EPIC Alert 19.04
======================================================================= E P I C A l e r t ======================================================================= Volume 19.04 February 29, 2012 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Published by the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) Washington, D.C. http://www.epic.org/alert/epic_alert_19.04.html "Defend Privacy. Support EPIC." http://epic.org/donate - BREAKING NEWS ON GOOGLE AND PRIVACY - - FTC Chairman: "Google Users Face a "Brutal Choice" - Europeans: "Google's new policy does not meet the requirements of the European Directive on Data Protection." http://epic.org/2012/02/ftc-chairman-google-users-face.html - EU and US Consumer Groups to Google: "This plan is a mistake" http://epic.org/2012/02/eu-and-us-consumer-groups-to-g.html ======================================================================= Table of Contents ======================================================================= [1] White House Unveils 'Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights' [2] EPIC Petition to FAA: Protect Privacy and Regulate Drones [3] EPIC Appeals Court Ruling re: Google, Pushes for Public Hearing [4] EPIC Obtains New Docs on DHS Media Monitoring, Urges Suspension [5] EPIC Sues to Block Changes to Education Privacy Rules [6] News in Brief [7] Book Review: 'Liars and Outliers' [8] Upcoming Conferences and Events TAKE ACTION: Stop Surveillance Drones in US Airspace! - SIGN the White House Petition: http://epic.org/redirect/022912-D.html - READ About Surveillance Drones: http://epic.org/privacy/drones/ - SUPPORT EPIC: http://www.epic.org/donate/ ======================================================================= [1] White House Unveils 'Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights' ======================================================================= The Obama White House has announced a comprehensive Internet privacy framework with principles designed to establish both new safeguards for consumers and new responsibilities for companies that collect and use personal information. In his White House Web site introduction to the framework, President Obama said, "Even though we live in a world in which we share personal information more freely than in the past, we must reject the conclusion that privacy is an outmoded value. It has been at the heart of our democracy from its inception, and we need it now more than ever." The framework contains a "Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights," based on seven principles. Under the bill, consumers have the right to: (1) Individual Control over what personal data companies collect from them and how they use it. (2) Transparency and easily understandable and accessible information about privacy and security practices. (3) Respect for Context. Companies will collect, use, and disclose personal data in ways that are consistent with the context in which the data was provided. (4) Security, including secure and responsible handling of personal data. (5) Access and Accuracy, including the ability to correct personal data in usable formats, in a manner that is appropriate to the sensitivity of the data and the risk of adverse consequences if the data is inaccurate. (6) Focused Collection and reasonable limits on the personal data that companies collect and retain. (7) Accountability. Companies should take appropriate measures to assure their practices adhere to the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights. The Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights covers several high-profile privacy issues, including online advertising, data brokers, and children's privacy. The overall privacy report encourages online advertising companies to "refrain from collecting, using, or disclosing personal data that may be used to make decisions regarding employment, credit, and insurance eligibility" and cites a "Do Not Track" mechanism as an example of a beneficial privacy-enhancing technology. The report also calls on data brokers to "seek innovative ways to provide consumers with effective Individual Control." Finally, the report states, "[T]he principles in the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights may require greater protections for personal data obtained from children and teenagers than for adults." The White House plans to use the framework as the basis for codes of conduct, which will be voluntarily adopted by industry and enforceable by the Federal Trade Commission once adopted. EPIC praised the framework and the President's support for privacy, and said that the challenge ahead would be implementation and enforcement. The framework also favorably cited the work of EPIC Advisory Board member Helen Nissenbaum. Nissenbaum's book "Privacy in Context: Technology, Policy, and the Integrity of Social Life" was influential in the development of the Respect for Context Principle. The White House: Consumer Data Privacy Report (Feb. 