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Two US Lawmakers Urge Immediate Action Curtailing Deceptive Data Practices in VPN Industry (theverge.com) 48

Posted by EditorDavid from the virtually-private dept.
Two members of the U.S. Congress urged America's Federal Trade Commission "to address deceptive practices in the Virtual Private Network industry," reports the Verge: With abortion becoming illegal or restricted in several states, more people are looking to conceal their messages and search history, as police can use this information to prosecute someone seeking the procedure. In their letter, Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Senator Ron Wyden ask the FTC to clamp down on VPN providers that engage in deceptive advertising, or make false assertions about the range of their service's privacy. The lawmakers cite research from Consumer Reports that indicate 75 percent of the most popular VPNs "misrepresented their products" or made misleading claims that could give "abortion-seekers a false sense of security." Eshoo and Wyden also call attention to reports accusing various VPN services of misusing user data, as well as "a lack of practical tools or independent research to audit VPN providers' security claims...."

"We urge the Federal Trade Commission to take immediate action... to curtail abusive and deceptive data practices in companies providing VPN services to protect internet users seeking abortions." Eshoo and Wyden also ask that the FTC develop a brochure that informs anyone seeking an abortion about online privacy, as well as outlines the risks and benefits of using a VPN.
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Two US Lawmakers Urge Immediate Action Curtailing Deceptive Data Practices in VPN Industry More

Two US Lawmakers Urge Immediate Action Curtailing Deceptive Data Practices in VPN Industry

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  • I had questions about VPN from non-tech family (Score:5, Informative)

    by sinij ( 911942 ) on Sunday July 17, 2022 @04:35PM (#62710344)
    Frequently I get a question - should I get VPN? I have to explain how online tracking works and what VPN does. I absolutely agree that VPN providers engage in false advertising - in most circumstances they simply cannot deliver on the promise of anonymizing your web browsing.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by gweihir ( 88907 )

      Indeed. What I do on such requests is to recommend the Tor browser or Tails _and_ carefully reading their documentation on how to stay anonymous. Unless you need high bandwidth, there is really no need to pay for VPN (but donate to Tor if you find it useful), and Tor routinely gets their security tested by China, Russia and all the other repressive states (which now include the US, I guess).

    • English is funny language. P stands for private, not qualified private, not semi private, not almost public, but we will use the word private anyways,Line up a dozen people in a peer jury, explain it to them then watch them vomit, and find misrepresentation of the highest order. Honesty would be 'Virtual Pretend Network' ,Use any word, but not private, TOR is more of a VSN or secret network, only the endpoints could be compromised if someone was gunning for you. Meanwhile in Switzerland, banking privacy use

  • So banning abortion is what it takes (Score:1)

    by Anonymous Coward

    So banning abortion is what it takes for the US to start taking privacy seriously.

    • Re:So banning abortion is what it takes (Score:5, Insightful)

      by Anonymous Coward on Sunday July 17, 2022 @04:52PM (#62710368)

      Yes. In a twist of irony, no longer recognizing the right to privacy about one's medical procedures now makes Congress recognize the need for real privacy in everything else.

  • Americans Will Get to Learn What Tor is Meant For (Score:5, Insightful)

    by theshowmecanuck ( 703852 ) on Sunday July 17, 2022 @04:55PM (#62710374) Journal

    Tor was built to allow people to communicate in countries where oppressive governments persecuted people for doing things considered a human right in civilized places. It's ironic that Americans will finally learn the real/original purpose of Tor was this, and not criminal activities, when they make decisions their citizens make on what to do with their own body, a criminal activity.

    • Tor was built to allow people to communicate in countries where oppressive governments persecuted people for doing things considered a human right in civilized places. It's ironic that Americans will finally learn the real/original purpose of Tor was this, and not criminal activities, when they make decisions their citizens make on what to do with their own body, a criminal activity.

      Also, while you are learning to use TOR and/or VPN for everything, also take the time to encrypt your cell phone.

      https://medium.com/@Kendra_Ser... [medium.com]

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by gweihir ( 88907 )

        Also, while you are learning to use TOR and/or VPN for everything, also take the time to encrypt your cell phone.

        I have to say I am conflicted about that. I think at this time you should not trust your phone with anything sensitive (may include location) because you cannot reliably secure it.

  • Not the real target (Score:2, Interesting)

    by codebase7 ( 9682010 )
    First: If someone is using a VPN to seek abortion services, my condolences. That's a ridiculous thing to need to use a VPN for.

    Second: A pregnant woman using a VPN for seeking an Abortion in the US is now taking just as much of a risk as a journalist using a VPN for whistle-blowing under a totalitarian regime. Or any other internet use deemed illegal by the government. The government will attempt to hunt you down if it finds out. The risk does not come from the use of a VPN, it comes from the tyrannical U
    • Nothing new about the USA persecuting whistle-blowers. The new thing is Gilead persecuting unwanted pregnancies. Blessed be the fruit.

  • Flawed premise (Score:2, Interesting)

    by grasshoppa ( 657393 )

    There is, thus far, 0 evidence that someone can be prosecuted for going to another state for a medical procedure which is legal in the receiving state. While I am under no such illusions that there won't be a republican out there, somewhere, who tries to make it so, the fact is that it will fail.

    So let's tone down the rhetoric a bit, it doesn't do anyone any good.

    • Re:Flawed premise (Score:5, Insightful)

      by Richard_at_work ( 517087 ) on Sunday July 17, 2022 @05:29PM (#62710422)

      Multiple states are trying to enact "private individuals can sue other private individuals who aid someone in having an abortion" legislation (Missouri for example), including suing the out of state doctor who performs said abortion.

