My Way News - Asking a machine to spot threats human eyes miss
AP reports: "The possibilities that researchers envision for this kind of technology have the ring of science fiction. Think of systems that spot abandoned packages on a train platform or alert an airline crew to a potential terrorist on board. Already, cities like Chicago have invested in 'anomaly detection' cameras around town, linked to emergency headquarters. The city plans to announce this week that it is using the technology at Navy Pier, one of Chicago's best-known attractions."
2009/05/11
2009/05/04
Homeland Security chief seeks to repeal Real ID Act - CNN.com
CNN reports: "Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano this week said she is working with governors to repeal the Real ID Act, which was passed in 2005 and went into effect last year."
CNN reports: "Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano this week said she is working with governors to repeal the Real ID Act, which was passed in 2005 and went into effect last year."
2009/04/27
My Way News - British government backs down over database plan
AP reports: "The British government said Monday it wants communications companies to keep records of every phone call, e-mail and Web site visit made in the country. But it has decided not to set up a national database of the information, a proposal that had been condemned as a 'Big Brother'-style invasion of privacy by civil liberties groups."
Comment: How nice that they decided not to set up a database on the formerly free subjects of the United Kingdom. It's a compromise solution. Isn't that great? And, by the way, they will still collect the information, but it just won't be stored in a central database, it will be stored by the service providers, and you can totally trust them with the information. What could possibly go wrong? And remember, if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear. It's for your own good. Trust us, we won't abuse this power.
AP reports: "The British government said Monday it wants communications companies to keep records of every phone call, e-mail and Web site visit made in the country. But it has decided not to set up a national database of the information, a proposal that had been condemned as a 'Big Brother'-style invasion of privacy by civil liberties groups."
Comment: How nice that they decided not to set up a database on the formerly free subjects of the United Kingdom. It's a compromise solution. Isn't that great? And, by the way, they will still collect the information, but it just won't be stored in a central database, it will be stored by the service providers, and you can totally trust them with the information. What could possibly go wrong? And remember, if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear. It's for your own good. Trust us, we won't abuse this power.
2009/04/22
My Way News - Congress to hold hearing on cable advertising
AP reports: "Cable operators will sit in the hot seat Thursday as Congress reviews their plans to roll out targeted advertising amid fears that consumer privacy could be infringed if the companies were to track and record viewing habits. [...] The hearing will also focus on how network operators track consumers online and through wireless networks. AT&T Inc. (ATT) is sending its chief privacy officer, Dorothy Attwood."
AP reports: "Cable operators will sit in the hot seat Thursday as Congress reviews their plans to roll out targeted advertising amid fears that consumer privacy could be infringed if the companies were to track and record viewing habits. [...] The hearing will also focus on how network operators track consumers online and through wireless networks. AT&T Inc. (ATT) is sending its chief privacy officer, Dorothy Attwood."
2009/04/21
Google Profiles tool makes it easier to search out Smiths - USATODAY.com
USA Today reports: "Once you have the ID, you might be more inclined to shop with Google Checkout, post pictures at Picasa Web Albums or build a blog on Google's Blogger, all areas where Google stands to profit with either fees or ads, Sterling says. 'It deepens your engagement with Google.'"
USA Today reports: "Once you have the ID, you might be more inclined to shop with Google Checkout, post pictures at Picasa Web Albums or build a blog on Google's Blogger, all areas where Google stands to profit with either fees or ads, Sterling says. 'It deepens your engagement with Google.'"
2009/04/16
My Way News - Gov't won't classify proxies as 'sophisticated'
AP reports: "The U.S. government has dropped - for now - a plan to classify the use of 'proxy' servers as evidence of sophistication in committing a crime. Proxy servers are computers that disguise the source of Internet traffic. They are commonly used for legitimate purposes, like evading Internet censors and working from home. But they can also be used to hide from law enforcement."
Comment: This is good news. It would have been counterproductive for the government to place a legal burden on the use of a technology that does a lot of good in the area of privacy and information security.
AP reports: "The U.S. government has dropped - for now - a plan to classify the use of 'proxy' servers as evidence of sophistication in committing a crime. Proxy servers are computers that disguise the source of Internet traffic. They are commonly used for legitimate purposes, like evading Internet censors and working from home. But they can also be used to hide from law enforcement."
Comment: This is good news. It would have been counterproductive for the government to place a legal burden on the use of a technology that does a lot of good in the area of privacy and information security.
2009/04/07
Whole-Body Security Scans Pass First Airport Tests - NYTimes.com
The New York Times reports: "IN a shift, the Transportation Security Administration plans to replace the walk-through metal detectors at airport checkpoints with whole-body imaging machines — the kind that provide an image of the naked body."
Comment: I'm not sure how I feel about this. I don't understand why we can't just be honest about the efficacy of racial profiling rather than subjecting everyone to increasingly intrusive searches.
The New York Times reports: "IN a shift, the Transportation Security Administration plans to replace the walk-through metal detectors at airport checkpoints with whole-body imaging machines — the kind that provide an image of the naked body."
Comment: I'm not sure how I feel about this. I don't understand why we can't just be honest about the efficacy of racial profiling rather than subjecting everyone to increasingly intrusive searches.
2009/03/24
Obama dismisses idea of single global currency - Reuters
Reuters reports: "U.S. President Barack Obama and his top two economic officials on Tuesday dismissed suggestions by emerging economic powers that the world move away from using the dollar as the world's main reserve currency."
Reuters reports: "U.S. President Barack Obama and his top two economic officials on Tuesday dismissed suggestions by emerging economic powers that the world move away from using the dollar as the world's main reserve currency."
My Way News - YouTube blocked in China; official says video fake
AP reports: "China occasionally blocks YouTube to prevent access to videos that criticize or shine an unflattering light on its policies. Users in Beijing said they were unable to access the site late Tuesday."
AP reports: "China occasionally blocks YouTube to prevent access to videos that criticize or shine an unflattering light on its policies. Users in Beijing said they were unable to access the site late Tuesday."
2009/03/20
My Way News - Australian Internet `blacklist' prompts concern
AP reports: "The list in question is provided to the creators of Internet filtering software that people can opt to install on their computers. But Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has proposed mandating that Australian Internet service providers implement the list, which would make Australia one of the strictest Internet regulators among democratic countries."
Comment: Isn't Australia a free and democratic country? This smacks of totalitarianism. Government control of the internet is common in repressive countries, inspired either by ideology (China, Singapore) or religion (Saudi Arabia), but this would be a first for a for a so-called Western democracy. Let's watch this closely.
AP reports: "The list in question is provided to the creators of Internet filtering software that people can opt to install on their computers. But Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has proposed mandating that Australian Internet service providers implement the list, which would make Australia one of the strictest Internet regulators among democratic countries."
Comment: Isn't Australia a free and democratic country? This smacks of totalitarianism. Government control of the internet is common in repressive countries, inspired either by ideology (China, Singapore) or religion (Saudi Arabia), but this would be a first for a for a so-called Western democracy. Let's watch this closely.
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