A House panel chaired by Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin is scheduled to hold a hearing tomorrow morning to discuss forcing Internet providers, and perhaps Web companies as well, to store records of their users' activities for later review by police.:::MORE HERE:::
Monday, January 24, 2011
CNET: GOP pushing for ISPs to record user data
REDUX: Weekend Review
BTC - Corporations... Government data surveillance; same difference. They both do it.
Here is second life for news that matters.
Mexico starts to use iris scans on ID cards
A National ID Card for Every American c/o Fellowship of The Minds
Trial Begins For Seattle Man Who Refused To Show ID At TSA Checkpoint In Albuquerque
Governor gives voter ID bill emergency status in legislative session
U.S. Cancels "Virtual Fence" with Mexico
USCIS e-Verify still flags eligible employees, says GAO
RE: Corporate Data Surveillance, Watch what you say and text
DIY Government: FTC Comment period on *PRIVACY PRACTICES* extended until 2-18-2011
OTHER RELATED NEWS:
Black Budget in the Red
Facebook suspends personal data-sharing feature
The Companies Who Support Censoring the Internet
How Big Brother is watching you from Israel
FILMS TO GO SEE:
Operation Endgame - Illuminates bureaucracy, comedic lunacy of the underground US Intelligence complex; straight to DVD, comes *highly recommended* for entertainment's sake.
Smash His Camera - Classic rivalry of privacy in the face of public living. Example here.
Here is second life for news that matters.
Mexico starts to use iris scans on ID cards
A National ID Card for Every American c/o Fellowship of The Minds
"In 1998 the Clinton Administration tested such a privately-funded card without the consent or knowledge of Congress. Their card was part of a special healthcare program funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The program was initated in five western States and entailed giving women with dependent children free healthcare in the pilot project that actually tested the effectiveness of the biometric cards, which electronically monitored the whereabouts of the cardholder 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by GPS. The test lasted one year. It was deemed to be a success. Our federal government does have the ability, and the desire, to track the whereabouts of its human capital while they work, when they play, and where they sleep. REAL ID, in other words, is REAL Intrusive."
Trial Begins For Seattle Man Who Refused To Show ID At TSA Checkpoint In Albuquerque
Governor gives voter ID bill emergency status in legislative session
U.S. Cancels "Virtual Fence" with Mexico
USCIS e-Verify still flags eligible employees, says GAO
RE: Corporate Data Surveillance, Watch what you say and text
DIY Government: FTC Comment period on *PRIVACY PRACTICES* extended until 2-18-2011
OTHER RELATED NEWS:
Black Budget in the Red
Facebook suspends personal data-sharing feature
The Companies Who Support Censoring the Internet
How Big Brother is watching you from Israel
FILMS TO GO SEE:
Operation Endgame - Illuminates bureaucracy, comedic lunacy of the underground US Intelligence complex; straight to DVD, comes *highly recommended* for entertainment's sake.
Smash His Camera - Classic rivalry of privacy in the face of public living. Example here.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
No2ID: New Public Data Corporation, Scotland's Entitlement Cards continue
c/o No2ID UK --The Cabinet Office has outlined plans for a new Public Data Corporation which the government intends to set up this year. The Cabinet Office press release states:
SCOTLAND'S BACK-DOOR ID CARD BATTLE
Among the most dedicated opponents of the Blair government's Identity Cards Act were the SNP. However, as the government of Scotland they seem to have other ideas, as Geraint Bevan, coordinator of NO2ID Scotland, explains:
UK ID cards are no longer valid, but National Entitlement Cards (ID cards by another name) continue to be issued in Scotland. These multi-purpose cards, which masquerade under a wide range of guises including concessionary travel and YoungScot cards, are issued by local authorities and provide access to various services.
According to ministers, the cards are voluntary and alternative means of accessing services should be made available, except for concessionary travel. In practice, many schoolchildren have been told that they *must* apply for a card to buy school meals - or even to enter school premises.
Each card is linked to a "Citizens Account" unless card-holders explicitly reject data-sharing on the application form. Citizens Accounts are records of personal information stored on a network of databases operated by Scotland's 32 local authorities.
