Orbitz is no doubt pleased with the Department of Transportation’s decision not to propose new regulations on the advertisement and sale of airline tickets on the Web. See my previous relating posting here. Continue Reading
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Monthly Archives: November 2002
Monitoring Employee E-Mail and Net Usage
Wired has an interesting article on a number of new applications now available that are used to track and monitor the range of non-work related activities that employees engage in while using corporate e-mail and Internet access. Continue Reading
Library Net Filter Case Goes to Supreme Court
The Supreme Court today agreed to review a challenge to the constitutionality of the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) (United States v. American Library Association, 02-361), which stipulates that libraries receiving federal funds install filtering software on public access PCs. This law is vigorously opposed by the American Library Association (ALA) and the ACLU. For… Continue Reading
Database on State Sex Offender Public Records
The Citizens Action Project is sponsored by the College of Journalism and Communications at the University of Florida. This organization has created a database detailing specifically what public records pertaining to sex offenders are made available by states via their respective Web portals. Information provided includes references to state statutes and case law, but no… Continue Reading
Computer Troubles Persist at Dept. of the Interior
According to a GAO review, the Department of the Interior continues to have major administrative problems, including those that include their IT infrastructure. Federal Computer Week (FCW) has updated readers on the issues that continue to plague the agency some 11 months after U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth’s order to shut down all online systems.… Continue Reading
State Privacy Law and E-Mail
This case, State of Washington v. Donald Theodore Townsend, addresses the privacy of e-mail and instant message (IM) communication in a police sting operation involving an adult and a fictitious minor. Townsend’s messages were stored on a police officer’s PC, printed, and used as evidence. The court determined that Townsend’s messages were not covered under… Continue Reading
ICANN's Plans for New Top Level Domains
See ICANN’s announcement on recommendations for new Top Level Domains (TLDs) as well as a comment period which will end December 10. According to this related Washington Post article, ICANN is in favor of creating three new top level domains that target specific users, rather than the current dot-com grab-bag approach. Continue Reading
DVD Copying Software
According to this article in digitalMass, a father-son programming team is marketing a software application that allows users to copy DVDs onto CDs. Hollywood is none too pleased with consumers copying their films, and is commited to battling against the creation and distribution of applications that allow them to do so. See also this related… Continue Reading
Medical Diagnosis Via E-Mail
As a profession, doctors have traditionally communicated with their patients in person or by telephone. However, the tide may be turning, as some doctors pioneer fee-based virtual medicine, by which they communicate and diagnose patients via secure e-mail. Continue Reading
Hollywood Launches Online Movie Site
In an effort to respond to consumer demand for movie downloads, five major studios launched a new fee-based service, called Movielink. See the WSJ article via Yahoo here. Continue Reading
Tech Law and Public Policy
The Samuelson Law, Technology and Public Policy Clinic at Boalt Hall is actively involved in educational efforts focused on privacy law, digital rights management and copyright issues. The site maintains a BriefBank, to which public interest groups and legal scholars contribute briefs on law, technology and public policy. The site has a basic search engine… Continue Reading
Survey of State Doctor Disciplinary Data
The non-profit citizen advocacy group Public Citizen conducted a state-by-state survey of disciplinary data, and the information is current as of April 3, 2002. It may be viewed in an oveall quick chart format here. Specific information provided includes the direct, state sponsored e-gov address where doctor data is located, whether the state provides disciplinary… Continue Reading
