US data privacy dashboards
I've been made aware of some interesting resources compiled by the Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT) in the States. They have created a snapshot of the applicable privacy and access provisions relating to personal data, arranged by data type (healthcare, financial, video rental and so on) and data protection principles (notice of collection, purrpose of collection, retention period, etc.).
They've drawn up two 'dashboard'-style tables; one for commercial access, and a second for government access. Naturally their analysis is US-centric, but it makes very interesting reading. For instance, non-US readers might be surprised to know that there is actually more regulation of data about Americans' cable viewing behaviour than when it comes to their financial and credit card records (something which I suspect may have more to do with Robert Bork's video rental history than any more rational prioritisation - pace Sect.215 of the Patriot Act).
Anyway, for your perusal, here's the 'Privacy Guidelines' page at the CDT site, and here's their home page, where you will find links to lots of other thought-provoking material.
The CDT's current Policy Director is Jim Dempsey, co-author of the following book:
"Terrorism and the Constitution: Sacrificing Civil Liberties in the Name of National Security"
Posted by racingsnake
@ 12:52 PM GMT+00:00
Radio 4 - The Christmas Repeal
A novel idea from Radio 4's Today programme this Christmas; they are polling to see which law listeners would most like to see repealed.
As a first phase, they are collecting entries for a shortlist via this nomination page. The shortlist will be published on December 22nd, whereupon there will be a vote. The most unpopular law will be announced on New Year's Day.
I'm genuinely fascinated to see what gets nominated... will the ID Cards bill make it onto the list? What about the (effectively) unilateral extradition treaty currently in place between the UK and the US? Or 28-day detention without charge... apparently soon to be re-submitted in its original 90-day form? Maybe it will be the Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill... which makes every offence an arrestable one, and thereby (incidentally) enables the police to make a permanent DNA record of anyone so arrested, whether or not they are subsequently charged with anything. Perhaps the MISC31 Committee's recommendation on Data Sharing in the public sector could qualify - though as this policy recommendation appears to simply bypass the law-making process, that would have to go down as an outside chance at long odds.
On reflection, maybe the biggest challenge for the Radio 4 panel will be whittling it down to a "short" list.
Posted by racingsnake
@ 09:47 AM GMT+00:00
![[RSS Newsfeed]](/themes/sotto/images/valid-rss.png)
![[This is a Roller site]](/themes/sotto/images/roller-logo.gif){kind=logo}