Elaine Chao reduces self-driving car privacy to a footnote - CNN

Elaine Chao reduces self-driving car privacy to a footnote

by Matt McFarland @mattmcfarland

Consumer privacy has taken a back seat as the Trump administration takes it first steps in writing the guidelines for autonomous vehicles.

Cars and trucks that will use technology to drive themselves promise to change transportation. But they raise countless new privacy issues: How will the data they collect be used?

Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao last week released updated autonomous driving guidelines that turn privacy issues into footnotes. Literally.

In a footnote in the guidelines, Chao's department writes that privacy isn't its turf -- and should be left to the Federal Trade Commission.

The initial guidelines, released by the Obama administration in September 2016, highlighted privacy as one of 15 important areas for automakers to address.

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The shift has drawn the criticism of consumer and privacy advocates, who say Chao's approach is insufficient and leaves consumers at risk.

"The DOT is going in the wrong direction," William Wallace, a policy analyst for Consumers Union, a division of Consumer Reports, told CNN Tech. "People have to right to expect that these vehicles aren't just safe for travel, but that their information is safe."

elaine chao automated driving mcity

U.S. Department of Transportation secretary Elaine Chao unveils the updated guidelines in Michigan last week.

Consumers' privacy concerns have been downgraded, but not those of businesses. The guidelines add a paragraph noting that companies should make sure not to include confidential business information while detailing their programs to the public.

"It's a head-scratcher; why they chose to delete [consumer] privacy," O'Melveny attorney Melody Drummond Hansen said.

Tech and car companies are wary of releasing any data that may hurt them as they race toward riches in an industry that is forecast to be worth trillions.

Self-driving vehicles are expected to reduce the rate of car crashes and save many of 1.25 million people killed on roads every year. They navigate with cameras and sensors. These vehicles will collect gobs of data, some of which will be sensitive information about passengers and pedestrians outside the vehicles.

"If you're in an autonomous vehicle, any place you go is now known," John McNelis, an attorney with Fenwick & West told CNN Tech. "I expect there will be cameras in these vehicles, what happens with that data?"

Related: House passes self-driving car bill

For Marc Rotenberg, president of the Electronic Privacy Information Center, it's problematic if autonomous vehicle data will become available for commercial use, insurance decisions, or used against consumers.

"From a privacy perspective, driving data looks very much like telephone records data," said Rotenberg. "We've always had strong protections for telephone record data."

Nearly 20 years of bringing privacy cases to the FTC has convinced him that the organization won't have a forceful role in the auto industry on behalf of consumers, he added.

"Historically, the automobile has been part of the American concept of freedom and individuality. You hit the open road and the adventure lies ahead," Rotenberg said. "It's very odd to think you'd be suspect to all this surveillance and monitoring in this new future."

Others caution that too many privacy precautions today could hamper the development of a promising industry.

"This to me is our space race," said Kelley Blue Book analyst Rebecca Lindland. "Let's support the people who are working on this with that mentality of 'let's just get the job done.' "

Navy Ship Collisions Occurred Amid Budget Woes, Sailor Fatigue, Leaders Say - NBC News

Navy Ship Collisions Occurred Amid Budget Woes, Sailor Fatigue, Leaders Say

by ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON — Frequent extended deployments, delayed maintenance, gaps in training and nearly a decade of budget constraints and uncertainly have strained the U.S. Navy, eroding readiness in a Pacific fleet that is responsible for monitoring Chinese aggression and protecting America against North Korea's nuclear threat, Navy leaders and members of Congress said Tuesday.

The Navy's top officer, however, said he can't yet draw a direct link between those problems and a series of ship collisions and accidents this year that resulted in the deaths of 17 sailors. Adm. John Richardson, chief of naval operations, said that Navy commanders are ultimately responsible for insuring their forces are combat ready and operating safely and effectively.

Image: U.S. Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer (L) talks to Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson (R) prior to a hearing before Senate Armed Services Committee

The Senate Armed Services hearing broadly condemned the deadly accidents as preventable, in a crowded room that included family members of a number of the sailors killed in two of the collisions.

"It is simply unacceptable for U.S. Navy ships to run aground or collide with other ships — and to have four such incidents in the span of seven months is truly alarming," said Sen. John McCain, chairman of the committee. He said that some fixes could be done immediately, without long studies or review.

Sailors "should not be working 100 hours a week," McCain said. "That's common sense that doesn't require a study." He told Richardson to make immediate changes to reduce the strain.

McCain added that, with three of the ships involved in the collisions now out of service for months, "there are serious questions about our maritime readiness to fight in response to North Korean, Chinese, and Russian aggression."

