GAO Makes Recommendations for Digital Future of GPO

Government Printing Office: Actions to Strengthen and Sustain GPO’s Transformation, GAO-04-830, June 30, 2004, Highlights: “Federal government printing and dissemination are changing due to the underlying changes to the technological environment…Federal agencies are publishing more documents directly to the Web and are doing more of their printing and dissemination of information without using GPO services. …

Subjects: Government Documents, Legal Research, Libraries

NY State Authorizes Expansion of DNA Database

From the press release: “Governor Pataki, Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno and Speaker Sheldon Silver today announced that they have reached agreement on legislation that will expand the use of the State’s DNA databank and enhance New York’s status as a national leader in the use of DNA technology. The agreed upon legislation will …

Subjects: Privacy

National Archives Limits Public Access to Records

From the Federal Register, June 20, 2004, National Archives and Records Administration, Public availability and use: Federal records and donated historical materials containing restricted information; access restrictions: “NARA is revising its regulations on access to Federal records and donated historical materials containing restricted information. This rule entirely rewrites and reorganizes this portion of NARA’s regulations …

Subjects: Freedom of Information, Government Documents

Study Says Connectivity Keeps Us Working While on Vacation

Press release about the survey from Avaya Inc.: “An increasing number of vacationing workers include laptop computers, cell phones and PDAs with their beach towels, sunscreen and paperbacks in order to stay in touch with office business…85 percent of respondents remain accessible to co-workers during nights, weekends and vacations; 76 percent regularly retrieve messages during …

Subjects: Internet

Ruling From 1st Circuit Impacts E-Mail Privacy

From Declan McCullagh: “A federal appeals court dismissed a case against an e-mail provider who allegedly violated federal wiretapping laws by reading messages meant for customers, a decision (53 pages, PDF) critics say could make it easier for police to seek permission to tap Net phone calls.” From EFF, Online Privacy “Eviscerated” by First Circuit …

Subjects: Courts, Cybercrime, Privacy

Spam Blocker Prevails Against Mass E-Mailer in CA Court

From ZDNet: “A federal court in California has turned down a request to stop SpamCop from keeping tabs on mass e-mailer OptInRealBig, saying the blocklist operator is protected under the Communications Decency Act.” Order from U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, OptInRealBig.com, LLC v. IronPort Systems, Inc. (20 pages, PDF).

Subjects: Courts, E-Mail

New Report Recommends Solutions to Secure E-Voting in Upcoming Elections

From the press release: “To increase security and improve public confidence in the voting process, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR) and the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law (BC) today released a new report providing specific recommendations for elections officials planning to use electronic voting machines in the 2004 elections.” …

Subjects: E-Government