--------------------------------------------------------------- EPIC DIGEST AT PRIVACY.ORG EPIC-DIGEST is a weekly update of news, information, and action items posted on privacy.org. July 24-31, 2001 TOC------------------------------------------------------------ NEWS EPIC to File Complaint Against MS with FTC FBI Researcher Releases Sircam Virus Biometric Group, Company Advocate Privacy Standards AOL to Create Single Identity for Consumers CIPA Case Goes Forward EPIC Advises Committee to Evaluate Nominee on Privacy CNET Analyzes Sources of Spam Lawyers Challenge FBI Use of Keystroke Sniffers ACTION Promote the Privacy of Domain Name Registrants NEWS----------------------------------------------------------- EPIC to File Complaint Against MS with FTC EPIC will file a FTC complaint against Microsoft for linking the XP operating system with the Passport identification and authentication system. EPIC will argue that the bundling of the OS and system constitutes unfair and deceptive trade practices. Also, the Senate Judiciary Committee plans to hold hearings on Microsoft to examine the companyıs involvement in Internet-related antitrust issues. Privacy Group Is Taking Issue With Microsoft, New York Times, July 25, 2001 (registration required). http://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/25/technology/ebusiness/25COMP.html? Privacy advocates take aim at Windows XP, CNET, July 25, 2001. http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-6676181.html?tag=mn_hd Senate Judiciary Committee to Hold Hearings on Microsoft, Tech Law Journal Daily Report, July 25, 2001. http://www.techlawjournal.com/alert/2001/07/25.asp Letter to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer from Senator Charles Schumer, Tech Law Journal. http://www.techlawjournal.com/atr/20010724sch1.asp Letter to DOJ Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust Charles James from Senator Charles Schumer, Tech Law Journal. http://www.techlawjournal.com/atr/20010724sch2.asp Microsoft Refutes Privacy Concerns Surrounding XP, Newsbytes, July 25, 2001. http://www.newsbytes.com/news/01/168343.html EPIC Makes Privacy Case Against Windows XP To FTC, Slashdot, July 26, 2001. http://slashdot.org/articles/01/07/26/2159207.shtml Microsoft Ignores Those XP Tacklers, Businessweek, July 26, 2001. http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/jul2001/nf20010726_629.htm Microsoft's Window into Your Personal Life, Businessweek, July 2, 2001. http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/01_27/b3739177.htm --------------------------------------------------------------- FBI Researcher Releases Sircam Virus A Federal Bureau of Investigation cyber-protection researcher accidentally released a virus that sent internal agency documents to outsiders. FBI Cyber Researcher Unleashes Virus That E-Mails Private Agency Documents, Wall Street Journal, July 25, 2001 (subscription required). http://interactive.wsj.com/articles/SB99601609210000000.htm --------------------------------------------------------------- Biometric Group, Company Advocate Privacy Standards The International Biometric Group has formulated privacy standards for the use of biometric technologies. Also, Visionics, a provider of facial recognition technology, has advocated the adoption of federal legislation to enhance individualsı privacy protection. International Biometric Group Best Practices, Bioprivacy.org. http://www.bioprivacy.org/ Visionics Corporation Calls for Federal Legislation to Safeguard Against Misuse, Biometrics Digest, July 25, 2001. http://webusers.anet-stl.com/~wrogers/biometrics/hot/story.cgi/010725-03.html Privacy Protection Principles, Visionics. http://www.visionics.com/newsroom/biometrics/privacy.html Biometrics and Privacy, Roger Clarke, Australian National University, April 15, 2001. http://www.anu.edu.au/people/Roger.Clarke/DV/Biometrics.html --------------------------------------------------------------- AOL to Create Single Identity for Consumers AOL is implementing "Magic Carpet," an online identification and authentication scheme similar to Microsoftıs Passport. Magic Carpet would be an online storage system for individualsı personal information. AOL Might Join 'Identity Service' Battle, Washington Post, July 26, 2001. http://www.washtech.com/news/media/11460-1.html --------------------------------------------------------------- CIPA Case Goes Forward A US Federal District Court has allowed a challenge to the Childrenıs Internet Protection Act (CIPA) to go to trial in February 2002. CIPA mandates the installation and use of Internet content filters on computers at federally-funded libraries and public schools. Earlier this year, EPIC, ACLU, and ALA brought suit to challenge CIPA. Court Rejects Govt. Move To Toss Net Porn Filtering Case, Newsbytes, July 27, 2001. http://www.newsbytes.com/news/01/168404.html --------------------------------------------------------------- EPIC Advises Committee to Evaluate Nominee on Privacy EPIC has sent a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee requesting members to consider privacy when questioning FBI Director Nominee Robert Mueller next week. EPIC specifically requested that the committee consider the Muellerıs stance on new surveillance technologies such as Carnivore, the federal governmentıs purchase of personal information from brokers such as ChoicePoint, and the agencyıs compliance with the Freedom of Information Act. EPIC Letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee, EPIC Web Site, July 26, 2001. http://www.epic.org/privacy/jud_comm_mueller.html Senate should ask FBI nominee Mueller about privacy, EPIC says, Declan McCullaghıs Politechbot.com, July 27, 2001. http://www.politechbot.com/p-02317.html --------------------------------------------------------------- CNET Analyzes Sources of Spam CNET has published an article that tracks the sources of spam. The article concludes that certain behaviors, such as posting to message boards, using America Online chatrooms, and participation in online lotteries such as iWin and GroupLotto, tend to be the biggest causes of spam. We reveal the riskiest e-mail behaviors on the Net, CNET, July 26, 2001 http://www.cnet.com/software/0-3227888-8-6602372-1.html?tag=ld --------------------------------------------------------------- Lawyers Challenge FBI Use of Keystroke Sniffers Lawyers for an alleged organized crime boss are challenging the FBIıs use of a keystroke sniffer to capture passwords and other information entered into a computer. Keystroke sniffers record every key pressed on a keyboard. The lawyers challenging the use of the sniffer argue that since the device captures every key typed, its use does not comply with requirements to narrow searches to capture only criminal communications. Further, the lawyers argue that the FBI followed inadequate procedures in obtaining the authority to install the keylogging system. EPIC Archive on United States v. Scarfo, EPIC Web Site. http://www.epic.org/crypto/scarfo.html Legal Challenge to FBI's Keystroke Sniffing, Slashdot, July 30, 2001. http://slashdot.org/articles/01/07/29/148201.shtml Organized Crime Case Raises Privacy Issues, New York Times, July 30, 2001 (registration required). http://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/30/technology/30TAP.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). For more information, e-mail Chris Hoofnagle at digest-editor@privacy.org. --------------------------------------------------------------- How to unsubscribe from EPIC-DIGEST: You can leave the EPIC-DIGEST by entering the subscription e-mail address at http://www.privacy.org/digest.php and selecting "unsubscribe." 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