GPDR and the Global Marketplace Change

51IBBUk4xWL._SX382_BO1_204_203_200_6483aedd-4177-43d5-bac7-f3880dbd01eeToday, May 25, 2018 marks the implementation of the The EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).  After four years of preparation and debate the GDPR was finally approved by the EU Parliament on 14 April 2016. Enforcement date: 25 May 2018 – at which time those organizations in non-compliance may face heavy fines.

At the same, I happened to see The Anti-Corruption Handbook on our Rare Business Book Section. This book written by William P. Olsen in 2010 touches then on the provisions of the Foreign Corruption Practices Act (FCPA). The book gives an overview of reducing risk through technology and intellectual property theft. Chapter 11 is all about Document Retention. It discusses The value of stored date back then when  computers were becoming heavy on retaining information, backing them up and storing them. Hence, companies have then incorporated these are part of their intellectual properties.

Such intellectual properties which included personal information of website visitors and such may or may not be privileged information. With this new EU GDPR, The EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) replaces the Data Protection Directive 95/46/EC and was designed to harmonize data privacy laws across Europe, to protect and empower all EU citizens data privacy and to reshape the way organizations across the region approach data privacy. The key articles of the GDPR, as well as information on its business impact, can be found throughout the GDPR site.

A big change on this new law centers on “Consent”.
The conditions for consent have been strengthened, and companies will no longer be able to use long illegible terms and conditions full of legalese, as the request for consent must be given in an intelligible and easily accessible form, with the purpose for data processing attached to that consent. Consent must be clear and distinguishable from other matters and provided in an intelligible and easily accessible form, using clear and plain language. It must be as easy to withdraw consent as it is to give it.​

Right to Access
Part of the expanded rights of data subjects outlined by the GDPR is the right for data subjects to obtain from the data controller confirmation as to whether or not personal data concerning them is being processed, where and for what purpose. Further, the controller shall provide a copy of the personal data, free of charge, in an electronic format. This change is a dramatic shift to data transparency and empowerment of data subjects.

So as an example, any website that transacts business with the EU must also post a Cookie Policy access and consent for example beginning today, May 25, 2018.  With the onset of mobile technology today as well as shared information over the web, a lot of times personal information is accessible without our knowledge. With this new law, it is expected to create the formation of relevant regulations also in the United States and the rest of the global marketplace’s day to day transactions.

If your in this global marketplace doing business with the EU, you need to mae sure your in compliance as the penalties are very steep.  “Penalties
Under GDPR organizations in breach of GDPR can be fined up to 4% of annual global turnover or €20 Million (whichever is greater). This is the maximum fine that can be imposed for the most serious infringements e.g.not having sufficient customer consent to process data or violating the core of Privacy by Design concepts. There is a tiered approach to fines e.g. a company can be fined 2% for not having their records in order (article 28), not notifying the supervising authority and data subject about a breach or not conducting impact assessment. It is important to note that these rules apply to both controllers and processors — meaning ‘clouds’ will not be exempt from GDPR enforcement” quoted from EGDPR.org

Alex Esguerra

ADLE International

The eye-witness report of what transpired on January 6, 2021, “The January 6th Report”

NOTE:
The January 6th Report appendices on pages 693–716 can be accessed via the QR code below, along with the hyperlinks from the chapter endnotes and witness testimony transcripts.

Celadon Books and The New Yorker present the report by the Select Committee to Investigate the Jan 6 Attack on the United States Capitol.

As we all remember from our TV sets watching the mass protesters destructions of the Capitol, people and the capitol police getting into violent confrontations and being hurt. A coup attempt that was pattern from third world countries autocrats and military juntas dating back in the 80’s. Yet revived and somehow refurbished in the 21st century with the greatest nation on earth.

Celadon Books, in collaboration with The New Yorker, presents the committee’s final report, the definitive account of January 6th and what led up to it, based on more than a year of investigation by nine members of Congress and committee staff, with a preface by David Remnick, the editor of The New Yorker and a winner of the Pulitzer Prize, and an epilogue by Congressman Jamie Raskin of Maryland, a member of the committee.