Related: More Navy Leaders Ousted After Deadly Collisions in 7th Fleet

Members of the Senate Armed Services committee were quick to pin some responsibility for the accidents on Congress, which has relied on stopgap spending measures for the past eight years, forcing the services to shift money from modernization and training accounts in order to fund current missions.

They said they believe that reductions in training time have contributed to the accidents.

Congress has to provide adequate funding to take care of service members, said Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D.

Navy Secretary Richard Spencer noted that over time Congress has added training and other requirements to the force, likening it to piling more and more rocks into a rucksack.

"No one is taking a rock out and the rucksack is getting pretty damn heavy," he said.

John Pendleton, an expert on defense readiness issues with the Government Accountability Office, said ships based in Japan have failed to keep up with required warfare certifications and reductions in ship crew sizes has led to longer working hours, including the 100-hour weeks. And he said he is skeptical the Navy will be able to make needed gains in readiness until aggressive deployment schedules and other demands on the force are decreased.

The high tempo in ship operations in the Pacific has forced Navy crews to squeeze in training where possible, and led to some sailors working 100-hour weeks, leaving them little time to rest, officials said.

Richardson told the panel that the Navy has taken a series of steps to review safety standards, ship certifications and readiness of the force. The increased scrutiny includes ensuring that sailors are well qualified to stand watch and that commanders address "fatigue concerns" and make sure their forces get enough sleep.

"We will fix this. I own this problem," he said, adding his promise that "we will be better in the end."

The USS John S. McCain and an oil tanker collided in Southeast Asia last month, leaving 10 U.S. sailors dead and five injured. And seven sailors died in June when the USS Fitzgerald and a container ship collided in waters off Japan. The USS John S. McCain is named after the committee chairman's father and grandfather, but the Arizona Republican also served in the Navy.

Already the Navy has fired six senior officers, including the commander of America's Japan-based 7th Fleet, citing a loss of confidence in their ability to command.

Is Trump about to repeat George W Bush's worst mistake? - Guardian

Is Trump about to repeat George W Bush's worst mistake?

Michael H Fuchs

Wednesday 20 September 2017 20.00 AEST Last modified on Wednesday 20 September 2017 20.01 AEST

In 2003, the United States initiated perhaps the greatest strategic disaster in US history by diverting attention from a necessary war in Afghanistan to an unnecessary war in Iraq. The Iraq war resulted in hundreds of thousands dead and wounded, untold economic catastrophe, states in the Middle East in complete ruin, and the rise of Isis – all while the effort to go after terrorists in Afghanistan languished.

President Donald Trump’s first speech before the United Nations General Assembly this week made clear that Trump wants to take America down a similar path by diverting much-needed attention from North Korea to starting an unnecessary conflict with Iran.

If the United States and the world cannot convince Trump to support the Iran nuclear deal and instead focus on real problems, America may once again plunge into a violent disaster in the Middle East, and in the process damage efforts to deal with a country that already has nuclear weapons.

The threat from North Korea is real, and Trump used his speech to outline the need for an international pressure campaign against Kim Jong-un. There is little disagreement on the need for a tough stance against North Korea, as evidenced by the UN Security Council’s recent unanimous vote to impose new sanctions.

But Trump is having a difficult time implementing a coherent strategy on North Korea. He has picked a fight with America’s South Korean ally, whose support is essential. He frequently hurls hyperbolic rhetoric, raising the chances of miscalculation that could lead to conflict. And he talks as though war is inevitable, a theme he reiterated before the world’s leaders when he said, “Rocket Man [Kim Jong-un] is on a suicide mission for himself and his regime.”

Significant challenges remain in dealing with North Korea, even if Trump can get his own act together. China is unwilling to apply maximum pressure on North Korea for fear Pyongyang will collapse. Enforcing sanctions elsewhere is often like putting fingers in a dam full of leaks. It’s unclear what kind of a diplomatic deal the United States wants with North Korea. And little seems capable of convincing Kim Jong-un that he will be safe without nuclear weapons.

With obstacles this great, Trump should be providing leadership in pursuing an effective international strategy to deter North Korea, reassure US allies, add sanctions pressure, and engage in real diplomacy.

Instead, Trump is looking to rip up the deal that is currently preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. If he succeeds in doing so, he will help turn Iran into the next North Korea and ratchet up the chances of conflict.

The deal prevents Iran from getting a nuclear weapon for years. UN inspectors have verified that Iran is complying with the terms of the deal. Even Trump’s administration has certified twice that Iran is living up to its end of the bargain. Moreover, the world backs the deal, with Russia, China, and Europe all helping to enforce it.

