AXEL Network Products:

AXEL GO - share and store files securely.

LetMeSee - photo sharing app.

  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

AXEL.org

  • Network
  • Technology
  • Applications
  • Blog
  • About
    • Team
    • Press
    • Careers
    • Patents
  • Contact Us
  • Login
    • AXEL Go
    • AXEL Cloud

government

September 10, 2021

The State of Privacy Laws in the United States

In recent decades, privacy has become one of the most important issues on the minds of lawmakers. With the rise of digital devices that can track our every move, the desire for privacy is growing in an increasingly public society. And while many Americans have a general desire for “privacy,” the amount you receive is heavily dependent on where you live. While there are some federal privacy laws, most consumer privacy comes from state-level bills. And while some states have thorough, fair privacy laws on the books, the vast majority simply do not.

America’s focus on state-led privacy laws is in contrast to Europe’s lawmaking; the European Union’s main privacy law is the General Data Protection Regulation. Because of this, privacy in the E.U. is governed by this one law, and 92% of companies believe they can comply with every aspect of the law [1]. Because Europe has one overarching privacy law, it is much simpler to understand your privacy rights, whether as an individual or a business. Unfortunately, in the United States though, it is quite the opposite. Privacy laws in the country are currently a mishmash of federal and state laws that confuse and harm individuals simply trying to protect themselves.

A Barrage of State Bills

Simply put, U.S. privacy laws are so unorganized because there are so many of them. Even at the federal level, there isn’t an all-encompassing privacy law, but a collection of specialized laws. For example, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) protects medical privacy, and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects students, educators, and schools. When it comes to privacy rights, at least at the federal level, it really depends on your specific situation. Although laws such as HIPAA and FERPA do an adequate job of protecting privacy, they are far too specific to offer comprehensive privacy rights that extend to every facet of life.

While federal-level laws are specific to industries, some state-level laws provide all-encompassing privacy protections. Unfortunately, those state laws are few and far between. Only California, Colorado and Virginia have comprehensive data privacy laws [2]. These laws give consumers notice and choice regarding their data. For example, under these laws, a company must tell consumers if it is selling their data, and must allow consumers to access, move, or entirely delete that data. However, while these laws are certainly a good starting point for true consumer privacy, even these three bills are quite limited in effect.

Why are Privacy Protections so Poor?

While those three states have “all-encompassing” privacy laws, they still have glaring holes in protection. In every state except California, privacy laws specifically exclude a “private right of action,” or the ability to sue a business for privacy violations as an individual. Additionally, Virginia’s law has no civil rights protections and allows businesses to continue the status quo of collecting and selling consumer data [2]. It’s no wonder that Amazon lobbyists wrote the first draft of Virginia’s privacy bill [3].

For other states, the situation is even grimmer. States like Florida, Georgia, and others don’t allow consumers to opt out of data sharing. These two states also don’t even require government entities to ever dispose of your data [4]. Ultimately, most states have few genuine protections for consumers. For the most part, businesses can do whatever they please once they have your data. 

And due to strong lobbying by tech companies, it will likely remain this way in many states [2]. Big Tech companies pay millions each year to lobby lawmakers to write and support laws favorable to them. For example, Facebook spent nearly USD $20 million in lobbying in 2020, while Amazon spent USD $18 million [5]. And while this lobbying doesn’t come cheap, it’s a lot cheaper than allowing consumers to opt out of data sales. Ultimately, the reason why so many states don’t offer comprehensive privacy laws is because Big Tech doesn’t want them. Put simply, Big Tech is willing to pay big money to keep strong privacy laws off the books. 

So, What Can We Do?

In most states, it’s now up to individual businesses and firms to protect consumer data. And while Big Tech is unlikely to change any time soon, other businesses can still fight for consumer privacy. Taking simple steps like encrypting documents and backing up your data offline can substantially better protect your clients’ data. After all, Americans want privacy. By taking steps to protect customers and their data, businesses and firms can offer what Big Tech can’t: True privacy protections for their customers.

