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Latest News - October 13, 2010
Web Companies Defend Data Collection Practices, Google Absent
Eleven internet companies responded to Rep. Markey and Rep. Barton's request for information regarding their data collection practices. However, the companies said that it is "impossible" for them to eliminate online tracking of consumer behavior. Google refused to respond to the survey questions. At the same time, Microsoft, Intel Corp. and E-bay announced support for Rep. Rush's "Best Practices Act." This bill contains a private right of action as well as a safe harbor for companies that comply with a self-regulatory "Choice Program" approved by the Federal Trade Commission. EPIC recently testified before Chairman Rush's committee " and recommended new safeguards for Internet users. For more information, see EPIC: Identity Theft.
Posted on October 12, 2010 | Permalink
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New Social Networking Privacy Poll Released, Kids Privacy Campaign Launched
According to a national poll from Common Sense Media, three out of four parents believe that social network services do not adequately protect children's online privacy. The Common Sense Media "Protect Our Privacy - Protect Our Kids" campaign calls for opt-in consent, clear and simple privacy statements, updated privacy laws, and a prohibition on behavioral marketing for kids. EPIC filed comments with the Federal Trade Commission aimed at improving the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPAA). EPIC President Marc Rotenberg testified before the Senate Commerce Committee earlier this year, and urged Congress to extend COPAA to cover social networks and teens. For more information, see EPIC: COPAA.
Posted on October 12, 2010 | Permalink
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Privacy Groups Object to Google's "Simplified" Privacy Policy
EPIC and 14 other privacy and consumer protection groups sent a letter to Google CEO Eric Schmidt about Google's revised privacy policy. Under this new policy, twelve specific Google privacy policies will be replaced by a single policy that will enable greater data sharing within the corporation. EPIC previously raised similar concerns about Google Buzz in a complaint to the Federal Trade Commission. In the complaint, EPIC argued that Google's Gmail-specific privacy policy was more protective of users than their general privacy policy. For more information, see EPIC: In re Google Buzz.
Posted on October 6, 2010 | Permalink
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Supreme Court to Hear Arguments in NASA Privacy Case
On October 5, 2010 the Supreme Court will hear arguments in a case that will determine whether public contract employees have a right to limit the government's collection of their personal information. The case, NASA v. Nelson, was brought by a NASA scientist who argued that the Constitution grants a right to privacy from invasive government background checks. NASA claims that the Privacy Act provides sufficient legal protections. EPIC authored a "friend of the court" brief in the case, cosigned by 27 technical experts and legal scholars. EPIC's brief highlights exceptions in the Privacy Act, claimed by the federal agency, that place the scientists' personal information at risk. For more information, see EPIC: NASA v. Nelson and EPIC: Workplace Privacy.
Posted on October 4, 2010 | Permalink
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EPIC Supports Proposed Reforms for Surveillance Court, Urges Additional Measures
EPIC has submitted comments on the proposed rules for the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. In comparison to the previous rules, promulgated in 2006, EPIC said that the new rules would strengthen judicial independence, improve congressional oversight, and promote, to some extent, greater transparency of the court that oversees the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. EPIC also urged the Court to establish a web presence with information about the Court's activities and to publish detailed annual reports. EPIC said these measures would promote accountability and enhance public understanding of the Court and its functions. For more information, see EPIC: Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court and EPIC: Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
Posted on October 4, 2010 | Permalink
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EPIC Seeks Details on New Government Crypto Regulations
EPIC has sent Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the National Security Agency for information about a proposal to expand Internet surveillance and deploy weakened security standards. The proposal would require Internet companies to develop network services to enable government access to private communications, including those on peer-to-peer networks. In 1996, the National Resource Council concluded that such technical standards make network communications more vulnerable to cyber attack. For more information, see EPIC: Cryptography Policy.
Posted on September 29, 2010 | Permalink
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Federal Appeals Court Protects Innocent Targets of Government Surveillance
A federal appeals court in New York overruled a lower court order that would have disclosed thousands of wiretapped conversations, to the Security and Exchange Commission. The appeals court called the disclosure a "clear and indisputable" abuse of discretion. In SEC v. Galleon, the SEC sought 18,150 private conversations, obtained by the FBI, before any determination of whether the interceptions were relevant or lawful.The court issued the order which was then appealed. EPIC filed an amicus brief and urged the appellate court to protect "the privacy rights of hundreds of individuals" who had no involvement in the case. The court agreed and found that "ordering discovery of the wiretap materials before any determination of the legality of the surveillance involved exceeded the district court #8217;s discretion." For more information, see EPIC: SEC v. Galleon and EPIC: Wiretapping.
Posted on September 29, 2010 | Permalink
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Supreme Court Will Decide If Corporations Have Personal Privacy Rights
The Supreme Court has agreed to review AT T v. FCC, a case in which the Third Circuit Court of Appeals held that corporations have personal privacy rights. In that case, AT T prevented the public disclosure of records held by a government agency, arguing that the corporation's privacy rights would be violated. The case hinges on the interpretation of the "personal privacy" exemption in the Freedom of Information Act. EPIC, which both advocates for privacy and supports open government, is likely to file an amicus brief. For more information, see EPIC: FCC v. AT T and EPIC: Open Government.
Posted on September 29, 2010 | Permalink
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US Government Seeks to Monitor All Money Transfers
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network is proposing new regulations that would require banks to report all international electronic money transfers. The regulation would significantly expand the transfer of bank record information to the US Treasury Department and law enforcement agencies. The proposed regulations are available online and open for public comment. For more information, see EPIC: International Privacy Standards.
