From the Huffington Post:
U.S. law enforcement appears to be reading from a playbook perfected in the streets of Tehran. In the wake of protests last week at the G20 meeting in Pittsburgh, the police arrested a self-professed anarchist for using the social-networking site Twitter to coordinate communications among G20 summit protesters, and direct them away [...]
Archive of posts filed under the Public Policy category.
Twittering the G20 Iranian Style
President names October 2009 National Information Literacy Awareness Month
ALA Press Release:
The American Library Association (ALA) joins President Obama in highlighting the importance of ensuring all Americans have the skills necessary to effectively navigate the Information Age.
Yesterday, the president issued a statement proclaiming October 2009 as National Information Literacy Awareness Month and calling “upon the people of the United States to recognize the important [...]
The Future of Presidential Libraries
From the Washington Post:
Congress wants to cut taxpayer costs associated with presidential libraries and archives however, and a new report (PDF) by the National Archives and Records Administration released Wednesday proposed five possible alternatives. It also warned that social networking tools will complicate future presidential record-keeping.
Report on Alternative Models for Presidential Libraries Issued in Response [...]
The Case for a National Declassification Center
From Secrecy News:
“Without reform in [declassification] policy and process, agencies will continue to spend millions of dollars each year perpetuating an ineffective and inefficient declassification system, while the backlog of records waiting to be processed for the open shelves continues to grow,” according to a newly obtained National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) white paper.
The [...]
83% Say Congress Should Post Bills Online For All To Read Before Voting On Them
From Rasmussen Reports:
Eighty-three percent (83%) of U.S. voters say legislation should be posted online in final form and available for everyone to read before Congress votes on it. The only exception would be for extreme emergencies.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds only six percent (6%) of voters disagree with this approach while 10% [...]
New Policy Marks First Step in Narrowing State Secrets Privilege
From OMB Watch:
On Sept. 23, the Justice Department released a new policy on use of the state secrets privilege. The policy, which parallels several related recommendations from the Moving Toward a 21st Century Right-to-Know Agenda, will be implemented on Oct. 1. The long-expected announcement drew mixed reactions from public interest groups, ranging from support to [...]
New CRS Report – Social Networking and Constituent Communication
New CRS Report – Social Networking and Constituent Communication: Member Use of Twitter During a Two-Week Period in the 111th Congress, by Matthew Eric Glassman, Jacob R. Straus, and Colleen J. Shogan, Congressional Research Service 7-5700, R40823 (September 21, 2009).
This report examines Member use of one specific new electronic communication medium: Twitter. After providing an [...]
Intelligence Oversight Bill Faces Obstacles
From the Washington Post:
The Senate has approved intelligence oversight legislation, deferring discussion of rules for interrogation and detention of terrorism suspects that have derailed previous proposals.
But the nation’s top intelligence official says he may recommend that President Obama veto the oversight proposals because they broaden traditional congressional briefings on covert activities.
Reality Check: The Presidential Records Act of 1978 meets web-based social media of 2009
From the White House blog:
Recently, we have seen a few stories questioning how the Presidential Records Act (PRA) intersects with Americans’ use of modern social media, like Facebook and Twitter, to communicate with the White House. Before I address some specific issues raised in these stories, let me give you a little background. . .
. [...]
EPIC Forces Disclosure of Government Contracts with Social Media Companies, Privacy Terms Missing
From EPIC:
In response to an EPIC Freedom of Information Act Request, the Government Services Administration released several contracts between the federal government and web 2.0 companies, including agreements with Blip.tv, Blist, Google (YouTube), Yahoo (Flickr), and MySpace. EPIC also obtained amendments to agreements with Facebook, Slideshare.net, Vimeo.com, and AddThis.com.