At an individual level, supporting businesses and firms that prioritize privacy is the best way to show support for strong privacy laws. Additionally, simply supporting federal or state laws that give genuine privacy rights to consumers is another great way to stand up for privacy rights. Since Big Tech wants to continue the status quo of endless data collection and sales, it’s up to individuals to support businesses and firms that offer what Big Tech can’t.

AXEL Supports Your Privacy

At AXEL, we believe privacy is a right. And unlike the Big Tech companies, we’ll never sell your data to third parties, ensuring your data is only yours. Our file-sharing and storage application, AXEL Go, uses blockchain technology and AES 256-bit encryption to provide the most secure file-sharing system in the industry. Whether for business or personal use, AXEL Go helps protect your (and your clients’) most important files.

Sign up here to receive a free 14-day trial of AXEL Go Premium. After the trial period, you can choose to continue your Premium account for just $9.99/month or use our Basic service free of charge. After all, our business is protecting your data, not collecting it. Together, we can help prioritize privacy rights across the country.

[1] Gooch, Peter. “A New Era for Privacy GDPR Six Months on.” Deloitte. 2018. https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/uk/Documents/risk/deloitte-uk-risk-gdpr-six-months-on.pdf.

[2] Klosowski, Thorin. “The State of Consumer Data Privacy Laws in the US (And Why It Matters).” The New York Times. September 06, 2021. https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/state-of-privacy-laws-in-us/.

[3] Birnbaum, Emily. “From Washington to Florida, Here Are Big Tech’s Biggest Threats from States.” Protocol. February 19, 2021. https://www.protocol.com/policy/virginia-maryland-washington-big-tech.

[4] McNabb, Joanne, and Paul Bischoff. “Internet Privacy Laws by US State: Does Yours Protect Online Privacy?” Comparitech. July 29, 2021.  https://www.comparitech.com/blog/vpn-privacy/which-us-states-best-protect-online-privacy/.

[5] Tracy, Ryan, Chad Day, and Anthony DeBarros. “Facebook and Amazon Boosted Lobbying Spending in 2020.” The Wall Street Journal. January 24, 2021. https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-and-amazon-boosted-lobbying-spending-in-2020-11611500400.

Filed Under: Legal, Privacy Tagged With: big tech, government, legislation, Privacy, privacy law

August 27, 2021

Bitcoin has Entered the Mainstream. Now What?

For centuries, individual governments have created, distributed, and regulated their own physical currencies. Even with the rise of checks, debit cards, and credit cards, nationalized currency is still the norm for every country on Earth. Of course, the physical currency itself isn’t valuable. After all, a $100 bill isn’t made with $100 worth of materials; the bill is valuable because the government says it’s worth $100. So if the material itself doesn’t provide the value, what if something other than physical currency could provide value too?

Even something as integrated as physical currency was still susceptible to new, digital ideas. In 2009, bitcoin was launched. While it languished in relative obscurity for its first few years, it entered the public consciousness after one high-profile case: the Silk Road marketplace. The revelation of a thriving, online black market that survived on anonymous, digital payments was frightening to many. However, it also showed what the future of currency could be. A fully digital, borderless currency has the potential to change the entire global economy. And while this economic revolution is a long way away, bitcoin continues to gain momentum, proving itself to be more than just a fad. And while bitcoin may never overtake national currencies, its ever-growing acceptance shows that it isn’t going away any time soon.

From Obscurity to Omnipresence

When bitcoin was first launched, it was almost completely unknown. After all, cryptocurrencies weren’t really a thing in 2009. And even until 2016, an estimated 46% of all bitcoin transactions were used for illegal goods and services [1]. Put simply, bitcoin was much more popular among the dark corners of the Internet than the general population in the coin’s early days. However, in 2017, bitcoin entered the mainstream. That year, the value of bitcoin increased 1,824%, from under USD $1,000 to a then-high of USD $19,783 [2]. And while bitcoin’s value remained volatile after this jump, it proved that bitcoin was more than a currency for illegal goods; it was a currency with the potential to revolutionize business and government.

In 2021, it is beginning to realize that potential. While widespread use and acceptance of bitcoin is still hypothetical, major corporations are beginning to embrace the revolutionary cryptocurrency. Businesses that accept bitcoin payments include AT&T, Overstock and PayPal [3]. And while traditional cash and credit cards still make up the vast majority of purchases at these businesses, bitcoin’s increased acceptance highlights its continued momentum in 2021.

