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MEPs take on EU and US over air data deal: “The European Parliament has by 16 votes, 276 in favour, 260 against, agreed to take a privacy rights battle over handovers of air passenger data to US security agencies to the EU courts.”
“The American Library Association, along with other library and education associations, has filed comments with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) opposing a Department of Justice attempt to bring all broadband access to the Internet within the scope of the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA).” [Link]
From yesterday’s FTC Spyware Workshop, the Consumer Software Working Group Examples of Unfair, Deceptive or Devious Practices Involving Software, “endorsed by a broad coalition of software companies, Internet service providers, anti-spyware technology vendors, and consumer groups convened by the Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT).” For additional resources, see CDT’s Spyware page. See also Few …
The BBC reports that the results of recent surveys of London commuters, requesting their PC login passwords in exchange for chocolate, were that a majority of respondents provided them without hesitation. Must be really good chocolate! In addition, the survey established that pet names are all too often passwords of choice, and are also willingly …
From Tax-News.com a report on offshore tax return preparation, and the response, by IRS commissioner Mark Everson, to concerns expressed in this letter to him by Rep. Edward J. Markey, a member of the Congressional Privacy Caucus. [JURIST’s Paper Chase] See also this February 15, 2004 New York Times article, Outsourcing Abroad Applies to Tax …
Today the FTC hosted a public workshop, “Monitoring Software on Your PC: Spyware, Adware, and Other Software,” (Agenda, pdf) “to explore the issues associated with the distribution and effects of software that aids in gathering information about a person or organization without their knowledge and which may send such information to another entity without the …
ISP EarthLink and privacy software company Webroot Software have published their first report on the pervasive impact of spyware, based on an audit covering the first three months of 2004, that includes scans of one million PCs. See also this PCWorld article on Spy Stoppers.
Press release, Senators Collins, Lieberman Ask TSA: What Other Airlines Have Been Contacted and Asked for Passenger Information? includes text of the Senators’ letter to Asa Hutchinson, Under Secretary for Border and Transportation Security. See also Another Airline Confirms Passenger Data Shared With TSA Contractors, and related references to CAPPS II and government airline passenger …
S.B. 604, the Maryland Spam Deterrent Deterrence Act, passed the Maryland legislature late Monday night, and awaits signature by Gov. Ehrlich. Penalties include a term of up to five years in prison and a fine of up to a $10,000.
California State Senator Sen. Liz Figueroa (a strong privacy advocate) issued a press release on April 9 in which she quoted from a letter she sent to Google opposing the plan for Gmail to scan user email content to use as a profiling mechanism for advertising. She stated, “I cannot urge you strongly enough to …
SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland Security provides notice of establishment of the Data Integrity, Privacy, and Interoperability Advisory Committee. This notice also requests qualified individuals interested in serving on this committee to apply for membership….Applications forms for membership should reach the Privacy Office on or before April 30, 2004…The Committee’s charter will also be available …
From the Washington Post, Montgomery County Maryland has launched an enhanced 911 cell phone tracking system that is accurate to within one block. See the FCC’s Enhanced 911 web page for links to public notices, press releases, and waivers. The current rollout deadline is December 31, 2005.
