Smart Talk: Who is responsible for customer privacy?; Know Nothing Party

What to look for on Smart Talk Thursday, September 3, 2015:

When the websites and files of Target, Home Depot, and Michael’s were infiltrated by computer hackers and private information was compromised, their customers were upset.  Angry enough to go to court in some cases seeking damages for what they may have or could suffer from the breach.

The hacking of the dating and cheating website Ashley Madison last July was a somewhat different story.  The social media site that caters to married people or those in a committed relationship who are looking to have an affair was broken into by hackers.  They threatened to release all the private information accumulated — like email addresses, phone numbers, and even sexual fantasies — unless the site was shut down.

Is Ashley Madison responsible for the breach?

On Thursday’s Smart Talk, we’ll look into what the law says and what companies can do to protect themselves. 

Meanwhile, among the allegations against Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane is that she ordered staffers to check internal emails of workers in the AG’s office.  What rights to privacy do workers have?

Appearing on Thursday’s program is attorney Devin Chwastyk of McNees, Wallace, and Nurick LLC.

Also, what do you know about the Know Nothing Party of the 1850s?  Pittsburgh Tribune-Review editorial writer Salena Zito says there are similarities with today’s politics.  She’ll tell us why on Thursday’s Smart Talk.