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Data Brokers Are Selling Your Health Information
TECHNOLOGY POLICY
Some data brokers are marketing highly sensitive data on individuals’ mental health conditions on the open market. The report by Joanne Kim, Sanford Technology Policy Recent Graduate Fellow, reveals the lack of transparency in the data broker industry and the risks associated with the selling and exchanging of sensitive mental health data of Americans. She argues that the largely unregulated and black-box nature of the data broker industry, its buying and selling of sensitive mental health data, and the lack of clear consumer privacy protections in the U.S. necessitate a comprehensive federal privacy law or, at the very least, an expansion of HIPAA’s privacy protections alongside bans on the sale of mental health data on the open market.
(Photo: NordWood Themes on Unsplash)
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Does Low Wealth Mean Low Health in the U.S.?
HEALTH POLICY
Wealth affects people's health, not just their bank accounts. One-third of US households are net worth poor, with even higher rates among Black households. Christina Gibson-Davis and her co-authors found that net worth poverty, in addition to income poverty, could indicate a higher likelihood of reporting poor health, psychological distress and diminished ability to work. Those experiencing both types of poverty had the largest health deficits. The authors emphasize the importance of considering wealth deprivation as an integral factor in health inequality research.
(Photo: Karolina Grabowska on Pexels)
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Staying Indoors Isn't a Perfect Fix for Air Pollution
ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT POLICY
To avoid exposure to air pollution, stay indoors. This axiom, which has historically guided policies in major cities throughout the world, can have both benefits and drawbacks. William Pizer and his co-authors used detailed information from Shanghai to find that people reduce their time outdoors and use more electricity during periods of high pollution. However, most of these responses do not effectively avoid exposure to pollution. They also found that reducing exposure to pollution and conserving energy are not well-balanced trade-offs and that energy conservation efforts can lead to increased carbon emissions. Policies that use electrical grid data to target peak pollution periods can help achieve both goals.
(Photo: Photoholgic on Unsplash)
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New Book: Policing Gun Violence
SOCIAL POLICYPhilip J. Cook, ITT/Terry Sanford Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Public Policy Studies, recently released his latest book, a detailed look at statistics behind gun violence and the practical ways policymakers can implement changes to protect both police and the citizens they serve.
(Photo: Oxford University Press)
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New Book: Environmental Governance for Peace in Colombia
ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT POLICY
Erika Weinthal, professor of environmental policy and public policy, co-edited the book, which examines the application of the peace accords in Colombia from the viewpoint of building environmental peace, addressing deforestation in the Amazon region, the role of illicit crops, mining, and indigenous and community rights as well as the tools of policy, legislation and governance.
(Photo: Universidad Externado de Colombia)
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Lansford Named President-Elect of the Society for Research in Child Development
Jennifer Lansford, director of the Center for Child and Family Policy and research professor at the Sanford School of Public Policy, has been named President-Elect of the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD), the society announced on February 8. Read the announcement.
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Barnes Elected to National Academy of Social Insurance
Sanford faculty member Carolyn Barnes was recently elected to the National Academy of Social Insurance for her research that explores the social and political implications of social policy on low-income populations in the areas of childcare policy, family services and supports for young children. Read the announcement.
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In the News: Sanford Report
on Data Brokers and Health Data
The recent report from the Sanford Cyber Policy Program has been in the news. So far, more than 60 media outlets have cited this data, including a PBS Newshour interview airing nationally that featured Justin Sherman, senior fellow at Sanford who runs the data brokerage research project. Read more about the recent media coverage.
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Policy 360 Plastics: The Climate Connection and Policy Possibilities
Plastics are a huge part of our everyday life, and most people know that plastics contribute to litter, but did you know that plastics also add to climate change? Dean of the Sanford School of Public Policy Judith Kelley discusses this issue and potential policy solutions with Duke PhD candidate Zoie Diana. Listen to the podcast.
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