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Press release, April 1, 2005: Spitzer Calls for Regulation of Information Brokers and Increased Penalties for Computer Hacking. Note – links to the text of the proposed legislation, in PDF, are available via this press release, and highlights include the following: Providing identity theft victims better control over their personal identifying information, including: allowing for …
This sfgate.com article highlights two important privacy related issues with an online nexus. First, the use of web bugs (also called web beacons) to collect personal data on individuals using free software applications for federal tax e-filings to which they have been steered by the IRS. Second, in the continually expanding saga of what have …
Press release today: “LexisNexis U.S., a leading provider of legal, news and business information said today it has begun mailing notification letters to approximately 280,000 individuals whose personally identifying information may have been accessed by unauthorized individuals using passwords and IDs stolen from legitimate customers of its Seisint unit.” Related references here and here.
Information Security: Internal Revenue Service Needs to Remedy Serious Weaknesses over Taxpayer and Bank Secrecy Act Data, GAO-05-482, April 15, 2005. Highlights. “…39 newly identified information security control weaknesses impair IRS’s ability to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of its sensitive financial and taxpayer data and FinCEN’s Bank Secrecy Act data. Related reference: Press …
The Multistate Anti-TeRrorism Information EXchange (MATRIX), “a pilot effort to increase and enhance the exchange of sensitive terrorism and other criminal activity information between local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies,” has been cancelled. From the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, this April 15, 2005 press release: MATRIX Pilot Project Concludes From the NewStandard: Controversial …
Press release: “Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and Representative Edward J. Markey announced that they would introduce the Safeguarding Americans from Exporting Identification Data (SAFE ID) Act in the United States Senate and House today, legislation that would protect the privacy of consumers’ most sensitive personal information. This legislation would close gaps in U.S. privacy laws …
This April 11 article, North Dakota Legislature Agrees on ‘black boxes’ Bill discusses SB 2200, which provides consumer privacy protections related to recording devices on motor vehicles by stipulating procedures related to the collection and dissemination of data on vehicle location, speed, braking, seat belt status, and accident related information. Related news and references: North …
Press release, April 12: Recent Examples of Egregious Loopholes That Are Compromising Personal Information Need Immediate and Thorough Action by Congress – Schumer-Nelson Bill Would Empower FTC, Inform Consumer to Prevent ID Theft in Future, Not Just Punish Wrongdoers after the Fact “On the heels of numerous and significant identity theft breaches, U.S. Senators Charles …
Jay Cline reviews a range of popular e-commerce websites that offer consumers a defined list of privacy protections and provides general scores for those that implement portions of the European privacy principles.
“CDT will testify (text of statement submitted by CDT Exec. Director, 17 pages, PDF) April 13 before the Senate Judiciary Committee on the privacy and security issues raised by recent losses of personal information by data brokers and others. CDT will call for a stronger policy framework, requiring notice of breach, security safeguards, limits on …
Press release: Spam and phishing – “More than a year after the CAN-SPAM Act became law, email users say they are receiving slightly more spam in their inboxes than before, but they are minding it less…And in a first-time measure of “phishing,” or unsolicited email requesting personal financial information, 35% of users say they have …
From Secrecy News, “During calendar year 2004, 1,758 applications were made to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court for electronic surveillance and physical search, according to the latest Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) annual report to Congress. That established a new annual record for domestic counterintelligence and counterterrorism surveillance and search activity.”
