[Sigifp-l] Information Policy Digest Oct. 29th

Wed Oct 30 12:02:13 EST 2002

In this digest:

*Privacy
*Security
*US Government Policy
*Access & Secrecy
*Freedom of Speech
*International Policy
*General Links

PRIVACY

Direct marketers want anti-spam laws
<http://news.com.com/2100-1023-962821.html>
Unsolicited e-mail has become such a major issue that the Direct Marketers 
Association has changed its stance regarding the need for anti-spam laws, 
saying that legitimate business is being tainted by the get rich quick 
businesses.

Are Marketers the New Racial Profilers?
<http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=14370>
Identifying potential donors by religion and ethnicity can save 
organizations thousands in the direct mail budgets. But critics contend that 
marketers should check their lists twice before using such technology.

FDA permits use of implantable ID chips in humans
<http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,55952,00.html>
The FDA has stated that it would not regulate the VeriChip if it was used 
for "security, financial and personal identification or safety 
applications," although the FDA has not yet commented on the use of the chip 
for gathering medical information (i.e medical history of an unconscious 
patient).

Who controls your computer?
<http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/10/22/1034561484653.html>
Right now you probably do control your computer.  But if the large media 
corporations, such as Microsoft, Intel, and certain movie and music 
companies have their way your computer might start to obey them instead of 
you.

Lawsuit to Test USA Patriot Act
<http://www.techtv.com/news/politicsandlaw/story/0,24195,3404703,00.html>
Two major organizations (ACLU & EPIC) are set to sue the Bush administration 
over possible abuses of privacy related to the controversial bill passed 
after September 11.

USA Patriot act allows easier access to library records
<http://www.mndaily.com/new_site/article.php?id=3745&year=2002>
Librarians are up in arms over one of the least known provisions of the 
Patriot Act – that the FBI can request information about library patrons, 
and that a gag order means that the librarian can tell noone that the 
information was requested.

Pattern-recognition software to recognize a person by the way they walk.
<http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,38775,00.html>
No more sauntering down the street in your usual style – you might get 
recognized.  Pattern-recognition software will soon be identifying people by 
isolating a “signature of human motion”.

Perspective: Privacy advocates lose an ally: Dick Armey
<http://news.com.com/2010-1069-963537.html>
“Armey emerged as one of the finest champions of privacy in Washington, and 
his departure means that the House leadership will no longer include anyone 
attuned to the perils of electronic snooping.”

FCC notice seeking comments on do-not-call list [pdf].
<http://www.cdt.org/privacy/020918fcc.pdf>
The Federal Communications Commission is seeking public comments on whether 
to take further action to limit telemarketing calls by telephone companies 
and others under its jurisdiction.

SECURITY

The Echelonization of America: NSA to spy domestically?
<http://intelligence.senate.gov/0210hrg/021017/hayden.pdf>
Ongoing terrorist threat means America needs to debate where to draw the 
line between foreign and domestic surveillance.

Government Backs Away From Encryption Regulations.
<http://www.politechbot.com/p-00950.html>
The government has told a federal court that several portions of the current 
encryption regulations would not be enforced.

There you go again, Mr. Ashcroft.
<http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20021018&s=cole>
“Rather than acknowledge that there are difficult trade-offs to be made 
between liberty and security, he dismisses all criticism as unpatriotic and 
casts himself as the only true defender of liberty.”

Large-Scale Attack Cripples Internet Backbone.
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A2406-2002Oct22.html>
On Monday 21st October 7 of the 13 major servers that make the backbone of 
the Internet were attacked, resulting in widespread denial of service 
massages.

GOVERNMENT POLICY

Study: Republicans dominate tech votes.
<http://news.com.com/2100-1023-962750.html>
In a study of Congressional votes made over the last 2 years relating to 
computer security, internet taxes, and free trade the Republicans come out 
as being more sympathetic to the tech industry.

The True Calling of the FCC.
<http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=14297>
The FCC commissioner says his organization's job is to focus on not just 
what is legal, but what is right and in the interest of the people.

ACCESS & SECRECY

Censorship of “Inappropriate”Book at Wal-Mart.
<http://www.holtuncensored.com/members/index.html>
Anderson Merchandising – distributor to Wal-Mart - has asked publisher 
Dorchester Publishing to modify the content of Susan Grant’s “Contact” in 
order to make it more “appropriate”.  Dorchester refused to modify the book.

Ashcroft Tells Congress: Secrecy Law Not Needed.
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A7569-2002Oct23.html>
Attorney General John D. Ashcroft says a study has determined that current 
laws are sufficient for prosecuting "those who engage in unauthorized 
disclosures."

Freedom to Read Foundation joins suit seeking Patriot Act information from 
Justice Department
<http://www.ala.org/news/v8n14/ftr.html>
The FTRF has joined the ACLU and EPIC lawsuit seeking to learn how many 
subpoenas have been issued to newspaper, libraries, and bookstores under the 
Patriot Act.
See also: “USA Patriot act allows easier access to library records” and 
“Lawsuit to Test USA Patriot Act” above.

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

Google excluding controversial sites.
<http://news.com.com/2100-1023-963132.html>
Google, the world's most popular search engine, has quietly deleted more 
than 100 controversial sites from some search result listings.

The American Political Paradox.
<http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=200221023&fname=jensen&sid=1&
pn=1>
"More freedom, less democracy? Free speech is fragile and democracy is in 
danger of disappearing in the United States."

Students mount campaign against slur in 'Huck Finn'.
<
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/xml/story.ssf/html_standar

d.xsl?/base/front_page/1035460642113623.xml>
A student protest against "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" is gaining 
momentum at Portland high schools, where African American students say some 
educators have not mastered how to handle racially charged language in the 
19th-century novel.