Even when not linked to a Citizens Account, the cards are privacy deficient. For example, when used as a bus pass, personal information about the card-holder is transmitted to the bus operator and details of the passenger and journey are recorded and logged on central government
databases.
The scheme was introduced under the previous Labour/Lib Dem coalition, but has continued under the current SNP administration.
Related news: TrackCare, A new Patient Management System for Scotland goes live.
IN OTHER NEWS:
ID Card Report Was Supressed
The publication of a report which raised concerns about the ID-scheme was delayed - leading to the suggestion that it was suppressed in the run up to the general election. The report by the Independent Scheme Assurance Panel (ISAP) was given to the Home Office in late 2009, but
only published this month. A February 2010 response to the ISAP report has also been released.
NHS (National Health System)review includes Opt-Out forms
The Summary Care Record system will make medical information about tens of millions of patients in England available to over 800,000 NHS staff. Patients have a right to opt out of having a Record. Both the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats promised to scrap Summary Care Records before they took power.
A judgement by the European Court of Human Rights ruled that it was illegal for the Government to keep the DNA details of those arrested - but not convicted - for an offence.
EU/US: Transatlantic eHealth agreement signed 01-17-02011--Vice-President of the European Commission Neelie Kroes and United States Secretary for Health and Human Services (HHS) Kathleen Sebelius signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Washington to promote a common approach on the interoperability of electronic health records and on education programmes for information technology and health professionals. [The US healthcare bill was repealed two days later.]
Border Agency plans £36.4m biometric collection contract
Destruction of ID card data to cost £400,000
"The Corporation will, for the first time, bring together Government bodies and data into one organisation and provide an unprecedented level of easily accessible public information and drive further efficiency in the delivery of public services."Little detailed information is available at this time.
SCOTLAND'S BACK-DOOR ID CARD BATTLE
Among the most dedicated opponents of the Blair government's Identity Cards Act were the SNP. However, as the government of Scotland they seem to have other ideas, as Geraint Bevan, coordinator of NO2ID Scotland, explains:
UK ID cards are no longer valid, but National Entitlement Cards (ID cards by another name) continue to be issued in Scotland. These multi-purpose cards, which masquerade under a wide range of guises including concessionary travel and YoungScot cards, are issued by local authorities and provide access to various services.
According to ministers, the cards are voluntary and alternative means of accessing services should be made available, except for concessionary travel. In practice, many schoolchildren have been told that they *must* apply for a card to buy school meals - or even to enter school premises.
Each card is linked to a "Citizens Account" unless card-holders explicitly reject data-sharing on the application form. Citizens Accounts are records of personal information stored on a network of databases operated by Scotland's 32 local authorities.
Even when not linked to a Citizens Account, the cards are privacy deficient. For example, when used as a bus pass, personal information about the card-holder is transmitted to the bus operator and details of the passenger and journey are recorded and logged on central government
databases.
The scheme was introduced under the previous Labour/Lib Dem coalition, but has continued under the current SNP administration.
Related news: TrackCare, A new Patient Management System for Scotland goes live.
IN OTHER NEWS:
ID Card Report Was Supressed
The publication of a report which raised concerns about the ID-scheme was delayed - leading to the suggestion that it was suppressed in the run up to the general election. The report by the Independent Scheme Assurance Panel (ISAP) was given to the Home Office in late 2009, but
only published this month. A February 2010 response to the ISAP report has also been released.
NHS (National Health System)review includes Opt-Out forms
The Summary Care Record system will make medical information about tens of millions of patients in England available to over 800,000 NHS staff. Patients have a right to opt out of having a Record. Both the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats promised to scrap Summary Care Records before they took power.
A judgement by the European Court of Human Rights ruled that it was illegal for the Government to keep the DNA details of those arrested - but not convicted - for an offence.
EU/US: Transatlantic eHealth agreement signed 01-17-02011--Vice-President of the European Commission Neelie Kroes and United States Secretary for Health and Human Services (HHS) Kathleen Sebelius signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Washington to promote a common approach on the interoperability of electronic health records and on education programmes for information technology and health professionals. [The US healthcare bill was repealed two days later.]
