Ebooks and Privacy

Why privacy matters

“Lack of privacy and confidentiality

chills users’ choices, thereby suppressing

access to ideas.”

http://www.ala.org/offices/oif/ifissues/privacyconfidentiality

What does your ereader/tablet know about you?

What does your ereader/tablet know about you?

Depending on the capabilities of the device, and the manufacturer’s practices,

potentially LOTS!

Where you are…

“And it's not just what pages you read; [the device] may also monitor where you

read them.”http://www.npr.org/2010/12/15/132058735/is-your-e-book-reading-up-on-you

What you like to read…

…and, where in the book you stopped reading, how fast you read, etc.

What music you listen to…

What movies you like…

Credit card information

Credit card information

Barnes & Noble requires a valid credit card to be on the device, even to use the Overdrive app.

Ereaders and tablets are computers.

Over networks, computers talk to one another

Most ereading devices can use wi-fi to access the web

Wi-fi:

•Allows wireless connection to a computer network•Local• Restaurants• Coffee shops• Bookstores• Libraries• Offices

•Some devices automatically connect to wi-fi when they detect it (smart phones, tablets)

Some ereading devices can use 3G

3G: “third-generation” cellular system

•Available essentially anywhere•Tablets/smart phones• tied to wireless

provider’s data plan (not free)

•Kindle• Not tied to wireless

provider• Free• 3G-capable Kindle

models default to 3G if wi-fi is not available

Who does your device talk to?Whoa!

Really? What else does she like to

read?

Well, Jeff, she’s really into…

For some devices, the manufacturer can contact the device…

…and alter it without the user’s knowledge.

…and alter it without the user’s knowledge.

Amazon removed copies of George Orwell’s novels

from Kindles without their

owners’ knowledge, let alone permission

It’s all nice and legal.

“Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right to automatically update, modify and/or reinstall the Barnes & Noble eReader Software. “

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/include/terms_of_use.asp

Because you gave them permission.

“By visiting any area on the Barnes & Noble.com Site, creating an account, [blah blah blah blah blah blah],a User is deemed to have accepted the Terms of Use.”

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/include/terms_of_use.asp

Does anyone care about ereaders and privacy?

Do a search for “ereaders” and “privacy”

Does anyone care?

You won’t find much

Everything you find refers to this:

The Electronic Frontier Foundationcompared manufacturers’ privacy policies

Overdrive and privacy

“When a visitor borrows an eBook or other digital item from a library or school catalog, OverDrive does not collect or maintain any personal information.”

http://overdriveblogs.com/library/2011/10/04/a-note-on-library-patron-and-student-privacy/

Overdrive and privacy

“In order to check out or place a hold on a title… we validate the status of a visitor’s library card (active or inactive), but do not obtain any information regarding their identity from this process.”

http://overdriveblogs.com/library/2011/10/04/a-note-on-library-patron-and-student-privacy/

Overdrive and privacy

“…third-parties may require visitors to register using an email address to access their software or services.”

http://overdriveblogs.com/library/2011/10/04/a-note-on-library-patron-and-student-privacy/

Overdrive and privacy

http://www.infodocket.com/2012/10/12/overdrive-releases-updated-media-console-app-also-releases-app-for-kindle-fire/

Added Google Analytics to Overdrive Media Console in Oct. 2012 Unclear what data is being gathered

Amazon gets transaction information when Kindle-format ebooks are checked out via Overdrive

Patrons move from one privacy policy to another

Patrons move from one privacy policy to another

“The notice…is an explicit acknowledgement that neither a library’s nor OverDrive’s privacy policy applies to library patrons accessing titles via the Kindle.”

Is this Big Brother?

“the information could be subpoenaed to check someone's alibi, or as evidence in a lawsuit.”

Is this Big Brother?

http://www.npr.org/2010/12/15/132058735/is-your-e-book-reading-up-on-you

This IS “Big Content”

This IS “Big Content”

This IS “Big Content”

What’s a reader to do?

Understand device manufacturer’s privacy policies

Understand the risk before buying

Wait to buy an ereader

What’s a library to do? Understand privacy policies.

Ask vendors about the technologies that are being implemented.

Communicate privacy concerns to vendors.

Turn down vendors that cannot satisfy privacy concerns.

Further reading E-Reader Privacy Chart, 2012 Editionhttps://

www.eff.org/pages/reader-privacy-chart-2012

A Note on Library Patron and Student Privacy by Lindsey Levinsohn

http://overdriveblogs.com/library/2011/10/04/a-note-on-library-patron-and-student-privacy/

Is Your E-Book Reading Up On You? by Martin Kaste

http://www.npr.org/2010/12/15/132058735/is-your-e-book-reading-up-on-you

Further readingOverDrive, Amazon Privacy Disclaimer Pops Up

in Wisconsin; in Virginia, Questions About Catalog Disparities by Michael Kelley

http://www.thedigitalshift.com/2011/12/ebooks/overdrive-amazon-privacy-disclaimer-pops-up-in-wisconsin-in-virginia-questions-about-catalog-disparities/

Privacy and Confidentiality by the American Library Association

http://www.ala.org/offices/oif/ifissues/privacyconfidentiality