[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, ON ARIZONA HORIZON, A NEW FDA-CLEARED ALZHEIMER'S DRUG THAT SOME SEE AS A BREAKTHROUGH, WHILE OTHERS QUESTION IF IT EVEN PROTEST HER POSITION ON THE FILIBUSTER, AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, WHY SOME PARENTS ARE NOT CONVINCED THAT THEIR CHILDREN SHOULD BE VACCINATED.

THAT'S ALL COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR ON ARIZONA PBS.

>>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

WILDFIRES ASH THE STATE CONTINUE TO BURN, AS ARIZONA DEALS WITH HIGH TEMPERATURES AND SEVERE DROUGHT CONDITIONS.

MAJOR FIRES INCLUDE THE BACKBONE FIRE, STILL ZERO PERCENT CONTAINED.

IT HAS NOW BURNED 37,000 ACRES AND COUNTING.

RAPHAEL HEADING TOWARDS I 40 IS AT 24,000 ACRES WITH NO CONTAINMENT.

AND THE TELEGRAPH FIRE IS AT LAST CHECK AT 181,000 ACRES AND 67% CONTAINED.

THE FIRE AGENCY TODAY RAISED THE PREPAREDNESS LEVEL IN THE U.S. TO LEVEL 4.

THAT MEANS THAT MUCH OF THE COUNTRY IS EXPERIENCING SOME KIND OF FIRE ACTIVITY, AND MANY AREAS ARE COMPETING FOR RESOURCE RESOURCES.

>>> THE ARIZONA LEGISLATURE WAS EXPECTED TO VOTE ON A BUDGET TODAY, BUT THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

NOT ENOUGH HOUSE MEMBERS WERE PRESENTING WITH DEMOCRATS STAYING AWAY TO PROTEST THE PROCESS, A HANDFUL OF REPUBLICANS ARE ALSO NOT IN ATTENDANCE, THUS THERE WAS NO QUORUM.

AT LAST REPORT THE SENATE WAS MOVING AHEAD ON BUDGET BILLS.

>>> STATE REPRESENTATIVE SHAWNA BOLICK ANNOUNCED HER CANDIDACY FOR SECRETARY OF STATE.

SHE SPONSORED A BILL THAT WOULD HAVE ALLOWED LAWMAKERS TO REJECT VOTER-APPROVED ELECTIONS IN PRESIDENTIAL RACES.

SHE SAID THAT ELECTION PROBLEMS HAVE, QUOTE, BEEN THERE FOR SOMETIME.

SHE IS MARRIED TO STATE SUPREME COURT JUSTICE CLINT BOLICK.

>>> THE REPUBLICAN-LED SENATE REVIEW OF MARICOPA COUNTY BALLOTS IS SCHEDULED TO WRAP UP SOMETIME THIS WEEK, AFTER THAT A REPORT OF SOME KIND IS EXPECTED WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

ARIZONA SECRETARY OF STATE KATIE HOBBS SECRETARY OF STATE IS WORRIED ABOUT THE REACTION TO THOSE FINDINGS.

>> I AM CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THIS REPORT COMES OUT, BECAUSE WE KNOW, NUMBER 1, THE ELECTION THAT WE CERTIFIED -- THOSE CERTIFIED RESULTS ARE AN ACCURATE REFLECTION OF THE WILL OF THE VOTERS IN ARIZONA, AND NUMBER 2, THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE NOW TO OVERTURN THE ELECTION, EVEN IF THIS AUDIT WAS VALID.

BUT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT JOE BIDEN WAS NOT DUALLY ELECTED, AND WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO WHEN THIS REPORT COMES OUT?

AND THAT'S THE SCARY THINGS.

>>> MOST AMERICANS REJECT THE AUDIT.

40% BELIEVE THESE KINDS OF AUDITS WITH WEAKEN AMERICAN DEMOCRACY, WHILE 20% SAY THESE ACTIONS STRENGTHEN DEMOCRACY.

>>> AND A NEW STUDY SHOWS A POSSIBLE LINK BETWEEN MARIJUANA USE AND SUICIDAL THOUGHTS.

