“Our new and improved Access to Archival Databases (AAD) System is here! It will feature global free-text searching across all series and files, in addition to our standard fielded search, and easier and faster ways to find the series and files you want.” Users may browse by categories that include: Genealogy/Personal History; Private Sector; Places;… Continue Reading
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Monthly Archives: December 2005
House Votes to Approve Patriot Act Reauthorization
Yesterday, I posted a series of links detailing Congressional and advocacy groups’ opposition to the reauthorization of H.R. 3199, the PATRIOT Act. Today, the House voted 251 to 174 in favor of the bill. It moves to the Senate for a floor vote on Friday. However, strong opposition promises this will be a contentious battle.… Continue Reading
President Issues New Order on FOIA Disclosures
AP reports Bush to Ease Public Access to Information, via an Executive Order signed this afternoon. According to White House press secretary Scott McClellan’s statements at the briefing today: “The order requires agencies to designate a senior official as the chief officer for Freedom of Information Act requests. They’ll be responsible for agency-wide implementation of… Continue Reading
President Acknowledges Iraq WMD Intel Wrong
As a follow-up to Administration Presents Strategy For Victory in Iraq, today the President Discusses Iraqi Elections, Victory in the War on Terror, The Woodrow Wilson Center, Washington, D.C.: “When we made the decision to go into Iraq, many intelligence agencies around the world judged that Saddam possessed weapons of mass destruction. This judgment was… Continue Reading
Report Documents Continuing Government Failures in Response to Katrina
Press release: “House Democrats released a new report today outlining the failures of the Republican Congress to meet the immediate needs of families impacted by Hurricane Katrina. Americans endured unprecedented tragedy and destruction from hurricanes Katrina and Rita but the Congress has failed to provide adequate housing, education and medical services to the victims … Continue Reading
NBC Reports on DOD Surveillance of American Anti-War Activists
Is the Pentagon spying on Americans? Secret database obtained by NBC News tracks ‘suspicious’ domestic groups. Related report, Washington Post, Early Warning blog, by William M. Arkin: Domestic Military Intelligence Is Back Continue Reading
Commentary on Privacy and Cell Phone Tracking
Every Move You Make, Part Three: Why Law Enforcement Should Have to Get a Warrant Before Tracking Us Via our Cell Phones, by Anita Ramasastry. Continue Reading
Industry Coalition Report Calls for Increased Gov’t Action to Protect Cybersecurity
“Cyber Security Industry Alliance (CSIA), the only advocacy group dedicated to ensuring the privacy, reliability and integrity of information systems, today called on the federal government to assert greater leadership in the protection our information infrastructure in 2006. Its release of the National Agenda for Government Action on Information Security (11 pages, PDF) identifies 13… Continue Reading
FTC Enforcement For Do Not Call Violation
FTC press release: “Satellite television provider DIRECTV will pay $5,335,000 to settle FTC charges that, since October 2003, DIRECTV and companies it hired to promote DIRECTV programming have been violating the Do Not Call (DNC) provisions of the Commissions Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR). This is the largest civil penalty the FTC has ever announced in… Continue Reading
Diebold CEO Resigns
Press release: “Diebold, Incorporated today announced senior management changes instituted by its board of directors. Walden W. O’Dell, Diebold chairman and chief executive officer, has resigned from the company and its board of directors, effective immediately.” Related postings on Diebold Continue Reading
Senate Patriot Act Reauthorization Vote Scheduled For Friday?
Following up on yesterday’s Bipartisan Coalition Seeks 3 Month Extension on Expiration of Patriot Act Provisions, today EPIC posted internal FBI documents obtained from a FOIA lawsuit against the DOJ, detailing government use of controversial sections of the Patriot Act scheduled for reauthorization by year’s end. EPIC’s requests for further documents are pending, and may… Continue Reading
Waxman Requests Removal of DIA FOIA Exemption From Defense Authorization
Press release: “Rep. Waxman asks the House and Senate Armed Forces Committees to remove a provision in the pending National Defense Authorization Act that would weaken the nation’s open government laws by exempting “operational records” of the Defense Intelligence Agency from the Freedom of Information Act.” Letter to House and Senate Armed Services Committees (2… Continue Reading