In addition to corporations’ acceptance, some national governments are encouraging the use of bitcoin as well. In June 2021, El Salvador passed a law making bitcoin a legal currency in the country [4]. While it does not go into effect until September 7, this radical experiment could be the turning point for bitcoin. If successful, El Salvador could show how bitcoin can be used as an effective, convenient and stable currency. Its potential success in El Salvador could lead to more widespread adoption as legal tender in various countries, making the coin even more valuable, and more stable. However, if unsuccessful, it could highlight bitcoin’s volatility, decreasing its value and slowing its momentum.

Government Regulations

While most countries don’t accept bitcoin as a currency, that doesn’t mean that it is free from government oversight. Although bitcoin was created as a decentralized, international currency, it is still subject to national laws. And with its growing popularity comes growing regulation. For example, China has banned banks and other financial institutions from providing services regarding cryptocurrency. This means bitcoin trading is outlawed in China, although individuals are still allowed to hold cryptocurrencies [5]. China’s government blames bitcoin’s high volatility for the ban, claiming that cryptocurrency trading could put individuals and the entire nation’s economy at risk.

In the United States, however, bitcoin trading is legal and faces relatively few regulations. Americans are free to buy and sell cryptocurrencies with little government interference. However, it may not be this simple for long. Lawmakers are attempting to increase regulations on bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, stating that they pose a tax evasion risk [6]. Therefore, Congress is debating the addition of more tax-reporting requirements for cryptocurrencies [7]. So while cryptocurrency faces few regulations in the United States today, it will likely become regulated similarly to stocks and gold in the future.

Finally, bitcoin has faced pressure from environmental activists as well. The process of bitcoin “mining” is energy-intensive, with high-powered computers constantly churning to solve complex algorithms. Due to this mining, the cryptocurrency itself has a larger carbon footprint than American Airlines [8]. Because of this massive environmental impact, bitcoin may not be a sustainable currency, as it will remain minable until 2140 [9].

The Future of Bitcoin

In a way, bitcoin is similar to a promising startup: It burst into the mainstream in 2017 and has shown incredible potential. However, it’s going up against a powerful competitor: Physical currency. Therefore, bitcoin has to prove its worth in order to survive. Can it maintain stability and keep consumer trust? Can it offer benefits that physical currency can’t? Right now, we simply don’t know. However, its increased acceptance by businesses and governments can certainly lead to trust, stability and convenience. Therefore, its potential is still sky-high.

Ultimately, potential is not the same as success though. An estimated 17% of Americans now own a share of bitcoin [10]. But many of those owners see bitcoin as an investment, rather than a competing currency. And for those who don’t own bitcoin, it is still seen as unstable, confusing and complex. Put simply, bitcoin is not more convenient than physical currency in 2021, and is significantly more volatile. It doesn’t have the widespread use and trust that it requires to be a competing currency. So while bitcoin has certainly gained momentum and trust in recent years, it still has a long way to go before proving itself to be a viable, everyday currency.

[1] Foley, Sean, and Jonathan R. Karlsen. “Sex, Drugs, and Bitcoin: How Much Illegal Activity Is Financed Through Cryptocurrencies?” OUP Academic. April 04, 2019. https://academic.oup.com/rfs/article/32/5/1798/5427781.

[2] Morris, David Z. “Bitcoin Hits a New Record High, But Stops Short of $20,000.” Fortune. December 17, 2017. 

https://fortune.com/2017/12/17/bitcoin-record-high-short-of-20000/.

[3] Lisa, Andrew. “10 Major Companies That Accept Bitcoin.” Yahoo! Finance. August 25, 2021. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/10-major-companies-accept-bitcoin-190340692.html.

[4] “Bitcoin to Become Legal Tender in El Salvador on Sept 7.” Reuters. June 25, 2021. https://www.reuters.com/technology/bitcoin-become-legal-tender-el-salvador-sept-7-2021-06-25/

[5] “China Bans Financial, Payment Institutions from Cryptocurrency Business.” Reuters. May 18, 2021. https://www.reuters.com/technology/chinese-financial-payment-bodies-barred-cryptocurrency-business-2021-05-18/.

