University Consortium Sponsors Global Project on Web Filtering and Surveillance

“The OpenNet Initiative is a University-based policy research project documenting filtering and surveillance practices worldwide. Our aim is to excavate, expose and analyze these practices in a credible and non-partisan fashion to uncover the potential pitfalls of present policies to explore the possibility of unintended and unexpected consequences and thus to help inform better public …

Subjects: Censorship, Civil Liberties, Libraries, Privacy

New UK Study Challenges Link Between National ID Cards and Security

From Privacy International, the following resources: Press release, dated April 26, 2004, with a response to the “government’s draft Bill on identity cards.” A link to the draft bill (pdf, 120 pages): Legislation on Identity Cards, A Consultation Privacy International’s new report, Mistaken Identity: Exploring the Relationship Between National Identity Cards & the Prevention of …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, E-Government, Privacy

DHS Issues Wireless Interoperability Requirements

“SAFECOM was established to serve as the umbrella program within the Federal Government, to help local, tribal, state, and federal public safety agencies improve public safety response through more effective and efficient interoperable wireless communications. [Link] “The Statement of Requirements (SoR) for public safety communications and interoperability provides information on base level requirements for a …

Subjects: E-Government

New Survey Indicates Decrease in Downloading

A new data memo from the Pew Internet Project notes a decline in the rate of music downloading from its heyday in 2003, but millions of Americans continue to obtain music using filing sharing applications. Many users have been deterred from downloading however by the highly publicized anti-piracy campaign waged by the music industry.

Subjects: Copyright, Internet

DMCA and Its Impact on Search Engine Content

Application of the DMCA Safe Harbor Provisions to Search Engines, by Craig W. Walker, Virginia Journal of Law & Technology, Volume 9, Issue 1 – Winter 2004: “The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) established procedures that Internet service providers can implement to gain protection from liability for copyright infringement by their users. Under DMCA “notice …

Subjects: Copyright, Search Engines