Posted on September 28, 2010 | Permalink
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Five Billion Have Right to Information
Human rights organization Article 19 reported that over 90 countries have adopted laws, constitutional amendments or regulations protecting the right to freedom of information. Additionally, over 50 countries are considering proposals to adopt laws that will protect citizens #8217; right to know. Article 19 commends the World Bank for its transparency policy, the United Nation #8217;s Environmental Programme for enhanced access to environmental information, and the efforts of the U.S. and UK governments to launch open data sites. See EPIC - Open Government.
Posted on September 28, 2010 | Permalink
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National Academies Releases New Report on Biometrics
The National Academy of Sciences has released a report entitled "Biometric Recognition: Challenges and Opportunities." The report concluded that biometric recognition technologies are inherently probabilistic and inherently fallible. Sources of uncertainty in biometric systems include variation within persons, sensors, feature extraction and matching algorithms, and data integrity. The report recommends a more comprehensive systems level approach to the contexts, design, and use of biometric technologies as well as peer-reviewed testing and evaluation of the technologies. EPIC has urged the Department of Defense to establish privacy safeguards for the biometric database the US established of Iraqis. See EPIC - Biometric Identifiers and EPIC - Iraqi Biometric Identification System.
Posted on September 28, 2010 | Permalink
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Senator Collins Responds to EPIC's Request for Hearings on Airport Body Scanners
Senator Susan Collins has sent a letter to EPIC Director Marc Rotenberg and consumer advocate Ralph Nader regarding airport body scanners. Senator Collins stated in the letter "I agree wholeheartedly that TSA must ensure that this new security technology is proven effective and comes with sufficient protections to the health and privacy of all persons." Mr. Rotenberg and Mr. Nader had sent Senator Collins a request for a public hearing about the security agency's body scanner program. The US Senate has not yet scheduled such a hearing, but leaders in the European Parliament will examine the issue of body scanners on October 6. EPIC will be participating in that hearing. For more information, see EPIC v. DHS (Suspension of Body Scanner Program) and EPIC - Airport Body Scanners.
Posted on September 28, 2010 | Permalink
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Fox News: 'Peep Show Database of American Travelers'
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C-SPAN: Improving Medical Privacy
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Privacy '10 Campaign Launch
Mott House
Washington, D.C.
October 13, 2010
Event Announcementform
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The Public Voice Civil Society Meeting: "Next Generation Privacy Challenges and Opportunities"
The Public Voice
Jerusalem
October 25, 2010
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Hearing: "Data Protection in a Transatlantic Perspective"
Marc Rotenberg,
EPIC Executive Director
European Parliament
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affair (LIBE)
Brussels, Belgium
October 25, 2010
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"Broadband Networks and Smart Grid at the crossroad between ICT Energy"
Lillie Coney,
EPIC Associate Executive Director
Columbia Business School
New York, NY
December 3, 2010
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One agency wants Internet wiretaps, another wants privacy protectedNextGovOctober 6, 2010
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Critics Strike At Google's New 'All-It-Can-Eat' Privacy PolicyMediaPost NewsOctober 5, 2010
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EPIC Docket Highlights
EPIC Cases
EPIC v. DHS (Emergency Stay, Body Scanners)
EPIC FTC Complaint (Google)
EPIC FTC Complaint (Phone Records)
EPIC v. DHS (FOIA, Body Scanners)
EPIC v. DOD (TIA/Fee Waiver)
EPIC v. DOJ (FOIA, Body Scanners)
EPIC v. DOJ (IOB reports)
EPIC v. DOJ (NSA Surveillance)
EPIC v. FTC (Conflict of Interest)
EPIC v. NSA (Cybersecurity)
EPIC v. VSP (Fusion Centers)
Gonzales v. ACLU (NSLs)
Google Books Settlement
In re Facebook (Settings)
In re Facebook II (Settings) In re Google (Buzz)
In re Google (Cloud Computing)
NASA v. Nelson (Employee Privacy)
EPIC Amicus Briefs:
Recent EPIC Briefs
City of Ontario v. Quon (Txt Messages)
Commonwealth v. Connolly (GPS Tracking)
Doe v. Reed (Petition Signatures)
G.D. v. Kenny (Expungement)
Harris v. Blockbuster (Facebook Privacy)
IMS Health v. Sorrell (Medical Privacy)
Ostergren v. McDonnell (Identity Theft)
SEC v. Galleon (Wiretapping)
Other EPIC Briefs
ACLU v. DOD (Secrecy)
BATF v. Chicago (FOIA)
Bunnell v. MPAA (Wiretap)
Crawford v. Marion County (Voter ID)
Doe v. Chao (Privacy Act)
Flores-Figueroa v. US (ID Theft)
Gilmore v. Ashcroft (Secrecy)
Gonzales v. Doe (Wiretap)
Hepting v. AT amp;T (Wiretap)
Herring v. US (Errors in databases)
Hiibel v. Nevada (Anonymity)
IMS Health v. Ayotte (Medical privacy)
Kehoe v. Fidelity Bank (Consumer privacy)
Kohler v. Englade (DNA)
NCTA v. FCC (Phone records privacy)
New Jersey v. Reid (ISP subscriber privacy)
Peterson v. NTIA (WHOIS data)
Reno v. Condon (DPPA)
Smith v. Doe (Megans Law)
US v. Councilman (Wiretap)
Watchtower Bible v. Stratton (Anonymity)
Complete EPIC Docket
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