Monday, March 6, 2006

Network-based content monitoring tools analyze traffic Border Patrol. Network-based content monitoring tools analyze traffic for sensitive content and can block it from moving outside of the corporate LAN. [Computerworld Privacy News] 11:57:21 PM  PermaLink   / trackback []

Guardian Unlimited | The Guardian | US opens inquiry into pricing of music downloads The US attorney general, Alberto Gonzales, has launched a wide-ranging investigation into allegations that record labels are fixing the prices of music downloads. The department of justice inquiry centres on the activities of the four largest record labels: EMI, Sony BMG, Universal and Warner Music. Subpoenas are believed to have been issued to all parties, with federal officials understood to be focusing on whether the companies have been colluding to keep the price of downloads artificially high. 11:39:11 PM  PermaLink   / trackback []

Attorney General Investigates Music Price Fixing. Attorney General Investigates Music Price Fixing. An anonymous reader writes "The Guardian is reporting that the US Attorney General has launched an investigation into whether or not record labels are engaged in price fixing of music downloads. From the article: 'The department of justice inquiry centers on the activities of the four largest record labels: EMI, Sony BMG, Universal and Warner Music. Subpoenas are believed to have been issued to all parties, with federal officials understood to be focusing on whether the companies have been colluding to keep the price of downloads artificially high.'" [Slashdot: Your Rights Online] 11:36:56 PM  PermaLink   / trackback []

NJ Bill Would Prohibit Anonymous Posts on Forums. NJ Bill Would Prohibit Anonymous Posts on Forums. An anonymous reader writes "The New Jersey legislature is considering a bill that would require operators of public forums to collect users' legal names and addresses, and effectively disallow anonymous speech on online forums. This raises some serious issues, such as to what extent local and state governments can go in enacting and enforcing Internet legislation." [Slashdot: Your Rights Online] 11:30:09 PM  PermaLink   / trackback []

Capitol Hill Blue - Warning! Financial responsibility can lead to terrorism They both learned the same astounding piece of information about the little things that can set the threat sensors to beeping and blinking. They were told, as they moved up the managerial ladder at the call center, that the amount they had sent in was much larger than their normal monthly payment. And if the increase hits a certain percentage higher than that normal payment, Homeland Security has to be notified. And the money doesn't move until the threat alert is lifted. Walter called television stations, the American Civil Liberties Union and me. And he went on the Internet to see what he could learn. He learned about changes in something called the Bank Privacy Act. "The more I'm on, the scarier it gets," he said. "It's scary how easily someone in Homeland Security can get permission to spy." Eventually, his and his wife's money was freed up. The Soehnges were apparently found not to be promoting global terrorism under the guise of paying a credit-card bill. They never did learn how a large credit card payment can pose a security threat. But the experience has been a reminder that a small piece of privacy has been surrendered. Walter Soehnge, who says he holds solid, middle-of-the-road American beliefs, worries about rights being lost. 11:16:15 PM  PermaLink   / trackback []

Financial Responsibility == Terrorism? Financial Responsibility == Terrorism? An anonymous reader writes "Capital Hill Blue is reporting that recently a retired Texas schoolteacher and his wife had a little run in with the Department of Homeland Security. The crime? Paying down some debt. From the article: 'The balance on their JCPenney Platinum MasterCard had gotten to an unhealthy level. So they sent in a large payment, a check for $6,522. And an alarm went off. A red flag went up. The Soehnges' behavior was found questionable. [...] They were told, as they moved up the managerial ladder at the call center, that the amount they had sent in was much larger than their normal monthly payment. And if the increase hits a certain percentage higher than that normal payment, Homeland Security has to be notified.'"  [Slashdot: Your Rights Online] 11:04:43 PM  PermaLink   / trackback []

H.R. 4861: Audio Broadcast Flag Licensing Act of 2005. H.R. 4861: Audio Broadcast Flag Licensing Act of 2005. A BILL to authorize the Federal Communications Commission to impose licensing conditions on digital audio radio to protect against the unauthorized distribution of transmitted content. [Public Knowledge - Issues] 11:00:55 PM  PermaLink   / trackback []