[AusNOG] Cisco Pushing 'Cloud Connect' Router Firmware - Allows Web History Tracking

[Rod Veith]

Sigh, more corporate speak with a significant loop hole:

 

"Cisco Connect Cloud does not actively track, collect or store personal
info" Correct, they believe they do it passively.

 

And why is "opt-in to updates" connected to a granting of rights about
personal data? 

 

Automatic updates to fix security flaws is a desirable outcome. Producing
faulty goods and then withholding the ability to fix the fault without first
signing away privacy rights is WRONG WRONG WRONG. It sickens me to see this
kind of corporate behaviour.    

 

Any provision in "bubble wrap agreements" (I like this term - first saw it
in MBevan's post) relating to the use of private data should be made illegal
in Australia for all services (think ISPs) and products (think boxes -
hardware, firmware, software, etc). Consumers need protection and to
overcome this encroachment  of our rights to privacy, the privacy law should
explicitly state that Australian consumers cannot sign away their rights to
privacy in any 'bubble-wrap agreement'. 

 

There should be significant punitive damages attached to the breaking of the
law to discourage the collect of private data. Why significant punitive
damages?    

 

Because:

.        it is hard to value privacy in straight economic terms and a
consumer's actual financial damages may be low or nil. 

.        a consumer does not have the same financial resources to fight a
court case.

 

Maybe 'bubble wrap agreements' should become illegal as there is no ability
to negotiate changes. I'd feel much better if I could strike out clauses
relating to my private data while keeping the rest of the agreement as is. 

 

Rod

 

 

From: ausnog-bounces at lists.ausnog.net
[mailto:ausnog-bounces at lists.ausnog.net] On Behalf Of Paul Wilkins
Sent: Sunday, 1 July 2012 2:27 AM
To: David Walker
Cc: ausnog at lists.ausnog.net
Subject: Re: [AusNOG] Cisco Pushing 'Cloud Connect' Router Firmware - Allows
Web History Tracking

 

Cisco's been quick to respond:

"Cisco prides itself on offering the best customer experiences, and privacy
and security are at the core of everything we do.  That goes for Cisco
Connect Cloud too. When a customer signs up for a Cisco Connect Cloud
account, personal information is used only to establish an account in order
to provide customer support.  Consistent with Cisco's practices, Cisco
Connect Cloud does not actively track, collect or store personal info or
usage data for any other purposes, nor is it transmitted to third parties.
We also wanted to clear up any confusion about Cisco's 'opt in' practices.
Cisco Connect Cloud was delivered only to consumers who opted in to
automatic updates."


http://blogs.cisco.com/home/answering-our-customers-questions-about-cisco-co
nnect-cloud/

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