2012) http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/privacy-final.pdf NTIA: Paper on Internet Data Privacy (Dec. 16, 2010) http://epic.org/redirect/022912-ntia-paper.html EPIC: White House Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights http://epic.org/privacy/white_house_consumer_privacy_.html ======================================================================= [2] EPIC Petition to FAA: Protect Privacy and Regulate Drones ======================================================================= EPIC, joined by more than 100 organizations, experts, and members of the public, has sent a petition to the Federal Aviation Administration demanding that the agency address the privacy threats associated with the increased use of drones in US airspace. The FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 requires the agency to conduct a public rulemaking that will assess public safety concerns, flight standards, and licensing and air traffic requirements for drone use. The FAA Secretary will also undertake safety studies and develop standards for "safe operation" of drones in US airspace. The legislation means that up to 30,000 new drones could be flying over the US in the next decade. Many drones have been outfitted with invasive surveillance equipment, including ultra-high definition cameras, thermal and infrared imaging, and automated license plate readers. Domestic drone use has increased dramatically in recent years; law enforcement units in Florida, Texas, and South Carolina have acquired drones for use in operations. The US Bureau of Customs and Border Protection operates nine Predator drones along US borders. In late 2011, the Bureau found itself embroiled in controversy when it was reported that a drone was loaned to North Dakota law enforcement to locate missing livestock. Recently, hunters in South Carolina shot a drone out of the sky when it was launched near private property to film a pigeon hunt. According to EPIC's petition, drones pose a unique threat to privacy because of their size and technical capabilities. The petition asserts, "[T]he privacy threat posed by the deployment of drone aircraft in the United States is great. The public should be given the opportunity to comment on this development." EPIC: Petition to the FAA on Drones and Privacy (Feb. 24, 2012) http://epic.org/redirect/022912-D.html EPIC: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Drones http://epic.org/privacy/drones/ FAA: 2012 Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d112:h.r.658: US Customs and Border Protection: Unmanned Aircraft Systems Overview http://epic.org/redirect/0216120-uscbp-uav-overview.html FAA: Fact Sheet on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) http://www.faa.gov/news/fact_sheets/news_story.cfm?newsId=6287 ======================================================================= [3] EPIC Appeals Court Ruling re: Google, Pushes for Public Hearing ======================================================================= EPIC filed an emergency appeal February 24 with the DC Circuit Court of Appeals just hours after a federal court in Washington, DC, ruled that it could not require the Federal Trade Commission to enforce a consent order against Google. EPIC has requested the appellate court to overturn the lower court's decision before March 1, when Google will change its terms of service and consolidate user data without consent. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson dismissed EPIC's lawsuit against the FTC by determining that the "decision to enforce the Consent Order is committed to agency discretion and is not subject to judicial review." However, Judge Berman Jackson also stated that "the Court has not reached the question of whether the new policies would violate the consent order or if they would be contrary to any other legal requirements," and commented that "the FTC, which has advised the Court that the matter is under review, may ultimately decide to institute an enforcement action." EPIC and five other privacy organizations also wrote to Representative Mary Bono Mack (R-CA), Chair of the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade, urging the House Energy and Commerce Committee to hold a public hearing on Google's proposed changes. Rep. Bono Mack has held closed-door meetings with Google, but thus far has scheduled no public hearings on the company's plan to consolidate user data, which EPIC alleges violates a 2011 Consent Order with the Federal Trade Commission. The letter also asked Bono Mack to urge Google to suspend the March 1 changes pending an investigation, stating that there would be "overwhelming public support for this action" and citing recent statements from members of Congress, European Union justice officials, technical experts, IT managers in government and the private sector, and even President Obama. Recently publicized research conducted by Jonathan Mayer at Stanford's Center for Internet and Society demonstrates how Google had been circumventing the privacy settings of Safari users