Day archives: February 23rd, 2012

Bioethics Commission Posts Additional Documents on Public Health Service STD Studies in Guatemala

“Today the Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues posted on its website hundreds of supporting documents related to its investigation into the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) studies conducted in Guatemala in the 1940s. The documents include a spreadsheet that Commission staff painstakingly created to document the research subjects in Guatemala. In addition, …

Subjects: E-Government, Government Documents, Internet, Legal Research, Legislation

Lawyers Sue Westlaw and Lexis Over Publication of Briefs

Via WSJ Law Blog: “Two lawyers are taking on legal database providers Westlaw and LexisNexis with what appears to be a novel interpretation of copyright law. Edward L. White, a Oklahoma City, Okla., lawyer, and Kenneth Elan, claim WestLaw and LexisNexis have engaged in “unabashed wholesale copying of thousands of copyright-protected works created by, and …

Subjects: Intellectual Property, Legal Research

FTC Commissioner Warns of International Threats to Internet Freedom

Via WSJ, this commentary by FTC Commission Robert K. McDowell: “On Feb. 27, a diplomatic process will begin in Geneva that could result in a new treaty giving the United Nations unprecedented powers over the Internet. Dozens of countries, including Russia and China, are pushing hard to reach this goal by year’s end. As Russian …

Subjects: Domain Names, Freedom of Information, Internet, Legal Research

EPIC: State Attorneys General Cite Privacy Risks to Android Users, Demand Meeting with Google

EPIC: “Attorneys general from 36 states and territories sent a letter to Google raising new questions about the plan to consolidate user data on March 1. “The new policy forces consumers to allow information across all of these products to be shared, without giving them the ability to opt out.,” the letter says. The state …

Subjects: E-Commerce, Legal Research, Privacy

Census Releases Graphs on Historical Voting Trends

“The Census Bureau has released 10 graphics that highlight national trends in voting by race, age, education, and other characteristics since 1964. Four graphics address presidential elections, four address congressional elections and two address all national elections. All are based on previously released tabulations from the November Voting and Registration Supplement of the Current Population …

Subjects: Government Documents

EFF – How to Remove Your Google Search History Before Google's New Privacy Policy Takes Effect

EFF shows you how: “It is important to note that disabling Web History in your Google account will not prevent Google from gathering and storing this information and using it for internal purposes. More information here. On March 1st, Google will implement its new, unified privacy policy, which will affect data Google has collected on …

Subjects: Privacy

CRS: Representatives and Senators: Trends in Member Characteristics Since 1945

Representatives and Senators: Trends in Member Characteristics Since 1945, R. Eric Petersen, Coordinator – Specialist in American National Government – February 17, 2012 “Questions about the characteristics of Members of Congress, including their age, education, previous occupations, and other descriptors, are of ongoing interest to Members, congressional staff, and constituents. Some of these questions may …

Subjects: Congress, Government Documents