In the second part of a two-part series on questions to the experts about online privacy, The New York Times shares reader questions and responses from Michael Fertik of ReputationDefender and Paul Ohm of the University of Colorado. Responding to a variety of questions, Ohm and Fertik highlighted such issues as privacy law, barriers to anonymity and the ways online sharing can be expected to change in the years ahead. When it comes to remaining anonymous, Ohm points out that IP addresses can often be tracked, even if an online posting does not include the author's name. Current U.S. law, Fertik suggests, allows "nearly any use of data once they have been collected," referencing Internet sites that compile data that could threaten individual privacy and security. (Registration may be required to access this story.)
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