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Monthly Archives: June 2018

Crossing the Big Data / Data Science Analytics Chasm

Data Science Central: “The key of any organization’s digital transformation is becoming more effective at leveraging data and analytics to power their business models. That is, how can organizations exploit the growing bounty of internal and external data sources to uncover new sources of customer, product, service, operational and market insights that they can use to optimize key business and operational processes, mitigate compliance and cybersecurity risks, uncover new monetization opportunities, and create a more compelling, differentiated customer experience..”

Legal Writing Tools for Mac Lawyers

Law Technology Today: “Mac computers are now the preferred choice for young professionals, including young lawyers and law students. And many other firms have become Mac enthusiasts. Whether you love the interface, the physical design, or whether you got fed up with the Blue Screen of Death and slow forced updates, it’s great to know… Continue Reading

Congress.gov New, Tip, and Top for June 2018, Part 2

In Custodia Legis: “Earlier this month, Andrew provided an update on the Congress.gov enhancements, including that the date of the “Previous Meeting” on the homepage is now linked to a list of items that were on the House or Senate floor that day. The previous release also included errata, a published correction for a committee… Continue Reading

Little Things and Big Challenges: Information Privacy and the Internet of Things

Brill, Hillary and Jones, Scott, Little Things and Big Challenges: Information Privacy and the Internet of Things (June 1, 2017). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3188958 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3188958 “The Internet of Things (IoT), the wireless connection of devices to ourselves, each other, and the Internet, has transformed our lives and our society in unimaginable ways. Today, billions… Continue Reading

New rule covers purchasing authority for cyber emergencies

FCW.com: “The federal government is moving to expand emergency procurement authority for purchases used to respond to or recover from a cyberattack, according to a new proposed rule in the Federal Register. The change places cyberattacks against the United States in the same category as nuclear, biological, chemical or radiological attacks. It would allow federal… Continue Reading

Report – How tech companies use dark patterns to discourage us from exercising our rights to privacy

The Norwegian Consumer Council (Forbrukerrådet) – “In this report, we analyze a sample of settings in Facebook, Google and Windows 10, and show how default settings and dark patterns, techniques and features of interface design meant to manipulate users, are used to nudge users towards privacy intrusive options. The findings include privacy intrusive default settings,… Continue Reading

A Twitter Bot Has Joined the Immigration Battle to Fight ICE With Facts

Gizmodo: “A bot on Twitter is sharing images of all 212 immigration detention centers along with the address and demographic information of each location, tossing cold, hard facts into the heated online debate over immigration in America. Artist Everest Pipkin created the bot, @Abolish_ICE_Now, on Friday, about two months after Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced… Continue Reading

Database of 340 Million Customer Records Leaks onto Web

The time is long over due to cease talking about data privacy – we have none – and move forward, now, to develop and implement standards to secure our metadata from organizations that collect, aggregate, sell, buy and trade every facet of our “data” without our knowledge and consent, with ramifications that continue to remain… Continue Reading

Pew Survey – Public Attitudes Toward Technology Companies

“A majority of Republicans say technology firms support the views of liberals over conservatives and that social media platforms censor political viewpoints. Still, Americans tend to feel that these firms benefit them and – to a lesser degree – society In the midst of an ongoing debate over the power of digital technology companies and… Continue Reading

NSA Reports Call Detail Records (CDR) Deletion

NSA/CSS Statement, June 28, 2018: “Consistent with NSA’s core values of respect for the law, accountability, integrity, and transparency we are making public notice that on May 23, 2018, NSA began deleting all call detail records (CDRs) acquired since 2015 under Title V of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). The Government relies on Title… Continue Reading

From a Natural Language to a Controlled Contract Language

Finnegan, Milva, From a Natural Language to a Controlled Contract Language (May 24, 2018). Jusletter IT May 24 2018. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3184366 “Readability of contracts is a challenge. Over time a natural set of traditional words and writing style has developed. A controlled language is derived from a natural language and usually consists of… Continue Reading

The World Lost 40 Football Fields of Tropical Trees Every Minute in 2017

Yale Environment 360: “Despite international efforts to reduce deforestation, the world’s tropical forests lost 39 million acres of trees in 2017, an area roughly the size of Bangladesh, according to new data from the environmental monitoring group Global Forest Watch. That is equal to losing 40 football fields of tropical trees every minute for an… Continue Reading