[6] Franck, Thomas. “U.S. Treasury Calls for Stricter Cryptocurrency Compliance with IRS, Says They Pose Tax Evasion Risk.” CNBC. May 20, 2021. https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/20/us-treasury-calls-for-stricter-cryptocurrency-compliance-with-irs.html.

[7] Kelly, Makena. “Controversial Crypto Rules Remain in Infrastructure Bill after House Vote.” The Verge. August 25, 2021. https://www.theverge.com/2021/8/25/22641375/cryptocurrency-infrastructure-irs-tax-developers-miners-bitcoin.

[8] Mellor, Sophie. “Elon Musk Is Right: Bitcoin Mining Is Bad for the Planet.” Fortune. May 13, 2021. 

https://fortune.com/2021/05/13/musk-bitcoin-mining-bad-planet-heres-how-bad/.

[9] Hayes, Adam. “What Happens to Bitcoin After All 21 Million Are Mined?” Investopedia. August 23, 2021. https://www.investopedia.com/tech/what-happens-bitcoin-after-21-million-mined/.

[10] “About 46 Million Americans Now Own Bitcoin.” Nasdaq. May 14, 2021.https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/about-46-million-americans-now-own-bitcoin-2021-05-14.

Filed Under: Business, crypto Tagged With: bitcoin, business, cryptocurrency, government, Privacy

August 13, 2021

What the New Infrastructure Bill Means for Tech

On Tuesday, the United States Senate passed a USD $1 trillion infrastructure bill, sending it to the House of Representatives for further debate. While the details and amount of money are subject to change, it is likely that some kind of bill to expand and rebuild the country’s infrastructure will be passed and signed in the coming months. And while most of the bill’s funding will focus on fixing America’s roads, bridges, and other transportation infrastructure, tech is far from being ignored.

Infrastructure spending has long been a goal of many Presidential administrations. And while many bills fall victim to partisan battles, the general idea of infrastructure spending enjoys bipartisan support. Of course, certain tenets of the infrastructure bill will still face fierce debate, particularly the portions that pertain to technology. However, because there is bipartisan agreement that America’s infrastructure needs updates, a bill is likely to pass. And while the numbers may change, the country is still set to spend billions to update, modernize, and regulate technology infrastructure.

Crypto Tax Changes

One of the most important (and controversial) tenets of the bill is creating tax-reporting mandates for cryptocurrency brokers. In practice, this would make reporting cryptocurrency income similar to traditional stock income, where brokers already report their clients’ sales to the IRS. Congressional accountants estimate that this update to crypto tax laws would raise USD $28 billion over ten years [1]. And while this money doesn’t cover the entire cost of the bill, it would pay for the USD $25 billion to repair America’s structurally deficient bridges.

The reason for its controversy is cryptocurrency’s unique nature. Opponents say that the language of the bill regarding cryptocurrency is too broad, leading to software developers and crypto miners facing tax requirements. Additionally, some fully oppose taxes on cryptocurrencies, due to their purposefully decentralized nature. However, supporters of this tax claim that cryptocurrencies are like any other property, and therefore should be subject to capital-gains taxes. Supporters want cryptocurrency gains to be taxed the same as other properties, such as gold and stocks. So while cryptocurrency will still be largely decentralized and international, it will likely become subject to national taxes in the future.

Broadband Access

Another large portion of the infrastructure bill is dedicated to broadband affordability. While those living in urban or suburban communities typically have easy access to the Internet, those living in rural communities aren’t afforded that same accessibility. Many rural areas don’t have consistent access to the Internet, and if they do, the costs can be immense. To combat this Internet inequality, the infrastructure bill offers billions in grants to low-income households. The new program offers monthly USD $30 subsidies toward purchasing high-speed Internet [2]. 

As millions of Americans have spent the past year working and studying from home, reliable Internet access has become a necessity, especially for low-income college students. The new bill also provides USD $1 billion for colleges and universities to provide additional direct grants to students in need. Overall, expanding broadband access will help ensure more Americans have affordable access to the Internet. After all, access to online services has proven itself to almost be a necessity in nearly every facet of life.

