The New York Times has lost its bid to obtain wiretap information related to former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s involvement in a prostitution ring. The federal law that permits disclosure of wiretap information on a showing of good cause does not allow disclosure based solely on the news media’s interest in publishing the information,…
Category: Surveillance
Swiss artist fights biometric passport
From his self-chosen exile in Berlin, a Swiss-born artist has been battling Switzerland’s decision to introduce a biometric passport. Adam Tellmeister places the scalpel on his brand new Swiss passport and cuts right through its blood-red outer fabric. It’s the first cut of an operation — broadcast live on the Internet — that is aimed…
Senators Feingold, Durbin press for PATRIOT Act reform
U.S. Senators Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) are advocating reforms to the USA PATRIOT Act and related surveillance laws as part of the reauthorization of expiring provisions that the Senate will consider later this year. Feingold and Durbin have informed the Attorney General and the Chairmen of the Senate Judiciary and Intelligence Committees…
Police told to ignore human rights ruling over DNA database
Chief constables across England and Wales have been told to ignore a landmark ruling by the European court of human rights and carry on adding the DNA profiles of tens of thousands of innocent people to a national DNA database. Senior police officers have also been “strongly advised” that it is “vitally important” that they…