Table of Contents

Class action lawsuits deter companies from financial wrongdoing, study finds
A study released by The Investor Advocate reports that the threat of class action lawsuits against corporations is more of a deterrent to corporate malfeasance than SEC enforcement action. Comments: 0

65% of online adults use social networking sites
A new study from the Pew Internet & American Life Project reveals that over half of adults online use social networking sites. Comments: 0

Map of medical identity theft reveals geographic patterns
The World Privacy Forum has published an interactive map of medical identity theft occurrences in the United States, based on complaints to the Federal Trade Commission. Comments: 0

Credit reporting system fails in fairness and accuracy, report says
Public interest group Demos has released a report that reviews the country's credit reporting system and looks at the impact of credit reports and scores on everyday Americans. Among other things, having poor credit means a consumer pay more for a car or a home, and can even mean being denied for or terminated from a job. Comments: 0

Study digs into how we use social networks
A study from the Pew Internet and American Life Project reveals how our trust, personal relationships, and civic and political involvement are connected to the use of social network sites and other technologies. Comments: 0

Groups release joint principles on prepaid payroll cards
Two national consumer groups work with industry to develop joint principles on payroll cards, a type of prepaid card used for distributing wages when workers don't have a bank account to accept direct deposit. Comments: 0

Supreme Court health data case could sway online privacy debate
The Supreme Court has announced it will hear Sorrell v. IMS Health, a case relating to the sale of personal health data, such as prescriptions. It's a case that will affect both consumer health privacy laws and may influence the ongoing debate over online privacy. Comments: 0

Health care reform benefits kick in for 18 to 24 year olds
California Public Interest Research Group (CALPIRG) has published a guide for young people on how to navigate new health care benefits. Comments: 0

The one-way mirror of digital signage
World Privacy Forum has issued a report on digital signage networks, which are electronic monitoring systems that record and store video information. They include facial recognition cameras in grocery stores, interactive billboards that record data about consumers, and people-counting sensors mounted on doorways. Comments: 0

Can financial education head off early conomic woes?
A commentary in the Huffington Post delves into the problem of twentysomethings who are struggling to make financial ends meet and how financial education can play a role in heading off disaster earlier. Comments: 0