Steven Aftergood of FAS writes: The vast apparatus of government secrecy persisted through the last year with only limited changes in the contours of its multi-billion dollar operations, according to the latest “secrecy report card” published by Openthegovernment.org, a coalition of organizations working for increased transparency. The new report card (pdf), prepared by Patrice McDermott…
Category: U.S.
Lawmakers consider clampdown on the way Internet marketers collect personal data to target ads
Joelle Tessler of Associated Press reports on how Rep. Rick Boucher (D-Va) is drafting a bill to impose restrictions on how web sites collect and use information for advertising services. Although the industry had proposed its own self-regulatory principles in July, a coalition of privacy groups submitted other recommendations to Congress that impose additional restrictions….
Student accused of accessing Palin’s email can’t screen jury on political views
The Associated Press reports that a federal judge in Knoxville denied a request by lawyers for David C. Kernell to screen potential jurors by questionnaire about their political views and their attitudes about Sarah Palin. Kernell is on trial after being indicted (pdf) for accessing Palin’s e-mail account. He allegedly figured out the correct answers…
Administration seeks to keep terror watch-List data secret
Ellen Nakashima reports: The Obama administration wants to maintain the secrecy of terrorist watch-list information it routinely shares with federal, state and local agencies, a move that rights groups say would make it difficult for people who have been improperly included on such lists to challenge the government. Intelligence officials in the administration are pressing…