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Latest News [May 16, 2000]

• FTC Advisory Committee Releases Final Report. The Federal Trade Commission has released the final report of its Advisory Committee on Online Access and Security. The report details options and recommendations for access and security -- two key components of Fair Information Practices. The work of the Committee is expected to inform the Federal Trade Commission in its ongoing work towards protecting consumer privacy online.
  
  
• Financial Privacy Protections Delayed. Despite widespread public support for the protection of personal financial records and opposition from consumer groups, the Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and the Office of Thrift Supervision issued a joint press release announcing that rules protecting financial privacy would not become effective until July 2001. On May 15, the Federal Trade Comission issued its own press release announcing its final rules with the same delayed effective date. The rules were originally set to go into effect in November 2000.
  
  
• Anonymous Message Board Poster Sues Yahoo! for Disclosures. A ground-breaking lawsuit (PDF) has been filed in federal court in Los Angeles challenging Yahoo!'s controversial practice of routinely disclosing user information -- without prior notice -- in response to subpoenas. EPIC and the ACLU have issued a joint press release discussing the importance of the case, and the anonymous plaintiff has released a detailed statement explaining his claims.
  
  
• EPIC Testifies on Use of Social Security Numbers. On May 11, the House Subcommittee on Social Security held hearings on the "Use and Misuse of Social Security Numbers". EPIC's testimony argues that there is clear judicial and legislative support for further legal restrictions on the collection and use of social security numbers.
  
  
• Privacy Groups Oppose Delay in Financial Privacy Regs. A coalition of consumer and privacy groups have sent a letter to federal agencies objecting to any delay of the financial privacy rules set to go into effect in November 2000. The statement argues that while the groups are dissatisfied with the level of protections offered by current law, they are a necessary first step towards adequate financial privacy.
  
  

EPIC Resources & Guides

The EPIC Alert. The current and back issues of EPIC's award-winning newsletter on civil liberties in the information age. Subscribe now.

EPIC's Bill-Track. Track pending legislation on Privacy and Cyber-Liberties in the 106th Congress.

EPIC Bookstore. Browse the cyber shelves of good books on privacy, free speech, and civil liberties at the Internet's only bookstore devoted to online freedom. Shipping, discounts, and gift wrapping provided!

Former Secrets. View scanned images of previously classified government documents obtained by EPIC under the Freedom of Information Act.

EPIC's Online Guide to Practical Privacy Tools. Information on how to get PGP, RSA SecurPC, and other encryption programs, anonymous remailers and surfing the net anonymously.

EPIC's Online Guide to Privacy Resources. All the best sites, newsletters, conferences, and organizations on and off the net.

EPIC Policy Archives

Computer Security. Is Cyberspace secure? Hackers, information warfare, laws and guidelines. Includes resources on Critical Infrastructure Protection.

Cryptography Policy. Who holds the keys to online privacy? Clipper Chip, key escrow, export controls, reports and more.

Free Speech. Freedom of speech issues on the Internet including anonymous speech, liability, censorship, and the pending challenge to the Child Online Protection Act. EPIC's Faulty Filters report is also online.

Freedom of Information. How to use the Freedom of Information Act and other laws to obtain information on government activities. See documents EPIC has obtained. Learn how to get your own files.

Privacy. The A to Z's of privacy. From airline passenger profiling and Caller ID to Social Security Numbers and Wiretapping.

About EPIC

EPIC is a public interest research center in Washington, D.C. It was established in 1994 to focus public attention on emerging civil liberties issues and to protect privacy, the First Amendment, and constitutional values. EPIC is a project of the Fund for Constitutional Government. EPIC works in association with Privacy International, an international human rights group based in London, UK and is also a member of the Global Internet Liberty Campaign, the Internet Free Expression Alliance, the Internet Privacy Coalition, and the Trans Atlantic Consumer Dialogue (TACD).

EPIC's Litigation Docket. Learn about the privacy, First Amendment, and Freedom of Information Act court cases brought by the legal team at EPIC. Defending your rights in cyberspace!

EPIC Advisory Board and Staff. The people behind EPIC and their pages.

Contribute to EPIC. We have no clients, no customers, and no shareholders. We need your support. Here's how to help out. You can now make contributions to EPIC by credit card.

Praise for EPIC and the EPIC site cited (and sighted) -- Kind words and places to find EPIC.ORG.

EPIC Privacy Policy. What we don't do with your personal information.

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