Electric Vehicle Expansion

One of the largest physical infrastructure plans included in the bill is a USD $7.5 billion investment in electric vehicle (EV) charging stations [3]. While EVs have been available to Americans for years, adoption has been slow, partially due to the lack of EV chargers available across the country. This investment hopes to encourage Americans to switch to more environmentally-friendly EVs, as opposed to traditional gasoline-powered cars. In addition to EV charging stations, the bill also sets aside USD $7.5 billion to help cities adopt zero-emission public transportation vehicles. 

Cybersecurity Updates

The bill also offers USD $1.9 billion for cybersecurity updates. USD $1 billion of that fund is slated to be given as grants to state and local governments [4]. Following increased numbers of cyberattacks and ransomware incidents, this money will be useful for updating aging technology. State and local governments often rely on older tech, making it easier for cybercriminals to stage a successful attack.

In addition, these grants will greatly help local governments, who are particularly susceptible to ransomware attacks [5]. Local governments often oversee critical infrastructure, such as water, sewage, schools, and airports. Because all of these are necessities for the community, cybercriminals often target them, knowing that local governments will be desperate enough to pay the ransom. Thankfully, the infrastructure bill’s investment in modernizing cybersecurity for local governments can help protect these communities from the rising threat of cybercrime.

Why Tech is Infrastructure

While the infrastructure bill receives broad support from Americans, some have objected to the bill’s spending outside of traditional infrastructure. After all, “infrastructure” has always meant roads and bridges, rather than tech. But because technology is becoming so present in our lives, it’s important to ensure our tech consistently works. Think about it: If your employer’s Internet went out on a workday, it would be more than an inconvenience. It would likely cause nearly everyone’s work to pause. Simply put, we are incredibly reliant on technology, so it makes sense to ensure that technology works properly and consistently.

When people hear the word “infrastructure,” many think of physical infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, pipes and buildings. Naturally, most of the infrastructure bill is slated to fund these physical infrastructure projects. However, with the Internet truly becoming a necessity in recent years, technology needs to be included in infrastructure as well. To a certain extent, it’s just as important as water or sewage. When our country’s technology works as intended, it can lead to incredible efficiency and convenience. And even in a pandemic, technology allowed us to continue to get work done, ensuring that businesses and governments could continue to serve their communities. But when technology doesn’t work, it can lead to chaos and frustration. Just a loss of Internet can cause entire businesses to temporarily shut down. So because technology and the Internet are so vital to individuals, businesses, and governments, it simply makes sense to consider technology as infrastructure. After all, the Internet isn’t just a luxury anymore; it’s a vital necessity for all.

[1] Gordon, Marcy. “EXPLAINER: How Cryptocurrency Fits into Infrastructure Bill.” AP NEWS. August 10, 2021. https://apnews.com/article/technology-joe-biden-business-bills-cryptocurrency-92628a41124230448f65fdeb89ffad7d.

[2] Gravely, Alexis. “Infrastructure Bill Expands Broadband Affordability for Students.” Infrastructure Bill Expands Broadband Affordability for Students. August 10, 2021. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2021/08/10/infrastructure-bill-expands-broadband-affordability-students.

[3] Szymkowski, Sean. “Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill Passes US Senate with Billions for EV Charging Network.” Roadshow. August 10, 2021. https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/biden-bipartisan-infrastructure-bill-ev-charging-network-senate/.

[4] Miller, Maggie. “Senate Includes over $1.9 Billion for Cybersecurity in Infrastructure Bill.” TheHill. August 10, 2021. https://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/567204-over-1-billion-in-cybersecurity-funds-included-in-senate-passed.

[5] Garcia, Michael. “The Underbelly of Ransomware Attacks: Local Governments.” Council on Foreign Relations. May 10, 2021. https://www.cfr.org/blog/underbelly-ransomware-attacks-local-governments.

Filed Under: Business, Culture Tagged With: cryptocurrency, cybersecurity, government, infrastructure, technology

October 11, 2017

How The Government Just Killed Your Online Privacy

You aren’t valuable. Not to online companies. From a financial point of view, you just don’t hold much value to them. The money they make from having you as a user is relatively inconsequential.

