Overscreening  for cancer and ebook reader privacy… just two of the stories making a buzz, but plenty to chew on!

Last Friday, Gary Schwitzer at HealthNewsReview.org gathered some of the very active online commentary related to a recent NEJM paper on mammograms and whether or not they are effective at saving lives. Concerns about the potential harm of overscreening keep coming up regarding breast (and prostate) cancers and make a big media splash each time. Schwitzer’s post, which was updated this week to include more pieces in the NY Times, highlights some of the voices and ideas in the discussion and is a great jumping off point for readers interested in diving in to this complex issue.

Who’s Tracking Your Reading Habits? An E-Book Buyer’s Guide to Privacy, 2012 Edition, is a new chart from the EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation) that unpacks the legalese from popular e-reader and e-book user  agreements, allowing consumers to compare across sites and platforms in terms of these privacy related questions….

• Can they keep track of searches for books?
• Can they monitor what you’re reading and how you’re reading it after purchase and link that information back to you? Can they do that when the e-book is obtained elsewhere?
• What compatibility does the device have with books not purchased from an associated eBook store?
• Do they keep a record of book purchases? Can they track book purchases or acquisitions made from other sources?
• With whom can they share the information collected in non-aggregated form?
• Do they have mechanisms for customers to access, correct, or delete the information?
• Can they share information outside the company without the customer’s consent?

Certainly worth a look if you are in the market for an e-reader or just have an interest in digital privacy. (via @digitalkoans and @lorcanD).