Accurate, Focused Research on Law, Technology and Knowledge Discovery With Daily Postings Since 2002
This US News and World Report’s article, Digging through data for omens, addresses information gathering challenges inherent in the TSA’s new airline screening program, CAPPS II. The article states the program is… “a delicate dual challenge: accurately spotting suspicious patterns across multiple databases while minimizing false alarms and safeguarding individual privacy.” Within the context of …
The Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) transfers communications over the Internet rather than through the PSTN (public switched telephone network). According to this AP story, the FBI is seeking regulatory action that includes VoIP communications so as to facilitate surveillance asociated with criminal activities and terrorism. Technology to transfer voice communications via the Internet was …
On March 31, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) introduced S. 745, “A bill to require the consent of an individual prior to the sale and marketing of such individual’s personally identifiable information, and for other purposes.” Her press release states that the legislation seeks to establish a national standard for the protection of personal information, including …
EPIC issued an analysis of documents obtained from their October 2002 FOIA request and subsequent lawsuit concerning the TSA “watchlist of names of individuals suspected of posing a risk of air piracy or terrorism or a threat to airline or passenger safety.” These documents establish that there are two separate watchlists: a “no-fly” list and …
From the Direct Marketing Association, this State Do Not Call List includes web links and or telephone numbers, as applicable, for 27 states. Also see this alert, California Do-Not-Call Registry Is Merging with the Federal List.
From Harris Interactive, a recent poll: Most People Are “Privacy Pragmatists” Who, While Concerned about Privacy, Will Sometimes Trade It Off for Other Benefits.
Barry Steinhardt, Director of the Technology and Liberty Program at the ACLU, is profiled in this CNN article. He states that “these are extraordinarily difficult times for civil liberties.”
From the New York Times, A Trail of Cookies? Cover Your Tracks provides useful suggestions and links to resources that can facilitate your anonymity on the web and assist in protecting your privacy from the onslaught of third party advertising.
On March 24, I posted about Cal State’s significant problem with their computer system and data privacy, and follow-up with this article from the Chronicle of Higher Education indicating that the university administration has determined it would be a good idea to address the issue now. “Cal State officials plan to have PeopleSoft, the company …
EPIC continues to expand its challenge to the CAPPS II System by documenting objections to the progam that impact European airline passengers, in a statement (pdf) submitted to the EU Committee on Citizens’ Freedoms and Rights, Justice and Home Affairs for a hearing held March 25. See also this announcement today: Spain proposes data on …
The OMB is withholding support for the CAPPS II Computer Assisted Passenger Prescreening System due to lack of demonstrative evidence that the system will actually diminish acts of terrorism. Not surprisingly, opposition to the system has again been communicated by a coalition of advocacy groups led by EPIC via a letter to the Select Committee …
According to this FTC press release, the Do Not Call registry will be made available over a phased-in eight week period via a toll-free telephone number in June and online in July, to better manage the anticipated demand. Consumers who register can expect their names to be removed from telemarketing records by October 2003. See …