The January 6th Report is an easy-to-read, well-organized chronicle of the seditious plan to sabotage the peaceful transfer of power after the U.S. 2020 election. The Big Lie of election fraud is made clear, as is the true motive of it all and concludes on how it all points to the 45th President Donald Trump as brains behind this conspiracy. The report also details many other transgressions by Trump, and various lawyers (e.g., Rudy Giuliani, John Eastman) supporting his plan to have the election declared fraudulent, in order to continue as President.

At the end, years and generations from now when history is written and remembered. January 6 will be remembered as a day that we almost lost being a democratic nation and became a dictatorship. Come 2024, to be continued on what happens again on this presidential elections.

Asians COVID-19 hate crimes bill in May

Coming in a few weeks at the House of Representatives full house vote. The bill still needs to pass the House to make it to President Joe Biden’s desk. It was going to be debated in the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, but its chairman, Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., postponed that discussion until the Senate voted, meaning the legislation is unlikely to go to a full House vote for at least a few weeks. 

After last month’s mass shooting in Georgia that killed eight people – six of whom were women of Asian descent – lawmakers in both chambers of Congress pushed to expedite the legislation and called for quick action. The bill just passed the US Senate with only One Republican Senator opposing it on a vote of 94-1. Rep. Grace Meng, D-N.Y., a co-author of the legislation, said at a rally with Schumer on Monday that “we are finally taking action in Congress” after a year of discrimination that has made many in the AAPI community afraid to use public transit or even leave their homes.

This bill which was sponsored by Senator Mazie Hirono, Democrat of Hawaii, would establish a position at the Justice Department to expedite the agency’s review of hate crimes and expand the channels to report them. It would also encourage the creation of state-run hate crime hotlines, provide grant money to law enforcement agencies that train their officers to identify hate crimes and introduce a series of public education campaigns around bias against people of Asian descent.

The bill would also issue guidance to local law enforcement officials on making hate crime reporting more efficient through online reporting, which would be available in multiple languages. Additionally, the bill would expand “public education campaigns aimed at raising awareness of hate crimes and reaching victims.”

Another key aspect of the bill is its plan to issue guidance that would be aimed at raising awareness of hate crimes during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the amended bill. Former President Donald Trump regularly called COVID-19 “the China virus” while crimes against Asian Americans surged since the dawn of the pandemic.

The bill is the most substantive congressional response to what has been an alarming rise in racist sentiment against Asian Americans, fueled in part by derogatory language about the virus’ origins in China. Donald Trump, while president, played into that narrative with derisive nicknames for the virus. The moment harks back to earlier eras of racism against Chinese Americans, Japanese Americans, and others of Asian heritage in the U.S. 

The continuous statements made by the Former President of the China virus as it relates to Asian Americans simply ignited the flames throughout the year of chaos.

According to Stop AAPI Hate, an organization that tracks Asian American discrimination, there were 103 incidents in Texas from March 19, 2020, to Feb. 28, 2021, which were among nearly 3,800 nationwide.

Even till this day with the onset of the recent gun violence and the covid-19 pandemic, the Asian hate crimes still prevails in different cities. Thankfully we now have some roving community ambassadors in the different neighborhoods. Yet we cannot wait until the US House of Representatives finally makes a full house vote of the bill in the coming weeks. Hopefully by June, the President signs this bill into law.

Electoral College, Election Meltdown on Democratic Principles

Richard L. Hasen (Author) writes on his book, As the 2020 presidential campaign begins to take shape, there is widespread distrust of the fairness and accuracy of American elections. In this timely and accessible book, Richard L. Hasen uses riveting stories illustrating four factors increasing the mistrust. Voter suppression has escalated as a Republican tool aimed to depress turnout of likely Democratic voters, fueling suspicion. Pockets of incompetence in election administration, often in large cities controlled by Democrats, have created an opening to claims of unfairness. Old‑fashioned and new‑fangled dirty tricks, including foreign and domestic misinformation campaigns via social media, threaten electoral integrity. Inflammatory rhetoric about “stolen” elections supercharges distrust among hardcore partisans.

Book Description

Outlining the necessary steps to create an election process that is trusted by all, Richard L. Hasen describes the four factors most threatening the integrity of the 2020 presidential contest: voter suppression; incompetence in election administration; misinformation campaigns; and inflammatory rhetoric undermining faith in the integrity of elections.

