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March 31, 2012
At Bennet Kelley's ILC Cyber Report: Full Text of FTC Privacy Proposal.
Bennet Kelley's Internet Law Center has provided a summary and the full text of the long-awaited Federal Trade Commission report released Monday. See this link. Expanding on the preliminary staff report it issued in December 2010, the FTC has called on companies handling consumer data to implement recommendations for privacy protection that features:
(i) "privacy by design",
(ii) giving consumers a “simple, easy way to control the tracking of their online activities”, and
(iii) greater transparency so that consumers can access data collected on them.
Posted by JD Hull at 10:57 PM | Comments (0)
March 29, 2012
In The Irish Times today: Democracy in Africa edges forward.
Do see "Africa's Democracy" in The Irish Times today. Excerpts:
The contrast over the last week between the stories of Senegal and Mali speaks eloquently of Africa’s unsteady path to democracy half a century after both countries celebrated their independence. In Senegal, following elections on Sunday, power transferred peacefully from defeated incumbent President Abdoulaye Wade to his rival, Macky Sall, while in Mali soldiers last Thursday seized power after two decades of relatively successful democratic rule.
The coup, triggered by army anger at the government’s handling of a northern rebellion, has been condemned by the UN, Mali’s neighbours and major powers. Yesterday, however, in the capital Bamako, several thousand came out to oppose “foreign interference”.
Across the region, democracy, despite setbacks, has been edging forward. In Niger and in Guinea, military rulers surrendered power to the people over the past 18 months. In Ivory Coast, an attempt to ignore an election victory by Ouattara provoked a citizen uprising successfully backed by foreign intervention. In Liberia, a losing opposition candidate cried foul last autumn after a poll widely seen as fair. The voters were not moved. And even Nigeria’s imperfect elections last spring were a step forward.
Reuters: Malian soldiers and security forces last week after announcing a coup d'etat in Bamako, the capital.
Posted by JD Hull at 04:27 AM | Comments (0)
March 27, 2012
Day 2 of historic SCOTUS health care legislation argument: Under the Commerce Clause, can the government make me eat Broccoli, too? Spinach? Discuss.
How far does my beloved Commerce Clause go, anyway? See, e.g., the Wall Street Journal today. The main issue of course is whether Congress can require Americans to obtain health insurance--or pay a penalty as part of their income taxes. But there's much more to it. I am in DC today working on something unrelated but involving government intrusion, biz rights, people rights. So, speaking of the Commerce Clause, can the government make me eat Spinach? Or Broccoli? Because they are good for me? You get the idea. It's a fair question.
Posted by JD Hull at 11:59 PM | Comments (0)
Still Smokin' in North Braddock, PA: Edgar Thomson Works.
2012
1907
The Edgar Thomson Works, just a few miles from downtown Pittsburgh, has produced steel since 1872.
Posted by JD Hull at 01:51 PM | Comments (0)