Jeff Kosseff of Covington & Burling writes: On Thursday, the White House Big Data Working Group, led by senior presidential advisor John Podesta, released a 79-page report that outlines a number of key observations and recommendations for privacy in both the private sector and government. Although the report does not create binding law, it provides…
Category: Govt
The White House Big Data Report: The Good, The Bad, and The Missing
From EFF: Last week, the White House released its report on big data and its privacy implications, the result of a 90-day study commissioned by President Obama during his January 17 speech on NSA surveillance reforms. Now that we’ve had a chance to read the report we’d like to share our thoughts on what we liked, what…
White House seeks legal immunity for firms that hand over customer data
Spencer Ackerman reports: The White House has asked legislators crafting competing reforms of the National Security Agency to provide legal immunity for telecommunications firms that provide the government with customer data, the Guardian has learned. In a statement of principles privately delivered to lawmakers some weeks ago to guide surveillance reforms, the White House said…
Apple, Facebook, others defy authorities, notify users of secret data demands
Craig Timberg reports that tech companies are finally finding their spine to stand up for and notify users when the government seeks users’ information: Major U.S. technology companies have largely ended the practice of quietly complying with investigators’ demands for e-mail records and other online data, saying that users have a right to know in…