RESEARCHERS FOUND THAT PEOPLE WHO USE MARIJUANA ARE MORE LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE DEPRESSION AND TO THINK ABOUT TAKING THEIR OWN LIVES.

THE THOUGHTS WERE MORE COMMON IN THOSE WHO USE POT MORE FREQUENTLY, BUT A CORRELATION WAS ALSO FOUND IN NON-DAILY USE.

THE RELATIONSHIP APPEARS TO BE STRONGER IN WOMEN.

>>> A NEW FEDERATION COULD BE A BREAK THROUGH IN THE TREATMENT OF ALZHEIMER'S, BUT THERE ARE CONCERNS.

TONIGHT WE LOOK AT THIS NEW ALZHEIMER'S TREATMENT AS PART OF OUR MONTHLY AARP-SPONSORED SEGMENT THAT HIGHLIGHTS ISSUES IMPORTANT TO OLDER ADULTS IN ARIZONA.

KINSEY McMANUS WITH THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION DESERT SOUTHWEST CHAPTER TALKED TO US ABOUT THIS NEW ALZHEIMER'S DRUG.

KINSEY, GOOD TO SEE YOU HERE.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR TAKING SOME TIME OUT TO TALK TO US ABOUT THIS DRUG, AND WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS THE BREAK THROUGH THAT SOME SAY IT IS, OR MAYBE A LITTLE FOOL'S GOLD.

FIRST OF ALL WHAT IS IT?

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME, TED.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

IT IS THE FIRST MEDICATION OF ITS KIND IN ALZHEIMER'S DEMENTIA TREATMENT.

IT IS THE FIRST MEDICATION TO BE RETREATED THAT TREATS ONE OF THE UNDERLYING CAUSES OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE, WHICH IS A BUILD UP OF PLAQUE IN THE BRAIN.

SO THE MEDICATION ITSELF IS ACTUALLY WHAT WE THINK GOING TO SLOW THE COGNITIVE DECLINE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE FIRST STAGE OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE, OR EXPERIENCING MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT AS A RESULT OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.

>> AND THAT IS BECAUSE IT REDUCES THESE CLUMPS THAT WE KEEP HEARING ABOUT THAT APPEAR IN THE BRAIN?

>> THAT'S CORRECT, YES.

>> BUT DOES IT -- I KNOW WHAT CRITICS ARE SAYING, AND THEY ARE SAYING, YES, IT DOES EFFECT THESE THINGS, BUT THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN YOU GET RID OF THIS AND IT HELPS THAT.

DO THEY HAVE A POINT?

>> SO I'LL SAY A FEW THINGS.

ONE, IS THE REALITY WAS THERE WAS A SUCCESSFUL TRIAL AS A PART OF THIS -- CLINICAL TRIALS DONE, AND IT SHOWED 22% IMPROVEMENT IN WHAT IS EFFECTIVELY THE COGNITIVE FUNCTIONAL SIDE OF PEOPLE'S LIVES.

SO WHILE THE FDA APPROVED ON WHAT IS THE CLEARING UP OF THE AMYLOID, THE TRIALS DID SHOW THAT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FIRST STAGE OF ALZHEIMER'S DEMENTIA, THAT IT CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, AND THAT DIFFERENCE FOR PEOPLE WHO OTHERWISE ARE GOING THROUGH DECLINE IS REAL.

>> AND WHEN YOU SAY -- WHEN THE STUDY SHOWS THAT IT CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

NO ONE IS SAYING THIS COULD BE HARMFUL, IT IS JUST WHETHER OR NOT IT WORKS ON A PARTICULAR PATIENT, TRUE?

>> TRUE.

THE REALITY IS THAT EVERY MEDICATION IS GOING TO COME WITH SIDE EFFECTS, SO THE REALITY IS THAT PART OF WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IF YOU BELIEVE YOU ARE SOMEONE WHO MIGHT BE APPROPRIATE TO TAKE THIS TYPE OF MEDICATION, THAT YOU ALSO EXPLORE WHAT THE SIDE EFFECTS MAY BE AS A RESULT OF TAKING THE MEDICATION, BECAUSE THIS IS ALWAYS A BALANCE WE MAKE WHEN WE DECIDE TO TAKE MEDICATIONS OF ANY KIND.