The US Constitution cites on ArtII.S1.C2.1.2.3 Discretion of Electors in Choosing a President.

Article II, Section 1, Clause 2:

Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector.

Quoting from Wikepedia.org.

The Electors shall meet in their respective states, and vote by ballot for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves; they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as President, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice-President, and they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted for as President, and all persons voted for as Vice-President and of the number of votes for each, which lists they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of the government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate;

The President of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the certificates and the votes shall then be counted;

The person having the greatest number of votes for President, shall be the President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed; and if no person have such majority, then from the persons having the highest numbers not exceeding three on the list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President. But in choosing the President, the votes shall be taken by states, the representation from each state having one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two-thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to a choice. And if the House of Representatives shall not choose a President whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, before the fourth day of March next following, then the Vice-President shall act as President, as in the case of the death or other constitutional disability of the President.[a]

The person having the greatest number of votes as Vice-President, shall be the Vice-President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed, and if no person have a majority, then from the two highest numbers on the list, the Senate shall choose the Vice-President; a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds of the whole number of Senators, and a majority of the whole number shall be necessary to a choice. But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States.[1]

American voters elect the President and Vice President of the United States indirectly, through an arrangement known as the electoral college system. The electoral college system comprises a complex mosaic of constitutional provisions, state and federal laws, and political party rules and practices.

Richard L. Hasen‘s book very much describes  the most threatening the integrity of the 2020 presidential contest: voter suppression; incompetence in election administration; misinformation campaigns; and inflammatory rhetoric undermining faith in the integrity of elections. With the misinformation campaigns started by the 45th President, and now the seditious fiasco combined with the same elected officials recently elected in the US Capitol, not only with this open to make new books written historically but this can be a demise of a political party.

Voters losing faith in the integrity of elections is one of the greatest risks any democracy faces. And in the long run when history is written the people that have connived will face the same voters again on their political future.

The congressional joint session to count electoral votes is generally a routine, ceremonious affair. But President Donald Trump’s repeated, baseless efforts to challenge Democrat Joe Biden’s presidential victory will bring more attention than usual to the Jan. 6 joint session of the Senate and the House.

The congressional count is the final step in reaffirming Biden’s presidential win, after the Electoral College officially elected him on Monday. The meeting is required by the U.S. Constitution, and includes several distinct steps.

The Constitution requires Congress to meet and count the electoral votes. If there is a tie, then the House decides the presidency, with each congressional delegation having one vote. That hasn’t happened since the 1800s, and Joe Biden’s electoral win over Trump was decisive, 306-232. https://apnews.com/

The last time such an objection was considered was 2005, when Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones of Ohio and Sen. Barbara Boxer of California, both Democrats, objected to Ohio’s electoral votes by claiming there were voting irregularities. Both chambers debated the objection and rejected it. It was only the second time such a vote had occurred.

The role of the vice president as presiding officer is often an awkward one, as it will be for Pence, who will be charged with announcing Biden’s victory — and his own defeat — once the electoral votes are counted. It will be especially tense for the former Indiana congressman as his boss, Trump, has refused to concede.

It can be long day of debates and discussions for the US Capitol on January 6 on this Constitution requirement as final step to reaffirm the 46th President and Vice-President win in the November 2020 elections.
In the end, the new President – Elect and Vice-President will be declared as winners, case closed.

“A hard-hitting critique of the American election process as timely as it is frightening. . . . Required reading for legislators and voters.”—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review -- Election Meltdown

Compromised, Right Now

Compromised

Author Peter Strzok’s book Compromised is truly accurate with this revealing recent acknowledgement from the Herd Immunity Prophet, Dr. Scott Atlas of the Covid-19 Task Force revelation. The White House coronavirus adviser said he didn’t know the outlet is a registered foreign agent.

The Foreign Agents Registration Act “requires certain agents of foreign principals who are engaged in political activities or other activities … to make periodic public disclosure of their relationship with the foreign principal, as well as activities, receipts and disbursements in support of those activities,” according to the Justice Department.

