IBM said Wednesday that it is releasing free software that would allow companies to automate their Internet privacy practices, while AT&T is offering free software that alerts Web surfers to different privacy settings on Web sites.

The announcements come at a time when U.S. government and industry movements toward providing consumers with greater protection of their personal information on the Internet have been scaled back in light of concerns over terrorism and national security.

"Privacy practices and policies in corporate America have been steadily getting worse over the last couple of years," said Jason Catlett, president of Junkbusters, an independent privacy advocacy and consulting firm.

Just last week Yahoo followed in the steps of eBay and Amazon.com in changing its privacy policies to allow for greater use of the data, Catlett said.

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Rotenberg said that although such software may help companies comply with their privacy policies and help consumers better identify privacy policies of Web sites, they won't actually do anything to expand individuals' privacy protections.

"Consumers want the ability to (Web) surf anonymously, to limit the collection of their information and to see that information when it is collected by others," Rotenberg said.

Software such as that from IBM, "is basically automating privacy policies which currently can be read on Web sites and which many people find frustrating--and that change too frequently," he added.

New York Times - Editorial Op-Ed: free registration required A Worthwhile Web Regulation.

The Children's Internet Protection Act, which seeks to deny federal funding to any school or library that fails to install software on its computers to block Web sites containing pornographic material, is no more a threat to free speech than current regulations on television and radio.

An opinion piece from the other side.

New York Times - Editorial Op-Ed: free registration required Latin America's Muzzled Press. Democracy may have spread throughout Latin America, but the widespread curtailment of press freedoms is worrisome.

The ability of independent journalists to work without fear of intimidation is a reliable indicator of a democracy's health. That is why the widespread curtailment of press freedoms throughout Latin America is worrisome. Democracy may have spread throughout the region, but it is having difficulties establishing deep roots.

The nature of the threat facing the media varies by country, but some alarming generalizations can be drawn. One is that journalists, instead of merely being harassed by lawsuits brought under libel laws overly protective of authority, are being physically intimidated to an extent not seen since the days when military regimes dominated the region.

Government Computer News - Clarke: IT security is 3 to 5 years away.

The president's proposed fiscal 2003 budget puts much-needed money behind efforts to improve IT security, presidential cybersecurity adviser Richard Clarke told industry representatives at FOSE 2002.

"The history of government trying to achieve IT security is a sad one," Clarke said. "We have to start putting our money where our policy is."

The budget proposal earmarks 8 percent for security out of $52 billion in IT funds. But Clarke said the funds actually available will depend on congressional appropriations.