All Emmalyn Rood wants is the right to explore the Internet in her hometown library.

But because Rood is only 16 years old, the U.S. Congress has tried to guarantee that she only view websites through the shutters of filtering software that may block far more material than just what's legally verboten for minors.

On Tuesday, Rood took the witness stand in federal court to testify that her attempts to research her sexuality in the public library before coming out as a lesbian would have been prohibited by smut-filtering technologies. Rood, who lives in Portland, Oregon, is a plaintiff in the ACLU's attempt to overturn a library-filtering law.

[ ... ]

She said that three years ago, while exploring her sexual leanings, she found that the anti-porn software in her school mistakenly labeled sites like Lesbian.org as pornographic.

[ ... ]

Other witnesses for the ACLU and the American Library Association testified that such technology was inherently flawed because of the fluid nature of the Internet, while tending to be both overzealous in cordoning off innocuous sites, and under-inclusive in not preventing visits to hardcore sex sites.

Geoffrey Nunberg, a linguist at Stanford University and a former principal scientist at Xerox PARC, said precision is "well beyond the capability of the technology."

[ ... ]

On Monday, the judges abruptly kicked members of the public out of the courtroom. Filterware vendor N2H2 had filed an emergency request to intervene in the trial, arguing that testimony could divulge proprietary data about how the company trawls for sites to add to its list of off-color websites.

But after the closed-door testimony had ended, the panel of judges decided that nothing confidential had been uttered, and ordered that the transcript of the brief session be unsealed.

Digital Identity - Weblog. News and features on identity web services

Technology News from Wired News - Next Virus Exploit: Media Player?

New security measures on Outlook e-mail may turn the attention of virus writers to attack breaches in another popular Microsoft product, Media Player.

[ ... ]

The experts say HTML-formatted e-mail containing code identified as a file that Media Player "trusts" can be embedded in an e-mail, which Outlook will then automatically allow the player to execute.

MP3 News from Wired News - Kazaa Gets the Green Light.

In a setback for efforts to halt copyright abuse, a Dutch appeals court on Thursday told an Internet software company it could distribute a software program that is designed to let users share music and films on the Internet.

The ruling in the case between Kazaa and Buma Stemra, a Dutch music rights organization, overturned a decision in November in favor of the music industry.

Political News from Wired News - Spammers Slam Anti-Spam Proposals.

Direct marketers' spin on spam is that Congress should make no law because it would set a bad example for other countries.

MP3 News from Wired News - Howling Mad Over Hollings' Bill.

Millions of people have networked their stereos, computers and television sets to take relaxation to a new level, but a proposed law could make those networks useless.

Tech News - CNET.com (Roundup) - Targeting piracy.

Tensions between Hollywood and Silicon Valley over online piracy are on the rise. But is new legislation really the answer?

They are talking about the so-called Consumer Broadband and Digital Television Act--once known as the Security Systems Standards and Certification Act (SSSCA)

CNET NEWS.COM - Yahoo revises privacy policy.

Web portal Yahoo has revised its privacy policy to more clearly describe how personal data will be treated in certain circumstances, company executives said.

The new policy states that Yahoo will share information to investigate circumstances involving illegal activity such as fraud, violations of its terms of service agreement, and the use of its service for potential threats. The revision also said Yahoo will transfer user information if it is acquired by another company and abide by the acquiring company's privacy policy.

Washington Post - Survey of Web Finds Gains on Privacy Issues.

Groups that favor self-regulation praised the findings, saying they show why Congress ought to allow businesses to sort out the privacy issue for themselves.

[ ... ]

Some consumer advocates suggested that the study is being used as cover by businesses and policymakers to avoid addressing deeper privacy issues, such as the sweeping use of individuals' personal information by the Microsoft Passport system, a digital identification system for online commerce.

Paula Bruening, staff counsel of the Center for Democracy & Technology, welcomed the study but said it also shows that privacy protections on the Internet remain so inconsistent that some sort of "baseline legislation" is merited.

