[SLA-SF] Intersect Alert, April 26, 2006

Wed Apr 26 21:06:19 PDT 2006

Freedom of Information

NARA Releases Audit on Reclassification Program

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) reclassification audit was released today.  "In reviewing a sample consisting of 1,353 of the withdrawn records, we concluded that 64 percent of the sampled records did, in fact, contain information that clearly met the standards for continued classification. . . The audit also found that in attempting to recover records that still contained classified information, there were a significant number of instances when records that were clearly inappropriate for continued classification were withdrawn from public access. We concluded that 24 percent of the sampled records fell into this category, and an additional 12 percent were questionable."

http://www.archives.gov/isoo/reports/2006-audit-report.html

Why the Secrecy? Only the Bureaucrats Know 

"SHHH! Don't tell anyone: The British and American intelligence services worked together in World War II.  What may seem to some an obvious historical fact struck a Central Intelligence Agency apparatchik in 2002 as a secret still worth protecting. He redacted a sentence describing the "close coordination" of the allies' spies from a 1946 memorandum recounting war propaganda duties before approving its public release."

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/16/weekinreview/16shane.html

National Archives Releases Second Declassified MOU

"Archivist of the United States Allen Weinstein learned that a second classified Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) relating to the re-review of open records existed. He requested its immediate declassification. This MOU, drawn up by the CIA, was declassified on Friday, April 14, 2006, and is available to the public."

http://www.archives.gov/press/press-releases/2006/nr06-92.html

Archives Pledges to End Secret Agreements

"The National Archives will no longer enter into secret agreements with federal agencies that want to withdraw records from public access on Archives shelves and will do more to disclose when documents are removed for national security reasons. The new policy cannot guarantee full disclosure, however, because in some cases federal regulations limit the Archives' ability to reveal which agency is reviewing records and why, said Susan Cooper, a spokeswoman for the Archives."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/17/AR2006041701295.html

CIA Expands Operational File Secrecy

Secrecy News reports: "The Central Intelligence Agency conducted a review of its "operational files" last year, as it is required to do every ten years under the CIA Information Act of 1984, to see if any such files could have their "operational" designation rescinded, making them subject to Freedom of Information Act requests. But instead of removing any files from operational status, as contemplated by the 1984 Act, the CIA added nearly two dozen new categories of files that will now be exempt from search and review under the FOIA, according to a newly disclosed report to Congress."

http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/2006/04/cia_expands_operational_file_s_1.html

SEC Watchdog's Data Request Snags on Fee Fight

"A government watchdog may get the SEC records it wants -- but may have to pay millions of dollars for them. SEC Insight Inc., a Plymouth, Minn., firm that monitors the Securities and Exchange Commission, filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act for SEC records into possible investigations of 26 companies. The SEC denied the request and the firm sued the regulator in late 2004 in U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota. . . In a court filing last month, the regulator informed SEC Insight that it will be charged "at least $2 million" to review the requests."

http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB114531514265428078-35GRpzFWXzAjKhfnLBq_e2MiDBc_20070418.html

Orwellian

DOD agrees to hand over surveillance info

"The Pentagon and Justice Department have agreed to comply with a Freedom of Information Act request from a gay rights group about its domestic surveillance."

http://www.upi.com/SecurityTerrorism/view.php?StoryID=20060420-050556-5143r

Public Policy

Bill That Would Have Segregated Books Dies in OK Legislature

"While the Oklahoma House of Representatives voted 60 to 33 to deny state funding to libraries that don't confine gay-themed books and other age-inappropriate material to areas exclusively for adults," the bill Rep. Sally Kern (R-Oklahoma City) sponsored was not considered by the Democrat-dominated Senate."

http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6325540.html

2005-2006 PATRIOT Act Votes and Library Funding Support

>From ALA, this guide to 2005-2006 Congressional PATRIOT Act Votes and Library Funding Support, which includes "a record of how your Members of Congress voted for the PATRIOT Act reauthorization and for funding for libraries."

