minilinks for 2008-05-21

miniLinks by Hugh D'Andrade

• Media Failing to Probe Candidates on Civil Liberties
  Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting takes the news media to task for not asking the tough questions of the presidential candidates.
• Senators Question NSL Served to Internet Archive
  Senators have asked the FBI to explain why the feds sought records from the digital library.
• Wiretaps Increase by 20%
  The US government's statistics for 2007 show that (legal) wiretap requests have increased. (Illegal wiretaps are not included in the government's statistics.)
• New Trial in Filesharing Case?
  D'oh! The judge in the landmark Jammie Thomas case now says he may have ruled in error.
• RIAA Describes It's Methods
  The RIAA admits that it can't tell whether songs have been distributed or not in the cases it has brought.
• Napster Drops DRM
  Napster's new online venture has the largest selection of DRM-free tunes on the Internet.
• TV Networks Take on RedLasso
  A rapidly growing site that indexes video clips has been taken to court by the big networks.
• Google's Streetview Causes a Stir in Rome
  Locals in Rome assumed Google's camera car was a surveillance vehicle. Were they right? (log-in may be required)
• Google Updates Streetview to Conceal Identities
  New technology allows Google to blur faces incidentally captured in Streetview.
• Cars that Datamine?
  Stanford scientists are studying ways to allow cars to collect data on your driving habits.
• Patent Court Appointees Under Question
  A law professor claims to have discovered a flaw in the appointment of patent judges -- the appointments may be unconstitutional, calling into question thousands of patent rulings. (log-in may be required)
• New Device for Searching Cellphones
  A new thumb drive can quickly and easily suck data from cellphones.
• Security Gaps When ISPs Hire Third Parties
  The use of third parties to intercept web traffic and direct users to advertising can open major security holes.
• When Technology is Designed to Fail
  "Complexity by design" isn't an accident -- it's a way for providers to maintain control.
• New Site Lists Copyright Takedowns
  YouTomb compiles a list of all the videos ordered removed from YouTube.

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