The Shopkick iPhone app, which will be debuting next week, looks well positioned to usher in the next generation of geolocation devices. Shopkick offers promotions to shoppers as they move from store to store, and event within stores. As a geolocation device it is extremely well positioned to influence consumer behavior. It tells retailers when you are actually inside a store. The app will offer “kickbucks” coupons redeemable for goods in return for playing along. All of this has privacy rights advocates concerned since it means a further surrender of personal data to retailers and others.

Shopkick App Pushes Bargains, Aisle by Aisle – NYTimes.com.

Let the games begin. Emirates fires off first salvo in fight over control of digital data.  India, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain are considering restrictions.

For Data, Tug Grows Over Security vs. Privacy – NYTimes.com.

Despite privacy concerns nearly 40% of social network users who own a mobile device use geolocation. That said, only 4% of U.S. Internet users make use of apps like foursquare, Gowalla and Loop. Only 1% check in at least once a week.

Geolocation Grows Despite Privacy Concerns – eMarketer.

Beginning this fall, Blackberry data service will be blocked to users in the UAE. The reason given is that RIM, the manufacturer and service provider of the device is the only company of its type that processes data outside of the country though its servers in Canada. The UAE cites security concerns.

U.A.E. Moves to Block BlackBerry Services – NYTimes.com.

Facebook growth slows. Is it because the social media megalith is reaching saturation or because of privacy concerns. I tend to think it’s not about privacy.

Blame privacy woes for stalled U.S. Facebook growth? | The Social – CNET News.

Health insurance provider Healthnet has settled a suit with the State of Connecticut for a reported 250K over the the loss of a disc containing names and confidential info related to the coverage of 500,000 state residents. State AG Richard Bluementhal’s office believes that the disc was stolen. I’m wondering how access to this info resides on one readily accessible disc.

State Settles Massive Security Breach | NBC Connecticut.

Twitter settles it’s suit with the FTC. Among the embarrassments was the disclosure that President Obama’s account was hijacked and 150,000 follower received an offer to win $500 in free gasoline.

Twitter Settles Charges that it Failed to Protect Consumers’ Personal Information; Company Will Establish Independently Audited Information Security Program.

The two words you need to know about the future of Facebook: “Ubiquity” and “China.” Part 2 of last weeks Business of Facebook event.

The Panel

David Berkowitz Senior Director, Emerging Media & Innovation, 360i

Adam Elend Partner, Bright Red Pixels, Co-Creator, WallStrip

David Kirkpatrick Author, The Facebook Effect

Ian Spalter Executive Creative Director, R/GA

Jerry Spiegel Partner, Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz PC

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• Facebook Is Already A Huge Business – And It’s Going To Get Huger (businessinsider.com)
• Mark Zuckerberg Says He ‘Paid Too Much Attention’ To Twitter (huffingtonpost.com)
• Discussing the Future of Facebook With CEO Mark Zuckerberg [Voices] (voices.allthingsd.com)

Gotham Media’s Digital Breakfast on “The Business of Facebook” featured experts from the worlds of media, law, advertising and social media to discuss the future and future plans of Facebook. Business plans, competitors, geolocation, Mark Zuckerberg and, in the words of moderator Jerry Spiegel, “the big meatball in the room – privacy” were among the issues discussed.

The Panel

David Berkowitz Senior Director, Emerging Media & Innovation, 360i

Adam Elend Partner, Bright Red Pixels, Co-Creator, WallStrip

David Kirkpatrick Author, The Facebook Effect

Jerry Spiegel Partner, Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz PC

Breakfast Sponsor

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• Exclusive: Discussing the Future of Facebook and the Facebook Ecosystem with CEO Mark Zuckerberg (insidefacebook.com)
• Discussing the Future of Facebook With CEO Mark Zuckerberg [Voices] (voices.allthingsd.com)
• Zuckerberg: What’s the point of a “huge amount of profit”? (social.venturebeat.com)

Google reveals exactly what information its Street View cars collect [Webuser]

Unsurprisingly, a Cornell University student thinks there is not such thing as privacy on the web…so young, so naive…on the web, it’s not about you keeping your own information private, it’s those who you provide your information to keeping it private that’s key [Cornell Sun]

He must be a friend of Mark Zuckerburg’s… [Huffington Post]

The Electronic Frontier Foundation has provided us with a timeline of changes to Facebook’s Privacy Policy [EFF]

Details on yesterday’s Senate hearing on the Children’s Online Privacy Protection ACT (COPPA) and the Electronic Privacy Information Center’s recommendations on how the legislation should be amended [Webpronews]