If an Iran-style nuclear deal had been on the table at any point with North Korea, the United States would have jumped at the opportunity (and in fact came very close to making the Agreed Framework deal with North Korea work in the 1990s). Tearing up the Iran deal would be the strategic equivalent of shooting oneself in the foot.

But that’s exactly what Trump seems to want. In his UN speech, Trump placed the Iran nuclear deal in his sights: “The Iran deal was one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into. Frankly, that deal is an embarrassment to the United States, and I don’t think you’ve heard the last of it. Believe me.” Recent reports back up this message that Trump intends to rip up the deal, and US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley almost said as much in a recent speech on Iran.

It’s hard to overstate the potential disaster of destroying the Iran deal. Iran would be incentivized to race to get a nuclear weapon. The partners that helped make the Iran deal happen – Europe, China, Russia – would leave the US behind and continue doing business with Iran, making impossible any renewal of international pressure. And if Iran actually acquired a nuclear weapon, it could embolden Iran to escalate its regional provocations. All of this would result in more confrontation with the United States, and greater chances of war.

In fact, withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal would undermine Trump’s efforts to convince the world that he is looking for a diplomatic solution with North Korea: if Trump is willing to rip up a deal preventing Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, why should anyone believe he’s willing to deal with North Korea? And why would North Korea deal with Trump if he doesn’t live up to US commitments?

In 2002, less than a year after invading Afghanistan, President George . Bush used his speech before the UN General Assembly to make the case to the world for action against Iraq. Let’s hope, when history looks back on Trump’s first UN speech, it’s not viewed as the opening salvo in a completely preventable war with Iran.

Michael Fuchs is a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, and most recently was a deputy assistant secretary of state for east Asian and pacific affairs.

10 Charges You Should Never Put on Your Credit Card - Fortune

10 Charges You Should Never Put on Your Credit Card

Kristy Welsh,GoBankingRates

Mar 14, 2017

Even though building credit and racking up credit card rewards can be great for your finances in general, there are some things you should never put on your credit card because you can incur big fees and higher interest rates. Avoid putting the following expenses on credit cards so that you don't end up making it harder for yourself to get out of debt.

1. Mortgage Payments

If you've ever wondered, "Can I pay my mortgage with a credit card?", the answer is maybe, but that doesn't make it a good idea. If you're low on cash one month, it might be tempting to pay your mortgage payment with a credit card that has a high credit limit. But there are problems with this thinking.

For one, some mortgage companies won't let you make direct payments with a credit card. Although some third-party companies will help you use your credit card to pay your mortgage, they often charge fees for this convenience — which will just add to the amount you're paying in bills each month.

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Should you be able to circumvent your mortgage servicer and find a way to pay your mortgage with a credit card, it's still a bad idea if you don't plan on paying off your credit card balance in full each month: You're already being charged interest on your mortgage, so paying more interest on your credit card balance is both expensive and avoidable.

Lastly, charging a large amount to your credit card will lower the amount of credit available to you, which could lower your credit score. This could also happen if you choose to pay your property taxes with credit cards.

Find Out: 8 Options When You Can't Afford Your Mortgage Anymore

2. Small Indulgences

Sure, it can be convenient to whip out your credit card whenever you buy a cup of coffee or a sandwich at the deli. And sometimes, depending on the cash-back credit card or rewards credit card you use, you're even rewarded for purchases with free cash or airline miles.

But if you swipe your credit card for every small purchase, your credit card balance could grow out of control. And the higher your balance, the harder it will be to pay off or even afford the minimum payment. At the end of the month, you'll be left wondering if those 20 lattes were really worth it. Plus, some store owners will charge a fee if you use your credit card to purchase items under a certain amount of money, typically less than $5.

Instead of using your credit card to pay for small, discretionary items, consider using cash. Not only will it save you from running up your balance, but it'll help you stick to a budget. By only using cash for small purchases, you'll likely spend less.

3. Cash Advances

A cash advance is a withdrawal or a short-term loan in which you're borrowing against your credit card account. If possible, avoid taking a credit card cash advance — or else you might be subject to high fees and interest rates. Your APR and fees will vary depending on your bank and credit card issuer, but in general, the APR on a cash advance is higher than a purchase APR.

For example, you might have a credit card that charges a purchase APR of 11.00% or 12.00%. However, the APR for cash advances might be 2 or 3 percentage points higher. And, your fees might equal $10 or a small percentage of each transaction — whichever is greater. This is why many personal finance experts highly discourage getting a cash advance from your credit card.

Of course, some situations call for a cash advance — but these should be for emergencies only. And always look for a credit card that offers low interest and fees for cash advances.