http://www.ala.org/ala/washoff/washevents/nlld/patnfund.htm

GPO in a hurry to get to the future

"The Government Printing Office has set aggressive deadlines to acquire a digital dissemination system that will transform a 19th-century printing office into a 21st-century electronic information agency. But some procurement experts say GPO's haste could slow its Future Digital System project." 

http://www.fcw.com/article94079-04-17-06

Internet Access

Yahoo! implicated in third cyber-dissident trial

"Reporters Without Borders has obtained a copy of the verdict in the case of Jiang Lijun, sentenced to four years in prison in November 2003 for his online pro-democracy articles, showing that Yahoo! helped Chinese police to identify him. It is the third such case, following those of Shi Tao and Li Zhi, proving the implication of the American Internet company."

http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=17180

Keeping Internet pipes free of charge

"As U.S. Congress debates on major telecommunications legislation, lawmakers are considering proposals that would prohibit large telecom providers from charging fees to online content companies that use their broadband networks. The measures would prevent the vendors from blocking services or providing slower download times for other vendors' services."

http://www.macworld.com/news/2006/04/20/free/index.php

New group aims to 'save the Internet'

"Days before a congressional committee is set to vote on an overhaul of the nation's telecommunications policy, a broad coalition of media, consumer and Internet groups has organized behind a dramatic tagline: "Save the Internet." Dozens of organizations ranging from the conservative-to-libertarian Gun Owners of America to the liberal group Moveon.org to the American Library Association, have just launched a Web site under the "Save the Internet" banner."

http://news.com.com/2100-1034_3-6064384.html

Intellectual Property Issues

New Trademark Law Might Restrict Free Speech

"This is a big wake-up call for defenders of free speech in the United States, an urgent one, and worrisomely little known. Embedded deep in H.R. 683-"The Trademark Dilution Revision Act," which awaits what may well be a last look in the U.S. House of Representatives before being signed into law by President Bush-is language that would remove key free-speech protections that have been part of U.S. trademark law since 1996. With only the most minimal notice in the mainstream press, the bill as it currently stands would remove three exceptions from part of the present trademark law:

  a.. News reporting and commentary.
  b.. Fair use.
  c.. Non-commercial use."
http://tinyurl.com/p6bua [Editor and Publisher]

Artist's family asks Google to take down Thursday's `painted' logo

"After angering authors last fall with a wide-ranging book-copying project, Google may now be alienating some visual artists as well by allegedly reproducing famous works in drawings on the search giant's home page. On Thursday, the family of Joan Miro was upset to discover elements of several works by the Spanish surrealist incorporated into Google's logo. The Artists Rights Society, a group that represents the Miro family and more than 40,000 visual artists and their estates, asked Google to remove the image early Thursday morning."

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/14389478.htm

Congress readies broad new digital copyright bill

"For the last few years, a coalition of technology companies, academics and computer programmers has been trying to persuade Congress to scale back the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Now Congress is preparing to do precisely the opposite. A proposed copyright law seen by CNET News.com would expand the DMCA's restrictions on software that can bypass copy protections and grant federal police more wiretapping and enforcement powers."

http://www.nytimes.com/cnet/CNET_2100-1028_3-6064016.html

International Outlook

Database of Requests Submitted under Canada's Access to Information Act 

"This page allows you to search a database of requests for information filed with departments and agencies of the Canadian government under Canada's Access to Information Act You can use this database to identify requests that relate to your own research interests. Next, you can contact departments and agencies to obtain records already made public in response to those requests."

http://www.onlinedemocracy.ca/CAIRS/CAIA-OD.htm

Google in China: The Big Disconnect

The NY Times Magazine ran a great article over the weekend on Google's experience in China. The article provides insights into the Internet market and China's techniques in blocking access to certain content.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/23/magazine/23google.html

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