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EPIC DIGEST AT PRIVACY.ORG

EPIC-DIGEST is a weekly update of news, information, and action
items posted on privacy.org.

May 15-24, 2001

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NEWS
CIPA Filtering Deadline Delayed  
FTC Nominee Wonıt Commit to Position on Privacy  
Amendment Would Restrict Collection of Data on Schoolchildren  
Schools May Implement Packet Sniffers to Monitor Students  
Publication of Illegally Intercepted Phone Conversation Protected  
Supreme Court to Review COPA Decision  
Ashcroft Says Anonymity Harms Law Enforcement  

ACTION
Support the Privacy Coalition's Privacy Pledge

NEWS-----------------------------------------------------------

CIPA Filtering Deadline Delayed

According to a settlement agreement between ACLU, EPIC, ALA, and government
attorneys, librarians will have until July 2002 to certify compliance with
federal Internet filtering requirements.

Technology: Libraries get delay in Internet filter case, Nandotimes (AP), May 16,
2001.
http://archive.nandotimes.com/technology/story/0,1643,500560928-500802363-504360380-0,00.html
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FTC Nominee Wonıt Commit to Position on Privacy

FTC Chair nominee Timothy Muris said during a Congressional hearing that he would
investigate privacy issues. However, he would not commit to advocating
legislation to protect individualsı privacy.

Muris Confirmation Hearings, Tech Law Journal Daily Report, May 17, 2001.
http://www.techlawjournal.com/alert/2001/05/17.asp

FTC Nominee Muris Commits to Mission, But Not to Legislation Senate Committee
Questions Agency Hopeful, Washington Post, May 17, 2001.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37102-2001May16.html
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Amendment Would Restrict Collection of Data on Schoolchildren

An Amendment to an education bill proposed by Senators Dodd (D-CT) and Shelby
(R-AL) would require schools to give notice and obtain parental consent before
allowing commercial interests to collection information on schoolchildren.

SA 457, Student Privacy Amendment.
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d107:s.a.457:

Bill Takes On Ads at School, Wired, May 17, 2001.
http://www.wired.com/news/privacy/0,1848,43847,00.html
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Schools May Implement Packet Sniffers to Monitor Students

School systems attempting to prevent students from viewing certain content may
implement new packet sniffing software to monitor students. The new programs
apparently can detect proscribed activities, including viewing pornographic and
violent content or downloading copyright-protected music.

Schools Get Tool to Track Students' Internet Use, New York Times, May 21, 2001
(registration required). http://www.nytimes.com/2001/05/21/technology/21SNIF.html
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Publication of Illegally Intercepted Phone Conversation Protected

In a 6-3 decision, the US Supreme Court held that the publication of an
illegally-intercepted phone conversation is protected under the First Amendment.
In this narrow decision, the Court held that the First Amendment protects
publishers of information of legitimate public concern. However, the publisher
can play no part in the interception of the communication.

Bartnicki v. Vopper, Supreme Court Opinion, Supreme Court Web Site.
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/21may20011055/www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/00pdf/99-1687.pdf

Court Rules on Wiretap Law, Yahoo News (AP), May 21, 2001.
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20010521/pl/scotus_taped_call_3.html

High Court Says Press Isn't Liable for Use of Ill-Gotten Tapes, New York Times,
May 22, 2001 (registration required).
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/05/22/national/22SCOT.html
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Supreme Court to Review COPA Decision

The Supreme Court will review a lower court decision to enjoin enforcement of the
Child Online Protection Act (COPA). COPA prohibited the publication of
objectionable material on the Internet that is accessible to minors. EPIC and
ACLU successfully blocked COPA in the federal courts, asserting that the law
impinged on First Amendment rights.

Supreme Court to consider online porn law, CNN, May 21, 2001.
http://www.cnn.com/2001/LAW/05/21/scotus.porn.02.ap/index.html

EPIC COPA Resources, EPIC Web Site. 
http://www.epic.org/free_speech/copa/
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Ashcroft Says Anonymity Harms Law Enforcement

In a speech delivered at the Computer Privacy, Policy, and Security Institute,
Attorney General John Ashcroft said that anonymity impedes law enforcement
efforts. To aid police investigations, Ashcroft urged business executives to
report security violations and attempts of cyber vandals to access commercial
information.

Remarks of Attorney General John Ashcroft, Department of Justice Web Site.
http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/cybercrime/AGCPPSI.htm

Attorney General Complains About Net Anonymity, Newsbytes, May 23, 2001.
http://www.newsbytes.com/news/01/166047.html

Aschroft warns of online anonymity, tells firms to report attacks, Declan
McCullaghıs Politechbot.com, May 23, 2001. 
http://www.politechbot.com/p-02052.html
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information, e-mail Chris Hoofnagle at digest-editor@privacy.org.
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