http://www.parliament.uk/briefing-papers/POST-PN-460.pdf
Examines the application of “big data” approaches to social media in three key areas: elections and polling, commercial applications, and security. Also discusses the regulation of social media data and privacy concerns. From the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology
Reports on the number and types of consumer complaints received by the online database for 2013. The network received over 2 million complaints during 2013 with identity theft the leading category with 14% of the complaints. From the Federal Trade Commission
New policy guidance for educators on how to protect student privacy, especially when interacting with online educational services. From the Privacy Technical Assistance Center of the U.S. Department of Education
http://www.pclob.gov/SiteAssets/Pages/default/PCLOB-Report-on-the-Telephone-Records-Program.pdf
Reviews the history and operation of the National Security Agency’s telephone records program, statutory and constitutional issues raised by the program, intelligence benefits and civil liberties harms, and then offers recommendations for needed reforms, including an end to the Section 215 Bulk Records Collection program. From the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/01/17/remarks-president-review-signals-intelligence
Text of President Obama’s speech on intelligence gathering by the National Security Agency and related matters. From the White House
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/01/17/fact-sheet-review-us-signals-intelligence
Describes the review process, summarizes the president’s speech, and discusses how the results of the review will affect intelligence gathering, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, the PATRIOT Act, the use of national security letters, privacy considerations, and relations with other nations. From the White House
Lays out revised principles for the collection of signals intelligence such as the National Security Agency’s bulk phone record metadata program, including limits on the use of such information, refinements in the process by which it is collected, and safeguards on privacy interests. From the White House
http://www.fas.org/sgp/jud/klayman.pdf
District Court decision that the bulk collection of phone metadata records by the National Security Agency likely violates the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution. Posted by the Federation of American Scientists