Tech 'Digital Rights' Improving, But Not Enough, New America Reports

Seventeen of 22 internet, mobile and telecom companies tracked by a New America report improved scores on at least one issue like privacy, security and corporate governance, yet "companies still fall short," it said Wednesday. Top-rated, in order of highest to lower, were Google, Verizon's Oath, Microsoft, Facebook, Twitter and Vodafone, with percentage scores in the 50's or low 60s. AT&T had a "digital rights" score of 49 percent, Apple 44 percent and Samsung 28. The lowest rated was Ooredoo, a Qatar mobile and broadband firm. Apple and Twitter improved the most and third-most from the 2017 ranking (see 1703210015). Much of Apple's "improvement was due to improved transparency reporting, plus new direct disclosure to users on its own website of information that it had previously only disclosed to experts and other third parties," an executive summary said. Overall, another summary of the 143-page report said, "Companies fail to disclose enough about what user information is collected and shared, with whom, and under what circumstances. ... Companies provide insufficient evidence of measures to protect users’ information." The Internet Association didn't comment, nor did Apple, AT&T, Ooredoo or Samsung.