Border Agency plans £36.4m biometric collection contract
Destruction of ID card data to cost £400,000
Thursday, January 20, 2011
REDUX: "Are We Safer?", TSA Updates and more
"From checkpoints and electronic strip searches at airports… to your banker being forced to report suspicious deposits to being locked up for not disclosing all of your assets to the IRS… the signs are clear: 1984 is here. Whether it’s a War on Drugs, Illegal Immigration, or Terrorist… it is all a war on individual sovereignty."
- John Pugsley, a man who woke up Orwell:::MORE HERE:::
Here is second life for news that matters.
Failed UK ID Card project racks up another £400,000 in expenses
No plans for Aussie online ID (Y'know... in case you're an Aussie freaked out about NSTIC, right?)
Please check out Dana Priest's newest work on domestic surveillance, on PBS' Frontline featuring the history of DHS and US Fusion Centers in Are We Safer?
D.C. expanding public surveillance camera net
TSA is definitely not in favorable light with US public. We are looking for follow up stories on the Phil Mocek trial.
- TSA on the hot seat
- TSA Now Forcing Opt-Outs To Walk Through Body Scanners
- Even if Airports Opt for Private Security, TSA and Scanners Will Remain
- Airports toy with the idea of tossing the TSA
- 6 TSA Parody Round Up
GAO: "E-Verify better, but still flawed"
DIY Government: Challenge FBI Abuses
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
REDUX: Pentagon breaches, the "extreme" Fast for Justice, WIRED updates & more
BTC- Thanks to JP @NCard for sending this one in. You can support his work here.
Big WHOOPS to the Dept. of Defense.
Here's second life for news that matters.
Late last week privacy law heavyweights released their positions, to "clarify"public interest towards NSTIC.
BAD CODE! c/o WIRED
Big WHOOPS to the Dept. of Defense.
Members of a credit union that serves active-duty military personnel and others connected to the Pentagon are at risk for identity theft after a laptop was hacked, exposing the personal and financial records of an undisclosed number of troops and their families.::: More from the Washington Post here:::
Here's second life for news that matters.
Late last week privacy law heavyweights released their positions, to "clarify"public interest towards NSTIC.
- A historic analysis of where NSTIC might come from = The evolution of the identity credential.
- Obama Administration Aims to Enhance Online Security Through Internet IDs -The mainstream "right" news angle on NSTIC, includes quotes from some of our Privacy heroes Jim Dempsey and EFF's Lee Tien.
- The ACLU's Official lawyer-ey reasons why they have to politely condemn the NSTIC program here.
- Idaho, running competetive as the "reddest" state in the US says "no thanks" to NSTIC.
A window into how D.C. feels about constant demand for SSN# and Drivers Licenses
BAD CODE! c/o WIRED
Why the Internet Is a Great Tool for Totalitarians
No Facebook, You May Not Share My Address and Phone Number With Developers
DIY GOVERNMENT:
DIY GOVERNMENT:
Minus the Mountain Dew, Skateboards and here's an update on Wednesday's "extreme" Fast for Justice c/o Frida Berrigan. Today is Day 9 of this difficult fast.
Today was one of extremes. We experienced the extremes of ice skating down the streets of Washington DC and then swimming in the warm oceans of Bermuda. We also actively bridged extremes by interweaving visits to the Pentagon and to the Department of Justice with two different perspectives of the plight of the Uyghur men both held and released from Guantánamo. And at the end of the day, such extremes were summed up for us at Bus Boys and Poets when David Swanson, being interviewed about his new book “War is a Lie,” demystified all the justifications for war. Yes, with such a full day, it is hard to
imagine that we are fasting (and on day 8 at that)!
Or perhaps we are in a funny window of the fast, a practice that does open up to unforeseen extremes, where we seem to have an abundance of energy. As you will see in our open letter to Attorney General Eric Holder and the press release (attached below), we have planned an extended demonstration for Wednesday into Thursday to remind the DoJ that work day hours do not exist for the men detained at Guantánamo.
