Facebook downplays trashing of Google in planted stories

Facebook hired a PR firm to persuade reporters and privacy advocates to write critical stories about Google’s Social Circle. Facebook denied that they had acted unethically, “No ’smear’ campaign was authorized or intended. Instead, we wanted third parties to verify that people did not approve of the collection and use of information from their accounts [...]

California appeals court upholds order requiring juror to release his online postings

After a jury foreman wrote on Facebook during the trial of alleged gang members that the proceedings were boring, defense attorneys issued subpoenas to Facebook and the foreman for the postings. The judge ordered the foreman to authorize Facebook to release the postings. That order was upheld by the appeals court without comment. -db From [...]

Facebook Fights Privacy Concerns

The launch of Facebook Inc.’s Places location service this week sparked new privacy concerns about the popular social network. But the company’s efforts to mollify critics before the launch stemmed some of the blowback. August 25, 2010 The Wall Street Journal By Geoffrey A. Fowler Places is a feature that lets users share their physical [...]

Law school opens web site to solicit public comment on new laws

Cornell Law School has established a new experimental web site to generate citizen participation. In its first case, it is soliciting public input on a proposal to ban texting by interstate commercial truck and bus drivers. -db NextGov April 1, 2010 By Aliya Sternstein Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood praised the program for promoting “more effective [...]

First Amendment groups petition federal appeals court for favorable ruling on student online speech

Conflicting court rulings have prompted First Amendment groups to ask for clarification about  when students can be disciplined for off -campus online speech that is  not a part of school activities. -db Student Press Law Center Press Release March 9, 2010 The Student Press Law Center, a national non-profit devoted to defending student journalists’ First [...]

Facebook threatens to sue British newspaper over false claim about sex and teen-age girls

Facebook is concerned that its reputation was permanently damaged by a claim in the Daily Mail that seconds after 14-year-old girls posted a profile on Facebook that older men could approach them who “wanted to perform a sex act” in front of them. Daily Mail apologized for the error. -db Guardian March 11, 2010 By [...]

Bandwidth problems threaten to curtail military’s social networking

The Pentagon is allowing the troops to use such sites as Facebook and Twitter, but it may be difficult for them to actually sign on since, especially in places like Afghanistan, bandwidth is limited. -db The Hill March 1, 2010 By Tony Romm Trouble with the Pentagon’s strapped Web network could threaten its new decision [...]

Pilot program: State Department to promote democracy in the Middle East using social networking technologies

The U.S. State Department announced September 25 they are making cash awards to organizations to use social networking to increase civic participation in government in the Middle East and North Africa. Some see hope in what may be a less confrontational way of dealing with the lack of democracy in the region, but some governments [...]

Social networking ban on convicted sex offenders deemed unconstitutional

A blogger for the Citizen Media Law Project says that the new Illinois law making it illegal for convicted six offenders to use social networking websites is probably unconstitutional and certainly unenforceable. -DB Citizen Media Law Project Commentary August 20, 2009 By Andrew Moshirnia The memory of pain can be one of the best painkillers. Anyone [...]

Pentagon wants public input on social networking policy

Faced with the arduous task of framing a policy on social media that balances security and the need for troops to communicate with friends and family, the Defense Department is asking the public for their ideas. -DB NextGov August 10, 2009 By Bob Brewin How do you develop a policy for using social media in the [...]