Legislation was introduced in the Senate yesterday to reform the USA PATRIOT Act. Introduced by Senators Russ Feingold (D-WI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jon Tester (D-MT), Tom Udall (D-NM), Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Daniel Akaka (D-HI) and Ron Wyden (D-OR), The Judicious Use of Surveillance Tools In Counterterrorism Efforts (JUSTICE) Act would reform the…
Koster settles with telemarketers
Keith Loria reports: Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster reached a settlement agreement on Wednesday with a California couple who had violated the state’s No-Call List policy. Under terms of the settlement, Madhulika and Ratan Baid’s California companies, Smart Funding Corp. and Ariant Solutions, Inc., will pay $35,000 to the State for using third-party telemarketers to…
UK defamation law may adopt single publication rule
A news report on Out-Law.com today indicates that the U.K. government is considering using a “single publication” rule for internet postings involved in defamation lawsuits. Under existing UK law, every “hit” on a web page constitutes a re-publication, which makes it very difficult and costly for publishers/defendants. Although the single publication rule (which seems to…
Council goes on the defensive over sale of personal data
Sarah Marshall reports: The chairman of Eastbourne Ratepayers’ Association is condemning the borough council for selling the names and personal details of people in Eastbourne. The council agrees it is wrong – describing the practice as ‘disgraceful’ – but says the government forces it to sell the data. Andrew Jay, chairman of the association, said,…