>> ARE THERE SIDE EFFECTS?

THIS >> YES, SO AS A RESULT OF IT WORKING SPECIFICALLY ON THOSE AMYLOID PLAQUE, THERE IS SOME CORRELATION AROUND HOW THE BRAIN CAN RESPOND.

AGAIN, NOT EVERYONE EXPERIENCED THIS IN THE TRIAL.

BUT THERE WERE SHORT-TERM SIDE EFFECTS EXPERIENCED, THAT HAD A LITTLE BIT TO DO WITH SWELLING OF THE BRAIN, BUT THEY FOUND DURING THE TREATMENT, PEOPLE'S BRAINS ADJUSTED FOUR TO SIX WEEKS INTO THE TREATMENT, SO IT IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING YOU WANT TO TALK WITH YOUR PHYSICIAN ABOUT, AND OF COURSE THERE IS OTHER SIDE EFFECTS LIKE DIZZINESS AND HEADACHES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO CERTAINLY DEPENDING ON THE MEDICATION THAT YOU TAKE, THAT IS A DECISION YOU WANT TO MAKE WITH YOUR TREAT PROVIDER.

>> SO IT SOUNDS IN GENERAL THAT YOU FIND THIS PROMISING.

DO YOU SEE IT AS A BREAK THROUGH IN THE TREATMENT OF ALZHEIMER'S.

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.

IT IS CERTAINLY NOT A CURE, AND I WANT TO BE OPEN ABOUT THIS, THAT THIS IS SOMETHING EARLY IN THE TREATMENT, BUT RIGHT NOW FOR ALL WE KNOW IT IS SOMETHING FOR EARLY IN THE DISEASE COURSE.

IT MAY -- YOU KNOW, SLOW THE COGNITIVE DECLINE, YOU KNOW, AS WITH EVERY MEDICATION, THEY DON'T ALWAYS WORK THE SAME WAY IN DIFFERENT PEOPLE, BUT WHAT THIS ALSO MEANS IS TWO REALLY IMPORTANT THINGS.

ONE IS THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE AN EXPLOSION OF RESEARCH IN THIS AREA.

PEOPLE AND SCIENTISTS AND FUNDERS ARE GOING TO BE MUCH MORE INTERESTED IN LOOKING AT WHEN WE START LOOKING AT TREATING THE UNDERLYING CAUSES OF ALZHEIMER'S, HOW CAN WE FIND NEW WAYS TO TREAT.

SO THIS STANDING ALONE, COULD ALSO LEAD TO MANY TREATMENTS IN THE FUTURE.

JUST AS IMPORTANT IS THAT BECAUSE IT IS SOMETHING THAT REALLY IS AT THAT EARLY STAGE OF THE DISEASE, WE'RE REALLY HOPING THIS WILL ALSO DRIVE AN URGENCY TO DO EARLY DETECTION AND EARLY DIAGNOSIS FOR PEOPLE WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE, AND FRANKLY ALL OTHER DEMENTIA.

>> WE GOT TO BRING UP THE PRICE.

RIGHT NOW IT STANDS AT ABOUT $56,000 A YEAR FOR TREATMENT.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE AROUND ALZHEIMER'S SAY YOU HAVE GOT TO GET THAT DOWN TO 3, 4 , 5, $6,000 A YEAR.

WHAT DO WE MAKE OF THIS.

>> FIRST OFF THAT IS JUST UNACCEPTABLE.

IT IS SO CRITICAL THAT WE GET THE PRICE DOWN TO SOMETHING THAT IS REASONABLE FOR THE -- THE BROAD COMMUNITY.

THIS REALLY -- ALL COMMUNITIES NEED ACCESS TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THIS MEDICATION IF THEY ARE INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD BENEFIT FROM IT.

THE NEXT STEP -- THAT FIRST STEP WAS REALLY GETTING THAT APPROVAL FOR THE MEDICATION IN THE FIRST PLACE.