      So yeah, it's not rhetoric, it's planning for a situation which many states are trying to actually create.

      The US no longer functions as a country, it's literally at political war with itself right now. It's not often you see a rich, developed country take a huge step backward in terms of individuals rights, but here we are watching it happen.

      • > So yeah, it's not rhetoric, it's planning for a situation

        Yes, some dummies are in fact trying something dumb.
        It's still dumb and will fail.

        > The US no longer functions as a country, it's literally at political war with itself right now.

        Very much so. A few years ago it was revealed that Russia was placing ads designed to foment discord in the US. Here's the interesting bit - they were running inflammatory ads on BOTH SIDES of contentious issues. Our enemies don't want to fight the US, they want us to

        • I think with the Texas civil liability abortion law is still in effect despite its very structure being antithetical to continued rule of law. It didn't fail so much as everyone forgot about it when RvW was overturned.

          • I'm not sure what your first sentence was supposed to say since it's - not a sentence. :)

            Anyway, despite claims to the contrary, the Texas statute makes no claim to apply outside of Texas. Lat I can see, it's also NOT "still in effect", though that can change from week to week.

      • Abortion isn't in the Constitution but that didn't stop the government from stepping over our other liberties during covid. This handmaid's tale hysteria is just mindless political rhetoric. Roe vs Wade needed to be overturned. It was overreach by the courts and everyone knew it. Even normal constitutional rights didn't have this level of protection. Giving it back to the states isn't the end of the nation. If you want it to be a true right, call your representative and cast your vote.

    • There is, thus far, 0 evidence that someone can be prosecuted for going to another state for a medical procedure which is legal in the receiving state. While I am under no such illusions that there won't be a republican out there, somewhere, who tries to make it so, the fact is that it will fail.

      Not sure why you assume it would fail, the American Taliban are in charge now. Nor should you discount the abject misery it will cause to many until/if it does.

      If anything I'd expect a increased push towards keeping your women barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen the way your dogshit God commands.

      • American Taliban? Each side has its pro and cons on this issue. If you can't understand that people have a RIGHT to not agree with your views in this democracy, maybe you should go live with the Taliban and see how your hate of religion works out for you. Lets us know. No, really. Give us daily updates until they suddenly stop.
        • Whataboutism does nothing for the rights of American women that are being removed, and pure democracy is two wolves and a sheep voting on dinner. Some things should not be subject to the whims of the majority (slavery, anyone?) and also a majority of Americans support abortion rights in any case so democracy seems to be not working.

          So Americans have the same abortion rights as Afghans. Good for you. I'm sure if you make a list of other countries around the world where abortion is illegal you will find

    • Re: (Score:2, Informative)

      by thegarbz ( 1787294 )

      the fact is that it will fail

      Do you want to base that "fact" on something concrete other thank us taking the word of you internet rando? There are many legal examples of an attempt to circumvent a law being made illegal.

      There are also currently bills in place in Missouri, and legal opinions on why the bill will be perfectly enforceable thanks to its use of civil law rather than criminal law, a deceptive tactic well known to republican shitcunts given its recent success on effectively criminalising abortion despite roe v wade still bein

  • Historic Moment in Privacy and Security (Score:5, Insightful)

    by crunchygranola ( 1954152 ) on Sunday July 17, 2022 @05:29PM (#62710424)

    The spate of bizarre laws seeking to control pregnant women - which include things like giving bounties to private citizens to "turn in" women seeking abortion services, and with anything from absolute bans to Catch-22 style provisions making any access for any medical reason whatsoever effectively impossible, highlights a fundamental fact about communication security for private citizens.

    You cannot give governments "the keys to the kingdom", back-doors or laws that given them access under all circumstances. We have seem law enforcement types whinging for years now how communication encryption, or lack of permanent repositories of all communications, is a terrible burden on police agencies that must be rectified, that no message should be beyond their reach because "criminals" (used to "terrorists" or "drug dealers"). But they never had that at any earlier time.

    People need to be protected from government observation, and guns won't do it.

  • ... ask the FTC to clamp down on VPN providers ...

    What about asking the budget of the FTC is increased, the employee count is increased, the cyber-forensics is increased?

    What about he admits when he asks for records about customers, corporations have to deliver.

  • Lawmakers urge immediate action on 3rd grade teachers not telling students about irrational numbers. My point being, that you have to educate people, you cannot legislate away ignorance!

    • Hereâ(TM)s the conclusion of the Consumer Reports study ranking their top 16 VPN services: Recommendations for Users Of the 16 VPNs we analyzed, Mullvad, PIA, IVPN, and Mozilla VPN (which runs on Mullvadâ(TM)s servers)â"in that orderâ"were among the highest ranked in both privacy and security. However, PIA has never had a public third-party security audit. Additionally, in our opinion, only IVPN, Mozilla VPN, and Mullvadâ"along with one other VPN (TunnelBear)â"accurately repre
  • You have to love how they turned this VPN issue into an abortion issue. It's not illegal to search for perfectly legal services in other states. Abortion isn't illegal federally. They literally can't use it unless you do it in the same state.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by tomhath ( 637240 )
      Exactly. This is just an attempt to whip up hysteria as we get closer to the midterm elections.

  • So, all of the technical expertise in the world doesn't help one bit if the second that a bad warrant comes in they go - oh here is the data on our customer you wanted... doesn't take much - and we have seen how courts issue bad warrants all the time

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