News Archive: February 2008
The views represented in these articles do not necessarily represent the views of the editor, the Privacy Act Program, or the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. ![]()
THE SCOOP for February 27, 2008
Health data storage sites might not be secure
San Francisco Chronicle - February 20, 2008
"The World Privacy Forum is warning consumers about the potential pitfalls of using newly popular services that consolidate personal health records - especially when they're kept by companies that are not subject to current federal regulations on privacy and security."Judge to let group suing administration explore Office of Administration's workings
Federal Computer News - February 12, 2008
"A federal judge's decision on Feb. 11 to allow an ethics advocacy group suing the White House to examine the workings of the Office of Administration (OA) to help determine its status as a federal agency could have repercussions in the ongoing battle over millions of White House e-mails that the group alleges are missing."Pushing Paper Out the Door
The New York Times - February 10, 2008
"...many families may be closer to entering a paperless world than they realize. Paper-reducing technologies have crept into homes and offices, perhaps more for efficiency than for environmentalism; few people will dispute the convenience of online bill-paying and airline e-tickets."Report: Agencies lack identity theft protections even after lapses
Government Executive - February 22, 2008
"Nearly two years after an embarrassing flap in which veterans' personal information was put at risk of identity theft, federal agencies are still not doing all they can to prevent further lapses, investigators have found."White House e-discovery squeeze puts e-mail backup in focus
Computerworld - February 14, 2008
"As the White House contends with a federal judge's order to prepare a discovery plan amid a legal skirmish about missing e-mail, storage experts say businesses should move to improve backup and e-mail archiving policies to avoid similar legal problems."
THE SCOOP for February 20, 2008
Administration defends proposed FOIA change
Government Executive - February 6, 2008
"Bush administration officials on Tuesday defended an effort to move a Freedom of Information Act oversight office from the National Archives to the Justice Department, saying Justice already does tasks given to the new office by a recently enacted law."AIIM Offers A Guide For Starting An Electronic Document Management System
Intelligent Enterprise - February 12, 2008
"AIIM, a nonprofit group that provides education, research and best practices for managing business information, has released a guide for starting an electronic document management system."Are You e-Discovery Ready?
TMCnet - February 8, 2008
"Ready or not, here come the lawyers. If you're in litigation or responding to regulators, you'd better be e-discovery ready."Digital crisis: Motion pictures may fade to black
Computerworld - February 8, 2008
"Current storage technologies may have a reputation for being plentiful and cheap, but not necessarily in Hollywood, where a recent study warns that the annual cost of archiving a digital film is 11 times that of storing celluloid film."OMB touts savings from e-gov initiatives
Government Executive - February 7, 2008
"President Bush's electronic government initiatives saved agencies $508 million in costs during the 2007 fiscal year, according to the Office of Management and Budget."Those Missing E-Mails
The Washington Post - February 11, 2008
"With each passing week, the fate of e-mails generated by President Bush's staff grows more curious and troubling. While evidence has not emerged of a deliberate effort by the White House to destroy sensitive electronic messages, there's reason to be concerned about the potential loss of historical records."
THE SCOOP for February 7, 2008
Digital signatures assure the authenticity of the FY2009 budget
Government Computer News - February 4, 2008
"What is new with the Fiscal 2009 Budget is that the digitally signed electronic documents are the primary source of official budget information, thanks in part to new authentication tools from Adobe that certify the authenticity and integrity of the documents being accessed online."Judge: U.S. can't account for money owed Indian landowners
Federal Times - January 31, 2008
"A federal judge ruled Wednesday that the Interior Department is unable to complete an accounting of billions of dollars owed to Indian landholders across the country."Laptop Stolen With Personal Data On 300,000 Health Insurance Clients
Information Week - January 30, 2008
"Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey has notified its members that an employee laptop computer containing personal information — including Social Security numbers — for about 300,000 individuals was stolen in early January."Molly O'Neill: EPA the Web 2.0 way: GCN Interview
Government Computer News - February 4, 2008
"People demand good data, especially when it comes to matters of human health and the environment...Environmental Protection Agency Chief Information Officer Molly O'Neill is intrigued by the new crop of Web 2.0 technologies that could help better deliver information and establish forums for the resulting discussions."OMB officials say Congress more accepting of e-gov
Federal Computer Week - February 1, 2008
"Administration officials are not frustrated with Congress' lack of support for e-government, and some believe the tide has turned."
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