It’s shocking to hear this, but it’s a fact of how online businesses operate. And once you understand how they operate you understand your true value in this world.

You see, you as an individual are not valuable…but…the data about you is valuable.

That’s what online companies are after. Whether it’s Facebook, Google, Twitter, or the Internet Service Providers (ISP), they all want data about you.

The more data the better.

They don’t care if your name is Max Jones. They care about your hobbies and interests. They care if you have a wife and kids, and the age and gender of each kid. They care about your education, what you do for a living, and how much money you make. They care about your political beliefs. You get the idea.

Your value isn’t in you as a person but you as a compilation of data.

This is how online companies make money. They compile as much data as possible on all their users to sell to advertisers. When Nike wants to advertise online, Facebook can tell them exactly which of their users are active athletes.

If this economy were a prison then your data would be the carton of cigarettes.

Needless to say, this setup should worry you. Whether you guard your privacy like a hawk or you openly share every detail about your life, it’s disturbing that your value is based on what people know about you.

And it’s about to get worse.

ISP-y on you without your consent

ISPs are, to put it kindly, not well regarded in the consumer world. As a matter of fact, they’re the most hated companies in the country. When you overtake airlines on the hatred scale, you know you’re something special.

The FCC understood the nature of ISP’s so they previously put restrictions on them with regard to your data. The restrictions required ISP’s to explicitly get your consent before they sold your data.

It was a good idea to do this so, of course, it didn’t last long.

Now, thanks to legislation passed in Congress, ISP’s will have an easier time selling your data.  All the previous restrictions that were placed on them have now been lifted.

Yup, the most hated companies can now take your data without your consent and sell it to the highest bidder.

Who says democracy doesn’t work?

ISP’s were able to successfully argue that since Google and Facebook don’t have restrictions on selling data that neither should they. This logic doesn’t hold up well for many reasons.

For starters, Google and Facebook are free services, while ISP’s are already taking a good chunk of your money.

There’s also the slight detail that ISP’s are essentially monopolies.

If you use a website (such as Facebook) and disagree with their privacy rules then you can choose not to use them or to use another website. But that doesn’t work with ISP’s. So you’re stuck with what you’ve got.

They know you don’t have a choice and they’re taking advantage of their monopoly. No wonder they’re so hated.

Privacy advocates are understandably upset about this whole scenario. In addition to data about you personally, ISP’s are also able to sell your browsing history, app usage, and even location information.

Your options are limited.

The one time you want to reduce your value

How ISP’s make money is their concern. Protecting your data is your concern. As it stands now, the battle is between you and them. So what can you do to fight this battle?

Well, we know your value to ISP’s is based on the data you (unwillingly) provide to them. So you can look into ways to kill your value.

If they can’t get your data then they can’t sell your data.

One of the best tricks you can use is to create a Virtual Private Network (VPN). A VPN essentially adds a layer between your computer and the internet, which hides your browsing from ISPs.

Related to VPN technology, you can also use a private browser such as TOR. TOR was created explicitly to prevent unwanted access to your browsing habits.

Search engines are another problem is this world. So many of them track your search history. If you want to use a search engine that doesn’t track you then you should try DuckDuckGo.

As you can see there are many tools available to help you protect your data.

Ultimately you can’t change how ISP’s operate, and you can’t change how your value to them is based on them violating your privacy, but you can change how much data they can access.

You can control your data.

It’s a shame that it we have to take these measures but the government is enabling this system so we need to protect ourselves. Hopefully, with enough outcry, the legislation will go back to putting the restrictions on ISP’s.

After all, why would anyone want the most hated companies in America to sell your data?

Filed Under: Cybersecurity Tagged With: congress, data, government, ISP, Privacy, Security, value, VPN

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • AXEL News Update
  • AXEL Events
  • Biggest Hacks of 2022 (Part 2)
  • Biggest Hacks of 2022 (Part 1)
  • The State of Government Cybersecurity 2022

Recent Comments

  • Anonymous on Five Simple Security Tricks

Footer

Sitemap
© Copyright 2024 Axel ®. All Rights Reserved.
Terms & Policies
  • Telegram
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Reddit
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
  • Discord
  • GitHub