HHS Facebook Application Winners Announced for the Lifeline Challenge–But Are Any Privacy Policies/Protections Included?

This is just my personal opinion but I think these are nuts and could not for the life of me figure this contest out and the press release says nothing about privacy so again we know who mines data on the web and who sells data so that is my first question here in wondering why privacy was not mentioned.

Sure the intentions here are good but again in case of a hurricane for example if I were a victim, would I find my home owners insurance going up quickly and would I be receiving FEMA contractor coupons? These are not dumb questions as that’s kind of how things work out there today with everything being connected. On the other hand if privacy is not protected here would someone be out there ready to vandalize my house too? When earthquakes occur Twitter is the one that seems to be all over disasters quickly and I’ve watched that many times.

HHS Seems To Be Confused on Social Networks–Facebook for Disaster Support Contest, Give Me a Break Use Twitter Like Everyone Else Does

Secondly how many folks at HHS will be role models and use this application? We don’t seem to have any role models around that talk about how social networks or any mHealth applications work for them and it’s always for “those guys over there” with experts telling us how great the apps are. It’s nice that the developers got something for their work but with privacy out there today, I would rather not chance it with Facebook, but I also shut my page down about a year ago as it became a nuisance with taking too much time away from what I need to do. Let’s see if Ms. Sebelius talks about how she uses the apps in the future, bet we’ll never hear anything on that topic <grin>.

Again my question here is are we putting too much out there for data mines to scrape and make billions in profits as many US Corporations do? I think we need to license and tax the data sellers myself as even companies such as Walgreens for an example stated on their SEC form that they made under $800 million in selling data, sounds like a good number to tax and just thing when you add all the other big corporations and bank and others in here, they make billions mining “free taxpayer data” so that’s one more reason for me not to contribute to corporate profits in areas as such. BD

Start Licensing and Taxing the Data Sellers of the Internet Making Billions of Profit Dollars Mining “Free Taxpayer Data”–Attack of the Killer Algorithms Chapter 17 - “Occupy Algorithms”– Help Stop Inequality in the US

Three Facebook applications designed to help people prepare for emergencies and get support from friends and family in an emergency – from personal medical emergencies or car accidents to natural or man-made disasters – are winners of a Facebook application challenge sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR).

ASPR’s Facebook Lifeline Application Challenge called on software application developers to design new Facebook applications that could enhance individual and community resilience by establishing social connections in advance of an emergency.

Two recent Brown University graduates, Evan Donahue and Erik Stayton, partnered as Team ALP to win first place with their application, named Lifeline. The Las Vegas team JAMAJIC 360 with David Vinson, Erick Rodriguez, Gregg Orr, and Garth Winckler came in second with an app also named JAMAJIC 360. Third place was awarded to AreYouOk? developed by TrueTeamEffort, a team of 11 University of Illinois students led by Alex Kirlik

Although these top three applications differ in how users interface with the app, all three allow users to designate three lifelines -- Facebook friends the person can count on and who agree to check on them in an emergency, supply them with shelter, food, and other necessities, and provide the person’s social network with an update about their wellbeing. Facebook users could use the lifeline app to create disaster readiness plans and share the plans with their emergency contacts, and provide users with news.

The lifeline app is anticipated to be launched in the coming months, prior to the start of hurricane season. The team also receives $10,000 and complimentary passes from Health 2.0 to attend the spring Health 2.0 conference in Boston. JAMAJIC 360 receives $5,000 for second place, and TrueTeamEffort receives $1,000 for third place.

http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2012pres/02/20120223b.html