A GAO report and a private report that each looked at unclassified data mining programs within the federal government revealed that 52 agencies had 199 data mining projects active or in the planning stages. One hundred and twenty-two of them use the personal information of American citizens. Private companies, which included credit reporting agencies and credit card issuers, supplied information for 54 government projects. Personally identifiable information on Americans was used by 36 of the 54 projects. The Defense Department had the largest number of projects, not all of which were focused on finding terrorists or criminals.
The Minnesota Court of Appeals says that the right to privacy extends to the garage. Police blocked a garage door from closing then entered to question Chad Haase a Farmington resident about impaired driving. The court ruled that privacy extents to the garage because it is not considered as--open to the public. The ruling will suppress evidence obtained by police through a voluntary breath test as a result of the illegal entry.
Barry Steinhardt Director of the ACLU Comments on Matrix
Although the domestic component of the Federal DOD Total Information Awareness Project was supposedly ended, there is another effort, called Matrix, to link state databases. Although a number of states have withdrawn participation in the Matrix project it still remains an active effort on the part of some states and federal law enforcement agencies to access information on citizens. Steinhardt relates in an interview with the Washington Post the potential privacy challenges presented by the Matrix program.
Your Papers Please—Boston Transit Customers Face ID Checks
Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) will be stopping passengers to conduct ID checks at T locations throughout the system. Following the deadly terrorist attack in Madrid Spain domestic train and transit authorities have instituted measures they believe will address security threats. Not only will passengers be asked for identification, they will also face questions about their activities.
The 411: Operator Assistance for Cell Phone Numbers
Cellular Telecommunications is working on a cell phone director that will potentially contain 75% of the 163 million mobile phone numbers in use in the United States. Its being sold as a benefit to real-estate agents and developers who want to be found by customers and more importantly for them to find customers that may not want to be found.
Federal Legislation to Address Picture Phone Abuse
A bill to restrict the use of revealing photos or video footage obtained without the subjects consent is creeping its way through the laborious federal legislative process. The House Judiciary Committee unanimously voted to refer the bill to the full House for consideration. The Senate has already approved a similar bill. Both bills aim to create a privacy hedge in public or semi-public areas where people would have a reasonable expectation of privacy from being photographed.
The Berg family in dealing with their sudden loss requested the assistance of local law enforcement to keep at bay the army of journalist who have descended into their lives following the revelation of their son’s murder. Although the family made their desires for the memorial service, for 26-year-old Nicholas Berg held at Kesher Israel Congregation, well known they took extra precautions to protect their privacy. Faced with the sudden loss of a loved-one they are forced to struggle with the loss of privacy as well.
The growing number of reported incidents of privacy violations through the use of picture phones is prompting Congress to take a look at possible federal legislation aimed at controlling their use. Many states already have laws restricting photographing people in private setting, but few if any have laws governing pictures taken in public places.
Congress Looking at 'Video Voyeurism', New York Times, May 11, 2004
A Canadian branch of Lockheed Martin lost a national census contract with the government after concerns regarding privacy were raised. An estimated 13.6 million households in the next national census will have the option of filing census responses online. The government wanted to avoid even the perception that privacy might be threaten by participation in the census to make sure that they could maximize the number of potential respondents.
The popularity of picture phones as gifts is raising privacy concerns. Picture phones are now highly restricted or banned by a number of public schools, parks, YMCAs, gyms and other places where people gather. Part of the concern is promoted by the liability and potential public relations fall-out that may be assigned for failure to prevent violations of privacy that may occur at their facilities.
A former employee of the Radio Shack in Kingsland is accused of placing a hidden camera in the store’s restroom. The incident lead to the employee being charged by the Llano County Sheriff's Office with unlawful use of a criminal instrument.
Judge Declares Law Violates Brain-Damaged Woman’s Privacy Right
Judge W. Douglas Baird in Pinellas Florida County Circuit Court ruled a new law is unconstitutional according to state law because it violated the privacy rights of Terri Schiavo, who is severally brain-damaged. Her husband was successful in court challenges against her parents who sought to keep their daughter alive, but the state legislature intervened by passing a law in her name, which was signed by Governor Bush. The law ordered that a feeding tube be reinserted to keep her alive against her husband’s wishes.
At this year’s Kentucky Derby local and federal law enforcement officials tested the Spatial Templates for Emergency Preparedness ( STEPs) software. The technology collects geographic information system (GIS) data from an array of databases and makes it accessible through a Web portal. Law enforcement officials were equipped with handheld devices, wireless connectivity, and geospatial application that tapped into surveillance cameras to keep tabs on patrons attending the race.
Illinois Ready to Move Against High Tech Peeping Toms
Technological innovation has out paced privacy laws in the State of Illinois. Current state law does not extend protection for violations of privacy to new technologies, such as hidden wireless cameras, picture cell phones, and web cams. Laws that make it illegal to take photos or video without the subject’s consent require proof that the images were recorded.
Illinois official wants tougher laws for wireless spying, USA Today, May 4, 2004
JetBlue Passengers Seeing Red Over Privacy Violation
Former passengers of JetBlue Airways are accusing the airline, Acxion, a small tech firm, and Torch Concepts, a defense contractor of violating federal privacy laws and using deceptive trade practices to build a database. The plaintiffs plan to seek class action status for their lawsuit, which if granted could add more than 2 million to the number suing the companies. The information reportedly provided on passengers included whether they owned or rented their home, how long they had lived at that residence, the number of immediate family members, Social Security numbers and whether they owned or leased their car.
