From AP, news about a recent New York State State Supreme Courts Appellate Division decision in response to a freedom of information request for access to the uncensored text of oral histories provided by members of the New York City Fire Department in respect to their experiences during, and responses to, 9/11. Continue Reading
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Monthly Archives: January 2004
Author of Controversial Book on Administration Will Make Docs Public on Web
According to an AP report, Ron Suskind, the author of the controversial new book, The Price of Loyalty, stated he plans to publish many of the documents provided to him by former Treasury Secretary Paul O’Neill, on the Web “in coming weeks.” Continue Reading
Presentation on the Future of GPO
From Judith C. Russell, Superintendent of Documents, the text of her presentation from the American Library Association Midwinter Meeting, in which she addresses the following topics: The GPO Reorganization Fact Gathering and Planning for the Future of GPO and the FDLP A New Economic Model for the GPO Sales Program Managing Legacy Federal Documents Collections Continue Reading
US-Visit Program Stirs Controversy, and Seems to Lack Exit Strategy
“EPIC has filed comments (pdf) in response to the Department of Homeland Security’s announcement that it will collect biometric and biographic information in the Arrival Departure Information System (ADIS) [Note – the ADIS System is mandated by Public Law 106-396, the Visa Waiver Program Act.] ADIS is one of at least twenty existing information systems… Continue Reading
Patent Office Lists Top 10 Private Sector Recipients
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issued a press release January 12 with the names of the ten corporations that received the most patents for 2003. Topping the list was IBM, for the 11th straight year, with Canon Kabushiki Kaisha a distant second, and Sony at number 10. Continue Reading
Proposed Guidelines for Installing Library Web Filtering
The Center for Democracy and Technology issued “Proposed Guidelines for Libraries Installing Filtering under Federal Law” during the American Library Association’s Midwinter Meeting, underway in San Diego. Version 1.0 of Principles for CIPA-Mandated Filtering in Public Libraries “are intended to help libraries that are required to install Internet filtering software under the Childrens Internet Protection… Continue Reading
Tax Software Industry Concerned Over Free E-Filing and Privacy
Federal Computer Week reports on a privacy controversy associated with the highly touted IRS Free File system, which last year was predominently used by low income taxpayers. For 2003 filings, the IRS requested that members of the Free File Alliance (“a Public-Private Partnership between the Internal Revenue Service and software companies in the tax software… Continue Reading
Sen. Clinton Proposes Standardized Medical Reporting System
From Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s press release of January 12 on upcoming legislation to implement technology solutions to address the efficient delivery of health care, the proposal includes five major goals: Increasing research on quality of care; providing the public with a standardized reporting system that allows consumers to reliably compare performance; building an information… Continue Reading
New Law Review Article on Legislative History in France
Claire M. Germain’s article, Approaches to Statutory Interpretation and Legislative History in France, from the Duke Journal of Comparative & International Law, Vol. 13, No. 3, Summer 2003, is now available online. Continue Reading
Google Expands Search Features
Google’s new search features include: airline tracking by flight numbers and Search by Number, and includes UPS tracking numbers, FedEx tracking numbers, USPS tracking numbers, Vehicle ID (VIN) numbers, UPC codes, Telephone area codes, Patent numbers, FAA airplane registration numbers and FCC equipment IDs. Via Google Blogoscoped. Continue Reading
CAPPS II Proceeds Despite Opposition
U.S. to Push Airlines for Passenger Records – Travel Database to Rate Security Risk Factors See my previous posts on CAPPS II here. Continue Reading
IRS To Phase-In Encrypted E-Filing for 2005
From the December 29, 2003, Federal Register, this IRS notice: Addition of New Transmitter Encryption Options and Pending – Discontinuance of Non-Encrypted Options for IRS e-file – SUMMARY: Internal Revenue Service will provide the ability for IRS e- file program participants to use approved encryption methods for the 2005 and later filing seasons, beginning with… Continue Reading
