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Today marks the one-year anniversary of the first-published revelations in The Guardian about the National Security Agency’s (NSA) surveillance activities. A year can feel like a lifetime in Washington, and there can be no doubt that much has rapidly changed in the public debate about how Congress views the balance between the collection of information and the need to protect civil liberties. Last [...]
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This evening, ITI sent a letter to the House of Representatives commending the House on the progress that has been made on the USA Freedom Act to date and identifying the areas where more work needs to be done as the bill moves to the Senate. Consideration of the USA Freedom Act in the House of Representatives is an important step in the necessary surveillance reforms to restore trust in the U.S. [...]
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The 79-page Big Data Report delivered to President Obama last week covered much ground. The report, prepared by an administration working group led by John Podesta, was part of a 90-day big data review that the president announced in January. Now that the 90-day review has culminated with this report, it is incumbent upon all of us to prioritize how best to translate tangible and manageable portions [...]
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São Paulo - Brazil’s NETmundial global multistakeholder Internet governance conference has just wrapped up with consensus among participants on the non-binding NETmundial Multistakeholder Statement of São Paulo which includes Internet governance principles and a roadmap on the future of Internet governance. This was no easy feat. First of all, parabens to the Brazilian government and Brazil’s Internet [...]
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The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) last week took an important step on cybersecurity by issuing their Antitrust Policy Statement on Sharing of Cybersecurity Information. In their statement, the two agencies clarified they “do not believe U.S. antitrust law is -- or should be -- a roadblock to legitimate cybersecurity information sharing.” ITI welcomes the statement [...]
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A draconian legislative proposal in California threatens to undermine the freedom and flexibility of the state to acquire the best technologies available – many of which are created in California. SB 828, authored by state Sens. Ted Lieu (D) and Joel Anderson (R), proposes the overly restrictive "4th Amendment Protection Act." The bill prohibits companies contracting with federal agencies that collect [...]
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Hollywood’s movie magic historically begins with the bark of “Lights? Camera? Action!” Last night, President Barack Obama urged Congress to join him in “a year of action,” and Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rogers (R-WA), in her response, echoed that sentiment with a call for “real action.” It appears there is growing hope for some policy magic on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue. We at ITI agree [...]
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As President Barack Obama prepares to deliver the State of the Union address tomorrow night, many reporters, political experts, and pundits are whirling about, attempting to predict the substance of the speech. Meanwhile, we here in the tech sector see this speech as a chance to outline an agenda of opportunity – a chance for policymakers to create economic opportunity for our country. Here are 10 [...]
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Today’s report issued by the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB) is another step forward in reforming the nation’s surveillance framework, and providing useful perspectives that can apply in a global context. In addition to calling for the U.S. government to end the bulk telephone records program, PCLOB’s recommendations – like those issued by the Review Group on Intelligence and Communications [...]
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I had the opportunity earlier today in the Great Hall of the Department of Justice to listen to President Obama outline measures to reform the nation’s surveillance framework, and to engage on surveillance reform on an international level. I am encouraged by what I heard. It’s clear that the White House listened carefully to the concerns, reforms, and principles that the tech sector has submitted and [...]