Sarah Lyall of Associated Press reports: It has become commonplace to call Britain a “surveillance society,” a place where security cameras lurk at every corner, giant databases keep track of intimate personal details and the government has extraordinary powers to intrude into citizens’ lives. A report in 2007 by the lobbying group Privacy International placed…
Conneaut councilman to sue peer over e-mail
Mark Todd reports: A Conneaut (Ohio) councilman is poised to sue another over e-mail messages posted last year, alleging Julio was involved in an extramarital affair. Ward 4 Councilman Tony Julio, at a press conference Friday afternoon, said Ward 1 Councilman Dave Campbell, under the user name “starsandbars,” posted messages in April 2008 on a…
DHS information-sharing initiative stalls due to privacy concerns
Jill R. Aitoro reports: A proposed Homeland Security Department information-sharing initiative faces ongoing funding challenges, due to congressional concerns over privacy. For the third year in a row, Congress as part of the Homeland Security spending bill prohibited DHS from using appropriated funds to stand up the National Immigration Information Sharing Operation. To start the…
Privacy Coalition Seeks Investigation of DHS Chief Privacy Office
From EPIC.org: EPIC joined the Privacy Coalition letter sent to the House Committee on Homeland Security urging them to investigate the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Chief Privacy Office. DHS is unrivaled in its authority to develop and deploy new systems of surveillance. The letter cited DHS use of Fusion Center, Whole Body Imaging, funding…