DNA Spectrum

The genetic code is proving more and more valuable as companies scramble to come up with innovative ways to turn deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) into money-making machines. DNA Spectrum is one such company that is taking the genetic information people send in and creating individualized services based off genetic markers. Their latest product is called myDNA Fitness, and it creates specialized fitness plans based off a person’s unique genetics that have been mailed in through a special spit-swab kit.

Naturally, all of that personal data, as personal as one can get, is valuable, and for-profit companies and research centers are lining up to try and get their hands on that data. However, DNA Spectrum asserts in its privacy policy that it will only utilize the genetic material provided to them in ways explicitly agreed to by each customer. The information can still be sold, or donated, if customers opt to do so, but it is the customers' choice what happens to their genetic material after they send it in.

Netatmo’s Welcome Smart Home Camera

Smile, you’re on camera. The Welcome Home camera utilizes facial recognition software to recognize individuals and to inform users who is at home. The company has introduced several privacy options including a lack of notifications and no storing of footage for certain recognized individuals. Anything recorded, or any identification data, is stored on the camera’s SD card and cannot be accessed by the camera on its own. 

This product also utilizes apps such an iOS app to stream the images and sound without having to rely on cloud storage. There is also an iPhone app that will list every person’s recognized time for being home, list past events and create individual timelines based on the data collected.   

Vysk Communications

Vysk Communications became a two-time 2015 CES Innovation Awards Honoree for its disruptive technology designed to protect personal details and data on Smartphones. The Vysk QS1 Quantum Secure Case prevents the native microphone of a phone from picking up any useful sound information while providing an alternative microphone that will encrypt any audio files, including ongoing phone calls. This encryption can also be extended to texts, photos and videos. In addition to encryption, the Vysk EP1 case uses a special camera shutter to prevent hackers from gaining access to a phone’s camera. It also boasts a longer-lasting battery for iPhone users. 

GoldKey

GoldKey Private Phone Service offers a secure phone line complete with a new phone number. The private telephone line allows you to place encrypted calls using a preexisting cell-phone data plan, a wireless hotspot and even a public wireless network. All calls made with the secure phone line are encrypted, and phone calls between two GoldKey private numbers are encrypted on both ends.

AgeCheq

Make games compliant with the U.S. Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) in two days or less with AgeCheq, which has taken COPPA-compliance and made it easy for game developers. This service handles all of the parent interaction, disclosures, permissions and notifications in order to navigate the new law aimed at protecting children. The company will take the privacy information that the developers entered, integrate SDK into the game, test the software with the game to make sure it works and then post the game to app stores. The service even handles the third-party notification and storage of data within the games. 

PrivacyCheq

Privacy policies for financial institutions are made easy with the PrivacyCheq service, which allows financial institutions to comply with privacy notification laws by electronically delivering clear and understandable regulatory notices to customers. The notifications can be delivered to almost any app in a clear and readable way. In addition, the service is multilingual and allows users to update their privacy policies and statements as the need arises.