Congress considering new privacy bill 7/29

[FutureIverson]

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, July 29, 2003
Congress Considers Bill to Protect Privacy of Citizens
Penalties Proposed for Negligent Uses of Federal Databases
Electronic Frontier Foundation Media Advisory
Washington, DC - Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) today introduced to the U.S. Congress the Citizens' Protection in Federal Databases Act (CPFDA), a bill requiring federal agencies that collect personal information to report what information they collect and how they intend to use the information.

The CPFDA bill would require federal agencies to report on accountability mechanisms for federal agents who maliciously or negligently enter or misuse personal information they gather and would forbid federal agencies from conducting searches based on hypothetical scenarios or suppositions.

"The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) supports efforts to protect privacy in the use of information by federal agencies," said EFF Washington Policy Liaison Lisa Dean. "Increased national security also comes from restrictions to ensure appropriate information gathering and measures to protect personal information stored in federal databases."

Once passed, federal agencies would have to report to Congress before obtaining funding for purchases of commercial databases. Within 60 days of the bill's passage, the agencies would have to report to Congress on use of existing databases.

In addition to EFF, the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT), the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and the Free Congress Foundation have expressed support for the CPFDA legislation

[Caitlyn Marble]

So does it amend some of the crazier bits of the patriot act then?



Here's an interesting observation that means nothing but whatever:
I find it funny that the same day this bill gets introduced, is the same day that the office of homeland security reissues its caution by warning about hijacking and such. with hijackings and such, what's a little privacy compared to the "terrorists" we arrest?
Like I said, it probably means nothing, I'm just ranting over nothing.

:bk

[Theinfamousone]

Woot for Oregon. Well, I don't really know if this will help the P2P cause very much as the RIAA is not a government agency, and even if it were, it's pretty obvious what they want the information for....

[Wolfie]

Originally posted by Caitlyn Marble
So does it amend some of the crazier bits of the patriot act then?
:bk

At the the risk of sounding too politically lefty (not very popular right now ), I doubt it. Since the Patriot Act came about as direct response to terrorism (the Big Bad and all) it'll always get by as a special case. It'll be long time paired with a lot of terror alerts that don't pan out before things may go back to status quo in that department. For now it won't be too curbed by any other legislation.

[Caitlyn Marble]

ah. that's what I thought. thanks.