[Sigifp-l] Info Policy News Digest

[TAMaxwell at aol.com]

FREE SPEECH

Free society hinges on First Amendment protections
<http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/90448_justice10.shtml>
What would choose if you could only choose 1 of the 10 First Amendment 
protections?

Stung by Courts, F.D.A. Rethinks Its Rules
<http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/15/health/policy/15FDA.html?ex=1035718905&
ei=1&en=7e58cbc25891d40a>
After losing a series of court decisions that found it in violation of the 
First Amendment's guarantee of freedom of speech, the Food and Drug 
Administration has begun a wide-ranging review of regulations.


SECRECY

Secrecy News
Volume 2002, Issue No. 101, October 15, 2002
<http://www.fas.org/sgp/news/secrecy/2002/10/101502.html>
In this issue:
Energy Dept tells scientists to hush on Iraq
Researchers stymied by secrecy
Defeating internet censorship
Clarification on prior restraint


SECURITY

Does military plane sniper-hunting violate Posse Comitatus?
<http://www.Washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A32138-2002Oct15.html>
As the activities of the Maryland sniper takes center stage in news 
programming, this article asks whether assistance by the military violates 
the 1878 Posse Comitatus law that forbids the military from performing 
civilian law enforcement.

Text of 1986 Defense Department directive on assisting police.
<http://www.politechbot.com/docs/dod.law.enforcement.1986.pdf>

ACLU Acts Against Patriot Act.
<http://www.wired.com/news/conflict/0,2100,55838,00.html>
The ACLU has filed 24 lawsuits for civil liberties violations since the 
Sept. 11 attacks.

Patriot Act causes libraries to review records.
<http://www.bayarea.com/mld/bayarea/news/4327549.htm>
Attached to each staff phone in the Berkeley Public Library is a dark pink 
laminated card advising employees on how to handle subpoenas. "If a person 
comes to you to serve a subpoena on the library, say that you are not in a 
position to act on it," the card reads. "Do not attempt to give them the 
information they are looking for."


PRIVACY

Appeals Court OKs Fax Intercepts
<http://news.com.com/2100-1023-961955.html>
A court rules that FBI agents were not overzealous when conducting 
electronic surveillance against members of anti-government group the Montana 
Freemen.

The New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) Urges School Officials to Protect 
Students From Unwanted Military Recruitment Solicitations
<http://www.aclu.org/StudentsRights/StudentsRights.cfm?ID=10900&c=31>
Under the No Child Left Behind Act schools are required, upon request, to 
provide personal details about their students to any part of the military.  
Parents and students are complaining about the lack of privacy for the 
students and their families.

Consumers Face Tricky Maze in Guarding Privacy
<http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/17/business/17PRIV.html?ex=1035868155&ei=1&
en=0de3425b3de3ea6>
Note: you will need to register to access this article.

Protection of Privacy by States Is Ranked
<http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/20/national/20PRIV.html?ex=1036210865&ei=1&
en=8ff8b36b2dc6f122>
A study by Privacy Journal grades the nations states in relation to how they 
protect the privacy of their citizens.  By the way, NY was in the top tier 
(of 5 tiers).


CENSORSHIP

Schools and the Children's Internet Protection Act
<http://www.ala.org/alaorg/oif/cipaandschools.html>
The ALA outlines the impact of CIPA on schools.

Ashcroft's attack on California State University
<http://www.statehornet.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2002/10/16/3daca8124a422>
CSU is joining with a software company so that they can track all foreign 
students in attendance.

Renewed Push on Recording Labels
<http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/21/business/media/21MUSI.html?ex=1036210726&
ei=1&en=51df1660b65b1e23>
The recording industry is in no rush to comply with Democrat and Republican 
push for recording companies to toughen labelling standards on sexually 
explicit and violent lyrics.

Index on Censorship: e-bulletin 21 October 2002
<http://www.indexonline.org/news/>
US media censorship
Sudan: Peace & censorship
Spain: New powers to pull the plug
United States: The Bush Administration's sex ed program
And more…


ACCESS

Judge: Disabilities Act doesn't cover Web
<http://news.com.com/2100-1023-962761.html>
The recent ruling said that Southwest Airlines does not have to make its 
website more accessible to the blind.  This is the first case of its kind.
Decision is here:
<
http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov/viewer/viewer.asp?file=/cases/opinions/02CV2173d2

4.pdf>


For Information, contact: 

Terrence Maxwell
Assistant Professor
School of Information Science and Policy
University at Albany
113D Draper, Albany, NY 12222
e-mail: tamaxwell at albany.edu