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ICSU (International Council of Scientific Unions) launched a new online global discussion forum focused on ensuring universal access to scientific knowledge. There are currently 26 articles posted on the site from authors around the world, and issues addressed include copyright, privacy, digital rights and the free and unfettered publication and distribution of scientific research via …
Congress has approved a far reaching preservation program which will allow the Library of Congress to collect and provide access to a potentially vast database of digital content. The Librarian of Congress issued a press release on February 14 detailing the background and goals of this pioneering $99.8 million project, Preserving Our Digital Heritage: Plan …
This ACLU press release contends that the recently released draft of what has been dubbed Patriot II, tentatively titled the Domestic Security Enhancement Act of 2003, will erode basic constitutional civil liberties. Also see this OMB Watch analysis of how the Patriot II legislation will impact the public’s right to know.
The Center for Democracy and Technolgy (CDT) filed an amicus brief (PDF) in the Supreme Court on February 10 in the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) case, supporting the lower court decision (210 F. Supp 2d 401) overturning the requirement that federally funded libraries must filter Internet access to patrons. See also the library of …
According to Mary Alice Baish, Associate Washington Affairs Representative, American Association of Law Libraries (AALL), there are more than 30 organizations who support providing public access to all CRS reports on the Internet. Please see Senate Resolution 54, submitted by Senators Leahy, Lieberman, and Harkin, “…to make Congressional Research Service, CRS, reports, and other Senate …
Congressional Research Service Products: Taxpayers Should Have Easy Access. From the report: “$81 million of tax-payer money funded the Congressional Research Service (CRS) in FY 2002. CRS authors products at the request of current Members of Congress, many of whom become lobbyists, but CRS products are made difficult if not impossible for the public to …
Palo Alto California’s Mayor Dena Mossar announced a settlement of lawsuits brought against the City Council by The Palo Alto Weekly and the San Jose Mercury News concerning e-mail correspondence that was not disclosed to the public. The Council held a closed door meeting on October 30, 2002 during which time they disseminated e-mail concerning …
GPO Access recently made available The Privacy Act Issuances, 1995, 1997 1999, and 2001 Compilations Online. The fully searchable database uses a template to enter information in the following fields: Full text of the Privacy Act Notices, Agency, System Number, or System Name, and also supports Boolean searching. The data entails “descriptions of Federal agency …
Sometimes all you need is a simple, clear picture to see the implications of complex issues. This Reuters graphic illustrates the history of the U.S. Budget Surplus/Deficit from the Presidency of Lyndon Johnson in 1963 through the current Bush administration.
EPIC announced it filed an amicus brief (PDF) with the Supreme Court in Department of the Treasury, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms v. City of Chicago. The case involves the Freedom of Information Act and privacy issues related to witholding data on the illegal purchase of firearms in the city. See this EPIC page …
In a follow-up to my recent post on fraud in the library/school E-Rate fund, a preliminary investigation has now been launched, at the direction of House Committee on Energy and Commerce Chairman W.J. “Billy” Tauzin. Tauzin is a vocal critic of the program, and through his spokesman stated, “Schools are hooked up to the Internet …
The Buying of the President 2004 is a new searchable database from the Center for Public Integrity. This is a terrific resource, and is well worth a visit. A press release about the database is here, and indicates that there are currently 200 documents available on the financial history of the declared candidates, as well …
