http://www.cdt.org The Center for Democracy and Technology works to promote democratic values and constitutional liberties in the digital age. With expertise in law, technology, and policy, CDT seeks practical solutions to enhance free expression and privacy in global communications technologies. CDT is dedicated to building consensus among all parties interested in the future of the Internet and other new communications media. en http://www.cdt.org/headlines/1242 CDT told a congressional panel today that providing the public with direct, online access to complex government programs, such as TARP, would strengthen oversight. Media, watchdog groups, researchers and citizens could then better analyze the data for a wide variety of purposes. CDT asked the House Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee to ensure that legislation explicitly require that TARP resources be made available to the public on the Web. CDT also noted that more sophisticated data--such as location and mapping data--are being collected today by government agencies; however, aging federal privacy law needs to be updated to ensure these new types of information are protected as well. http://www.cdt.org/headlines/1241 The Center for Democracy & Technology invites you to join in celebrating the upcoming One Web Day (Sept. 22) by reading and signing the document: A Call to Defense and Celebration of the Online Commonwealth. This document, developed in collaboration with our new CDT Fellows, articulates core values that have enabled the Internet to prosper and highlights our shared duty to keep it open, innovative and free. http://www.cdt.org/headlines/1240 CDT today filed a "friend of the court" brief in the Southern District of New York requesting that key privacy requirements be included in the Court's approval of the class-action settlement that would dramatically expand Google Book Search. CDT previously released a report in July analyzing the privacy implications of this settlement and is urging the judge to guarantee strong privacy safeguards for the exciting new services Google will be able to offer. The brief asks that the court approve the proposed settlement of the copyright infringement lawsuit between Google and authors and publishers, but to retain oversight in order to monitor implementation of a privacy plan. http://www.cdt.org/headlines/1239 Two companies that fired employees and rejected job applicants without informing them that those decisions were based on background checks have settled charges and agreed to pay $77,000 in civil penalties to the FTC. The FTC brought the charges in response to a petition filed by CDT and a group of advocates noting numerous violations of federal rules that require employers to provide proper notice and obtain consent before subjecting employees to criminal background checks. The FTC found the companies to be in violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which helps to protect consumers by requiring employers to inform employees and job applicants about the use of background checks in making employment decisions. http://www.cdt.org/headlines/1238 CDT and EFF today submitted joint comments to the Office of Management and Budget in response to the agency's proposed review of the policies governing the use of cookies and other web technologies. OMB's suggested framework begins to address some of the deficiencies regarding current federal policy; however, the final version of the policy must include more granular and comprehensive privacy protections, CDT and EFF said in joint comments. Agency Web sites play a key role in fostering a more participatory government, but with changes in technology and policy special attention should be given to privacy issues. Many of the ideas and recommendations contained in the comments are based on a recently released CDT-EFF report about the use of analytics on government web sites. http://www.cdt.org/headlines/1237 With the designation of ten distinguished academics, the Center for Democracy & Technology today announced the creation of a non-resident Fellows Program, designed to bring fresh insight and the latest in academic research to CDT’s work. The program provides an opportunity for leading scholars to collaborate with CDT staff in addressing the complex legal and policy issues facing the Internet. In the past, CDT had several associated Fellows, but the relationship was informal. The announcement today formalizes the fellowship system, strengthening CDT’s cross-disciplinary approach to its mission: keeping the Internet open, innovative and free. http://www.cdt.org/headlines/1236 CDT today released an update to the browser report it issued in October of 2008. The report includes updated information about privacy tools available in five Web Browsers – Firefox 3.5, Internet Explorer 8, Google Chrome, Safari 4, and Opera 10. The report compares browser offerings in three key areas: privacy mode, cookie controls and object controls. Each of those, when used correctly, can greatly reduce the amount of personal information users transmit online. http://www.cdt.org/headlines/1235 The Center for Democracy & Technology today released a report outlining a series of privacy and legal questions that surround the government computer monitoring system known as "Einstein." The report calls on the Administration to release information about the legal authority for Einstein, the role of the nation's top spy agency, the National Security Agency, in its development and operation, and the impact of Einstein on privacy. http://www.cdt.org/headlines/1234 CDT today released a report analyzing the privacy risks associated with the proposed expansion of Google Book Search. The report urges Google to commit to a strong privacy regime for the new service in advance of the settlement fairness hearing this fall. The tentative settlement between Google and publishers, the result of a copyright infringement lawsuit, would dramatically alter the way the public obtains and interacts with books. The report asks the court to approve the settlement but to retain oversight in order to monitor implementation of a privacy plan. http://www.cdt.org/headlines/1233 CDT filed a second round of comments today in the FCC proceeding to create a national broadband plan. CDT emphasized that the broadband plan should expressly affirm key elements of the Internet's successful policy framework. CDT also offered responses to a variety of arguments raised by other commenters on topics such as nondiscrimination, network management, the regulatory treatment of wireless broadband, active ISP policing of copyright infringement, and the role of self-regulation in protecting user privacy. http://www.cdt.org/headlines/1232 CDT testified Wednesday before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs hearing on reevaluating the REAL ID Act. CDT testified in support of the PASS ID Act, noting that it mitigates or corrects critical privacy and security flaws introduced by REAL ID, while still establishing minimum federal standards for the issuance of driver's licenses and ID cards. While the PASS ID Act does not address all flaws in the REAL ID program, merely repealing REAL ID does not address all of the underlying privacy and security risks posed by government identification programs, CDT said. PASS ID provides the opportunity to start building privacy guidance and protections into all state identification programs, addressing trends and issues that will exist regardless of REAL ID implementation. http://www.cdt.org/headlines/1231 CDT joined a group of public interest, library, and technology industry organizations yesterday in a letter urging the United States Trade Representative to set aside the controversial portion of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) negotiations focused on "Internet distribution and information technology." These Internet provisions could touch on such hotly debated issues as the role of ISPs in policing the online behavior of subscribers, yet the lack of transparency regarding potential proposals has prevented technology and consumer interests from being able to provide meaningful input. The letter also called for strong measures to facilitate such transparency and input. http://www.cdt.org/headlines/1230 CDT today released a Policy Post discussing privacy implications for the federal data clearinghouse known as data.gov and de-identification considerations for the Open Government Directive. While this initiative signifies a step in the right direction towards a more open and transparent federal government, it must be done in concert with protecting the privacy of individuals. The Policy Post recommends specialized review procedures for each data set on data.gov. In addition, it says that different levels of data protections should be implemented in different contexts and that de-identification guidelines should be adaptable over time. This is essential in addressing consumer privacy risks associated with handling large data sets, as is the case with data.gov. http://www.cdt.org/headlines/1229 CDT today released a Policy Post outlining issues related to the newly emerging location-enabled web. Location data should be under the control of the user; who collects it, what it gets used for, whether or not it gets shared and how long the data is stored are all decisions that should be in the hands of users, the Policy Post says. Location-enabled technologies should be designed with privacy in mind from the beginning, says the Policy Post. In addition, it says that ensuring that location information is transmitted and accessed in a privacy-protective way is essential to the future success of location-based applications and services. http://www.cdt.org/headlines/1228 CDT, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and Public Knowledge filed a "friend of the court" brief on Wednesday opposing efforts by the music licensing organization ASCAP to impose additional licensing payments on providers of musical ringtones for mobile phones. The brief urges the court to reject ASCAP's argument that ringtones are "public performances" under copyright law simply because a phone may ring when the user happens to be in a public place. ASCAP's position implies that numerous ordinary mobile phone users are copyright infringers and would expand copyright liability in ways that would chill innovation in products far beyond the relatively narrow context of ringtones.