From the Houston Chronicle:
An internal FBI audit has found that the bureau potentially violated the law or agency rules more than 1,000 times while collecting data about domestic phone calls, e-mails and financial transactions in recent years, far more than was documented in a Justice Department report in March that ignited bipartisan congressional criticism.
The new [...]
Archive of entries posted on June 2007
FBI finds it frequently overstepped in data collection
Anonymous message board for congressional staff members launched
The Capitolist FAQ:
The Capitolist is an anonymous, uncensored message board for congressional staff members. Contributors are welcome to express their views and opinions on congressional affairs, politics or any other subject of interest. We encourage contributors to discuss their first-hand experiences with lawmakers and to report on the events of the day.
Senate Whistleblower Bill Leaves Out Protection for Scientists
From the Union of Concerned Scientists:
The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs today approved the Federal Employee Protection of Disclosures Act. While the legislation would strengthen protections for federal whistleblowers who expose waste, fraud and abuse of power, it fails to address scientists who expose the manipulation, distortion, or suppression of their work, [...]
Subcommittee Asks GAO to Investigate New FBI Center Designed to Amass Records on Citizens
Press Release:
The leaders of the House Committee on Science and Technology’s Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight have asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate the proposed creation of a new federal facility aimed at identifying terrorists. The Subcommittee is concerned that, without the proper safeguards in place, billions of personal records that will be [...]
GAO Evaluates Talking Books for the Blind Program
Talking Books for the Blind, GAO-07-871R, June 12, 2007:
The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), a part of the Library of Congress, operates a free national talking (audio) book program for qualified blind, visually impaired, or physically disabled residents of the United States and its territories, as well as qualified U.S. [...]
New Web Site Names (1.5 million) Names of Farm Subsidy Claimants
From the Environmental Working Group:
For decades, American taxpayers have provided tens of billions of dollars in federal farm subsidies to some of the largest and wealthiest farm businesses in the nation. But thousands of people who benefited from the subsidy flow were shielded from public view behind layers of partnerships, joint ventures, limited liability corporations, [...]
AT&T to target pirated content
From the L.A. Times:
AT&T Inc. has joined Hollywood studios and recording companies in trying to keep pirated films, music and other content off its network — the first major carrier of Internet traffic to do so.
The San Antonio-based company started working last week with studios and record companies to develop anti-piracy technology that would target [...]
Yahoo’s China policy rejected
From the BBC:
Yahoo shareholders have rejected plans for the company to adopt a policy that opposes censorship on the internet.
Proposals to set up a human rights committee which would review its policies around the world, specifically China, were also heavily defeated. . .
. . . At the company’s annual general meeting, the censorship proposal won [...]
Restored EPA Budget Holds Hope for Libraries and Labs
From OMB Watch:
On June 7, the House Appropriations Committee approved a $27.6 billion Interior-Environment spending bill that increases the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) FY 2008 budget to $8.1 billion, a $361 million increase over current spending. It is also $887 million more than President Bush’s budget request, which will likely trigger a veto threat.
The [...]
ALA President’s Program focuses on how federal budget cuts limit access to environmental information
ALA Press Release:
Robert Kennedy, Jr. will join American Library Association (ALA) President Leslie Burger for a discussion on the important role of our nation’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) libraries. The program titled “A Contract With Our Future,” will be held on June 24 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. during the ALA Annual Conference held June [...]