Category «Privacy»

FBI Acknowledges Monitoring Websites of Range of Advocacy Groups

FBI says it has files on ACLU, Greenpeace, other rights groups Large Volume of F.B.I. Files Alarms U.S. Activist Groups: “The Federal Bureau of Investigation has collected at least 3,500 pages of internal documents in the last several years on a handful of civil rights and antiwar protest groups in what the groups charge is …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Internet, Privacy

Commerce Committee Leaders Introduce ID Theft Protection Act

Press release: “A bipartisan coalition of Senate Commerce Committee leaders today introduced comprehensive legislation (The Identity Theft Protection Act, S.1408) that protects consumers from identity theft. The bill sets national standards for notifying consumers of data breaches, requires businesses to improve their safeguards for sensitive consumer information, gives consumers the right to freeze their credit …

Subjects: Congress, ID Theft, Legislation, Privacy

Portions of Patriot Act on Intelligence Law Made Permanent by House Committee Vote Today

H.R. 3199, To extend and modify authorities needed to combat terrorism, and for other purposes. Introduced July 11, 2005 U.S. Newswire – “The House Judiciary Committee today passed legislation (H.R. 3199) reauthorizing the USA-PATRIOT Act by a 23-to-14 vote with 2 Members voting present. The Committee adopted some of the dozens of amendments it considered …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Congress, Libraries, Patriot Act, Privacy

Wiretapping In-Flight Passenger Internet and Wireless Communications

Wired reports today that the DOJ, FBI and DHS filed comments (23 pages, PDF) with the FCC seeking authority to require carriers to supply access to passenger in-flight communications “processed to and from broadband enabled communications devices onboard aircraft operating with United States airspace…,” that they further require to be recorded by the carriers, once …

Subjects: Government Documents, Internet, Legislation, Privacy, Wireless Web

NY Times Editorial Today on Patriot Act

“Unnecessary Powers: The Patriot Act already gives government too much power to spy on ordinary Americans, but things could get far worse. Congress is considering adding a broad new investigative power, known as the administrative subpoena, that would allow the Federal Bureau of Investigation to gain access to anyone’s financial, medical, employment and even library …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Congress, Legislation, Libraries, Patriot Act, Privacy

Advocacy Group Requests Investigation Into Online Sale of Personal Data

From EPIC: In a complaint to the Federal Trade Commission, EPIC urged the agency to investigate online data brokers, companies that promise to sell phone calling records, the identities of people who own private mail boxes, and the identities associated with AOL Screen names, Match.com profiles, and Lavalife profiles. The complaint argues that this information …

Subjects: E-Commerce, Government Documents, Legal Research, Privacy

Wireless 411 Privacy Act

S. 1350: A bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to protect the privacy rights of subscribers to wireless communications services. “The legislation would require wireless carriers to have a clear pre-authorization before listing a subscriber’s name and number in a directory. The bill also prevents call forwarding services from connecting callers without giving …

Subjects: Congress, Legislation, Privacy, Wireless Web

House Committee Releases Report on ID Theft and Terrorism

Press release, July 1, 2005: “Three House members today released a report on the need for strong federal laws to protect consumers from identity theft. The report, Identity Theft and Terrorism, prepared by the House Homeland Security Committee, highlights the security gaps currently existing in consumer database companies and large financial institutions.” Congressional Report on …

Subjects: Government Documents, ID Theft, Privacy