Blog #5 Is there a law in sight?

Throughout this class we have discussed the importance of educating the public about using the internet both safely and effectively. The fact that there is no legal requirement for internet agencies to educate their users about privacy. There may however, be a law in the future that requires just that. Lawmakers are introducing an internet privacy bill that would force companies to have an "opt-out" option for the use of "covered" information and an "opt-in" option for the use of "sensitive" information. "Covered" information is your name, address, phone number, email, any government issued identification number (SS#, driver's license number, passport number, etc), biometric data, bank account numbers and passwords, or other numbers that assist companies with computer use identity. "Sensitive" information is qualified as medical records, race, religion, sexual orientation, financial records, or user's geographical location. The above lists and more information can be found at http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2010/05/religion-sex-money-location-bill-makes-them-sensitive-info.ars

Some feel that these changes would decrease business for some small companies causing them to close while others feel this is a way to assist the public in protecting their information. I personally like the "opt-in" idea. This allows each individual to make a choice in the beginning about their level of privacy. Only having an "opt-out" option seems to leave more gray area for users and companies to disagree about.

Will this bill cause some of the small companies to go under? Who is more important small business or the internet user? Could this be a step in the right direction concerning privacy and internet use or is the government putting its nose in where is shouldn't be?

Blog #4 WiFi and Privacy

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37643844/ns/technology_and_science-security/


Have you ever thought about how Google gets all of the wonderful images they use for Google Maps and direction information with the very helpful “Street View”? What other types of information are they gathering when they get those images?

Google is now saying that more information that the images is gathered! “Google now confesses it has been collecting people's information for years, yet claims they still do not know exactly what they collected and who was vulnerable”. Information like email fragments, search requests, and other internet actions that are not encrypted are being gathered by Google. They say the information is only being seen by two people – one who created the software and one who tested it. Ok, why was it gathered in the first place? And where is the information now? Is this acceptable considering the public’s first amendment rights?

So what about WiFi in public places like libraries or internet cafes? Are there rules for the collection of information via those internet connections? The above articles is dealing with Google taking information from people’s residents and government officials are dealing with this seriously. So will these decisions protect people using WiFi in public areas? What about WiFi that is being partially paid for by the government because of the E-Rate Program? CIPA requires libraries to use filter software if they are purchasing internet access through the E-Rate Program and it is not violating patron’s first amendment rights. So where does the line get drawn? What is in violation and what is not when it comes to using WiFi in public places?

Blog #3 Legal Notices via Facebook?

An Australian judge ruled it acceptable to serve legal notices to citizens via Facebook. The man was contacted through many avenues to take a paternity test. Contact was attempted by mail to his residence, to his parent’s residence, and even through his current girlfriend, but no success was made in contacting him. The counsel learned that he frequently used Facebook and MySpace accounts, so those were the next logical step in contacting him. The man was an avid user of these social networking sites until he received the paternity notices. Upon receiving the paternity notices, he canceled both accounts. The judge stated, “the case was unusual but ‘demonstrative of social movements and the currency of the times’".

Times are changing and the use of these social sites is more common that receiving letters in the mail. I check my email and social networking accounts multiple times a day. I know some people are logged on to their accounts 24 hours each day! This type of communication is the quickest and sometimes easiest way to reach people these days.

So, can a library use social networking sites to contact patrons about overdue books or fines? Is this an appropriate use of social networking sites? If the government can use them to contact people about legal matters, I feel this would be a great method for contacting patrons about issues within the library.