US Senate Bill Holds IT Managers Responsible for Privacy Breaches
625671
A bill introduced in the US Senate on Tuesday aims to strengthen security requirements for all private databases accessible online that may hold personal information. Reintroducing language that had been stalled since 2005, if passed, the bill could hold IT managers accountable and responsible for security breaches where personal information is pilfered.
286257
A congressional inquiry into online data brokers has raised concerns that federal and local law enforcement may be skirting privacy laws to obtain calling records
537779
SAN FRANCISCO - The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill Tuesday that could allow criminal charges to be brought against individuals who participate in file-swapping Web sites or networks.
340987
Data privacy is likely to be among the hottest technology issues to face Congress this year, in part due to interest from the new chairman of the House Financial Services Committee.
723177
Legislation would add protections against the practice of posing as another to gain personal data.
549508
As Congress calls telecom CEOs on the carpet, CNET News.com finds out how well the companies protect your privacy.
152412
Legislation that would allow the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to seek civil penalties against businesses that obtain personal data under false pretenses may soon get a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives.
612949
Some powerful people have a bad feeling about online music--and that&#39;s making other folks in the tech industry nervous. A controversial bill in the Senate aimed at quelling online file swapping has raised
640724
IT managers were urged by security experts to develop careful policies about how employee-owned devices are used in the workplace.
722115
A bill that would require retailers to reimburse banks and credit unions for the costs associated with data breaches moved a step closer to passage in the California legislature.
705473
Phone companies that took part in President George W. Bush's warrantless domestic spying program would receive retroactive immunity from lawsuits under a bill passed overwhelmingly on Tuesday by the Democratic-led Senate.
231140
(InfoWorld) - Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates asked the U.S. Congress to pass a comprehensive privacy law this year, allowing consumers to control how their personal information is used. Gates repeated past Microsoft calls for a wide-ranging privacy law during a speech at advocacy group the Center for Democracy and Technology's (CDT) annual gala dinner Wednesday. A comprehensive privacy bill should allow consumers to control their personal data, should provide transparency about what their data is used for, and should notify them when their data has been compromised, Gates said. Gates said he believes the U.S. can achieve a balance between privacy and protecting the country against terrorists and other criminals. But the balance will not be an easy one to create, Gates said. While many U.S. residents would say they want as much privacy "as possible," law enforcement needs to be able to track criminals, Gates said. "These privacy issues are not as easy as you might think," he told the crowd. Gates hinted that some privacy protections can go so far that they become annoying to consumers. He talked about the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), passed by Congress in 1996, which puts strict controls on the release of information. HIPAA too often asks patients to sign documents allowing the release of their medical records, he said. HIPAA is evidence "we don't always get it right the first time," Gates said. "All I know is I keep signing those forms." Another balance Congress needs to strike is between emerging technologies and privacy, said Senator Patrick Leahy, a Vermont Democrat and chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Leahy also called on Congress to pass a privacy law. But a privacy law cannot restrict new technologies, Leahy said. "I don't want to stop the technologies, I want to protect our privacy," he during the gala dinner. "I think we can do both." The U.S. government spying on its residents is of particular concern, Leahy said. "I don't want to put a brake on technology, but on what my government can learn about me without letting me know," he said. Leahy and Gates both said they have great hopes for the future of the Internet. "The Internet is a great tool," Leahy said. "Let's keep it a free tool." The world is just at the beginning of the potential of the Internet coupled with personal computers, Gates added. Coming advances in storage, in bandwidth and in user-created content will make the Internet and even greater tool for democratic ideals, he said. "We're just at the very beginning," he said.
641807
The Senate Intelligence Committee voted Thursday to strengthen court oversight of government surveillance while protecting telecommunications companies from civil lawsuits for tapping Americans' phones and computers without court approval.
197553
Two U.S. senators said on Thursday  they would introduce legislation that would potentially protect  users of popular social networking sites like News Corp's  MySpace from registered sex offenders.
682444
The U.S. government has been increasing its use of the state secrets privilege to avoid disclosure of classified information in civil lawsuits, prompting legislation in the Senate that would provide more congressional oversight of the practice.
680659
The House passed legislation Tuesday to combat the criminal use of Internet spyware and scams aimed at stealing personal information from computer users
15549
Microsoft Corp., Hewlett-Packard Co. and other high-tech companies are preparing to push for data-privacy legislation next year to replace what they consider an outdated patchwork of state and federal laws that are inconsistent and burdensome.