Internet users were shocked to learn that the search queries of over 600,000 individuals were exposed online by AOL recently. Although the personal names of AOL users had been replaced with numbers, apparently for a research project, reporters and others were able to determine the identities of several people. Search terms revealed medical conditions, illegal activities, illicit interests, financial information, even Social Security numbers.
Submitted by Privacy Rights Clearinghouse
July 24, 2006
Charles Havekost
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Information Technology
Department of Health and Human Services, Room 434E
200 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20201
Attention: IMDA RFI Response Submitted electronically:
Disaster_Storage_RFI@hhs.gov
Procedures to Enhance the Accuracy and Integrity of Information Furnished to Consumer Reporting Agencies Project No. R611017
Submitted: May 22, 2006
Federal Trade Commission
Office of the Secretary, Room 159-H (Annex C)
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20580
Filed Electronically: http://www.regulations.gov
UPDATE (6/29/06): The stolen laptop computer and the external hard drive were recovered. www.usa.gov/veteransinfo.shtml
UPDATE (7/14/06): FBI and VA Inspector General conducted a forensic examination on the laptop and reported that no data had been removed. But experts say there are ways to thwart detection.
Deadline for comments is May 11, 2006
Prohibit Debt Collectors from Calling Cell Phones: Comments to the Federal Communications Commission
Submitted by the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse on
May 11, 2006
Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20554
Filed electronically: www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs
Comments to the Federal Communications Commission regarding Customer Proprietary Network Information (CPNI), CC Docket No. 96-115
Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary
Federal Communications Commission
445 12 th Street, SW
Washington , DC 20554
Filed electronically: www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs
RE: Customer Proprietary Network Information (CPNI) -- CC Docket No. 96-115
Dear Secretary Dortch:
Speech by Beth Givens, PRC Director, at the Conference of the National Association of Professional Background Screeners
Nashville, TN
April 5, 2006
The theme of this panel is the tradeoff between the right to privacy and the right to know. I think the tension between openness and privacy is one of the more challenging public policy issues of our time.
At tax time, like most people, you are concerned about the bottom line: Will I get a refund or will I have to pay? Privacy may never enter your mind, but perhaps it should.
When you visit the tax preparer, you may get stacks of papers to sign. Pressed for time, you may sign your name without a close reading. Or, you may just assume that what you tell your accountant will go no further than the IRS.
Submitted electronically by the PRC to: Notice.Comments@irscounsel.treas.gov
Internal Revenue Service
P.O. Box 7604, Room 5203
Ben Franklin Station
Washington, DC 20044
ATTN: CC:PA:LPD:PR (REG 137243-02)
RE: Disclosure and Use of Tax Return Information REG 137243-02 http://www.irs.gov/irb/2006-03_IRB/ar16.html