Category «Civil Liberties»

License Plate Readers Are Creating a US-Wide Database of Political Lawn Signs and Bumper Stickers

Wired: While people put up signs in their yards or bumper stickers on their cars to inform people of their views and potentially influence those around them, the ACLU’s Stanley says it’s intended for “human-scale visibility.” not to that of machines. “They may want to express themselves in their communities, to their neighbors, but they …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, E-Records, Internet, Legal Research, Legislation, Privacy, Transportation

Heritage Foundation Staffers Flood Federal Agencies With Thousands of Information Requests

ProPublica: “Three investigators for the Heritage Foundation have deluged federal agencies with thousands of Freedom of Information Act requests over the past year, requesting a wide range of information on government employees, including communications that could be seen as a political liability by conservatives. Among the documents they’ve sought are lists of agency personnel and …

Subjects: Censorship, Civil Liberties, E-Government, E-Mail, E-Records, Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Legal Research

Wyden Introduces Sweeping Court Reforms to Restore Public Trust as Supreme Court Faces Legitimacy Crisis

“Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today announced the introduction of new legislation to restore balance among the three branches of government, increase transparency to improve public trust in America’s courts, and modernize the courts to ensure greater access to justice for more Americans. In the wake of recent rulings upending decades of precedent and evidence of …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Courts, Government Documents, Legal Research

Introducing a New Resource – Self-Managed Abortion: The Global Legal Landscape

“Explore legal barriers to accessing self-managed abortion in 35 countries and select U.S. states with this new online tool. Medications like misoprostol and mifepristone offer people a safe, private, and effective way to self-manage their abortion outside a clinical setting during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. And recently, the World Health Organization recognized self-managed …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Education, Health Care, Legal Research, Medicine, Privacy

Do you need ID to vote?

Select your state to check the ID rules for voting in person or by mail. Strict Voter ID States – Voters need to confirm their identity with an ID when they vote in person. If you don’t bring your ID, you may cast a provisional ballot but you need to take additional steps for it …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, E-Government

DOL Outlines How Employers Can Avoid Discrimination in AI Hiring

Bloomberg Law: “The US Labor Department rolled out a new website Tuesday to instruct employers and workers on how to ensure artificial intelligence technology doesn’t lead to discrimination or limit accessibility for disabled job seekers. The guidance is the latest release tied to President Joe Biden’s executive order on the safe development of AI. The …

Subjects: AI, Civil Liberties, Education, Government Documents, Legal Research

Gen Z’s Guide To Project 2025

Voters of Tomorrow: This isn’t the future Gen Z asked for. “Gen Z knows what kind of a future we want to build. We want a future where we can afford basic living costs, live free of the burdens of overwhelming student loan debt, have the freedom to make the reproductive healthcare choices that are …

Subjects: Censorship, Civil Liberties, Economy, Education, Environmental Law, Free Speech, Health Care, Legal Research

Banned Books Week

American Library Association: “In a time of deep political divides, library staff across the country are facing an overwhelming number of book ban attempts. In 2023 alone, the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 1,247 efforts to censor books and other resources in libraries—an increase of 65% from the year before. In total, …

Subjects: Censorship, Civil Liberties, Education, Legal Research, Libraries

A National Study of Sexual Harassment and Assault in the United States

Raj A, Rao N, Patel P, Kearl H. #MeToo 2024: A National Study of Sexual Harassment and Assault in the United States. Newcomb Institute. Tulane University. September 2024. https://newcomb.tulane.edu/content/metoo-research.  New research from Tulane University’s Newcomb Institute found that not only have most American women experienced sexual harassment or assault before even reaching adulthood, but very …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Health Care, Legal Research

Omnipresent AI cameras will ensure good behavior

Ars Technica: “On Thursday, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison shared his vision for an AI-powered surveillance future during a company financial meeting, reports Business Insider. During an investor Q&A, Ellison described a world where artificial intelligence systems would constantly monitor citizens through an extensive network of cameras and drones, stating this would ensure both police and …

Subjects: AI, Censorship, Civil Liberties, Free Speech, Legal Research, Privacy

Pete Recommends – Weekly highlights on cyber security issues, September 14, 2024

Via LLRX – Pete Recommends – Weekly highlights on cyber security issues, September 14, 2024 – Privacy and cybersecurity issues impact every aspect of our lives – home, work, travel, education, finance, health and medical records – to name but a few. On a weekly basis Pete Weiss highlights articles and information that focus on …

Subjects: AI, Civil Liberties, Cybercrime, Cybersecurity, Government Documents, Privacy, Social Media