Author archives

ISPs Provide User Data to Gov't

This Forbes article addresses the changing landscape of ISP liability in regard to providing the government with access to personal data on subscribers, as well as to their IT infrastructures, to facilitate surveillance of customers. The legal issues inherent in such actions have shifted significantly with the passage of the Homeland Security Bill (H.R 5005), …

Subjects: Internet, Privacy

Overview of OPM's E-Gov Initiatives

If you are interested in the President’s e-government plan, this OPM site provides an overview of the E-Clearance, E-Payroll, Enterprise Human Resources Initiative, E-Training and Recruitment One-Stop projects, including objectives, current status and future milestones.

Subjects: E-Government

How to Obtain a DMCA Exemption

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) published a paper by Seth Finkelstein titled How To Win (DMCA) Exemptions And Influence Policy, which includes key links concerning the act and carefully documents specific directions and references essential to apply for an exemption.

Subjects: Copyright

Disappearing Health Data From Gov't Websites

Data on health issues including abortions and contraception have been removed from government web sites, and complaints are escalating that such actions are motivated by the President’s political agenda. See my previous posting on this topic here, which includes references to Congressional concerns over this specific pattern of censoring health related data.

Subjects: Censorship, Freedom of Information, Government Documents

California and Privacy Legislation

The Privacy Journal conducted a survey of state legislation related to privacy issues, and ranked California at the top of the list due to its pro-active institution of protections for its citizens, via legislation, but also through the courts and in its constitution. This information comes from the organization’s Compilation of State and Federal Privacy …

Subjects: Privacy

Survey of Online Campaign Finance Info

The Center for Governmental Studies published the Electronic Filing and Disclosure Survey, 2002 Update, which is a 27 page report in PDF, encompassing answers to 23 questions. The document includes data from the federal government, 50 states, and six Canadian provinces. Virtually all of the jurisdictions surveyed provide online campaign finance, lobbyist and personal financial …

Subjects: E-Government, Freedom of Information