Transportation Manifests Subject to Electronic Monitoring

Yet another post 9/11 related surveillance measure in our near future appears in the January 3, 2003 Federal Register. It is a notice of a proposed rule from the DOJ, Immigration and Naturalization Service, that “requires the submission of arrival and departure manifests electronically in advance of an aircraft or vessel’s arrival in or departure …

Subjects: Privacy

VeriSign Relaunches Network Solutions

VeriSign, Inc., the global “digital trust service,” issued a press release today announcing the relaunch of Network Solutions Inc. as the company through which it will now provide “domain name, Web site and e-mail service business.” The Network Solutions site has been redesigned to enhance ease of use and highlight the range of services available.

Subjects: Domain Names, Internet

DMCA Remains in Spotlight in 2003

According to the Boston Globe, the DMCA will be the focus of increasing controversy and lobbying by industry and consumer advocates in 2003. The Business Software Alliance, one of the act’s powerful backers, is fighting any expansion of consumer rights concerning the use of music and movie industry products, including legislation introduced by Rep. Boucher. …

Subjects: Copyright, Digital Rights, Privacy

New Version of PGP

The Washington Post has a review of PGP 8, the newest version of the secure email messaging software. PGP was formerly a free product, but the company was bought and sold several times, and the new PGP Corp. charges $39 for the personal edition of the software. For some perspective on this program created back …

Subjects: E-Mail, Privacy

Administration Tightens Lid on Gov't Docs

This New York Times article documents the Bush administration’s successful efforts to prevent the public release of a range of government documents largely based on post 9/11 security concerns. Members of Congress have been fighting these efforts on several fronts, including protesting the removal of data from government agency websites for what has been interpreted …

Subjects: Censorship, Freedom of Information, Government Documents

Another Internet Libel Suit

From the High Court of Australia, to the Fourth Circuit, and now the Fifth Circuit, jurisdiction issues as they apply to Internet libel cases are in the spotlight. The Fifth Circuit, in Oliver “Buck” Revell v. Lidov and Columbia University, affirmed the United States District Court For the Northern District of Texas decision that Revell, …

Subjects: Censorship, Free Speech, Internet