Author archives

CIA Provides Documentation of Presidential Order on Detention Facilities Abroad

Press release: “In response to an ongoing lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union, the CIA has acknowledged the existence of two documents authorizing it to detain and interrogate terrorism suspects overseas. For more than two years, the CIA had refused to either deny or confirm the existence of the documents and had argued …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Government Documents, Legal Research

SEC Enhances Online Search Capabilities for Investors

Press release: “Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Christopher Cox today announced that investors are now able to search the contents of the disclosure documents filed electronically with the SEC using a new full-text search tool on the Commission’s website. The newly searchable information includes registration statements, annual and quarterly reports, and other filings by companies …

Subjects: E-Government, Government Documents, Legal Research, Securities Law

DOJ Releases Expert's Report On Google Child Online Protection Act Case

Follow-up to previous postings related to the DOJ’s subpoena early this year, to obtain Google search data, news via Seth Finkelstein, posted copies of the following reports (PDF) released today: Main Report of Philip B. Stark, Ph.D, 8 May 2006, Redacted, ACLU v. Gonzales, Civ. Action No. 98-5591 Supplement: Rebuttal Expert Report and rule 26(e) …

Subjects: Government Documents, Legal Research, Privacy, Search Engines

Coast Guard Begins Biometric Collection Program to Deter Illegal Entry into U.S. Territory by Sea

Press release: “The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) began a pilot program today that will collect biometric information from illegal migrants interdicted while attempting entry into U.S. territory through the body of water between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico known as the Mona Passage. The U.S. Coast Guard will compare the digital fingerprints …

Subjects: Government Documents

Court Shuts Down Media Motor Spyware Operation

Press release: “A U.S. district court has shut down an operation that secretly downloaded multiple malevolent software programs, including spyware, onto millions of computers without consumers’ consent, degrading their computers’ performance, spying on them, and exposing them to a barrage of disruptive advertisements. The Federal Trade Commission has asked the court to order a permanent …

Subjects: Courts, Government Documents, PC Security, Privacy

GAO Report Reviews Funding for Global War On Terrorism

Global War On Terrorism: Fiscal Year 2006 Obligation Rates Are Within Funding Levels and Significant Multiyear Procurement Funds Will Likely Remain Available for Use in Fiscal Year 2007, GAO-07-76, and Highlights, November 13, 2006. “As of June 2006, which represents 9 months (75 percent) of fiscal year 2006, the military services have reported obligating about …

Subjects: Congress, E-Government, Government Documents

Skelton to Introduce Bill to Extend Special Inspector General for Iraq

Press release: “Today House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Ike Skelton (MO) will introduce legislation to improve the ability of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGR) to investigate and hold accountable the spending of billions of dollars in reconstruction funds. Ranking Member Skelton’s bill removes the arbitrary termination date of October 2007, as …

Subjects: Government Documents

State Department’s 2006 Designations of Countries of Particular Concern for Severe Violations of Religious Freedom

Press release, Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom John V. Hanford III: “…Today the Department of State transmitted to Congress the 2006 Designations of Countries of Particular Concern, or CPCs, for Severe Violations of Religious Freedom. Secretary Rice designated one new CPC, Uzbekistan, and re-designated seven countries which were on the CPC list last year: Burma, …

Subjects: Government Documents