--------------------------------------------------------------- EPIC DIGEST AT PRIVACY.ORG EPIC-DIGEST is a weekly update of news, information, and action items posted on privacy.org. July 31-August 8, 2001 TOC------------------------------------------------------------ NEWS PF: DMCA Bad for Privacy, Research FBI Nominee Supports Carnivore PRC Offers 200 Opt-Out Numbers State, DOJ Officials Consider Blocking XP Microsoft Develops Surveillance Program for eBooks Viral Marketing Infects Schoolyards DOJ: Keystroke Logger Secret Yankee Group: 83% of Public Concerned About Privacy State Copyright Can Limit FOI Material ABA Changes Ethics Rules on Client Confidentiality Scarfo Update: DOJ Must Reveal Keystroke Logger Techniques Judges Disable Monitoring Systems on Office Computers ACTION Promote the Privacy of Domain Name Registrants NEWS----------------------------------------------------------- PF: DMCA Bad for Privacy, Research The Privacy Foundation has printed an article arguing that the Digital Millennium Copyright Act harms both privacy and research. The DMCA prohibits the use and distribution of tools that circumvent access controls of digital content. Digital Copyright Act Harms Research, Privacy Foundation, July 30, 2001. http://www.privacyfoundation.org/commentary/tipsheet.asp?id=47&action=0 --------------------------------------------------------------- FBI Nominee Supports Carnivore FBI Nominee Robert Muller expressed support for the Carnivore Internet surveillance tool in his confirmation hearing. FBI Nominee Promises Respect For Online Privacy, Newsbytes, July 31, 2001. http://www.newsbytes.com/news/01/168525.html --------------------------------------------------------------- PRC Offers 200 Opt-Out Numbers The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse has compiled a list of 200 phone numbers that individuals can use to opt-out of information sharing. PRC Opt Out Address List, Privacy Rights Clearinghouse. http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs24a-OptOutAddresses.htm --------------------------------------------------------------- State, DOJ Officials Consider Blocking XP State and Department of Justice officials are considering blocking the release of Microsoft Windows XP. The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals has held that Microsoft is a monopolist company that used its market power unfairly to maintain dominance in the operating system market. Not So Fast, Washington Post, August 4, 2001. http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A30393-2001Aug3.html Justice Department, states consider blocking Windows XP, Declan McCullaghıs Politechbot.com, August 4, 2001. http://www.politechbot.com/p-02344.html --------------------------------------------------------------- Microsoft Develops Surveillance Program for eBooks As part of Microsoftıs strategy to foster respect for intellectual property, the company has developed an Internet surveillance program for illegal eBook content. The program, according to Microsoft, searches for unauthorized distribution of eBooks constantly. Anti-Piracy Efforts, Microsoft.com. http://www.microsoft.com/ebooks/das/antipiracy.asp Microsoft's position on eBook encryption, anti-piracy efforts, Declan McCullaghıs Politechbot.com, August 6, 2001. http://www.politechbot.com/p-02352.html --------------------------------------------------------------- Viral Marketing Infects Schoolyards Marketers increasingly are relying on "viral marketing" to entice children to purchase more products. Viral marketing is the practice where marketers target and then observe popular children using new toys and video games. The popular children are then urged to entice others to use or purchase the product. Electronic Game Maker Lets Kids Do Their Marketing for Them, New York Times, August 5, 2001 (registration required). http://www.nytimes.com/2001/08/05/magazine/05POX.html? --------------------------------------------------------------- DOJ: Keystroke Logger Secret Attorneys from the Justice Department have argued in court that introducing evidence on a keystroke-logging device will compromise national security. In the case being tried, the FBI employed a device to capture all the text entered into the computer via the keyboard. Privacy advocates argue that allowing the DOJ to enter the keystroke evidence without explanation may result in a new wave of manufactured evidence. Feds: Spy Tool Is a Secret, Wired, August 7, 2001. http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,45851,00.html EPIC Scarfo Archive. http://www.epic.org/crypto/scarfo.html --------------------------------------------------------------- Yankee Group: 83% of Public Concerned About Privacy The Yankee Group in a new poll has concluded that 83% of consumers are somewhat or very concerned about privacy on the Internet. Online Privacy Continues to Be a Major Concern for Consumers, Yankee Group, August 7, 2001. http://www.yankeegroup.com/webfolder/yg21a.nsf/LatestNews/69E54E0BB8B2BB1885256A9B006F7D26 --------------------------------------------------------------- State Copyright Can Limit FOI Material The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has held that states may assert copyright protection to prevent the distribution of public records obtained with freedom of information laws. Public records are commonly used for profiling and building dossiers on citizens. Suffolk County v. First American, U.S. Circuit Court for the Second Circuit. https://www.tourolaw.edu/2ndCircuit/July01/00-9011.html FOI Material Limited by State Copyright, Tech Law Journal Daily Report, August 7, 2001. http://www.techlawjournal.com/alert/2001/08/07.asp --------------------------------------------------------------- ABA Changes Ethics Rules on Client Confidentiality The American Bar Association (ABA) rejected a proposed rule that would have enabled attorneys to disclose information to police where a client uses the lawyer to commit a crime or fraud. However, the ABA did adopt a rule allowing attorneys to inform officials where a client plans to take an action that will cause "reasonably certain death or substantial bodily harm." The ABA ethics rules are not binding on attorneys. But, they are often used as model law by state legislatures and bar associations. ABA Grapples With Questions of Privilege, Law.com, August 8, 2001 (cookies required). http://www.law.com/cgi-bin/nwlink.cgi?ACG=ZZZY0WZC4QC Lawyers May Reveal Secrets of Clients, Bar Group Rules, New York Times, August 8, 2001 (registration required). http://www.nytimes.com/2001/08/08/national/08ETHI.html? --------------------------------------------------------------- Scarfo Update: DOJ Must Reveal Keystoke Logger Techniques A federal judge hearing the case of Little Nicky Scarfo Jr. has ruled that the DOJ must submit testimony on the use of Keystroke logging devices. Previously, DOJ has argued that revealing any information on Keystroke logging would endanger the lives of law enforcement officers. Judge Says FBI Must Reveal Computer Snooping Technique, Yahoo News (Reuters), August 7, 2001. http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010807/ts/crime_surveillance_dc_2.html EPIC Scarfo Archive. http://www.epic.org/crypto/scarfo.html --------------------------------------------------------------- Judges Disable Monitoring Systems on Office Computers A group of federal judges has disabled monitoring systems on their work computers, claiming that the surveillance violates ethical principles and the Electronic Communications Privacy Act. Rebels in Black Robes Recoil at Surveillance of Computers, New York Times, August 8, 2001 (registration required). http://www.nytimes.com/2001/08/08/national/08COUR.html? ACTION--------------------------------------------------------- The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is conducting a survey on the Whois database. The Whois database contains contact information of all persons who have registered domain names. In its current form, the database prevents the anonymous registration of domain names and it exposes registrants1 personal information to the public where it is often either sold or "mined" for commercial purposes. Tell ICANN to limit the amount of information required by the Whois database and to promote the ability to register a domain name anonymously! ICANN Whois Survey. http://www.icann.org/dnso/whois-survey-en-10jun01.htm EPIC Letter on Privacy of Domain Name Registration Data. http://www.epic.org/privacy/internet/ICANN_privacy.html --------------------------------------------------------------- Privacy.org is a joint project of the Electronic Privacy Information Center (http://www.epic.org) and Privacy International (http://www.privacyinternational.org). 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