Privacy Digest

Report: Government's Cyber Security Plan Is Riddled With New Spying Programs - Via Threat Level:

Major elements of the Bush administration's proposed $17 billion "cyber security" initiative have little to do with protecting government networks, and a lot to do with spying, according to a budget report released by the Senate Armed Services Committee this week.

The so-called National Cyber Security Initiative is also wrapped in unnecessary secrecy, and would spend billions on unproven, embryonic technology, and possibly illegal or ill-advised projects, according to the analysis -- which is part of a broad look at the proposed 2009 defense budget.  read more »

National Intelligence Agency Breaks Out RSS Feed - Via Threat Level:

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which controls 16 federal agencies that make up the U.S. intelligence community, is engaged in a technological revolution of sorts.

On at least one technological front, the office on Tuesday broke out an RSS feed on its flashy, newly designed public web site.

The site is complete with a new scary message from Director Mike McConnell. The message scrolls along the top of the page like the text at the beginning of a "Star Wars" flick.  read more »