My take on this is that this interview was done on the people’s house again, “The White House”. Any one that enters and exits the white house has some level of security clearance and has to abide with security clearance protocols.

RT is owned by Russian state-owned news agency RIA Novosti and subsidiary RT America is registered with the US Justice Department as an agent of the Russian government. The Kremlin uses RT to spread English-language propaganda to American audiences, and was part of Russia’s election meddling in 2016, according to a 2017 report from the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence. https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/01/media/scott-atlas-russian-media/index.html

In lieu of the foregoing issues and concerns ongoing with the elections issues on Russia and now with this advisor on Covid-19, the House Committee on Oversight and Reform should work with the National Security Apparatus to investigate what prompted this incident after all.

Short and Simple.

A Dictator’s Last Straw in Review

Lets review the definition of a “Dictator”, A dictator is a political leader who possesses absolute power. A dictatorship is a state ruled by one dictator or by a small clique. The word originated as the title of a magistrate in the Roman Republic appointed by the Senate to rule the republic in times of emergency. Wikipedia

For intents and purposes of authoritarian regimes, their Presidents and Prime Ministers overthrows their respective Senates and congress by way of arresting them. Unlike in the United States, there are 3 co-equal branches of government hence is why it is called a democratic United States of America.

Some of the most well-known dictators in history include Fidel Castro, Saddam Hussein, Kim Jong-il and Adolf Hitler. One thing all these dictators have in common is that they were able to maintain political power by using violence and propaganda. Dictators often manufacture an external threat in order to gain control over the state and appear as the people’s only salvation. For example, Hitler blamed the Jews for Germany’s problems and justified his actions during the Holocaust by using propaganda aimed at vilifying the Jews. Dictators also use their leadership skills to persuade the masses to believe their agendas. They use censorship to control the flow of information so as to maintain power. Dictators who remain in power usually do so until they are killed or removed through violent opposition.

Dictators use quite a bit of psychological sway to attract the attention of voters. They offer messages of hope and strength during hard times, and emerge confident and hopeful. Some may even create instances mail in voting fraud that does not exist so it is something for us to really be able to be vigilant to see such signs

In 1986, right before the The Philippines EDSA Revolution, Ferdinand Marcos and his family stood in the balcony of the Malacanang Palace waiving and declaring victory a rig and suppress election looking below his supporters with flags and chants. Two days after Filipinos storm the palace for a revolution while the first family fled into exile into Honolulu, Hawaii, Such was that glorious historically scene as the last stand holding to power reminisce of Imelda’s 5,000 pairs of shoe’s and the balcony to Evita Peron’s “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” days.

This is one one the most consequential times that has come fort in the history in the United States of America. As a Asian disabled minority of color, son of a United Stated World War II US Army World II Veteran, grand son of a World War I Veteran we need to vote America.

Alex Esguerra.

Racism and Equality Continued

San Francisco’s Market street tonight around 9 pm towards 10th St is chilly, quiet and calm. Walking by to stop by an ATM machine 2 blocks out I passed by about 6 people signifying it’s a quiet night. As I tried to grasp air on my face mask trying to scratch my nose over it, 3 of the 6 people I passed by were millennial white guys who look very fit and healthy. The only observation I notice was these men did not have even a sign that they had a face mask. The city for a while and the state a day ago has mandated facial coverings to be worn outside. I had to mentioned this as this wasn’t the first time in maybe the last week I’ve seen such guys who do not wear mask. Compared to Caucasian women I haven’t seen a single women who walked by me that did not have a face mask. They were all compliant as well as from Asians, Latino’s and Europeans that are seen walking on the same street. Even the homeless African american guys had some kind of face coverings from a bandanna, surgical mask or even a torn t-shirt. I started with this thought not to make a fuzz but to connect my train of thought today. Watching CNN news talking about the President’s executive order on protecting monuments, being on Mount Rushmore tomorrow to celebrate July 4 while I tried my brief pauses reading, https://affordablebookdeals.com/products/white-fragility-why-its-so-hard-for-white-people-to-talk-about-racism

The book talks a lot about distinctions caused by racism itself. Robin Di Angelo talks about prejudices between whites and people of color. I completely agree that people of color have prejudices even tendencies or racism and also discriminating. But it is fact that since people of color are minorities in the positions of power and authority it lacks the social capacity and influence. A good example is culture and economics. My parents came from opposite equations of society, My father’s family came from a low income working class while my mother’s family and descendants were affluent and privilege from Spain. My parents brought me up well in a middle class setting. However, while I was growing up I was able to compare both sides of the families. In developing countries like the Philippines the societal division is a big gap between the rich and poor. The so called political dynasties prevail for centuries coupled with systemic corruption for one. As many would say, the ideology will never changed. The point I’m trying to make is the rich and politicians are forever in power and in positions of authority which is why I said the ideology, the culture and even the economics will never changed.

