HIPAA Blog

Over a year ago, health care attorney Jeff Drummond launched HIPAA Blog, where he posts information and resources on medical privacy issues. This site is well worth a visit for links to related federal and state legislation and regulations, association and government website postings, news stories, and of course, commentary. This link is via UnivAtty.

Subjects: E-Government, Privacy

Call to Return Iraqi Cultural Property

On April 14, Secretary of State Powell issued this press release, Cooperation for the Safeguarding of Iraqi Antiquities and Cultural Property. See my related postings on the recent lootings of the Iraqi National Museum and libraries. For reference, from the State Deparment website, see U.S. Laws and International Laws which address “the looting and destruction …

Subjects: E-Government

UK Launches Trial of E-Voting System

The International Herald Tribune reports that “More than 1.5 million Britons will have a chance to vote Thursday in 17 local elections using electronic voting systems that computer security experts on both sides of the Atlantic say are fraught with danger and an invitation to fraud.” From the UK Electoral Commission, see Britain launches largest …

Subjects: E-Government

File-Sharing Networks Victorious Against Entertainment Industry

In a 34 page decision released this afternoon that surprised many, the entertainment industry at the top of the list, Judge Stephen V. Wilson (Central District of California) “denied a request to shut down Internet song-swapping services Grokster and Morpheus.” The judge wrote, “It is undisputed that there are substantial noninfringing uses for (the) Defendants’ …

Subjects: Copyright, Digital Rights, Internet

Librarians, Booksellers and the Patriot Act

ABC News has highlighted the ongoing story on the battle being waged by libraries and booksellers against the Patriot Act (Sec. 215. Access to Records and Other Items Under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) that permits government access to data about patron reading habits, Internet usage, and book purchases. Opposition to many aspects of this …

Subjects: Internet, Libraries, Patriot Act, Privacy

Update on Impact of Super DMCA Legislation

Resources and news of note on Super DMCA legislation (“to combat broadband and communications piracy”) that is proliferating at the state level, driven in large measure by relentless lobbying on the part of the Motion Picture Assocation of America (MPAA), and which, for the most part, is based on the organization’s proposed model legislation. The …

Subjects: Copyright, Freedom of Information, Legislation, Libraries, PC Security, Privacy

RSS: An Alternative to Search Engines?

Danny Sullivan presents Part II of his review of RSS services and applications that facilitate access to the continuously expanding world of news, blogs and topical information. He recommends several RSS search engines, including Feedster and rssSearch. Part I of his article is available here and lists examples of news aggregators and how to use …

Subjects: Internet, RSS, Search Engines