INTERNATIONAL IT POLICY

Mexico Summit Urges Anti-Piracy Action.
<http://news.com.com/2100-1023-963538.html>
The United States, China, Japan and other Pacific Rim nations have agreed to 
take more steps to curb Internet piracy and cooperate more closely on 
punishing "cybercrime.”

Global Organization Seeks Voice in Internet Addressing System.
<http://sg.biz.yahoo.com/021020/72/33wtu.html>
International Telecommunication Union (ITU) member representatives voted for 
a resolution calling on the ITU to take an active role in all "discussions 
and initiatives" involving domain names and the domain-name system.

Will Canada's Internet providers become spies?
<http://www.politechbot.com/p-03922.html>
The Canadian government is considering a proposal that will force Internet 
providers to make surveillance of its networks easier.

International Freedom of Expression eXchange Clearing House
COMMUNIQUE # 11-41, 22 October 2002
<http://communique.ifex.org/index2.cfm>
     1. CPJ Announces Press Freedom Award Winners
     2. India/Pakistan: 2 Journalists Killed
  3. Latin America: APG, AMARC Attend Human Rights Hearings
     4. Belarus: New Law Restricts Religious Publications
     5. China: Publisher Released From Prison
     6. PEN Norway Attends World Conference on Music and Censorship
     7. UNESCO Grants Special Status to IFJ, WAN
     8. ACLU Launches Campaign Against US Anti-Terrorism Measures
     9. Freedom House Honours Egyptian Human Rights Activist
    10. Croatian Journalist Wins Media Prize

GILC Alert: the newsletter of the Global Internet Liberty
Volume 6, Issue 7, 22 October 2002
<http://www.gilc.org/alert/>
Free expression
[1] Greek government backs down on gaming ban
[2] New proposals to enhance digital fair use rights
[3] China arrests another Net critic
[4] Protests grow over Spanish LSSI Net speech law
[5] US bill would target foreign Net censorship
[6] Internet Archive censors anti-Scientology site
[7] Cybercafe chain faces Hollywood copyright threats
[8] US gov't renews domain system deal with ICANN
[9] UN report: African Net usage growing, but still lags Privacy
[10] Hollywood asks court for Verizon Internet user records
[11] Leaked memo reveals US gov't illegal email spying
[12] Flap over Norwegian Net portal tracking scheme
[13] U.S. Court hears Internet provider warrants case
[14] Amazon.com privacy policy revisions criticized
[15] Digital Angel tracking implant still in legal limbo
[16] Belgium plans national digital signature ID cards
[17] Bugbear computer virus still causing trouble
[18] US cybersecurity report released
[19] British Celldar trackers worry privacy experts
[20] Korean cell phone tracking bill poses privacy problems
[21] New campaign coming against data retention proposals

Campus Issue Becomes Free Speech.
<
http://www.canada.com/montreal/news/story.asp?id=FBDF87EE-2497-459A-84E3-A348F

16A692D>
Student leader escorted from campus for violating a moratorium on 
information tables in the Hall Building lobby.

US Congress Considers Steps to Keep Internet Open in Countries With 
Repressive Governments.
<http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/rights.articles/eav102302.shtml>
In early October the Global Internet Freedom Act was introduced to prevent 
repressive governments from restricting public access to information.

Australia's Disability Discrimination Laws Do Apply to the Web (re: “Judge 
rules Americans with Disabilities Act Doesn't Cover Web” from last week).
<http://www.hreoc.gov.au/disability_rights/standards/www_3/www_3.html#s2>
The legal situation in Australia is slightly different and the Disability 
Discrimination Act does apply to web access for the blind.

GENERAL

Intellectual Freedom Issues.
<http://www.ala.org/alaorg/oif/issues.html>
Numerous links to information on current intellectual freedom issues.

EPIC Alert.
Volume 9.20, October 24, 2002
<http://www.epic.org/alert/EPIC_Alert_9.20.html>
Table of Contents:
[1] EPIC FOIA Lawsuit Seeks USA PATRIOT Act Information
[2] EPIC Files Comments at FCC to Protect Telephone Privacy
[3] Public Protest Over Data Retention Increases in Europe
[4] DC City Council Discusses Regulation of Surveillance Cameras
[5] National Academies Report on "Sensitive but Unclassified"
[6] California Leads States in Privacy Protection

CDT Policy Post.
Volume 8, Number 22, 25 October 2002
<http://www.cdt.org/publications/pp_8.22.shtml>
Contents:
(1) What Does the Sniper Case Reveal About Policing, Terrorism and 
Databases?
(2) Fingerprint Databases Useful Despite - In Part Because Of - Privacy 
Rules
(3) Car License Plate Data Also Subject To Privacy Protections
(4) Citizen Tipsters - A Right Way and a Wrong Way

EFFector.
Vol. 15, No. 33, 25 October 2002
<http://www.eff.org/effector>
Contents:
Hollywood Loses Bid to Limit Representation in ReplayTV Case
Electronic Frontier Foundation Helps Dive Shop Resist Feds
Share Your DMCA Horror Stories
EFF Needs Your (Tax-Deductible) Equipment Donations!
Deep Links (8): Microsoft Using Kazaa as a Marketing Portal

SECRECY NEWS.
Volume 2002, Issue No. 107, 28 October 2002
<http://www.fas.org/sgp/news/secrecy/2002/10/index.html>
CIA Addresses Worldwide Threat Issues
DOD Examines “Preemptive” Intelligence Operations
Thomas B. Ross, 73
Psychological Effects of Secrecy

Compiled by Dylan Thomarie

For further information on this digest, 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