It is true that a lot of white people may not even know that at times they can be prejudicial and the like. As a person of color to this day I still get the question of “Where Am I From”. I don’t get as offended nowadays but the fact is that 97% of the time it will be a Caucasian guy that would ask me the question. There are times it would even be right when he starts a question for a job interview. There are many facets of correlation on this question alone. An example would be if your an immigrant of color who considers America as home for decades and you get ask this question, some would even feel conscious thinking it must be that they have an accent hence the question was asked during a job interview. What I’m trying to say is a simple question can insinuate a lot of thinking for a person of color. Likewise, will this question be a usual common question asked if the person being interviewed was white? I don’t believe so hence. What I’ve done after sometime when this question arises is I would respond, “Why do ask? there was a time I even continued, “Why is it important?…This is what the author meant that we people of color most of the time does not give feedback and just hide our feelings even if were offended of the action like with this question.

Having had a black president was a start but 8 years is not enough. What needs to happen is that in both the public and private sectors to the non-profits to sports, music and entertainment industries people of color needs to be assign or elected in positions of authority and policy making. White dominance thinking is rooted as being majority in society. This is the fact to start the long road to equality and race.

The Effective Execution of Making the Right Decisions Today

51MQqw2ffHL._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_ The Effective Executive  I reference this book amidst starting this blog. As of this writing, Governor Gavin Newsom of California has now place a shelter in place order for the entire state of California. Gavin whom I personally remember back then as the first of Mayor of San Francisco who issued the first licenses in San Francisco for gay marriages. He was the first public official that took this drastic move and also the first hated one then. Decades after now recently elected as Governor of California, the prime example as exampled in this book, The Effective Executive. Added to this a week ago when San Francisco’s Mayor London Breed decisive action to enact this Shelter in place order first in the city of San Francisco.

Here lies examples of taking the bold steps, listening to the experts, standing at the models and numbers and artificial intelligence data scenarios.  Reading the online article from The Atlantic on March 3, 2020, The Coronavirus Is No 1918 Pandemic  

It’s been ages I left and told myself to stay away from being involved in public services but at times I can’t help it. I’m amaze how the differences between the global response to the Great Flu Pandemic and today’s COVID-19 outbreak could not be more striking. This article I quote, ” That year, as pandemic influenza ravaged communities as diverse as California and Kolkata, no one knew what was killing them. Theories abounded. Some suggested it was a misalignment of the planets. (That’s what gave us the name influenza, from the Italian word for “influence.”) Others believed the cause was tainted Russian oats, or volcanic eruptions. Microbiologists focused on a bacterium they had discovered decades earlier in the lungs of influenza victims, and called it Bacillus influenza. But they had merely recognized a bacterium that invades lungs already weakened from influenza. Not until 1933 did two British scientists demonstrate that the cause must be a new class of disease, which today we call viruses. Finally, in 1940, the newly invented electron microscope took a picture of the influenza virus, and for the first time in history we could not only name, but also see, the culprit”.

This is why I started commending the efforts of the Governor and Mayor based on this history notwithstanding waiting for federal government’s leadership.  We also have another class of drugs available today: antivirals, which directly target the virus responsible for a disease. However coronavirus still has no vaccine or anti-viral as of today with challenges on testing and protective gears. The FDA announced today drugs on clinical trials such as those use for Malaria but then again time is the essence and this pandemic infection and death toll numbers go up daily and hours.

