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This doesn't have anything to do with privacy, but since I just finished the upgrade to my server I wanted to test one of the new function that I can now do. The software that I use to support Sunflower Children (the non-profit I work with) has a few new capabilities now that we are on a current version o PHP.
Instead of just running a banner on a remote site, we can now display a widget that will be dynamically updated as the donation campaign receives money. I am testing it here before inserting it in my sidebar and on the sites of others that support us. If you like the organiztion and would like to donate, please do. The widget is Live and all donations go directly to Sunflower Children. They of course do NOT keep your credit card number on file. It is just used to process the transaction and then forgotten. read more »
MIT Students' Response to MBTA Statements - Via EFF.org Updates:
Yesterday, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority issued a statement to CNET that misrepresents the facts leading up to the MBTA's lawsuit against three MIT students. The statement said:
A week ago, the MBTA learned about the presentation to be made at the conference, and immediately contacted MIT. At a meeting last Tuesday involving all the parties, MIT staff and the students agreed to provide the MBTA with a copy of the presentation. After several days passed without getting any information from MIT, the MBTA had no choice but to seek assistance from a federal court judge on Friday. At 4:30 a.m. on Saturday, the presentation was finally provided to the MBTA. Staff is thoroughly reviewing the information to determine if there is any degree of substance to the claims being made by the students.
The MIT students would like to clarify a few facts: read more »
Hello Readers,
Well despite all the fun I had with upgrading my iBook(not my best day), I am upgrading the server that the Privacy Digest site runs on. I am increasing the RAM & Hard-drive. Getting a faster CPU and upgrading lots of the system software. In the near future I also have some site upgrades planned that required the new software that this upgrade is giving me. read more »
Hello Readers,
Well despite all the fun I had with upgrading my iBook(not my best day), I am upgrading the server that the Privacy Digest site runs on. I am increasing the RAM & Hard-drive. Getting a faster CPU and upgrading lots of the system software. In the near future I also have some site upgrades planned that required the new software that this upgrade is giving me. read more »
Happy Fourth of July everyone !! and Happy Birthday Privacy Digest !!
Besides being a popular Holiday, tomorrow(Friday) is also the 9th Anniversary of Privacy Digest. Nine years ago I split this content off from its original location as part of a blog I had on MacRonin.com and I gave it it's own domain. It had been becoming obvious that the issue was becoming more important and deserved a platform of it's own.
So in honor of the ideals that got the United States of America started, I choose the Fourth of July as the birthday for Privacy Digest. read more »
Bipartisan FISA Compromise Reached - Via Office of the House Democratic Majority Leader Steny Hoyer:
**Click here for text of the FISA Amendments Act**
WASHINGTON – Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman John “Jay” Rockefeller (WV),Senate Intelligence Committee Vice-Chair Kit Bond (MO), House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (MD), and House Minority Whip Roy Blunt (MO) announced today that a bipartisan compromise has been agreed to that will modernize the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
The FISA Amendments Act, H.R. 6304, will increase the nation’s security by strengthening the ability of the intelligence community to conduct lawful surveillance of terrorists, as well as protect constitutional rights by requiring warrants before the government can surveil any American.
“This bipartisan bill balances the needs of our intelligence community with Americans’ civil liberties, and provides critical new oversight and accountability requirements,” said Hoyer. “It is the result of compromise, and like any compromise is not perfect, but I believe it strikes a sound balance. Furthermore, we have ensured that Congress can revisit these issues because the legislation will sunset at the end of 2012.” read more »
CDT Highlights Privacy and Security Impact of Tax Reporting Plan - Via Center for Democracy and Technology:
In testimony before the House Small Business Committee today, CDT expressed concern about the impact on privacy and data security of a proposal that would require banks to track credit card payments, and report the data to the Internal Revenue Service for tax enforcement purposes. CDT explained that the proposal would require increased private sector tracking of Social Security numbers of individual businesspeople; such tracking could lead to additional data collection from small businesses and others, and would set a dangerous precedent.
(Read Original Article - Via Center for Democracy and Technology.)
Verizon Business Releases Trailblazing Data-Breach Study Spanning 500 Forensic Investigations - Via Verizon Business News:
Key Findings Indicate 87 Percent of Breaches Avoidable through Reasonable Security Measures Businesses Urged to Be Proactive
June 11, 2008
BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – Nearly nine in 10 corporate data breaches could have been prevented had reasonable security measures been in place, according to a comprehensive report issued today by Verizon Business. The study also provides key recommendations to help businesses protect themselves and urges them to be proactive.