THEN WE'RE AT THE NEXT STEP, WHICH IS THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH [ INAUDIBLE ] AND BIOAGAIN AROUND THE PRICE, SO WE'RE REALLY COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING THE CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES, AND ALONG WITH OTHER PRIVATE PAYERS TO NEGOTIATE WITH BIOGEN SO THERE AREN'T EXORBITANT OUT OF POCKET COSTS.

IT IS JUST SO CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE AT THE ASSOCIATION ARE INCREDIBLY DEDICATED TO.

WE DO NOT WANT TO SEE CONTINUED HEALTH INEQUITIES AS A RESULT OF LACK OF ACCESS TO A MEDICATION LIKE THIS, AND FOR THE MEDICATIONS TO COME.

>> A WORK IN PROGRESS ON A VARIETY OF LEVELS.

KINSEY McMANUS, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

GREAT INFORMATION.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>>> AND UP NEXT, THE MENTAL TOLL THAT RETURNING TO THE OFFICE IS HAVING ON SOME WORKERS.

>>> EMPLOYERS ARE STARTING TO REQUIRE THEIR EMPLOYEES TO RETURN TO THE OFFICE AS COVID LEVELS FALL AND VACCINE NUMBERS RISE, BUT THIS IS CAUSING SOME FOLKS TO RETHINK THEIR CAREERS AND WHETHER OR NOT THEY SHOULD STAY AT THEIR JOB.

CHRISTINE NEIDER, DEAN OF SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX SHARED SOME INCITED INTO THIS HESITATION ABOUT GOING BACK TO WORK.

CHRISTINE NEIDER, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

THIS IS REALLY INTERESTING.

GOING BACK TO THE OFFICE.

THIS IS QUITE THE DECISION FOR A LOT OF FOLKS, ISN'T IT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT IS A BIG DECISION THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN REALLY CONTEMPLATED FOR OVER A YEAR NOW.

AND IT IS COMING TO A POINT WHERE INDIVIDUALS HAVE TO DECIDE IF THEY REALLY WANT TO GO BACK TO THE OFFICE, OR IF THEY HAVE BEEN COMFORTABLE STAYING AT HOME.

>> TELL US MORE ABOUT THE WORK/LIFE BALANCE AND HOW THE PANDEMIC CHANGED THE WHOLE DYNAMIC.

>> YEAH, IT REALLY DID.

IT WAS ONE OF THOSE AREAS WHERE WE FOCUSED HERE ON A CAREER OPTIMISM INDEX.

AND THE SURVEY TOLD US A LOT ABOUT WHAT INDIVIDUALS ARE WANTING FROM A CAREER PERSPECTIVE, AND MANY INDIVIDUALS HAVE FOCUSED ON WANTING THAT MENTAL WELLNESS FOCUS, AND TO REALLY SAY, I NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M WELL-TAKEN CARE OF, AS WELL AS MY FAMILY.

THAT MENTAL HEALTH IS JUST AS IMPORTANT TO INDIVIDUALS AS THEIR PHYSICAL WELL-BEING, AND DURING THIS PANDEMIC, THAT HAS BECOME MORE AND MORE CLEAR TO INDIVIDUALS TO SIGH, NOW I'M REALLY READY TO MAKE SURE WHAT I'M DOING IS MEANINGFUL, AND HAS PURPOSE, AND THAT IT FITS INTO MY LIFESTYLE.

>> AND YET, HOW MUCH DO FINANCIAL ISSUES COME INTO PLAY HERE?

>> IT IS DEFINITELY A FACTOR FOR PEOPLE.

PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO MAKE MORE SACRIFICES WITH THEIR FINANCES TO SEE IF THAT REALLY IS WHERE THEY WANT TO FOCUS, YOU KNOW, THEIR OVERALL MENTAL AND -- AND FINANCIAL BALANCE AS WELL.

OBVIOUSLY PEOPLE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR FAMILIES ARE WELL-TAKEN CARE OF, BUT THEY ARE WILLING TO MAKE MORE SACRIFICES TO SAY, DO I NEED THAT ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL BOOST, ARE WE COMFORTABLE LIVING IN THIS TYPE OF LIFESTYLE WE HAVE ADJUSTED TO IN THE PAST YEAR.

