Google Solidifies Status As #1 Search Engine
Google No. 1 search site in the world according to OneStat.com: “Google’s global usage share has reached an all time high and has risen from 55.2 percent to 56.1 percent.”
Preserving Web-Based Government Data for Public Use
A new project report from the California Digital Library (CDL) “proposes a web-archiving service model in which libraries build archives of web-based materials to their own design (that is, in a manner that meets their local collecting aims, users’ requirements, and institutional capacities) using a suite of utility tools.” See Web-Based Government Information, Evaluating Solutions …
JetBlue Passenger Data Investigation Widens
According to Wired, the privacy controversy caused by JetBlue’s release of 5 million passenger records to a defense department contractor has triggered an Army investigation into possible Privacy Act violations.
International Treaty Proposes Expanded Anti-Circumvention Measures
The Third Draft Agreement (November 21, 2003) of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) includes an extensive section on Intellectual Property Rights. According to the advocacy group IP Justice, the “expanded copyrights…endanger civil liberties and competition….and one of the most controversial sections of the IPR chapter requires countries to outlaw the circumvention of …
Senate Approves House Version of CAN SPAM Act
On November 25, the Senate unanimously approved the CAN-SPAM Act (S. 877), inclusive of technical changes agreed upon with the House, which is expected to approve the bill once again in December, clearing it for signature by the President. However, not everyone on the Hill is satisfied with the bill, in particular Representatives from California …
E-Voting Machine Case Remains in Spotlight
As a follow-up to my posting, E-Voting Machine Co. Docs. on Product Flaws Published on Web, this evening an EFF press release announced that Judge Jeremy Foley, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California scheduled a meeting of the parties, via telephone conference, for December 1. This action follows Diebold’s decision to withdraw the cease …
Best State Judiciary Website
In an October 14 posting on the Best City, County and State Websites as determined by the Center for Digital Government, I should have noted the addition of a new category for best state judiciary website, which was awarded to the North Carolina Court System. Information is arranged by three main categories: Citizens (available in …
White Paper Details Successful E-Gov Initiatives
From the National Electronic Commerce Coordinating Council (NEC3), “an alliance of state and local associations dedicated to the advancement of electronic commerce within governments,” a new white paper, Maximizing Revenues and Saving Costs Through E-Government: Success Stories in the Public Sector (pdf, 61 pages). The 23 projects highlighted by this report showed a ROI of …
OCLC and NYC Hotel Settle Trademark Dispute
As an update to my September 22 posting OCLC Sues NYC Hotel Over Classification System, see this press release from OCLC, dated November 24, stating OCLC and The Library Hotel settle trademark complaint: “Under the settlement terms, The Library Hotel will receive permission from OCLC to use the Dewey Decimal Classification® trademarks in its hotel …
Fed. Gov’t Launches Consumer Portal on Product Recalls
“To provide better service in alerting the American people to unsafe, hazardous or defective products, six federal agencies with vastly different jurisdictions have joined together to create www.recalls.gov — a “one stop shop” for U.S. Government recalls.” The participating agencies are the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), …
Intelligence Appropriations Grants FBI Wider Access to Financial Data
Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (Engrossed Amendment as Agreed to by Senate), (H.R. 2417). Senate agreed to conference report by voice vote, November 21. The conference report, H. Rept. 108-381, was approved by the House, by a vote of 264-163, on November 20. The specific provision that is the focus of concern is …
Report Cites Tech Elite As Early Adopters of Gadgets and Services
A new report from the Pew Internet Project, released November 23, 2003: “Consumption of Information Goods and Services in the United States: There is a trendsetting technology elite in the U.S. who chart the course for the use of information goods and services.” Link to Table of Contents or download the full report in pdf …