despite Google's promise to respect such settings. This revelation also prompted a separate letter from EPIC to the FTC reminding the Commission of the obligation to enforce the order and stating that the privacy circumvention constituted clear evidence of Google's misrepresentations. The National Association of Attorneys General, meanwhile, wrote a February 22 letter to Google, stating "The new policy forces consumers to allow information across all of these products to be shared, without giving them the ability to opt out." The letter also maintains that "this invasion of privacy is virtually impossible to escape for the nation's Android-powered smartphone users, who comprise nearly 50% of the national smartphone market. For these consumers, avoiding Google's privacy policy change may mean buying an entirely new phone at great personal expense." The AGs also pointed out that Google's existing privacy policy for Android users states, "We will not reduce your rights under this Privacy Policy without your explicit consent." EPIC: Memorandum Opinion on EPIC v. FTC (Feb. 24, 2012) http://epic.org/privacy/ftc/google/EPICvFTC-CtMemo.pdf EPIC: Letter to Rep. Mary Bono Mack (Feb. 24, 2012) http://epic.org/redirect/022912-epic-bono-mack-letter.html NAAG: Letter to Google re: Proposed Policy Changes (Feb. 22, 2012) http://epic.org/redirect/022912-naag-google-letter.html Article 29 Working Party: Letter to Google (Feb. 2, 2012) http://epic.org/redirect/article29-google-letter.html Rep. Ed Markey et al.: Letter to Google (Jan. 26, 2012) http://epic.org/redirect/022912-markey-energy-google-letter.html SafeGov: 'Google's new policy is unacceptable' (Jan. 25, 2012) http://epic.org/redirect/022912-safegov-google-post.html Jonathan Mayer: Blog Post on Google and Safari Users (Feb. 17, 2012) http://webpolicy.org/2012/02/17/safari-trackers/ EPIC: Letter to FTC re: Google Safari Tracking (Feb. 27, 2012) http://epic.org/redirect/022912-ftc-letter-google-track.html EPIC: EPIC v. FTC (Google Consent Order) http://epic.org/privacy/ftc/google/consent-order.html FTC: Google Buzz Settlement http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2011/03/google.shtm EPIC: Federal Trade Commission http://epic.org/privacy/internet/ftc/ ======================================================================= [4] EPIC Obtains New Docs on DHS Media Monitoring, Urges Suspension ======================================================================= EPIC has submitted a letter to Congress following a hearing on DHS monitoring of social networks and media organizations. The House Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence held the hearing February 16 after EPIC obtained nearly 300 pages of documents detailing the Department of Homeland Security's surveillance program. The January 2012 documents, which were released as a result of a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, included contracts and statements of work with General Dynamics for 24/7 media and social network monitoring and periodic reports to DHS. The documents revealed that the agency is tracking media stories that "reflect adversely" on DHS or the US government. One tracking report - "Residents Voice Opposition Over Possible Plan to Bring Guantanamo Detainees to Local Prison-Standish, MI" - summarized dissent on blogs and social networking sites and directly quoted commenters. Based on these documents, EPIC submitted a statement for the record in advance of the hearing that detailed the documents and EPIC's legal objections to the monitoring program. In the Congressional hearing, members questioned DHS officials about the nature of the monitoring program. Several members also expressed support for EPIC's proposal that DHS suspend the program, warning that this activity violates First Amendment rights. Shortly after the February 16 hearing, EPIC obtained 39 additional pages of documents. EPIC highlighted these new documents in a February 22 letter to Congress. The letter points out inconsistencies between DHS testimony and the details presented in the DHS documents. Though Homeland Security testified that it does not monitor for public reaction to government proposals, the documents obtained by EPIC indicate that the DHS analysts are specifically instructed to look for criticism of the agency and then to redirect reports that would otherwise be circulated to other agencies. EPIC: EPIC v. DHS (Media Monitoring) http://epic.org/foia/epic-v-dhs-media-monitoring/ EPIC: Follow-up Letter to House Subcommittee (Feb. 22, 2012) http://epic.org/redirect/022912-epic-follow-letter-monitoring.html EPIC: Statement in DHS Social Monitoring Hearing (Feb. 16, 2012) http://epic.org/redirect/022912-dhs-monitor-statement.html House Subcommittee: Hearing on Social Media Monitoring (Feb. 16, 2012) http://epic.org/redirect/022912-house-hearing-dhs-monitor.html ======================================================================= [5] EPIC Sues to Block Changes to Education Privacy Rules ======================================================================= EPIC