some bad pending legislation

While we’re on the subject, let’s talk about some bad pending legislation that could affect libraries, privacy or access to information

  • The INDUCE Act – criminalizing copyright violating software/hardware [bill/commentary]
  • new FOIA exemptions [commentary]
  • Family Movie Act – allowing software censoring of DVDs without copyright violations [news article]
  • CAPPSII – profiling passengers [eff info]
  • US v. Councilman – email privacy rehearing sought [news article]
  • various SPY acts [commentary]

There is some good news, however, section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act will “sunset” a scant fifteen months from now along with many other parts of the USAPA.

bush tinkers with archivists

I swear I did not start this day thinking “let’s think of some crappy things going on for NLW” but it is turning out that way huh? Next up is news that President Bush is agressively trying to replace the current Archivist of the United States with his own hand-picked replacement before his Dad’s papers are subject to disclosure via the Presidential Records Act. There is also talk that he may not want some of the 9/11 Commission’s records released. The Society for American Archivists is concerned. [thanks jes]