Encouraging news: both the ACLU and EFF say proposed amendments to the cybersecurity bill, S. 2105, address privacy concerns. Michelle Richardson of the ACLU writes that the proposed changes would: Ensure that companies who share cybersecurity information with the government give it directly to civilian agencies, and not to military agencies like the National Security…
Category: Govt
Internet privacy is focus of Gansler as head of U.S. attorneys general
Len Lazarick reports: You’re walking down the street and you get a text message on your smartphone about the Chipotle restaurant around the corner. That’s interesting. How did they know you liked Chipotle? And wait a minute. How did they know where you were? That’s an example Attorney General Doug Gansler gave in an interview…
DHS emergency power extended, including control of private telecom systems
Shaun Waterman reports: The Obama administration has given the Department of Homeland Security powers to prioritize government communications over privately owned telephone and Internet systems in emergencies. An executive order signed June 6 “gives DHS the authority to seize control of telecommunications facilities, including telephone, cellular and wireless networks, in order to prioritize government communications over private ones in an emergency,”…
Markey Queries Justice Dept. About Mobile Phone Data Requests, Privacy Protections
Rep. Ed Markey continues to ask the questions privacy advocates care about. From his press release today: As part of his continuing investigation into law enforcement requests for consumers’ mobile phone records, today Congressman Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) sent a letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) querying the agency about how it handles, administers…