has filed a lawsuit against the Department of Education under the Administrative Procedure Act, arguing that the agency's December 2011 regulatory changes of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) exceed the agency's statutory authority and are contrary to law. The new FERPA regulations reinterpret the FERPA statutory terms "authorized representative," "education program," and "directory information," giving non-governmental actors increased access to student personal data. In 2011, the Department of Education requested public comments regarding the proposed regulations. EPIC's subsequent extensive comments to the agency addressed the student privacy risks and the agency's lack of legal authority to make changes to FERPA without explicit Congressional intent. While nevertheless issuing the new regulations, the agency admitted that "numerous commenters . . . stated that they believe the Department lacks the statutory authority to promulgate the proposed regulations." The new FERPA rules went into effect January 3. FERPA protects the confidentiality of student educational records at every public and private elementary, secondary, or post-secondary school and in any state or local education agency that receives federal funds. The Act, which applies to both current and former students, gives students the right to inspect and review their own education records, request corrections, halt the release of Personally Identifiable Information, and obtain a copy of their institutions' policy on access to educational records. FERPA also prohibits educational institutions from disclosing "personally identifiable information in education records" without the written consent of the student or the student's parents if the student is a minor. Schools that fail to comply with FERPA risk losing federal funding. EPIC's comments to the Department of Education stated that the "proposals [to] expand a number of FERPA's exemptions [and reinterpret] statutory terms . . . remove affirmative legal duties for state and local educational facilities to protect private student data." EPIC's lawsuit further contends that the agency "exceeded its statutory authority by amending FERPA definitions without Congressional approval" and "are not in accordance with law." EPIC has been a longtime advocate for student privacy rights. In 2011 EPIC filed a "friend of the court" brief in Chicago Tribune v. University of Illinois, a case involving student privacy rights protected by FERPA. During the George W. Bush Administration, EPIC and more than 100 local, state, and national organizations urged then- Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld to end the "Joint Advertising and Market Research Studies" Recruiting Database, which discloses personal information about 16-25-year-old Americans without obtaining individual consent. Department of Education: FERPA Final Regulations (Dec. 2, 2011) http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-12-02/pdf/2011-30683.pdf EPIC: Comments to Department of Education on FERPA (May 23, 2011) http://epic.org/privacy/student/EPIC_FERPA_Comments.pdf EPIC: Amicus Brief in Chi. Tribune v. U. of Illinois (July 20, 2011) http://epic.org/amicus/tribune/EPIC_brief_Chi_Trib_final.pdf The Privacy Coalition: DoD Database Campaign Coalition Letter http://privacycoalition.org/nododdatabase/letter.html EPIC: Student Privacy http://epic.org/privacy/student/ ======================================================================= [6] News in Brief ======================================================================= FTC Chairman, EU Officials Denounce Google Privacy Changes Pressure on Google is mounting in advance the March 1 deadline for Google's planned Privacy Policy changes. In an interview with C-Span, Federal Trade Commission head Jon Leibowitz said that users of Google services face a "brutal choice" between accepting Google's new Privacy Policies and abandoning the use of Google products and services altogether. Meanwhile, French Data Protection Agency head Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin, speaking on behalf of European privacy agencies, warned Google that the company's proposed changes violate European Union privacy law. Falque-Pierrotin reiterated the recommendation of Europe's Justice Minister that Google suspend the changes. In Washington, EPIC has filed an emergency appeal with the DC Circuit Court of Appeals to force the FTC to enforce the 2011 consent order against Google. CSPAN: Interview with FTC Chair Jon Leibowitz (Feb. 26, 2012) http://epic.org/redirect/022912-cspan-leibowitz-interview.html French Data Protection Agency: Letter to Google (Feb. 27, 2012) http://epic.org/redirect/022912-french-dpa-google-letter.html EPIC: Appeal in EPIC v. FTC (Feb. 24, 2012) http://epic.org/privacy/ftc/google/EPIC-v-FTC-APPEAL.pdf FTC: Press Release on Google Buzz Decision (Mar. 31, 2011) http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2011/03/google.shtm EPIC: EPIC v. FTC (Enforcement of