Our strength most certainly comes from our resolve as a community to open this dialogue with the DoJ, and that such a dialogue will be productive if it is done in the good faith. Fully aware that another risk of arrest and an overnight vigil is a relatively small gesture of effort, we hope that it is adequate and that our modest plea for a meeting will be granted. We will certainly keep you all informed. We ask that you keep us in your thoughts and prayers.
In peace and solidarity,
Witness Against Torture
imagine that we are fasting (and on day 8 at that)!
Or perhaps we are in a funny window of the fast, a practice that does open up to unforeseen extremes, where we seem to have an abundance of energy. As you will see in our open letter to Attorney General Eric Holder and the press release (attached below), we have planned an extended demonstration for Wednesday into Thursday to remind the DoJ that work day hours do not exist for the men detained at Guantánamo.
Our strength most certainly comes from our resolve as a community to open this dialogue with the DoJ, and that such a dialogue will be productive if it is done in the good faith. Fully aware that another risk of arrest and an overnight vigil is a relatively small gesture of effort, we hope that it is adequate and that our modest plea for a meeting will be granted. We will certainly keep you all informed. We ask that you keep us in your thoughts and prayers.
In peace and solidarity,
Witness Against Torture
Inspiring. NOW, WILL SOMEONE GIVE BRAD MANNING A PILLOW SO I CAN EAT?
Monday, January 17, 2011
REVIEW: TRON Legacy delivers strong identity-technocracy message
Tron sequel distills the nature of "bad" societal code
BTC - While taking a break this Christmas, I was drawn into and captured 3 times by the world of TRON Legacy (regular, 3D, & 3D IMAX). I found what I believe to be true about the power of cyberidentity staring back at me from the screen.
Disney’s TRON Legacy amazingly demonstrates the drama of gotham’s Big Tech sectors and the ongoing power strains of its inverted political society. The movie is strikingly current, as it opens with disaffected twenty-something & heir-apparent, Sam Flynn, on a mission to carry out an ethical hack to the dismay of estranged corporate board members. Flynn “Junior” in TRON Legacy is posed as the human 2.0 version of his disappeared father, Kevin Flynn. The Son of Flynn obviates the younger class of tech geniuses who move out wildly popular social networks and web applications. Some have personal loyalties and a robin-hood sense of justice; while others fall in line towards self-service and the status quo. Flynn Jr.’s journey ahead is to adopt responsibility for the deep problems of “the machine” as it currently exists.
Sam follows a prompt by one of the board members to return to his father’s video arcade. Through exploratory events he finds himself dropped onto his father’s dark, tech grid world. He is picked up immediately by a Recognizer for the first offense of being unidentifiable. Later Sam, assumed to be a program, is given an identity disk. He is informed that if he is found without his disk, he may be “derezzed”; which is to be deleted or killed by the system. He survives a sentence to play the Program Games after he is discovered by Tron, a character devoted to the user. He then becomes hunted, known as The Son of Flynn.
TRON Legacy shows us the drama of a utopian technocracy gone totalitarian; including exile, political imprisonment, a high-level coup and genocide. Kevin Flynn, portrayed immaculately by Jeff Bridges, is an evolved California tech-zen guru who became a prisoner of the game he built. CLU, Kevin Flynn’s digital avatar, operates an absolute rule of technology against the indecisive, imperfect needs of vulnerable users. The Son of Flynn confronts the perils of being on the downside of power amid digital sycophants, tyrants, and innocent victims of his father’s grid world gone rogue. The film exhibits subtleties of human interplay towards singularity; where once useful, companionable relationships with technology turn into a struggle for power over the user base of humanity, power over identity is GOD and anonymity a crime.
TRON Legacy suggests that technology will mimic hidden flaws of human logic and the arcane dangers of perfection we may not be able to escape unless we evolve spiritually. It seems as if our human evolution has yet to break through and ethically catch up to pace of our gadget development. If technology tends to be running your life, with or without you - take a break and go see this film.
ALSO: The "score" on the Tron Legacy Motion Picture picture soundrack
BTC - While taking a break this Christmas, I was drawn into and captured 3 times by the world of TRON Legacy (regular, 3D, & 3D IMAX). I found what I believe to be true about the power of cyberidentity staring back at me from the screen.
