Congressional Hearing on Employment Verification
The House Ways and Means Committee held a hearing on employment verification. Several hearings have be held by the committee on the proposal to create a mandatory national government employment eligibility system. The current private sector system is voluntary.
Homeland Security Releases Final REAL ID Rules
The Department of Homeland Security released the long awaited final rule on state issued drivers licenses and identification documents. The rule indicated that the new federal REAL ID will be used for a variety of purposes unrelated to the law that resulted in the federalization of state issued drivers licenses. If states do not comply with the agency rule the drivers’ licenses held by state residents will not be accepted for air travel or to access federal government buildings. As a cost saving measure the Department of Homeland Security decided not to require encryption of the digital data stored on the REAL ID. The Privacy Coalition led a major anti-REAL ID public education campaign. EPIC's page on REAL ID and the ACLU's analysis of the new agency rule..
House Votes to Halt Digital Strip Searches
The House of Representatives approved by a vote of 310 to 118 a bill that will limit the use of Whole-Body Imaging machines, installed by the Transportation
Security Administration, in US airports. The devices photograph American air travelers stripped naked and could easily be programmed to record images. Congressman Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) sponsored the bill that will prohibit the use of the devices as the sole or primary method of screening aircraft passengers; require that passengers be provided information on the operation of such technology and offered a pat-down search in lieu of such screening; and prohibit the storage of an image of a passenger after a boarding determination is made. Privacy Coalition members supported a campaign to raise public awareness about Whole Body Imaging.
Computers Freedom and Privacy Annual Meeting
The Computers Freedom and Privacy Annual meeting will be held in Washington, DC June 1-4, 2009. This year's meeting is co-chaired by Cindy Southworth with the National Network to End Domestic Violence, and Jay Stanley with the ACLU. This year's theme is Creating the Future.
TSA Responds to Whole Body Imaging Objections
The Transportation Security Administration has replied to the Privacy Coalition statement on whole body imaging systems. The agency claims that the Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) provides adequate protection. The Privacy Coalition letter pointed out that "the devices are designed to capture, record, and store detailed images of individuals undressed" and said that "If the public understood this, they would be outraged by the use of these devices by the US government on US citizens." The Privacy Coalition said that the use of the devices should be suspended pending an investigation. The letter was prompted by the TSA's announcement that Whole Body Imaging would replace metal detectors as the primary screening technique at US airports. The House of Representatives recently passed legislation that would establish clear privacy safeguards for the devices.
September 28 Privacy Coalition Meeting
The September 28, 2007 meeting of the Privacy Coalition featured presentations by David Gersten Director of the Department of Homeland Security's Civil Rights and Civil Libertieis Programs, Robert Mocny, Director of the Department of Homeland Security's US VISIT Program. The meeting also featured presentations by Susan Hunkler a privacy rights activist, Jim Harrision Director of the Identity Project, Lew Motby President, Work Rights Institute and a discussion on Fusion Centers.
View past meeting information...
The Computers Freedom and Privacy Annual meeting will be held in Washington, DC June 1-4, 2009. This year's meeting is co-chaired by Cindy Southworth with the National Network to End Domestic Violence, and Jay Stanley with the ACLU. This year's theme is Creating the Future.
The Public Voice is marking the January 28 anniversary of the Council of Europe Convention on Data Protection (No. 108), the most important international law for privacy. More than 40 countries have ratified the Convention. Many more countries around the world should support the Convention (including the United States). A Privacy advocacy call to Action.
International Human Rights Day - Privacy is a Fundamental Right. December 10, International Human Rights Day, commemorates the 1948 adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Human Rights Day 2008 marks the start of a year-long commemoration of the 61st anniversary of the Declaration. The document is the foundation of international human rights law, the first universal statement on the basic principles of inalienable human rights, and a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations. Article 12 of the Declaration includes privacy as a fundamental human right.
January 24-26, 2008 marked the 14th Annual Meeting of the Privacy Coalition. The meeting took place in Washington, DC and featured participation by privacy, consumer rights, civil liberties, and civil rights organizations.