The “2008 Data Breach Investigations Report” spans four years and more than 500 forensic investigations involving 230 million records, and analyzes hundreds of corporate breaches including three of the five largest ones ever reported. This first-of-its-kind study, conducted by Verizon Business Security Solutions investigative experts, also found that 73 percent of breaches resulted from external sources versus 18 percent from insider threats, and most breaches resulted from a combination of events rather than a single hack or intrusion. read more »
ACLU Statement on Airport Body Scanning Machines - Via ACLU - Privacy:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: (202) 675-2312 or media@dcaclu.org
The following can be attributed to Barry Steinhardt, Director of the ACLU’s Technology and Liberty Project:
“The TSA’s announcement, as reported today by USA Today, that it will be expanding the use of whole body scanning machines to 10 airports, is a disappointing confirmation of our warnings against expansion of this virtual strip search. Body scanners produce graphic images of travelers’ bodies and are an assault on their essential dignity. The safeguards announced by the TSA do not convince us that the technology is acceptable, and we question the supposed voluntary nature of these scanners. Ultimately, we question whether the security value of these scanners is proportional to the cost to flyers’ dignity and privacy, and whether they are the right priority for TSA.”
A backgrounder on body scanners and other materials is available online at: www.aclu.org/bodyscanners
(Read Original Article - Via ACLU - Privacy.)
Congressional Investigation of ISP Data Collection Scheme Urged - Via Center for Democracy and Technology:
Fifteen of the nation's leading privacy and public interest groups today released a letter urging Congress to hold hearings on the growing practice of Internet Service Providers targeting ads to subscribers based on their personal Web activities. The letter urges the House Telecommunications Subcommittee leadership to investigate the plan of Charter Communications to capture all of the messages and activities of its Internet subscribers and share that data with a third-party firm, which plans to use the data to target those consumers with specific ads. The plan raises serious privacy and legal issues, the letter says.
# Letter to House Telecom Subcommittee [PDF] June 06, 2008
# Group Press Release June 06, 2008
(Read Original Article - Via Center for Democracy and Technology.)
ACLU Urges Congress to Maximize Medical Privacy of Electronic Health Records - Via ACLU - Privacy:
Washington, DC—The American Civil Liberties Union urges the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health at today’s hearing to develop privacy and security standards at the same time the health care industry converts from paper to electronic patient records. The ACLU warns that without real patient controls and compensation for misused data, American medical records are extremely vulnerable to being lost or stolen from these systems.
“Right now, patient information is at risk of becoming a commodity that business can sell or trade,” said Timothy Sparapani, ACLU Senior Legislative Counsel. “Medical privacy should not become a casualty of the race to set up electronic health records. We need real patient control of data and damages for misuse or theft. read more »
CDT Issues Privacy Principles for Digital Watermarking - Via Center for Democracy and Technology:
CDT today released a paper offering a set of principles for addressing potential privacy considerations when deploying digital watermarking technology. This technology embeds information within the content of digital media files in a form that is machine readable but often imperceptible to humans. Digital watermarking has a variety of applications and is increasingly being considered as a tool for deterring copyright infringement. CDT's paper is intended to provide guidance for companies that plan to use the technology to communicate information that is specific to individual consumers.
# Privacy Principles for Digital Watermarking [PDF] May 29, 2008
# CDT Press Release May 29, 2008
(Read Original Article - Via Center for Democracy and Technology.)
New Law Protects Employees from Health Related Discrimination - Via ACLU - Privacy:
Washington, DC – The ACLU today commended Congress and the president for enacting the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), which will stem a growing tide of employer and health insurer bias.
“We are heartened that a dark cloud has been lifted by enactment of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act.” said Caroline Fredrickson, director of the ACLU Washington Legislative Office. “GINA will enable Americans to use genetic tests to illuminate their health care decisions without fear of workplace retribution.” read more »
It has nothing to do with privacy, but I wanted to let my readers know about a fundraising event from an organization I work with. If you are in NYC on Wednesday May 21, 2008 why not pay us a visit. Tickets available online.
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS ( www.SunflowerChildren.org & www.Maybach.org )
Sunflower Children Funds, JPMorgan and the Maybach Family Foundation host an evening of fashion, fun and philanthropy for JPMorgan Investment Banking, Private Banking employees and Sunflower-Maybach key supporters amongst the NY philanthropic and fashion communities.
Proceeds will primarily benefit Casita de Belen, a Sunflower-sponsored home for street children in Colombia, as well as Sunflower Children projects in Brazil, Cuba, Nicaragua & Peru. read more »
Myth/Facts about Retroactive Immunity and Attorneys - Via EFF: Deep Links:
Bush Administration Press Secretary Dana Perino stooped to a new low at today's White House press briefing, presenting numerous myths about trial attorneys as part of the Administration's desperate plea to get retroactive immunity for its telecommunications partners.
MS. PERINO: [Telecommunications companies] have the technology, they have the means, and they want to cooperate, but they have been burdened with over 40 lawsuits, class-action lawsuits that would -- that, one, already are costing them lots of money to deal with. And if the suits were to go forward, it could cost them possibly billions. And that cost is going to be borne by the consumers of those businesses, the customers of those businesses. read more »
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