For example, the study noted but did not highlight the fact that fewer than half of the randomly selected sites in the survey offer computer users some notice and choice about how information is used. "Consumers need to be able to go online and . . . have a consistent expectation that the privacy of their information will be respected," she said.

FTC Chairman Timothy J. Muris, who attended the announcement, said the study showed "substantial improvement" in privacy protection by online businesses. Several FTC employees helped design the study so that it would mirror the agency's earlier work. Muris said more factual data and less rhetoric are needed to fuel a positive debate.

BBC News | UK | A user's guide to privacy.

Supermodel Naomi Campbell has won a privacy case against the Mirror newspaper, which had made public her battle against drug addiction. So just how private can our personal lives be?

Naomi Campbell's lawyer emerged victorious from the High Court on Wednesday after a much publicised battle with the Mirror newspaper.

The supermodel won her case against the paper which last year published a photograph of her leaving a Narcotics Anonymous meeting.

But it was not an outright victory on the privacy front.

While Justice Sir Michael Morland ruled that celebrities who use the media to buff their own images are entitled to some privacy, Ms Campbell's damages were awarded for breach of confidentiality and of the data protection act.

She won, but in two other recent lawsuits - a TV presenter found in a brothel and an adulterous top footballer - the courts said they had lost their right to privacy.

It was these decisions that were more significant in terms of setting a benchmark for privacy, says Paul Gilbert, lead media lawyer at Finer Stephens Innocent.

Editor: Just remember as you read all these Rah Rah 'We aren't as bad as we used to be' articles. They survey they are basing their comments on was done by the 'Progress and Freedom Foundation' an industry group who is against privacy laws.

WashTech.com part of the Washington Post - Judge Orders FBI To Turn Up More Carnivore Data.

San Jose Mercury News - Survey says Internet sites collecting less personal data from Web surfers.

Internet sites appear to be collecting less personal information from consumers and doing a slightly better job explaining how Web sites use such sensitive data, according to a survey by an opponent of new privacy laws.

Newsbytes - Judge Orders FBI To Turn Up More Carnivore Data.

But upon receiving the Carnivore material, EPIC attorneys complained that the FBI had only turned over technical information about the device and had failed to provide any data about the legal and policy implications of using Carnivore in criminal investigations.

EPIC filed suit against the FBI and the Department of Justice, contending the agencies had not provided any information from the FBI's General Counsel and Congressional and Public Affairs Offices.

"There doesn't appear to have been any search done in those places despite (the fact) that they are obvious sources of information on Carnivore," EPIC General Counsel David Sobel said today.

On Monday, U.S. District Court Judge James Robertson sided with EPIC, ordering "a further search of FBI records reasonably expected to produce the requested information."

CBS Marketwatch - Commentary: Privacy standards key to Net opportunities.

The single most important factor in creating a new generation of business opportunities is network identity -- an issue that deserves every bit of public scrutiny, and business acumen, we can give it.

To date, it hasn't been getting enough of either.

With the emergence of Web services, we will see personal profiles used to create new levels of convenience and efficiency, but along with those benefits will come thorny questions about privacy and control.

Bloomberg.com : Technology News - Fewer Web Sites Collect Personal Data, Group Finds.

Amazon.com Inc., Yahoo! Inc. and other Web sites are less likely to collect personal information, either directly from customers or by using software, a study found.

Among the 100 most-visited Internet addresses, 84 percent collect personal information, down from 96 percent two years ago when the U.S. urged strict privacy protection, the Progress and Freedom Foundation said. The private group said 48 percent use ``cookies,'' files that identify each computer to track online habits, compared with 78 percent in May 2000.

``The changes we have identified are evolutionary, not revolutionary,'' said Jeffrey Eisenach, president of the group, which usually opposes government regulation. ``But from a consumer perspective, they are all in the right direction.''

CNET NEWS.COM - Study: Big sites improving privacy.

Large Web sites are getting better about respecting consumers' privacy online, collecting less data, using fewer tracking devices, and posting more information about their practices, according to a report issued Wednesday.

