CORRECTION: The legislation mentioned in this story was passed by the Wisconsin State Assembly. It has not yet been voted on by the state Senate. An earlier version of this report incorrectly stated 'the new law would go into effect Jan. 1, 2025.' (5:45 p.m. MDT, Nov. 21, 2024)
A recent wave of racist texts targeting Black Wisconsinites has sparked concerns about data privacy.
The personal information people voluntarily disclose on various online platforms is often used for marketing purposes and can be sold to data brokers, who then sell it to others.
Chad Johnson, assistant professor of computing and new media technologies at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, said industry estimates show most data brokers have no less than 15 data points on every American including age and ethnicity, detailed contact information and even Social Security numbers.
"Since there's no regulation over who can buy those, of course, it could be other advertising agencies, it could be other platforms," Johnson pointed out. "But there's also nothing stopping, for example, a white supremacist movement from buying that information for purposes exactly like this."
Personal data can also be stolen or leaked. Johnson added there is currently no comprehensive federal law to protect data and privacy in the U.S. However, a new data privacy law in Wisconsin could go into effect next year.
The Wisconsin Data Privacy Act, was passed by the State Assembly a year ago today. It includes requiring businesses to inform people if their data is being collected and the purpose, as well as the right to access their personal data and request it be corrected or deleted.
If passed by the Senate and signed by the governor, the act would become effective Jan. 1, 2025.
Johnson said because anyone can have such detailed information about their targets is where an intimidation factor comes in.
"It kind of sends the message, also implicitly, well what else could they possibly know?" Johnson explained. "If they have my ethnicity, do they have my address, do they have my children's names, do they have my school or my children's school? Do they have my web history, or anything along those lines? It's impossible to know."
He added until people come together to demand better regulation, little can be done to prevent cyberattacks, making individual precautions more important than ever.
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Military borrowers pay higher costs and face greater financial risks than civilian borrowers when taking out credit to buy a car - according to a new report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
The report found service members tend to borrow larger sums, at higher interest rates over longer terms.
Rosemary Shahan, president of the Sacramento-based nonprofit Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety, said yo-yo scams are common - where the victim signs an initial contract on good terms but then the dealer claims the financing fell through.
"And then they say, 'If you don't agree to sign this other contract where we're charging you for a lot of worthless add-ons you don't really want and a higher interest rate,'" said Shahan, "'then we'll report the vehicle stolen, and you'll be in trouble with your command, and it'll ruin your career.' "
The report finds many service members are young and far from family members who might help them negotiate a large purchase.
Last year under former President Joe Biden, the Federal Trade Commission finalized the CARS rule, which would combat dishonest sales tactics. Automakers sued and last month a federal judge put it on hold.
Shahan said the CARS rule would require dealers to tell you the price up front before you even go to the lot.
"It also has additional protections for military service members," said Shahan. "It prohibits car dealers from representing that they're somehow affiliated with the military, or have been approved by the military when that's not true, and would also require them to be more honest about the price of the add-ons and actually get your affirmative approval before adding them."
The Federal Trade Commission under the Trump administration will now have to decide whether to stand behind the rule and fight for it in court, or withdraw it.
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Tax season is in full swing and locations are available across Idaho to assist people with preparing their returns.
The AARP Foundation's Tax-Aide program offers in-person help to people with low and moderate incomes. They don't have to be AARP members.
There are 27 sites available across the Gem State. Tax-aide State Coordinator for AARP Idaho, Karen Cummings, said the program can help people get back money they didn't know they were owed.
"It saves a lot of money and it refunds a lot of money from the IRS," said Cummings. "Some people wouldn't normally, maybe even go get a paid preparer, because it wouldn't be worth their time if they don't have a filing requirement. So, we help a lot of people."
Because filing taxes primarily involves computers now, Cummings said the tax-aide program is especially helpful for people who aren't very computer literate.
Last year in Idaho, volunteers filed more than 14,500 federal returns and nearly 14,000 state returns, with refunds totaling $16.7 million.
Cummings also noted that everyone involved gains something from the experience.
"We both benefit," said Cummings. "Both the volunteers feel good about helping the community and the community is extremely grateful that we're there to help them out."
Volunteers for the program pass IRS-certified tests. The program can help in most cases, although not complex ones.
Most sites will assist people through April 15.
Disclosure: AARP Idaho contributes to our fund for reporting on Consumer Issues, Energy Policy, Health Issues, Senior Issues. If you would like to help support news in the public interest,
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Colorado lawmakers are working to ensure all Coloradans with health coverage for ambulance services are not hit with surprise bills or charged higher out-of-network rates.
Rep. Karen McCormick, D-Longmont, said when patients are in their most vulnerable moments, their focus should be on their health, not navigating coverage loopholes or worrying about affording a bill.
"When people call 911, they don't have a choice on who is going to show up," McCormick pointed out. "They don't have the ability to shop around."
The bill would close a gap in surprise-billing protections passed in 2019 to include the nearly 75% of Colorado ambulance services that are operated by cities, special districts and other political subdivisions. First responders and consumer advocates support House Bill 1088. Some insurance companies are lobbying against the measure and claimed it could lead to higher premiums paid by individuals and their employers.
McCormick underscored the measure would apply to people who already have coverage for ambulance services listed in their insurance plans.
"If indeed these services are covered, if (insurers) are saying it's going to raise premiums, it doesn't make any sense because they should have been covering it all along," McCormick contended. "We do have data that shows that it will not raise premiums."
McCormick noted the bill also provides assurances to ambulance agencies across the state by requiring insurance carriers to pay the full rates set at the local level by cities and other governing bodies. Currently, insurance companies get to decide how much of the rate to pay.
"This is very much a local control issue," McCormick stressed. "It will also create a public-facing website of rates that have been adopted by these political subdivisions."
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