Google Consent Order) http://epic.org/privacy/ftc/google/consent-order.html 2013 Federal Budget Limits Body Scanners, Expands Domestic Surveillance According to the White House budget for FY 2013 and the Congressional testimony of DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano, the Department of Homeland Security will not purchase any new airport body scanners in 2013. However, the agency will expand a wide range of programs for monitoring and tracking individuals within the United States, including the development of biometric identification techniques for programs such as Secure Communities. DHS will also seek funding for "Einstein 3," a network intrusion detection program that enables surveillance of private networks. EPIC has urged DHS to comply with the requirements of the federal Privacy Act, and is currently pursuing several Freedom of Information Act lawsuits against the agency. The White House: Budget for FY 2013 http://epic.org/redirect/022912-whitehouse-fy13-budget.html DHS: Secretary Napolitano Testimony on FY 2013 Budget (Feb. 15, 2012) http://epic.org/redirect/022912-napolitano-FY13-testimony.html EPIC: Whole Body Imaging Technology http://epic.org/privacy/airtravel/backscatter/ EPIC: E-Verify http://epic.org/privacy/e-verify/ EPIC: Secure Communities http://epic.org/privacy/secure_communities/ EPIC: Drones and UAVs http://epic.org/privacy/drones/ FCC Issues Tougher RoboCall Rules The Federal Communications Commission has issued new rules that strengthen consumer protections against automated telemarketing, or "robo," calls. The rules require telemarketers to obtain written consent from consumers before placing a robocall, allow consumers to revoke consent to a robocall during the call itself, and close a loophole that allowed telemarketers to place robocalls to customers with whom they had an established business relationship. EPIC, one of the consumer and privacy groups that advocated for the original Do Not Call registry, has also urged the FCC to require strong privacy safeguards for telephone customers' personal information, and to protect wireless subscribers from telemarketing. FCC: New Rules on Telephone Consumer Protection Act (Feb. 15, 2012) http://epic.org/redirect/022912-fcc-new-robocall-rules.html EPIC: Comments on the Do Not Call Registry (Dec. 2002) http://epic.org/privacy/telemarketing/tcpacomments.html EPIC: NCTA v. FCC http://epic.org/privacy/nctafcc/ EPIC: Comments on the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (May 2006) http://epic.org/privacy/telemarketing/fcc_aca_05-11-06.html EPIC: Telemarketing and the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) http://epic.org/privacy/telemarketing/ EPIC, Groups Oppose CIA Fee Hike for Document Access In a letter to the Directors of National Intelligence, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the Information Security Oversight Office, EPIC joined more than 30 organizations in protesting the CIA's recent decision to charge the public prohibitively high fees for the opportunity to challenge secrecy claims. The fees, which can run requesters up to $72 per hour even if no information is found or released, will effectively cut off access to the Mandatory Declassification Review process, a system that researchers, historians, public interest advocates and others have used successfully to challenge the CIA's extreme secrecy. EPIC et al.: Letter to Intelligence Oversight Officers (Feb. 23, 2012) http://epic.org/redirect/022912-epic-letter-IC-directors.html Openthegovernment.org: Blog Post on Letter (Feb. 23, 2012) http://www.openthegovernment.org/node/3372 ======================================================================= [7] Book Review: 'Liars and Outliers' ======================================================================= "Liars and Outliers: Enabling the Trust that Society Needs to Thrive," Bruce Schneier http://epic.org/redirect/022912-liars-and-outliers-schneier.html Bruce Schneier's latest book, "Liars and Outliers," isn't about technology. Schneier, best known as a security and privacy guru, tackles a far larger issue than the World Wide Web: the webs of trust, relationships, reputation and security that have provided the framework for human society since our ancestors began living in groups. Trust may be a sobering topic, but Schneier doesn't make the material heavy or dense; rather, it's a genuinely fun and diverting read. Drawing from diverse fields that include game theory, evolution, social psychology, and mathematics, Schneier fills the pages of "Liars and Outliers" with easily understandable graphs, diagrams, and case studies that span millennia, cultures, and even species. His premise is that the constant struggle between society's "cooperators" (the majority) and "defectors" (the "liars and outliers" of the book's title) is held in check by the concentric circles of societal pressures created by different groups to which an individual belongs - from the "moral pressure" of one's own clan to to the "institutional pressure" of