Category «Privacy»

CDT Calls for Reform of National Security Letters

“CDT is calling on Congress to require judicial approval of FBI efforts to access the sensitive records of US citizens. Recent revelations regarding violations in the use of so-called “national security letters” have shown that no matter how many internal controls the FBI adopts, self-certification in not sufficient when the government is obtaining the sensitive …

Subjects: E-Government, Government Documents, Privacy

Privacy’s Other Path: Recovering the Law of Confidentiality

Neil M. Richards & Daniel J. Solove, Privacy’s Other Path: Recovering the Law of Confidentiality, 96 Georgetown Law Journal __ (forthcoming 2007) “The article examines a puzzling and fascinating issue in the development of privacy law. According to the conventional wisdom, Samuel Warren and Louis Brandeis created the right to privacy in their 1890 article. …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Legal Research, Privacy

ACLU Refutes FBI’s Claims of “Unintentional” Patriot Act Abuses

Follow-up to March 8, 2007 posting, DOJ OIG Report Documents FBI Underreporting Use of National Security Letter, this from the ACLU: “Claims that the FBI’s reported Patriot Act abuses were the “unintentional” result of outmoded computer systems and human error are not credible, the American Civil Liberties Union said today, citing evidence that agents contracted …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, E-Government, Government Documents, Patriot Act, Privacy

House Hearing on Combating Pretexting

Combating Pretexting: H.R. 936, Prevention of Fraudulent Access to Phone Records Act, Committee on Energy and Commerce, Friday, March 9, 2007 Witness List and Prepared Testimony EPIC: “In testimony before the House Energy and Commerce Committee, EPIC Executive Director Marc Rotenberg expressed support for H.R. 936, the Prevention of Fraudulent Access to Phone Records Act. …

Subjects: Congress, E-Commerce, Legislation, Privacy

DOJ OIG Report Documents FBI Underreporting Use of National Security Letter

The Blotter (ABC News): “The FBI repeatedly failed to follow the strict guidelines of the Patriot Act when its agents took advantage of a new provision allowing the FBI to obtain phone and financial records without a court order, according to a report to be made public Friday by the Justice Department’s Inspector General.” A …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, E-Government, Government Documents, Legal Research, Libraries, Patriot Act, Privacy

SEC Suspends Trading Of 35 Companies Touted In Spam Email Campaigns

SEC press release: “The Securities and Exchange Commission this morning suspended trading in the securities of 35 companies that have been the subject of recent and repeated spam email campaigns (see examples). The trading suspensions – the most ever aimed at spammed companies – were ordered because of questions regarding the adequacy and accuracy of …

Subjects: Cybercrime, E-Government, E-Mail, Government Documents, Privacy

FTC Unveils Practical Suggestions for Businesses on Safeguarding Personal Information

Press release: “The Federal Trade Commission is offering a new guide for businesses with practical suggestions on safeguarding sensitive data. The 24-page brochure can help businesses of all sizes protect their customers’ and employees’ personal information.” Protecting Personal Information: A Guide for Business Speech: Building A Culture of Privacy and Security — Together, The International …

Subjects: E-Government, Government Documents, Privacy

Will ICANN Approve Limiting Access to Domain Registery Data?

Web Site Owners May Get Tougher to Find – Proposal could aid infringers on the Net, by Lynne Marek, The National Law Journal: ICANN – Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers – is considering a new policy that will allow domain name holders to keep their registration information private.” EPIC Supports Privacy for WHOIS …

Subjects: Domain Names, Internet, Patent and Trademark, Privacy

DOJ Seeking Industry Cooperation in Tracking File Uploading Activity

News.com: “The Bush administration has accelerated its Internet surveillance push by proposing that Web sites must keep records of who uploads photographs or videos in case police determine the content is illegal and choose to investigate, CNET News.com has learned. That proposal surfaced Wednesday in a private meeting during which U.S. Department of Justice officials, …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Libraries, Patriot Act, Privacy

Upcoming GAO Report Details Analysis, Dissemination, Visualization, Insight and Semantic Enhancement (ADVISE) Program

Washington Post, February 28, 2007: New Profiling Program Raises Privacy Concerns: “The Department of Homeland Security is testing a data-mining program that would attempt to spot terrorists by combing vast amounts of information about average Americans, such as flight and hotel reservations.” Christian Science Monitor, February 9, 2006: US plans massive data sweep – Little-known …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, E-Commerce, E-Mail, Government Documents, Internet, Knowledge Management, Privacy

REAL ID Proposed Guidelines Issued

Press release: “The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced draft regulations in the form of a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to establish minimum standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards in accordance with the REAL ID Act of 2005. These proposed regulations set standards for states to meet the requirements of the REAL …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, E-Government, Government Documents, Privacy