It may seem like a lot of work to track all the changes in social media law with so many stories and cases emerging every day, but it’s money and time well spent. Jon Chavez’s article, “Law’s Stance on Social Media Fluid, Firms Told, ” points out why. It’s important that a company’s social media policies keep pace with changes in the law.
Cyberbullying of children through social media continues to be a persistent danger to children. However, attempts to curb it also continue to run up against defenders of First Amendment rights. Sam Stockard’s article, “Ketron to Reword Online Bully Law, ” looks at Senator Ketron’s attempts to strengthen online bullying legislation in Tennessee.
Proposed changes to EU privacy laws could have ramifications for US companies. Kate O’Flaherty examines the potential risks to companies that don’t protect user data: “EU Proposes Changes to Privacy Laws.”
Here’s a follow up to Friday’s post on Homeland Security’s monitoring of social media for potential threats. James Verrinder highlights the “Privacy Concerns Raised Over US Government Social Media Tracking.”
Once again, the Department of Homeland Security is being urged to increase its monitoring of Social Media sites for “threats”. Should you be worried about your privacy the next time you tweet or post to Facebook? Mark Hosenball examines the issue in “US Lawmakers Press for Internet Monitoring.”
Are you really getting the best search results when you use Google? Will providing your personal information through Google+ help you get better results or simply be an invasion of your privacy? Sara Forden and Brian Womack explore the issues currently being investigated by the Federal Trade Commission in regards to Google, an investigation recently expanded to include Google+: “FTC Said to Expand Antitrust Probe of Google to Social Networking Service.”
Here’s a great article on some of the issues in-house counsel should trouble spot in relation to their company and social media. There are both employee and intellectual property ramifications. Darin M Klemchuk’s article, “Protect the Company in the New Social Media World”, appeared in Texas Lawyer, but provides good basic advice.
As we start the new year, everyone seems to be posting about what trends will be hot this year in Social Media Law. One thing is clear: Social Media Law is going to be increasingly in the news and in the courts. As a starting point, here are Brian Wassom’s “5 Predictions for Social Media Law in 2012”.
Here’s an article by Kathy McCabe detailing the concerns in Massachusetts schools over how to incorporate Social Media. Privacy issues, keeping abreast of technology, and the Children’s Internet Safety Act are all concerns as they struggle to put policies in place.
“School Districts Consider Social Media Policy.”
Yesterday, the International Pirate Party won 15 of 130 seats in the German Parliament. The party which supports online freedom and privacy rights is quickly becoming no joke. Read the full story from The Washington Post here –