modern industrialized nations. And where societal pressure to cooperate can't succeed, there's security. Schneier is quick to point out that systems of trust and morality are not, and never have been, absolute; cooperation in one society can be interpreted as defection in another, and vice versa. While too much defection can cause a society to collapse, Schneier maintains that too much cooperation is stultifying and damages individual contribution and creativity. Schneier constantly encourages his readers to look beyond the blinders of their own perspectives, cultural and otherwise: "[A]sking new questions is the catalyst to greater understanding," he says. "It's my hope that this book can give people an illuminating new framework with which to help understand how the world works." Modern technology doesn't even merit its own chapter until the second half of the book. That's because Schneier, unlike many technology visionaries, sees even the highest-tech software and gadgets as merely the latest iterations in the ongoing process of societal evolution. With all of human history - indeed, with the entire history of life on Earth - to back him up, Schneier views the present-day dilemmas of surveillance vs. crime and accountablity vs. self-determination - and even what to do about WikiLeaks - to be, if not solvable, perhaps transcendable. "Liars and Outliers" ultimately reminds readers that while we can't, and shouldn't, stop being human, we can certainly harness our human and technological potential to break free of the "Red Queen Effect" - always running faster just to stay in the same place. Schneier's even hand, light touch, and boundless intellectual energy make it easy to believe that our eternally hopeful and trusting human psyches are on the verge of solving all the societal dilemmas he so cleverly and thoroughly examines. -- EC Rosenberg ================================ EPIC Publications: "Litigation Under the Federal Open Government Laws 2010," edited by Harry A. Hammitt, Marc Rotenberg, John A. Verdi, Ginger McCall, and Mark S. Zaid (EPIC 2010). Price: $75 http://epic.org/bookstore/foia2010/ Litigation Under the Federal Open Government Laws is the most comprehensive, authoritative discussion of the federal open access laws. This updated version includes new material regarding President Obama's 2009 memo on Open Government, Attorney General Holder's March 2009 memo on FOIA Guidance, and the new executive order on declassification. The standard reference work includes in-depth analysis of litigation under: the Freedom of Information Act, the Privacy Act, the Federal Advisory Committee Act, and the Government in the Sunshine Act. The fully updated 2010 volume is the 25th edition of the manual that lawyers, journalists and researchers have relied on for more than 25 years. ================================ "Information Privacy Law: Cases and Materials, Second Edition" Daniel J. Solove, Marc Rotenberg, and Paul Schwartz. (Aspen 2005). Price: $98. http://www.epic.org/redirect/aspen_ipl_casebook.html This clear, comprehensive introduction to the field of information privacy law allows instructors to enliven their teaching of fundamental concepts by addressing both enduring and emerging controversies. The Second Edition addresses numerous rapidly developing areas of privacy law, including: identity theft, government data mining and electronic surveillance law, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, intelligence sharing, RFID tags, GPS, spyware, web bugs, and more. Information Privacy Law, Second Edition, builds a cohesive foundation for an exciting course in this rapidly evolving area of law. ================================ "Privacy & Human Rights 2006: An International Survey of Privacy Laws and Developments" (EPIC 2007). Price: $75. http://www.epic.org/phr06/ This annual report by EPIC and Privacy International provides an overview of key privacy topics and reviews the state of privacy in over 75 countries around the world. The report outlines legal protections, new challenges, and important issues and events relating to privacy. Privacy & Human Rights 2006 is the most comprehensive report on privacy and data protection ever published. ================================ "The Public Voice WSIS Sourcebook: Perspectives on the World Summit on the Information Society" (EPIC 2004). Price: $40. http://www.epic.org/bookstore/pvsourcebook This resource promotes a dialogue on the issues, the outcomes, and the process of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). This reference guide provides the official UN documents, regional and issue-oriented perspectives, and recommendations and proposals for future action, as well as a useful list of resources and contacts for individuals and organizations that wish to become more involved in the WSIS process. ================================ "The Privacy Law Sourcebook 2004: United States Law, International Law, and Recent Developments," Marc Rotenberg, editor (EPIC 2005). Price: $40. http://www.epic.org/bookstore/pls2004/ The Privacy Law Sourcebook, which has been called the "Physician's Desk Reference" of the privacy world, is the leading resource for students, attorneys, researchers, and journalists interested in pursuing privacy law in the United States and around the world. It includes the full texts of major privacy laws and directives such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Privacy Act, and the OECD Privacy Guidelines, as well as an up-to-date section on recent developments. New materials include the APEC Privacy Framework, the Video Voyeurism Prevention Act, and the CAN-SPAM Act. ================================ "Filters and Freedom 2.0: Free Speech Perspectives on Internet Content Controls" (EPIC 2001). Price: $20. http://www.epic.org/bookstore/filters2.0 A collection of essays, studies, and critiques of Internet content filtering. These papers are instrumental in explaining why filtering threatens free expression. ================================ EPIC publications and other books on privacy, open government, free expression, and constitutional values can be ordered at: EPIC Bookstore http://www.epic.org/bookstore ================================ EPIC also publishes EPIC FOIA Notes, which provides brief summaries of interesting documents obtained from government agencies under the Freedom of Information Act. Subscribe to EPIC FOIA Notes at: http://mailman.epic.org/mailman/listinfo/foia_notes ======================================================================= [8] Upcoming Conferences and Events ======================================================================= Open Government 'Sunshine Week' is March 11-17: Department of Justice Sunshine Week Celebration, Featuring Attorney General Eric Holder. 12 March 2012, Washington, DC. For More Information: http://www.justice.gov/oip/foiapost/2012foiapost3-1.html or contact Bertina Adams Cleveland at DOJ.OIP.FOIA@usdoj.gov. DC Open Government Summit, Presented by the DC Open Government Coalition and the The National Press Club. 13 March 2012, Washington, DC. For More Information: http://www.dcogc.org/contact. Fifth Annual Freedom of Information Day Celebration, Presented by WCL's Collaboration on Government Secrecy. 16 March, Washington, DC. For More Information: http://epic.org/redirect/022912-sunshine-foia-day.html. Fourteenth Annual National Freedom of Information Day Conference. 16 March, Washington, DC. For More Information: Contact contact Ashlie Hampton at ahampton@freedomforum.org, or 202-292-6288. Symposium on 'Internet Privacy: A Culture of Privacy and Trust on the Internet.' 26 March 2012, Berlin. For More Information: http://www.acatech.de/symposium_internet-privacy. We Robot 2012: Setting the Agenda. 21-22 April 2012, Miami, FL. For More Information: http://robots.law.miami.edu/. ======================================================================= Join EPIC on Facebook and Twitter ======================================================================= Join the Electronic Privacy Information Center on Facebook and Twitter: http://facebook.com/epicprivacy http://epic.org/facebook http://twitter.com/epicprivacy Join us on Twitter for #privchat, Tuesdays, 11:00am ET. Start a discussion on privacy. Let us know your thoughts. Stay up to date with EPIC's events. 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It was established in 1994 to focus public attention on emerging privacy issues such as the Clipper Chip, the Digital Telephony proposal, national ID cards, medical record privacy, and the collection and sale of personal information. EPIC publishes the EPIC Alert, pursues Freedom of Information Act litigation, and conducts policy research. For more information, see http://www.epic.org or write EPIC, 1718 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20009. +1 202 483 1140 (tel), +1 202 483 1248 (fax). ======================================================================= Donate to EPIC ======================================================================= If you'd like to support the work of the Electronic Privacy Information Center, contributions are welcome and fully tax-deductible. Checks should be made out to "EPIC" and sent to 1718 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20009. Or you can contribute online at: http://www.epic.org/donate Your contributions will help support Freedom of Information Act and First Amendment litigation, strong and effective advocacy for the right of privacy and efforts to oppose government regulation of encryption and expanding wiretapping powers. Thank you for your support. ======================================================================= Subscription Information ======================================================================= Subscribe/unsubscribe via web interface: http://mailman.epic.org/mailman/listinfo/epic_news Back issues are available at: http://www.epic.org/alert The EPIC Alert displays best in a fixed-width font, such as Courier. ------------------------- END EPIC Alert 19.04 ------------------------