Zack Kaldveer, Communications Director, Consumer Federation of California and author of the blog Privacy Revolt, has a commentary on the California Progress Report that provides an overview of the smart grid system and its privacy implications that could be a good overview for those first trying to understand the issue. It begins: A critically important…
Category: U.S.
NV: Metro admits to improper release of criminal history data
J. Patrick Coolican reports: At least 12 Metro employees have been found since 2005 to be improperly accessing and disseminating criminal history information for reasons unrelated to police work, according to a Metro filing in a recent lawsuit. Given Metro’s roughly 6,000 employees, that means one in 500, or 0.2 percent, have been caught improperly…
Nebraska high court to hear new appeal in e-mail case
The Associated Press reports: The Nebraska Supreme Court is being asked to decide whether profanity-laced e-mails sent to a college professor who was a candidate for political office were criminal in nature or protected free speech. Darren Drahota was convicted of disturbing the peace and fined $250 for e-mails he sent in 2006 to former…
Obama Wants Computer Privacy Ruling Overturned
David Kravets reports: The Obama administration is seeking to reverse a federal appeals court decision that dramatically narrows the government’s search-and-seizure powers in the digital age. Solicitor General Elena Kagan and Justice Department officials are asking the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to reconsider its August ruling that federal prosecutors went too far when…