contributed by JavaJ
The Center for Democracy and Technology has sent out a warning regarding several bills currently before Congress that contain suspicious wording that could be interpreted to violate the Fourth Amendment. The language brings back the 'secret search' provisions of the Cyberspace Electronic Security Act that was tossed out after the draft was leaked to the press. Now secret searches are being reintroduced into several bills as small little noticed amendments. The time to act is now.

CDT Warning
Center for Democracy and Technology

contributed by Evil Wench
The Federal Trade Commission has asked Congress for authority to regulate how companies use personal information collected on their Web sites. After concluding the industry failed to safeguard consumer privacy through self-regulation, the commission recommended that lawmakers pass legislation to bolster its ability to oversee online privacy.

Nando Times
ZD Net

House Republicans think the FTCs move may be nothing more than election year politics.

Nando Times

contributed by acopalyse
At a conference on critical infrastructure protection Sens. John Kyl, R-Ariz., and Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. announced that they are working on a bill to increase the sentences for computer attackers. The new bill would double the maximum jail term to ten years for convicted computer attackers. The legislation will probably be introduced later this week. (Increased jail time only costs the taxpayer money and does nothing to prevent other crimes or reform the perpetrator.)

Newsbytes

contributed by William Knowles
Five laptops have turned up missing and are presumed stolen in what looks like an inside job at Australia's Parliament House. The laptops have been valued at $30,000 ($17,169 U.S.D.) and could allow intruders access to the parliamentary network.

Australian IT

contributed by William Knowles
The Deputy Secretary for Information Technology and Broadcasting, Alan Siu Yu-bun, has said that an agreement has been reached in principle to create a Computer Emergency Response Team. It is hoped that the Team will not be a government agency but will instead form as a non-profit organization. Funding for the Team will hopefully come from the Information and Technology Fund.

Hong Kong Standard

contributed by Roelof
Nasser Mohammed, the director of crime services at the South African Police Services (SAPS), has announced the creation of the South African Cybercrime Unit. Officials are actively searching for recruits to the new posts and have not as yet determined its size.

Net Assets