieces by scanning through Twitter for messages that consist only of text, but that also include their location data. The next step is to actually travel to the precise spot that they feel that the tweet originated.

Once they find the place, the geolocation photograph is taken in order to provide a visual for the Tweet.

The result is a fascinating combination of everything from curious to clever and from sweet and touching to haunting and bizarre. Once the artists use the geolocation technology from the chosen tweet, it will usually take them a week or two to actually reach the precise spot. That said, there have been times that they have been able to find the place and take their photograph of the situation within an hour of having chosen the tweet that inspired it.

These contemporary artists make their best efforts to use the latest in geolocation to help to capture the situations that are generating the messages that are being publicly tweeted.

One picture, taken of the front of an auto parts and service shop came with the tweet caption “Cars are nothing but money pigs #hateit #waitingsucks #impoor”. Another shot of a car in a hotel parking lot that is otherwise mostly empty was captioned “Tell me I’m not making a mistake. Tell me you’re worth the wait.”

The photographers have already traveled in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada using geolocation technology and the social network posts. They hope that they will also be able to add the Middle East, Russia, South Korea, and Kosovo to their list.