Accurate, Focused Research on Law, Technology and Knowledge Discovery With Daily Postings Since 2002
Update to 10/08/04 posting, FTC Files Case Against Two Companies Who Market Spyware, that included a link to the complaint, see the 10/12/04 FTC press release, FTC Cracks down On Spyware Operation, for additional comments.
From the FTC, this announcement, Law Enforcement Action Targeting Spyware: “Press conference (October 12) to announce a law enforcement action targeting “spyware” software that takes control of consumers’ computers or monitors their Internet use without their consent. A copy of the complaint (14 pages, PDF) is available via the Center for Democracy and Technology, …
“The House Judiciary Committee passed the Internet Spyware (I-SPY) Prevention Act of 2004, H.R. 4661, which was introduced by Representative Bob Goodlatte. This bipartisan legislation addresses the most egregious activities that are conducted via spyware and make those activities criminal offenses.” [Link to press release from Rep. Bob Goodlatte] See also House Rpt. 108-698 – …
Appeals Court Re-Opens E-Mail Snooping Case: “Privacy advocates and the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) will get their day in court, again, to appeal a three-judge panel ruling that allows e-mail providers to store and copy their customers’ e-mails.” Via EPIC, Order, U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit, United States v. Councilman, October 5, 2004. …
The SPY Act, H.R. 2929, To protect users of the Internet from unknowing transmission of their personally identifiable information through spyware programs, and for other purposes, was approved today by the House. See the accompanying House Report 108-619. See also this related posting, Spy Act Receives Strong Endorsement from House Cmte, the Software Principles Yielding …
Health Information: First-Year Experiences under the Federal Privacy Rule, GAO-04-965, September 3, 2004, Highlights (both documents in PDF). “Consumer and provider representatives contend that the general public is not well informed about their rights under the Privacy Rule. According to these organizations, patients may not understand the privacy notices they receive, or do not focus …
“In a report issued jointly by the Center for Democracy & Technology and the Heritage Foundation, National Security Agency Inspector General Joel Brenner proposes ten practical principles that should be applied to the human and technical aspects of information systems in order to balance privacy and national security.” [From the Center for Democracy and Technology] …
Reconstructing Electronic Surveillance Law, by Daniel J. Solove. “The USA-Patriot Act made a number of changes in electronic surveillance law, but the most fundamental problems with the law did not begin with the USA-Patriot Act. In this article, Professor Solove argues that electronic surveillance law suffers from significant problems that predate the USA-Patriot Act. The …
Children’s Private Records Posted Online In Florida
Social Security Numbers: Use Is Widespread and Protections Vary in Private and Public Sectors GAO-04-1099T, September 28, 2004, Highlights-PDF “The use of SSNs by both private and public sector entities is likely to continue, but the more frequently SSNs are used, the more likely they are to be misused given the continued rise in identity …
Prepared Statement of the Federal Trade Commission on Identity Theft and Social Security Numbers, Before the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, September 28, 2004. Accompanying FTC press release See also the Fair Credit Reporting Act and previous postings here and here on security issues associated …
The 9/11 Recommendations Implementation Act (PDF, 335 pages), introduced by House Speaker Hastert on September 24, 2004. Hastert Statement on 9/11 Recommendations Implementation Act Related documents – EFF press release, Draft “PATRIOT II” Legislation Goes Too Far and Brookings Briefing- Intelligence Reform in the Wake of the 9/11 Commission Report (PDF, 50 pages)