>> HOW DO YOU FIGURE OUT WHEN GOING BACK TO THE OFFICE JUST ISN'T THE RIGHT THING FOR YOU?

>> I THINK PEOPLE WHO REALLY KNOW IF THEY ARE FEELING LIKE THEY ARE STRUGGLING WITH KEEPING UP WITH THINGS AT HOME, IF THEY ARE UNHAPPY EVEN JUST TRAVELING IN A COMMUTE.

IF THEY GET TO THE OFFICE AND FEEL LIKE THIS JUST ISN'T THE PLACE FOR THEM, I THINK THEY WILL KNOW PRETTY QUICKLY.

I THINK THEY'LL GIVE IT A CHANCE, THOUGH, AND SEE IF IT IS JUST AN ADJUSTMENT AT FIRST, OR A CHANGE IN THEIR LIFESTYLE, BUT PEOPLE HAVE TO FOCUS IN ON THAT AND DECIDE IS THAT WHERE I WANT TO SPEND MY TIME, OR WAS I HAPPIER TRYING TO BALANCE IT AT HOME WHEN THE KIDS WERE GOING TO SCHOOL, BUT PEOPLE HAVE ADJUSTED AND MADE IT WORK, SO THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DECIDE WHAT FITS AND FEELS BEST FOR THEM.

>> BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, DID MAJOR DISRUPTIONS LIKE WHAT WE JUST SAW IN THE PAST YEAR OR SO, BUT BEFORE ALL OF THIS HAPPENED, SOMETHING MAJOR DOES THAT PLAY INTO FOLKS CHANGING CAREERS OR DECIDING I JUST GOT TO DO SOMETHING ELSE?

>> I THINK WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND EXCITING IS THAT PEOPLE ARE VERY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THEIR CAREER OPPORTUNITIES.

EVEN AFTER THE PANDEMIC IN THE LAST YEAR, WHAT WE HAVE ALL GONE THROUGH, THEY FEEL LIKE THEY ARE PREPARED.

THEY FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE THE SKILL SETS TO MOVE INTO THE RIGHT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM IN A CAREER, AND WHERE THAT IS GOING TO TAKE THEM.

SO THERE IS A LOT OF OPTIMISM OUT THERE, WHICH IS GREAT TO SEE.

BUT THEY ALSO WANT TO STAY CONNECTED TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS, AND HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES IN THEIR PARTICULAR FIELD, SO AS EMPLOYERS, IT'S IMPORTANT TO GIVE OUR EMPLOYEES TO SAY, IS THIS A GOOD FIT FOR YOU?

AND ADJUSTING THAT BASED ON THIS LAST YEAR, BUT THE PANDEMIC CERTAINLY TAUGHT US THAT WE HAVE GOT MORE RESILIENCE THAN MAYBE WE THOUGHT PREVIOUSLY AS WELL.

>> AND LAST POINT HERE, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS ISN'T JUST SOME RASH JUDGMENT, THAT WHEN LIFE ADJUSTS YOU SIT THERE AND GO WHAT HAPPENED?

>> RIGHT, EXACTLY.

EVERYBODY HAS TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND MAKE SURE THIS IS THE RIGHT FIT FOR THEIR FAMILY AND THEIR SITUATION.

IT IS SOMETHING YOU WANT TO GIVE SOME THOUGHT TO FOR SURE, NOT TO MAKE DECISIONS WHERE YOU FEEL EMOTIONAL.

TAKE SOME TIME TO REALLY THINK IT THROUGH, BUT PEOPLE ARE FINDING THAT ONCE THEY THINK IT THROUGH, THEY WILL FIND THE BEST DECISION THAT WORKS FOR THEM.

BUT DEFINITELY TAKE SOME TIME.

AND IN A YEAR FROM NOW, YOU CAN SAY I MADE THE RIGHT DECISION FOR ME, MY CAREER, AND FOR MY PERSONAL SITUATION.

CHRISTINE NEIDER, UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY.

♪♪ >>> HIGH-TECH DEVICES LIKE ECHO DOTS AND ALEXA CAN MAKE LIFE A LITTLE BIT MORE CONVENIENT, BUT THERE ARE PRIVACY ISSUES WITH CONNECTING AND SHARING DEVICES OVER THE INTERNET.

