Sketchy behavior? Wacom tablet drivers phone home with names, times of every app opened on your computer FYI: Wacom's official tablet drivers leak to the manufacturer the names of every application opened, and when, on the computers they are connected to. Software engineer Robert Heaton made this discovery after noticing his drawing board's fine-print included a privacy policy that gave Wacom permission to, effectively, snoop on …
Oh, FFS now it is looking like I'm defending this stupidity. I'm not, I am just saying that it appears to me (as someone using Wacom for over decade) that this invigilation is something you need to actively sign up to. Which of course no sane person would do, right?!
It would be great if the article expanded on this point because it is rather unclear. If that happens irrespective of this sign up (which is strictly optional) then yes, outrage is warranted and GDPR should fine them accordingly. Otherwise ... it is just plain stupid.
"this invigilation is something you need to actively sign up to"
That does not appear to be the case - as the article notes, it's enabled by default and will work unless you specifically disable it. The account log-in you're looking at is a separate thing that gives access to cloudy stuff and so on, it has nothing to do with whether they're tracking you or not.
"...they detailed it in their privacy policy."
Ya know, if this was really the way everything was supposed to work, then you'd see this sign at the entrance of every store: "By entering this store, you agree to the terms of service and privacy policy of this store. A copy of these policies can be obtained at the service desk within."
And, of course, products would also come boxed with this statement contained within: "By opening this box, you agree..." etc.
We're being sucked in to forfeiting our rights with hidden legalese. This can't go on like this forever.
I wouldn't be so sure. Firstly the ICO had a big hand in drafting the GDPR. Secondly, the government has stated multiple times that they intend to keep the GDPR or legally equivalent regulations as it would seriously damage the UK tech sector if data from EU Citizens was no longer allowed to be stored or processed on servers in the UK.
Now, if the past few years are anything to go by, any assurance from the UK government means exactly the opposite so you may need to be a bit cautious when it comes to government statements. I would, however, be a bit more optimistic about the ICO.
GDPR is likely to be a hinderance to a trade deal with America.
My expectation is that we will align with America on trade.
Whether the ICO had a hand in drafting it is an irrelevance.
Of course businesses need continuity of rules in order to process data on EU citizens (the EU will demand it) but I'm willing to bet they will get the shaft in order to secure an American trade deal. The lobby groups for American tech certainly don't want it.
I hope the downvoters are right and I'm wrong but I doubt it.
Seems to me that if there are open source drivers for Linux, perhaps someone with the right skills, not me, I possess none, might be able to port the driver to windows?
Perhaps I'm being naive but if it's open source, isn't the source actually available or is it just a binary blob?
When somethings open source they can't stop anyone modifying and distributing it for any platform can they ?
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