The Privacy Office of the Department of Homeland Security will host a series of panel discussions December 17-18, 2007, on the topic of CCTV privacy best practices. The workshop is intended as an opportunity to begin discussions on the topic of privacy and the use of CCTV surveillance. Interested parties are encouraged to submit comments to the agency on the topic of CCTV surveillance and privacy best practices. The agency has provided significant funding to local governments for the expressed purpose of deploying CCTV surveillance technology. All submissions received must include the docket number: DHS-2007-0076. Written comments may be submitted by any one of the following methods: E-mail: privacyworkshop@dhs.gov. Include ``CCTV Workshop Comment'' in the subject line of the message. Facsimile: 703-235-0442. Mail: Toby Milgrom Levin, Department of Homeland Security, Washington, DC 20528.
Peter Schaar, Chairman of the Article 29 Working Party meet with the Privacy Coalition on Friday, October 19, 2007 from Noon-2:00 PM at EPIC's offices located at 1718 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC. In addition to chairing the Article 29 Working Group, Mr. Schaar is also the Federal Data Protection Commissioner and the Federal Commissioner for Freedom of Information for Germany. He is leading expert on European privacy law and a frequent keynote speaker at international conferences.
On November 1 and 2, 2007, the Federal Trade Commission will host a Town Hall entitled “Ehavioral Advertising: Tracking, Targeting, and Technology.” The event will bring together consumer advocates, industry representatives, technology experts, and academics to address consumer protection issues raised by the practice of tracking consumers’ activities online to target advertising - or “behavioral advertising.” The Town Hall is a follow-on to a dialogue on behavioral advertising that emerged at a November 2006 FTC forum, “Tech-Ade,” which examined the key technological and business developments that will shape consumers’ core experiences in the coming ten years. In addition, several consumer privacy advocates, as well as the State of New York, recently sent letters to the FTC asking it to examine the effects of behavioral advertising on consumer privacy.
On June 7, 2007, the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security will hold a hearing on the Employment Verification System. The system is being proposed as a requirement for employers to screen potential employees during the hiring process. The Subcommittee will hear from privacy, legal, labor, and technology experts. If enacted it would create for the first time a federal government role in making routine employment determinations work performed within the United States. The Subcommittee is soliciting comments on the hearing topic.
Policy Forum Featuring Bruce Fein, Chairman, American Freedom Agenda; Andrew C. McCarthy, Director, Center for Law & Counterterrorism Foundation for Defense of Democracies; and Moderated by Timothy Lynch, Director, Project on Criminal Justice, Cato Institute. Forum will take place at The Cato Institute 1000 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20001 on Thursday May 24 from 12pm. Watch the Event Live in RealVideo
The morning session of the meeting will consider REAL ID rulemaking. The regulations for the REAL ID where recently made public by the Department of Homeland Security. The meeting will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza Washington National Airport, located at 1480 Crystal Drive, Arlington, Virginia 22202. Attendees should RSVP to PrivacyCommittee@dhs.gov or 571-227-3813. The meeting will be closed to the public from 12:30 p.m. until 1:30 p.m. for administrative purposes. Attendees should arrive by 8:45 a.m. or 1:15 p.m. for the public sessions.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) Information Security and Privacy Advisory Board (ISPAB) will meet Thursday, December 7, 2006, from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m., and Friday, December 8, 2006, from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. All sessions will be open to the public. The meeting will take place at the George Washington University Cafritz Conference Center, located at 800 21st Street, NW., Room 101 & 308, Washington, DC.The Advisory Board was established by the Computer Security Act of 1987 (Pub. L. 100-235) and amended by the Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-347) to advise the Secretary of Commerce and the Director of NIST on security and privacy issues pertaining to federal computer systems. Details regarding the Board's activities are available at http://csrc.nist.gov/ispab/. Federal Registar Notice
The Data Privacy and Integrity Advisory Committee (``Privacy Advisory Committee'') will be meeting on Wednesday, December 6, 2006, in the Key Biscayne A room of the Eden Roc Hotel, 4525 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida 33140. The meeting will be held from 8 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. During the meeting, the DHS Chief Privacy Officer will provide an update on the activities of the DHS Privacy Office. The Subcommittees will update the Committee on the work currently being conducted. In the morning and afternoon sessions, invited speakers will discuss data integrity and credentialing programs. A tentative agenda has been posted on the Privacy Advisory Committee Web site at http://www.dhs.gov/privacy
The American Bar Association Section of International Law and the Association Internationale Des Jeunes Avocats are sponsoring a conference on May 5-6 in Washington, DC to discuss international data protection and security. The group sponsoring the event invite those interested in attending to register the early bird deadline is April 4, 2006.
