Fraud-Net.com is a new, password protected database developed by the Florida Bankers Association (FBA) and the North Carolina Bankers Association, as a proactive tool for the banking industry to collaborate with law enforcement in the fight against financial fraud. It is anticipated that other states will soon follow as participants in the program. A press… Continue Reading
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Monthly Archives: February 2003
Congressional Quarterly's Redesigned Portal
Congressional Quarterly’s legislative tracking tool, CQ.com, recently launched a re-designed portal with new features and enhanced services for subscribers, such as realtime breaking and analysis, a more user friendly interface, and options to personalize customer tracking and monitoring preferences using a “My CQ” feature. See the press release here. Continue Reading
Federal Budget for 2004
The 2004 Budget was sent to Congress on February 3, 2003 and is available in PDF, either in five downloadable chapters, or as a single file. It covers the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2003. Also available are Supporting Documents and a List of Spreadsheets (in XLS format). Continue Reading
Editorial on Libraries and Patriot Act
Privacy and Security, A librarian’s dilemma, addresses the challenges faced by public librarians post 9/11 who are committed both to the country’s safety and security, as well as to their patron’s right to privacy. Law professor and library law expert Mary Minow states the issue succinctly: “How do we make sure we protect the privacy… Continue Reading
Google and Privacy Issues
This Boston Globe Magazine article focuses on the ability of Google’s search technology to link researchers to extensive personal data on individuals who have no reasonable expectation of such data remaining private. Googling someone has become routine for many searchers, and the more thorough the research, the greater the potential to locate and disseminate personal… Continue Reading
Investigation on E-Rate Fraud and Libraries
In a follow-up to my recent post on fraud in the library/school E-Rate fund, a preliminary investigation has now been launched, at the direction of House Committee on Energy and Commerce Chairman W.J. “Billy” Tauzin. Tauzin is a vocal critic of the program, and through his spokesman stated, “Schools are hooked up to the Internet… Continue Reading
New Database on 2004 Presidential Candidate Assets
The Buying of the President 2004 is a new searchable database from the Center for Public Integrity. This is a terrific resource, and is well worth a visit. A press release about the database is here, and indicates that there are currently 200 documents available on the financial history of the declared candidates, as well… Continue Reading
More Support for Verizon's Privacy Policy
Via Politechbot, Ohio State Law Professor Peter P. Swire, former Chief Counselor for Privacy to President Clinton, filed a declaration in Verizon v. Recording Industry Association of America supporting Verizon’s motion to stay the decision. Continue Reading
AmLaw Launches New Industry Reports
American Lawyer Media, Inc. launched a new service, Legal Market Information Source, providing “clients, law firms and companies marketing to the legal industry with trend data, reports, rankings and custom research on major U.S. and global law firms…Initial LMIS product offerings will cover four areas: law firm reports; legal industry briefs; industry ranking tables and… Continue Reading
Database to Track Foreign Students Not Ready for Prime Time
Here is a follow-up to a January 30 New York Times article on the State Department’s new database of 50 million visa applications to which federal and local law enforcement agencies will have access. This database is part of the Homeland Security initiative. As part of the compliance requirements, colleges and universities must report on… Continue Reading
Patriot Act and Libraries
Safeguarding Our Patrons’ Privacy: What Every Librarian Needs to Know about the USA PATRIOT Act & Related Anti-Terrorism Measures, videotape (120 minutes) and manual (27 pp.), published December 2002, are available for $35 from the Association of Research Libraries. Continue Reading
ALA Opposes Patriot Act
The American Library Association (ALA) issued a resolution on the Patriot Act that states the organization “considers sections of the act a president danger to the constitution and privacy rights of library users. It not only encourages librarians to defend user privacy, it also asks ALA to take action to obtain and publicize information about… Continue Reading
