Author archives

Net Gambling Bill

The Unlawful Internet Gambling Funding Prohibition Act H.R.556, passed the House and was referred to the Senate. The bill would prevent banks, financial institutions and credit card companies from transferring payments to Internet gambling sites, most of which are offshore.

Subjects: Legislation

The Daily Enron

If you are interested in following the developments in the Enron case, a former hot news story that has been moved to the back burner in recent months, then visit The Daily Enron. This public interest site maintains an active collection of news, commentary, book reviews and documents on corporate and government accountability.

Subjects: Internet

Supreme Court Will Hear Eldred v. Ashcroft October 9

On October 9, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear the much heralded case of Eldred v. Ashcroft that challenges the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act (CTEA), which extended by 20 years (and in some cases even longer) the duration of existing and future copyrights. Stanford Law School Professor Lawrence Lessig, will represent Eric Eldred, …

Subjects: Courts

Canadian Privacy Commissioner

The Privacy Commissioner of Canda functions as an independent advocate on behalf of citizens with the power to investigate complaints and present cases to the Federal Court, as well as to research and publish advisory reports on privacy issues. The Commission’s website, in French and English versions, is simple, well designed and content rich. There …

Subjects: Privacy

Online Filing of Court Records in Ohio Raises Concerns

The Hamilton County Clerk of Courts, Ohio, website has generated controversy as a result of the state’s Open Records Law , (see Chapter 149 section 43), allowing online access to “sensitive personal data” concerning Ohio citizens. James C. Cicell, Clerk of the Courts, has proposed safeguards for data that still protect the dissemination of court …

Subjects: Privacy

Markle Foundation Report on ICANN

A report commissioned by the Markle Foundation, “Enhancing Legitimacy in the Internet Corporation for Assigning Names and Numbers: Accountable and Transparent Governance Structures, has been published which recommends specific actions that ICANN can take to improve confidence and trust in its actions as well as focus its mission.

Subjects: Domain Names

Cyberspace Law and Policy

The UCLA Online Institute for Cyberspace Law and Policy was established in 1995 to disseminate resources on issues including freedom of expression, intellectual property, privacy and e-commerce. Especially useful are the site’s “Cyberspace Law Bibliography” of print and online sources, and links to “Top Internet-Related Cases and Statutes (U.S.).”

Subjects: Internet

Washington State Provides New Legislative Online Service

Washington state, via their Department of Social and Health Services Legislative Relations website, is working on a project to make available to the public “all legislatively mandated reports,” beginning with those from December 2001. The reports are posted according to topic, which range from Aging and Elderly Services to Juvenile Rehabilitation.

Subjects: E-Government