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Lots of coverage of Google + NSA = “do no evil”?
The recent "alliance" between the National Security Agency, (one of the most secret and secretive members of the U.S. intelligence community), and Google has brought up more questions than answers. Here are some recent stories:
- Google to enlist NSA to help it ward off cyberattacks, By Ellen Nakashima, Washington Post (February 4, 2010). "The world's largest Internet search company and the world's most powerful electronic surveillance organization are teaming up in the name of cybersecurity."
- Google Asks Spy Agency for Help With Inquiry Into Cyberattacks, By JOHN MARKOFF, New York Times (February 4, 2010). 'By turning to the N.S.A., which has no statutory authority to investigate domestic criminal acts, instead of the Department of Homeland Security, which does have such authority, Google is clearly seeking to avoid having its search engine, e-mail and other Web services regulated as part of the nation’s "critical infrastructure."'
- 'Don't Be Evil,' Meet 'Spy on Everyone': How the NSA Deal Could Kill Google, By Noah Shachtman, Wired (February 4, 2010). "The company pinkie-swears that its agreement with the NSA won’t violate the company's privacy policies or compromise user data. Those promises are a little hard to believe, given the NSA's track record of getting private enterprises to cooperate, and Google’s willingness to take this first step."
- Google, NSA ‘alliance’ has privacy advocate alarmed, By Stephen C. Webster, Raw Story, (February 4th, 2010).
- EPIC Seeks Records on Google-NSA Relationship, Electronic Privacy Information Center (February 4, 2010).
Data.gov.uk versus Data.gov
Here is a point-by-point comparison of the big new data dissemination initiatives by the U.S. and the U.K.:
- Data.gov.uk versus Data.gov. Flowing Data (Feb 4, 2010).
While Data.gov.uk was just recently launched publicly, it has many advantages over Data.gov. It's easier to use and geared towards developers, who, let's face it, are the only ones who are going to do more with the data than open it up in Excel. Data.gov has some catching up to do. Both still have a long way to go. Both are good steps in the right direction.Hat tip to Kevin Taglang at Benton Foundation! Continue reading
NARA on Flickr
The U.S. National Archives joins the Commons!, Flickr blog, (February 1, 2010).
Please welcome the U.S. National Archives to The Commons, the world’s public photography archives on Flickr to which you can contribute information and knowledge. With over 3,000 images in 49 sets uploaded already, perusing these important archival images should keep you entertained for a long time. Their four collections encompass important Americana, ranging from the famous Mathew Brady Civil War images to historical and iconic images of American history.Continue reading
National Agricultural Library’s Special Collections Online
The American Historical Association's AHA Today blog has a nice post today about the wealth of information in the National Agricultural Library’s Special Collections online.
- The Special Collections of the National Agricultural Library, by Elisabeth Grant, AHA Today (February 01, 2010).
OMB removes datasets from data.gov
White House bars agencies from posting some statistics, by Aliya Sternstein, NextGov (01/27/2010). According to this article, datasets posted to data.gov by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Peace Corps, the Agriculture Department's Food Safety and Inspection Service, the Interior Department's Bureau of Reclamation, and the Social Security Administration have been removed by the Office of Management and Budget "because they raised privacy, security or other concerns." The article is based on work done by OpenTheGovernment.org which is tracking agency participation with the Open Government Directive here. Continue reading
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