4. Household Bills

Some strong arguments exist for putting household bills — such as utilities — on a credit card. Your department of water and power, for example, might let you pay your bills online with a credit card without being charged a fee for the service. So it might be tempting to link your credit card to the account to get rewards. And if your servicer lets you use automatic payments to pay your bills with a credit card, that's one less bill you don't have to remember to pay on time.

Still, relying on credit cards to pay too many of your household bills could get you in financial trouble, especially if you have a bad habit of not checking your credit card balance, which could lead to a missed credit card payment, interest charges and late fees.

Consider linking your debit card instead. But again, make sure you regularly watch your checking account. Otherwise, your balance might fall into the negatives if you don't have enough money in your account to cover your bills, and you might get stuck having to ask your bank to waive overdraft fees.

5. Medical Bills

When you don't have enough money to pay for medical bills, one of the worst things that you can do is put them on your credit card. Medical care is expensive, and paying for it with a credit card that charges high interest on top of this is could be a bad idea.

If you have large medical bills that you can't pay immediately, don't automatically pull out your credit card. Instead, contact the hospital's financial office and see if you can set up a payment plan or negotiate medical bills. Chances are, you will be paying much less in interest to the hospital than your credit card issuer will charge you.

6. College Tuition

College tuition is expensive. In fact, it might outweigh the cost of living, depending on where you live. If you're a broke college student, it can be convenient to pay your tuition with a credit card, but think again.

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If you don't have a steady paycheck to rely on, you might not be able to pay off your credit card before you incur interest. Plus, many schools will tack on a convenience fee of 2 percent or even 3 percent for paying your tuition with a credit card.

Bottom line: It's not worth it. If you're having trouble making your tuition payments on time, talk to someone in your school's financial aid office. They'll fill you in on the types of low-interest student loans, grants, scholarships or work-study programs available to you to help pay your education costs.

7. Your Taxes

Although it's possible — and perfectly legal — to pay your debt to Uncle Sam with a credit card, there's an excellent reason why you shouldn't: Your tax processor will likely charge you a convenience fee of around 2 percent for using a credit card. If you owe Uncle Sam thousands of dollars, a 2 percent fee can really add up.

The IRS currently lists fees that vary depending on your payment processor. If you use a debit card to pay your taxes via Pay1040.com, the IRS states you'll be charged a $2.59 flat fee. But if you pay your taxes with a credit card, the fee jumps to 1.87 percent, with a minimum fee of $2.59. Meanwhile, paying with a debit credit via PayUSAtax.com requires a $2.65 flat fee; using a credit card will incur a 1.98 percent fee, with a minimum fee of $2.69.

Find Out: What to Do When You Can't Pay Your Tax Bill

8. Automobiles

Some people claim to have used a credit card to pay for a car — and they don't regret it, partially because they earned tons of points after doing so. Additionally, Consumer Reports advises that you pay your car down payment with a credit card because if the auto dealer goes out of a business, you can challenge the payment with your credit card issuer.

Still, don't resort to this payment method unless you're confident you can afford it and possibly high-interest charges. If you don't have enough money for a down payment, perhaps you should delay your car purchase or find a used or new car you can afford more easily. Ask a financial advisor and speak with the car dealership first to make sure they'll accept your credit card payment.

9. Down Payments of Any Kind

Reconsider using a credit card for a down payment on anything, including a house or a car. For one, you can't typically use a credit card to pay your house down payment. You can, however, use it to get a cash advance to pay for it — but that's not a good idea either.

If the only reason you want to use a credit card for a down payment is because you can take advantage of your card's high credit limit, that might be a sign that you can't really afford the down payment. And if you don't have the money for the down payment on a loan, don't get the loan. Otherwise, you're just adding a large cost to the sales price of your item — the high-interest rate charges.

A large purchase like a down payment can dramatically change your debt-to-income ratio, which can lead to a change in your credit score. If your credit card balance is too high in comparison to your credit limit, your credit score might suffer. The same is true if you miss payments because you lose control of your account balance.

10. Your Business Startup Expenses

Using your personal credit card to pay for business expenses or to finance startup costs can be a bad idea. It generally takes at least several years for a business to become profitable, and in the meantime, you might be paying extraordinarily high interest on debt that you cannot afford to pay back immediately. And if your business fails, you might be in deep credit card debt.

Sure, there are some upsides to using a credit card for business expenses. But if you do need to borrow a lot of money to kick off your business, you might be better off getting a small business loan. Interest rates on credit cards are typically higher than rates on traditional loans, according to Entrepreneur.com.

An even better idea: See if you can raise money through a crowdfunding website or through friends and family.This article originally appeared on GoBankingRates.com.