Site Map - Privacy

09/21/2007 - A bill (S. 2389) introduced by Sen. George Allen (R-VA) that would make it illegal to solicit, acquire, or sell another person’s confidential telephone records without that person’s consent has been approved by the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. A similar provision (S. 2178) has been approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee. S. 2178 would prohibit obtaining confidential phone records by fraud or any other unauthorized means from a telecommunications carrier or IP-enabled service provider. Under the measure, the sale of such records by anyone would be punishable by up to five years in prison. The penalty doubles for repeat violations within a 12-month period and for violations involving more than $100,000 or more than 50 customers. Law enforcement activities are exempt.

09/21/2007 - RFID tags are becoming increasingly popular, and a debate is underway over the privacy implications of this technology. Editor's Note: The discussion of a DHS report on RFID in the section entitled "Homeland Security" includes a correction from the print edition. The error was introduced by the editor, not the author.

09/20/2007 - The brief, entitled Protecting Privacy in Integrated Justice Systems, notes that some states are taking proactive steps toward privacy protection. It highlights Illinois, where the governor set up a group devoted to setting up privacy rights protection policies.

09/20/2007 - Several bills that would prohibit the sale of telephone records to third parties have been approved by congressional committees. Though the bills vary slightly in detail, they all would impose stiff penalties on violators. The Senate Judiciary Committee has approved S. 2178, which would prohibit obtaining confidential phone records by fraud or any other unauthorized means from a telecommunications carrier or IP-enabled service provider. Under the measure, the sale of such records by anyone is punishable by up to five years in prison. The penalty doubles for repeat violations within a 12-month period, and for violations involving more than $100,000 or more than 50 customers. Law enforcement activities are exempt under the bill. Two related bills (H.R. 4709 and H.R. 4714) have been approved by the House Judiciary Committee.

09/20/2007 - The Federal Communications Commission has issued a proposed rule requiring companies to take additional steps to protect consumer privacy.

09/20/2007 - A New Jersey appeals court has ruled that filming an emergency room patient for a television program violated privacy laws.

09/19/2007 - A study in which participants were given money to spend online found that they would pay more at a site with better privacy.

09/18/2007 - A police officer was acting within the course of his employment when he told a fellow officer that his new girlfriend might be infected with AIDS.

09/12/2007 - Want privacy for your Internet searches? Then check out Ixquick, this month’s “Site to See,” the only metasearch engine that deletes the user’s personal data.

09/07/2007 - A $42 million Department of Homeland Security data mining system has been discontinued due to an inability to meet privacy standards.

08/27/2007 - The Washington Post carefully endorses the use of domestic satellite images in domestic defense.

08/24/2007 - In the past, cyberthreats fit into discrete categories, such as being virus or phishing. Today, lines are blurred and malware is multifaceted and multiplying, creating a challenge for companies trying to defend against such threats.

08/23/2007 - A data breach can badly bruise a company’s reputation. But when companies work hard to convince their customers that their private information is protected, it can be a boon to customer loyalty and a firm’s bottom line.