Disney’s TRON Legacy amazingly demonstrates the drama of gotham’s Big Tech sectors and the ongoing power strains of its inverted political society. The movie is strikingly current, as it opens with disaffected twenty-something & heir-apparent, Sam Flynn, on a mission to carry out an ethical hack to the dismay of estranged corporate board members. Flynn “Junior” in TRON Legacy is posed as the human 2.0 version of his disappeared father, Kevin Flynn. The Son of Flynn obviates the younger class of tech geniuses who move out wildly popular social networks and web applications. Some have personal loyalties and a robin-hood sense of justice; while others fall in line towards self-service and the status quo. Flynn Jr.’s journey ahead is to adopt responsibility for the deep problems of “the machine” as it currently exists.
Sam follows a prompt by one of the board members to return to his father’s video arcade. Through exploratory events he finds himself dropped onto his father’s dark, tech grid world. He is picked up immediately by a Recognizer for the first offense of being unidentifiable. Later Sam, assumed to be a program, is given an identity disk. He is informed that if he is found without his disk, he may be “derezzed”; which is to be deleted or killed by the system. He survives a sentence to play the Program Games after he is discovered by Tron, a character devoted to the user. He then becomes hunted, known as The Son of Flynn.
 |
| "If you lose your disk, or fail to follow commands, you'll be subject to immediate deresolution." |
TRON Legacy suggests that technology will mimic hidden flaws of human logic and the arcane dangers of perfection we may not be able to escape unless we evolve spiritually. It seems as if our human evolution has yet to break through and ethically catch up to pace of our gadget development. If technology tends to be running your life, with or without you - take a break and go see this film.
ALSO: The "score" on the Tron Legacy Motion Picture picture soundrack
Friday, January 14, 2011
REDUX: National identity reports, compliance delays and more N(on)STIC
Special shout to Freedom's Phoenix for finds on NSTIC.
Here is second life for news that matters.
The latest on "NONSTIC" finds that the proposed identity program is undergoing technical problems and experiencing delays. Do you think that has anything to do with the fact that so many people don't trust their government to run identity, or much of anything really for that matter, in cyberspace?
WaPo gives thoughtful consideration to the high concept of US national identity. Interesting report also trolled up from The Bradley Project here.
Babbage @ The LA Economist experienced his own version of the modern checkpoint society tolerated in California and made some observations about the current status of REAL ID.
PRIVACY RIDDLE D'Jour - It's a head scratcher...
Judge Says TSA Doesn't Have to Turn Over Body Scan Images to Civil Liberties Group
Bradley Manning and the Rule of Law
Latest and greatest from Papers, Please! : Update on jury trial of Phil Moek who refused identity to fly. The essential guide to PNR or Passenger Name Record database debacle, and an Interview@AntiWar.com. Follow Ed Hasbrouck on twitter.
Here is second life for news that matters.
The latest on "NONSTIC" finds that the proposed identity program is undergoing technical problems and experiencing delays. Do you think that has anything to do with the fact that so many people don't trust their government to run identity, or much of anything really for that matter, in cyberspace?
WaPo gives thoughtful consideration to the high concept of US national identity. Interesting report also trolled up from The Bradley Project here.
Babbage @ The LA Economist experienced his own version of the modern checkpoint society tolerated in California and made some observations about the current status of REAL ID.
Looking on the bright side, officials in Sacramento reckon that if manufacturing the new driving licences is that difficult for professionals, then all those biometric details and security features are going to make it prohibitively expensive for counterfeiters to reproduce. That is no doubt true for the backstreet forgers around MacArthur Park. The worry is that if driving licences become worth thousands of dollars instead of mere hundreds, organised crime could move into the bogus-ID business in a big way.
PRIVACY RIDDLE D'Jour - It's a head scratcher...
Judge Says TSA Doesn't Have to Turn Over Body Scan Images to Civil Liberties Group
Bradley Manning and the Rule of Law
Latest and greatest from Papers, Please! : Update on jury trial of Phil Moek who refused identity to fly. The essential guide to PNR or Passenger Name Record database debacle, and an Interview@AntiWar.com. Follow Ed Hasbrouck on twitter.
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