WE SPOKE WITH TODD KARTCHNER, ATTORNEY AND CHIEF PRIVACY OFFICER WITH FENNEMORE CRAIG ABOUT THE INTERNET OF THINGS.

TODD, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE INTERNET OF THINGS, IOT, WHAT IS THE INTERNET OF THINGS?

>> IT'S JUST THE COMMON TERM WE HAVE COME TO USE FOR ANYTHING DIGITAL.

THE INTERNET ITSELF, BUT INTERNET COMMERCE, ANYTHING THAT -- THAT WE'RE NOW DOING OVER COME PEWTERS IS ESSENTIALLY THE INTERNET OF THINGS.

>> SO ANYTHING THAT YOU YOURSELF, YOU ARE CONNECTING, YOU ARE SHARE, AT HOME, ANYWHERE, THAT'S PART OF THE IOT?

>> IT IS FROM YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS.

WE'RE ALL CONNECTED DIGITALLY NOW IT SEEMS FOR THE MOST PART.

SO THAT'S THE TERM WE HAVE COME UP TO DESCRIBE THAT.

>> SO WHEN YOU USE THE INTERNET OF THINGS, ARE YOU SHARING -- FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD THINK YOU ARE SHARING INFORMATION.

HOW PERSONAL DOES THAT INFORMATION GET?

>> IT DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU ARE DOING, AND HOW WELL PROTECTED YOU ARE.

ANY TIME, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT YOU ORDER SOMETHING ONLINE, YOU ARE USING PERSONAL INFORMATION, CREDIT CARD INFORMATION.

SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO USE YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, SO DEPENDING ON HOW PROTECTED YOUR SYSTEM IS, AND THE SYSTEM OF THE VENDOR YOU ARE USING, THAT INFORMATION CAN BE POTENTIALLY EXPOSED.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, WHO ARE YOU SHARING THIS INFORMATION WITH?

>> SOMETIMES IT'S VENDERS THAT YOU PURCHASE FROM.

SOMETIMES, FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU SIGN UP FOR A PASZPORT OF THINGS LIKE THAT, YOU ARE PUTTING INFORMATION OUT THERE.

THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT TRANSACTIONS THAT WE'RE ALL INVOLVED IN.

>> THIS PERSONAL INFORMATION, I WOULD THINK, COULD ONLY GO SO FAR IN CERTAIN RESPECTS, BUT IF YOU ARE ON THE INTERNET OF THINGS, AND YOU HAVE GOT THIS GOING HERE AND THAT GOING THERE, COULD ONE OF THE PARTICIPANTS, I GUESS YOU COULD CALL THEM -- COULD THEY REACH IN DEEPER THAN YOU ARE AWARE OF TO GET YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION?

>> THEY CAN.

FACEBOOK, WHEN MARK ZUCKERBERG WENT TO CONGRESS TO ACCOUNT FOR SOME OF FACEBOOK'S DATA MINING PRACTICES, IT BECAME APPARENT, THAT FOR EXAMPLE, THEY WERE USING THEIR PARTICIPANTS BIOMETRIC FACIAL DATA, WHICH IN ORDER TO -- BASICALLY WHAT THEY ARE DOING IS THEY ARE USING YOUR PICTURE, YOUR FACIAL DATA TO TRACK ANYWHERE YOU COME UP, WHETHER IT'S ON INSTAGRAM, WHETHER YOUR PICTURE IS ON A WEBSITE, AND THEY WERE TRACKING YOUR INFORMATION THROUGH THAT TYPE OF SYSTEM, AND IT WAS BEING DONE WITHOUT THEIR PARTICIPANTS, IN MANY CASES THEIR -- THEIR KNOWLEDGE, THAT IT WAS EVEN HAPPENING, MUCH LESS THEIR CONSENT.

>> OKAY.

HOW DO YOU ENSURE THAT CONSENT IS NEEDED FOR ANY KIND OF DATA TO BE MINED LIKE THAT?