For more information, see: http://www.aija.org/modules/motionmill/index.php?iid=1
Continue reading "Washington DC Conference on International Data Protection and Security" »
The American Bar Association Section of International Law and the Association Internationale Des Jeunes Avocats are sponsoring a conference on May 5-6 in Washington, DC to discuss international data protection and security. The group sponsoring the event invite those interested in attending to register the early bird deadline is April 4, 2006.
For more information, see: http://www.aija.org/modules/motionmill/index.php?iid=1
Continue reading "Washington DC Conference on International Data Protection and Security" »
The hearing on "NSA III: War Time Executive Power and the FISA Court" scheduled by the Senate Committee on the Judiciary for Tuesday, March 28, 2006 will begin at 9:00 a.m. and will take place in Dirksen Building Room 226.
Continue reading "US Senate Judiciary Schedules Hearing on NSA Surveillance" »
The hearing on "NSA III: War Time Executive Power and the FISA Court" scheduled by the Senate Committee on the Judiciary for Tuesday, March 28, 2006 will begin at 9:00 a.m. and will take place in Dirksen Building Room 226.
Continue reading "US Senate Judiciary Schedules Hearing on NSA Surveillance" »
The Department of Homeland Security's Privacy Office will host a public workshop, on Wednesday, April 5, 2006 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on "Transparency and Accountability: The Use of Personal Information within the Government." The workshop is intended to explore the concept of public notices and freedom of information frameworks.
The Workshop will be held in the Horizon Ballroom at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, 1300
Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC, 20004.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathleen Kavanaugh, (571) 227-3813, by facsimile (571) 227-4171, or by e-mail
privacyworkshop@dhs.gov.
Continue reading "DHS Public Workshop: Transparency and Accountability" »
The Department of Homeland Security's Privacy Office will host a public workshop, on Wednesday, April 5, 2006 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on "Transparency and Accountability: The Use of Personal Information within the Government." The workshop is intended to explore the concept of public notices and freedom of information frameworks.
The Workshop will be held in the Horizon Ballroom at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, 1300
Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC, 20004.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathleen Kavanaugh, (571) 227-3813, by facsimile (571) 227-4171, or by e-mail
privacyworkshop@dhs.gov.
Continue reading "DHS Public Workshop: Transparency and Accountability" »
The National Immigration Law Center has prepared a strategy meeting for state and national groups to come together to discuss next steps on a National Driver's License Strategy.
Continue reading "National Immigration Law Center -- ID Card Strategy Meeting" »
The National Immigration Law Center has prepared a strategy meeting for state and national groups to come together to discuss next steps on a National Driver's License Strategy.
Continue reading "National Immigration Law Center -- ID Card Strategy Meeting" »
On June 6, 2005, representatives of many organizations that raised concerns about REAL ID and related proposals met in Washington, DC to discuss next steps. Bruce Schneier, the author of "Beyond Fear: Thinking Sensibly about Security in an Uncertain World," gave a presentation on the challenges that implementation of REAL ID presents.
Topics included:
* The technology of identification
* Lessons of RFID passports
* An organized response to REAL ID
On June 6, 2005, representatives of many organizations that raised concerns about REAL ID and related proposals met in Washington, DC to discuss next steps. Bruce Schneier, the author of "Beyond Fear: Thinking Sensibly about Security in an Uncertain World," gave a presentation on the challenges that implementation of REAL ID presents.
Topics included:
* The technology of identification
* Lessons of RFID passports
* An organized response to REAL ID