Author archives

Effective Counterterrorism and the Limited Role of Predictive Data Mining

Effective Counterterrorism and the Limited Role of Predictive Data Mining, by Jeff Jonas [engineer and chief scientist with IBM’s Entity Analytic Solutions Group] and Jim Harper [director of information policy studies at the Cato Institute]. “Though data mining has many valuable uses, it is not well suited to the terrorist discovery problem. It would be …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, E-Government, Government Documents, Privacy

EPA Responds to Protests Over Library Closures

Follow up to recent postings on opposition by public interest groups, members of Congress, library associations, librarians, and scientists, to the closure of EPA libraries throughout the country, today this EPA press release stated: “The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is providing broader access to a larger audience by making agency library materials available through its …

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

Paper Reports on State Department Use of Google to Identify Iranian Sanctions' Targets

Washington Post: Seeking Iran Intelligence, U.S. Tries Google – Internet Search Yields Names Cited in U.N. Draft Resolution “When the State Department recently asked the CIA for names of Iranians who could be sanctioned for their involvement in a clandestine nuclear weapons program, the agency refused, citing a large workload and a desire to protect …

Subjects: E-Government, Government Documents, Search Engines

Telephone Records and Privacy Protection Act Sent to President for Signature

Telephone Records and Privacy Protection Act bill [H.R. 4709] passed in the Senate by Unanimous Consent on December 8, 2006 – To amend title 18, United States Code, to strengthen protections for law enforcement officers and the public by providing criminal penalties for the fraudulent acquisition or unauthorized disclosure of phone records. Press release: “…U.S. …

Subjects: Congress, ID Theft, Privacy

Brookings Analysis of the Iraq Study Group Report

“On December 7, leading Brookings experts will examine the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group and its impact on U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. Participants include Michael O’Hanlon, senior fellow, the Brookings Institution; Kenneth Pollack, senior fellow and director of research, Saban Center for Middle East Policy; and Bruce Riedel, senior fellow, Saban …

Subjects: Government Documents