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AP reported that commercial online public records provider ChoicePoint has eliminated its database of “personal information of 65 million voting-age Mexican citizens” following a controvery surrounding the means by which this information was obtained. The company has a contract with the Dept. of Justice, which uses the system for activities associated with homeland security. See …
Chinese ID cards to carry genetic sample: The article reports that by 2004, government issued ID cards “will carry an 18-digit code representing a citizen’s genetic code, based on DNA from a blood, hair or cell sample.” This information comes via an article in the French news service transfert.net.
More news about radio frequency id tags, as RSA Security has published a detailed and informative white paper on the technology, which unbeknownst to many, is already ubiquitous in many aspects of our daily life, an example of which is the tags used by drivers on their car windshields which automatically scan and log toll …
This FTC press release from August 27 includes information, associated fees and links for use by telemarketers to obtain data from the national do not call registry when it is released on September 2.
The Foundation for Taxpayer & Consumer Rights (FTCR), a non-profit California advocacy group, is publicizing their purchase of personal data, including social security numbers and home addresses, of high ranking Bush administration officials, as a means of demonstrating the need for stronger privacy legislation. However, states such as California, which recently passed the strongest financial …
Cryptome.org has a free link to this informative WSJ article from August 27, “A New Battleground In Web Privacy War: Ads That Can Snoop -Software Programs Track Where Users Go On Net, Then Target Them With Pop-Ups.” Although certainly not a new story, it is nevertheless worth reading as it succinctly addresses privacy, copyright and …
PATRIOT Propaganda: Justice Department’s PATRIOT Act Website Creates New Myths About Controversial Law. See also my previous posting on the Preserving Life & Liberty website.
Designing a protocol to circumvent Internet censorship: “Peacefire has released a new set of instructions for circumventing Internet censorship. These instructions can be used to get around Internet blocking in China, for example, by having a friend outside China follow the instructions to set up a mini-Web-site that users in China can then connect to, …
“EPIC has collaborated with numerous consumer and privacy organizations, legal scholars and technical experts to submit an amicus brief in Doe v. Chao, an important privacy case that will be heard by the Supreme Court later this year. This case concerns the wrongful disclosure of the Social Security Number by a federal agency and whether …
Memorandum of Legal Opinion, Library Procedures for Disabling Software Filtering and Unblocking Web Sites, by Janet M. LaRue, Chief Counsel, Concerned Women for America. (via LISNews.com)
The proposed Electronic Vehicle Identification (EVI) system would require the installation of read-only microchips in all new vehicles whose purpose is to provide information on vehicular operation, including location and related activity such as speeding infractions, car theft, and parking violations. See also this EU document, Intelligent Transport Systems, Electronic vehicle identification, that details the …
RFID Gussied Up With Biosensors. After noting that radio frequency id tags (RFID) are in use, and proposed, for a range of consumer items, it is important to mention that the associated privacy controversy also involves the food industry. Under the auspices of the Support Anti-Terrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies (“Safety”) Act of 2002 (the …
