Last week, the Library of Congress confirmed it’s blocking WikiLeaks. Censorship principles aside, the ban has one clear consequence: the Congressional Research Service, responsible for crucial reports to lawmakers, is part of the Library. Now their plug is pulled too.
Congress is getting behind a policy “rethink” regarding online privacy, including the implementation of an FTC-enforced “Do Not Track” list. Such a list would allow shoppers to opt-out of advertising and behavioural tracking that follows customers from item to item.
The innovative new Congress app for Android aims to empower citizens through technology, allowing users to track congressional news and activity. Keep tabs on members of the US Congress with pertinent information such as voting records, news feeds and bill sponsorship.
Following a similar law passed by the US Senate, the House has voted to close a legal loophole that allows mobile phones to reach federal prisoners. Legislators hope the move will block inmates from conducting criminal activity while locked up.
Representative Pete King of New York has introduced a bill to Congress that would require all new cameraphones to have shutter sounds. Why? For the children!
Congressman Eric Massa of NY tried to drive a fuel cell car from NY to DC to make an environmental point and to show how great fuel cell cars are. He failed at both.
President-elect Barack Obama has asked Congress to stop pulling the plug on analogue TV broadcasts. The shutdown is due on February 17. The reasons: “Inadequate funding” and problems with the DTV-to-analogue converter box program.
What’s up with corrupt politicians this week? Congress just filed a 110-page report on FCC Chairman Kevin Martin’s “egregious abuses of power,” documenting his favouritism for companies, and possibly impropriety with some, like Verizon.
