Medical Records Privacy Under Assault

Administration Sets Forth a Limited View on Privacy “In a sharp departure from its past insistence on the sanctity of medical records, the Bush administration has set forth a new, more limited view of privacy rights as it tries to force hospitals and clinics to turn over records of hundreds and perhaps thousands of abortions.” …

Subjects: Privacy

Bill to Limit Outsourcing Introduced in House

On March 4, Rep. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) introduced the Defending American Jobs Act of 2004, with 50 bipartisan co-sponsors. “This legislation would bar companies from receiving federal grants, loans and loan guarantees if they lay off a greater percentage of workers in the United States than they lay off in other countries.” From eWeek, this …

Subjects: Congress, Legislation

Challenges Faced by News Providers

What Newspapers and Their Web Sites Must Do to Survive: “Longtime online news consultant Vin Crosbie says newspapers and their Web sites must change their approach to publishing news — online and off — if they want to successfully compete with the many Web sites and other new information sources vying for readers’ attention and …

Subjects: Internet

Report on Unauthorized Access to Senate Judiciary Cmte. Computer Files

“Report on the Investigation into Improper Access to the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Computer System (March 4, 2004). The Report Prepared By The U.S. Senate’s Sergeant At Arms On How Two Former GOP Senate Judiciary Committee Staffers Downloaded Thousands Of Democratic Files From The Senate Judiciary Committee’s Computer Network On Democratic Opposition To President Bush’s Judicial …

Subjects: Congress, Government Documents

House Approves Extension for 9/11 Commission

Today the House approved, by voice vote, a 60 day extension for the 9/11 Commission to complete its work. Obstacles remain however, including obtaining what the Commission has determined an essential component of the job they were tasked to fulfill – the full and detailed testimony of President Bush, VP Cheney and other key administration …

Subjects: Congress, Freedom of Information, Government Documents

Using Biometrics to Combat ID Theft

Treasury notice from the March 2 Federal Register: Public Comment on Formulating and Conducting a Study on the Use of Biometrics and Other Similar Technologies to Combat Identity Theft For reference, see the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 (FACT Act).

Subjects: ID Theft