>> WELL, THE -- SO THERE'S REALLY TWO PARTS TO THAT QUESTION.

THE FIRST IS, WHETHER THERE ARE LAWS IN PLACE THAT REQUIRE THAT IN THE FIRST PLACE?

AND AS FAR AS THE STATES GO, THERE IS REALLY ONLY THREE STATES IN PLACE THAT HAVE CONSUMER PRIVACY LAWS THAT -- THAT NECESSARILY CONTROL OR ALLOW A PARTICIPANT OR A CUSTOMER TO CONTROL WHAT IS BEING DONE WITH THEIR DATA, AND THAT'S CALIFORNIA, VIRGINIA, AND NEVADA.

THERE ARE OTHER STATES, INCLUDING ARIZONA, THAT ARE CONTEMPLATING SIMILAR LAWS, BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE REALLY ONLY THREE STATES THAT ARE DOING THAT.

BUT BEYOND THAT, IN ORDER FOR A COMPANY TO REALLY GET A PARTICIPANT CONSENT, FIRST THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN IN CLEAR TERMS WHAT DATA THEY ARE ACQUIRING, AND HOW THEY ARE USING, WITH IN MANY CASES MOST OF THESE VENDORS AND COMPANIES DON'T, AND ONCE THAT NOTICE HAS BEEN PROVIDED, THEN REQUIRING A PRESIDENTANT TO OPT IN.

TO GIVE THEIR EXPRESS CONSENT BEFORE USING THAT DATA, AND AGAIN, IN MANY INSTANCES THAT IS NOT BEING DONE.

>> WHAT ABOUT OPTING OUT?

DO YOU HAVE TO EXPRESSLY SAY I WANT OUT OF HERE?

DO YOU HAVE TO SPECIFICALLY SAY, LEAVE ME ALONE?

>> IN MANY CASES, UNFORTUNATELY THAT IS WHAT COMPANIES ARE CHOOSING, AND THEY ARE -- THEY ARE CREATING A SYSTEM WHERE YOU ARE NECESSARILY INCLUDED UNLESS YOU EXPRESSLY SAY YOU ARE OPTING OUT.

AND UNFORTUNATELY IN THOSE TYPE OF SITUATIONS, MANY TIMES THE CONSUMER, THE CUSTOMER ISN'T EVEN AWARE THAT THEY ARE A PARTICIPANT, SO REALLY, THE CONSENT, ALTHOUGH IT'S IMPLIED IN MANY CASES, HASN'T BEEN GIVEN.

>> SO WHAT CAN CONSUMERS DO, WHAT CAN WE ALL DO TO ENSURE THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING OVER THE INTERNET, WHETHER IT'S THE INTERNET OF THINGS, OR SPECIFICALLY TARGETED SPOTS THAT OUR PERSONAL INFORMATION IS PROTECTED?

THIS >> WELL, ONE OF THE EASIEST THINGS IS TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE USING STRONG PASS WORDS.

MAKE SURE YOU ARE NOT USING THE SAME PASSWORD FOR MORE THAN ONE SYSTEM, AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF APPS OUT THERE THAT LET YOU TRACK YOUR PASSWORDS SO YOU CAN KEEP THEM STRAIGHT, BUT BEYOND THAT, IT'S JUST TRYING TO BE AWARE OF WHERE YOU ARE GIVING PERSONAL INFORMATION, AND THEN HAVING SOME AWARENESS OF -- OF WHAT IS BEING DONE WITH THAT, AND TO GET TO THAT STATE, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO REACH OUT TO THEIR CONGRESS PEOPLE AND TRY TO PUSH TO GET SOME OF THESE CONSUMER PRIVACY LAWS PASSED, SO THAT CONSUMERS AND CUSTOMERS HAVE MORE CONTROL OVER THEIR DATA.

TODD KARTCHNER, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

GREAT INFORMATION.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

♪♪ >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON CRONKITE NEWS, NEW MATS ARE IMPROVING BEACH ACCESS IN CALIFORNIA ON BREAK IT DOWN, WHY SOME PARENTS ARE NOT CONVINCED THAT THEIR CHILDREN SHOULD BE VACCINATED.