The Progress & Freedom Foundation, which studies digital technologies and their implications for public policy, had accounting firm Ernst & Young begin surveying the Web pages of the top 100 e-commerce sites, plus a random sample of approximately 300 smaller sites, in December. The Federal Trade Commission and Georgetown University conducted similar "Web sweeps" in 2000, 1999 and 1998.

CBS News | Internet Privacy Improves A Bit.

Internet sites appear to be collecting less personal information from consumers and doing a slightly better job explaining how Web sites use such sensitive data, according to a survey by an opponent of new privacy laws.

The Progress and Freedom Foundation, a Washington think tank, said that its survey of 300 Web sites picked at random and 85 more of the Internet's most-popular sites showed about eight in 10 of the most-popular collected personal information from consumers other than e-mail addresses. A similar study in 2000 showed a higher number.

EPIC Telemarketing Page.

The Federal Trade Commission is soliciting your comments on changes to the Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR). The TSR governs how many telemarketers may make calls to your home. This is your opportunity to tell the FTC how to limit telemarketing calls and to increase your privacy!

It is important that members of the public comment. You can do so until March 29, 2002.

The FTC's request for comments is complex and it includes privacy issues, consumer protection issues, and technical aspects of telemarketing. EPIC is advising the public to include these issues in their comments:

A few ideas for topics to try and cover when you contact the FTC.

Slashdot | Deadline For Telemarketing Comments is Friday.

Wherify Wireless Official product site (may contain unnecessary superlatives, corporate bias) - Gps Personal Locator For Children.

Children have a natural urge to explore. Parents have a natural desire to know their children are safe.

That's why Wherify created the world's first Personal Locator to help you determine your child's location in minutes. Wherify's GPS Personal Locator helps keep loved ones safe by combining Wherify's patented technology with the U.S. Department of Defense's multi-billion dollar Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites plus the largest 100% digital, nationwide PCS wireless network.

So relax. Now you can have peace of mind 24 hours a day while your child is the high tech envy of the neighborhood!

Slashdot | GPS Wristwatch for Kids.

A company called 'Wherify Wireless' has created a $400 watch with a built-in pager, GPS unit and wireless data connectivity. It's targeted at families with kids.

Slashdot | Kazaa Is Legal, Dutch Appeals Court Rules.

First, the courts in the Netherlands rule against Kazaa, in a higher appeal, the courts rule in favour of Kazaa saying "The software itself doesn't commit any illegal acts, it's the users that could do that, therefore the software is legal"

New York Times - free registration required City Agrees to End the Giuliani Policy of Jailing Most Protesters for the Night.

City officials have agreed not to reinstate a Giuliani-era policy that forced most people arrested at demonstrations to spend a night or more in jail instead of being released and given a summons to appear in court.

The agreement is part of a legal settlement reached early this month in which the city also agreed to pay the plaintiffs' legal fees and $42,500 in compensation. The city stopped enforcing the policy last July, and admitted no wrongdoing in the settlement. The suit was filed last September in Federal District Court in Manhattan by the Rev. Daniel Berrigan, a Roman Catholic priest and Vietnam war protester, and several other people arrested with him after an antiwar demonstration at the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum in Manhattan last April 13.

New York Times - free registration required Letters to the Editor.

"Welcome to the Database Lounge" (March 21) quotes Frank Mandelbaum, chairman and chief executive of the license-scanning equipment manufacturer Intelli-Check, as saying: "It's the same information as the front of the license. If I were to go into a bar and they had a photocopier, they could photocopy the license or they could write it down. They are not giving us any information that violates privacy."

It is important to note that bars do not photocopy licenses precisely because doing so would alarm patrons by revealing their intention of collecting very personal and valuable information. Part of the reason we are so eager to "show" a license for age verification is that we know that once the verification is complete, no other information clearly visible on the driver's license is retained by the person checking our age.

The insidious manner in which Intelli-Check's machines gather and retain data drawn from the bar codes on drivers licenses is shocking, invasive and dangerous. I suspect few people realize they are allowing a profile of themselves to be created and tracked when they step out for a beer on a Saturday night.

Slashdot | Can GnuPG Deliver?