Today we understand the importance of infection control and the need to isolate patients to prevent cross contamination. This is why such drastic measures on social distancing and shelter in place has been pioneered in the bay area and now California. In this onset of no anti-viral and vaccine, all you can do is what everyone uses” flattened the curve”. In common lay men term mainly to stop the spread and infection by isolating and prevent the influx of patients to hospitals resulting to no beds to treat patients.

As I write this blog at this moment and time all we can do better as we wait for the epidemic to abate, social distancing, hand-washing, covering our mouths when we cough, and staying home when we are sick are all important, low-tech measures that we can take to reduce the chances of spreading the infection—and the fear that increases its damage.

Finally, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. A cure, vaccine or anti-viral will come and most likely sooner due to our great scientist and technological advancement. At times, spirituality and hope has to be between us as we come together as a nation.

God Bless.

 

The Last Straw in Avoiding Indictments

60 hours from now the mid term elections of 2018 concludes in the United States.

Not only this is the most expensive mid terms in decades, it has surpassed the initial number of voters that had already voted compared to recent years. it’s predominant that independents turn Democrat’s and the youth ages 18 to 21 had the most numbers ever seen for the first time. In past years both these categories would simply not vote.

As we recall history no incumbent President had enormously campaigned as much as President Trump. This is because no incumbent’s party in the past had won The majority in Congress. This non traditional president as reported will try to overturn history as he tirelessly campaigned till the day of the elections.

By that time, it could be 70% of the votes has been cast. But is it really about changing history or it’s a strategy in avoiding what lies ahead in terms of investigations in the 2016 Presidential elections. What lies beneath the conclusion of the Special Counsel investigations awaits the fate of this President.

It’s not a question anymore that Democrats will will the House of Representatives. Whether they win or not the Senate, the turn to completely stop the non democratic acts of this President is inevitable. If they do win the Senate, the days of this future lame duck President is doomed.

This will be the time that how much great a businessman President is with no traditional political experience, gets to realized the actual realities of politics.

There are such fates in politics and the baggage that it carries that if you don’t have the experience to swim on it, you can’t simply say, “I will deal with it”. I’m sorry it will take the turn and deal with you instead.

As we await the conclusion of this mid term elections, let us reflect as a country of what is really needed in our daily lives. Is it Immigration or the Economy or is it having a paycheck increase on our hourly wage and really getting affordable healthcare as the paycheck deductions on medical, vision and dental is already 30% of that check which we could have used to buy food on our table.Fear Trump in the White House

Fear Trump in the White House

Innovation and Tech Diplomacy

While listening through some of the speeches on the Rise of Techplomacy, it reminded me of the initial policy deliberations in 1996 while forming the then APEC Young Entrepreneurs Assn in line during the APEC ministerial meetings where we represented the Youth and Young Entrepreneurs in the Business Advisory Council.

At that time we talked about Innovation Centers for Young Entrepreneurs venturing then with the internet and it’s future. We wanted to develop a mechanism of sharing information and research which will benefit future business leaders.

Two decades after at the onset of the Millennium Age driven tech and business leaders, I’m amazed that the innovative Swiss and Expats in the Bay Area talks about Techplomacy. On the speakers dialogues explained the existence of the foreign consulates initiatives outside the typical passports and the like towards gearing focus on Techplomacy new research and innovations.

With our own branded websites at ADLE International for example were making sure we are in compliance with the EU Cookie policy. We have also seen the social media traffic fluctuations we got right after the recent Cambridge Analytica case scrutinized affecting online interactions.

I guess part of the Techplomacy involves also the discussions on Privacy as it affects diplomacy especially as this specific case involved a national election. Personally. I’m happy that this era has trended as I thought our initial discussions then in 1996 died through these years. However in today’s mobile news I believe I’m sort of still in touch if ever there’s something relative to the topic. After all these are the topics I’ve advocate through my young entrepreneur years then.

Even back then although we give a general consent when we give our personal data to then pledging internet companies, before its shared to a 3rd party for whatever purpose there should be another disclosure or consent before implementation. So for our websites for example like Affordable Book Deals the best is not to share any information outside of us and neither do we retain any information. Our merchant processors have to go through their extensive PCI compliance and their secured gateways channel any credit card information so it’s no where recorded in our websites.

Kudos to the efforts of this cause on Techplomacy as we watch the next steps in this evolution.