September 2013

NSA stores metadata of millions of web users for up to a year, secret files show

The National Security Agency is storing the online metadata of millions of Internet users for up to a year, regardless of whether or not they are persons of interest to the agency, top secret documents reveal.

The New York Times reported that the NSA was using its metadata troves to build profiles of US citizens' social connections, associations and in some cases location, augmenting the material the agency collects with additional information bought in from the commercial sector, which is not subject to the same legal restrictions as other data. The ability to look back on a full year's history for any individual whose data was collected -- either deliberately or incidentally -- offers the NSA the potential to find information on people who have later become targets. But it relies on storing the personal data of large numbers of Internet users who are not, and never will be, of interest to the US intelligence community. By confirming that all metadata "seen" by NSA collection systems is stored, the Marina document suggests such collections are not merely used to filter target information, but also to store data at scale.

Defining and Demanding a Musician’s Fair Shake in the Internet Age

It has been 13 years since Metallica’s drummer, Lars Ulrich, identified the screen names of more than 300,000 Napster users in a copyright infringement lawsuit. The tarring he received in response — being derided as greedy and insensitive to fans — still makes musicians think twice before complaining about the problems with digital music. But it hasn’t stopped David Lowery. As the leader of the bands Camper Van Beethoven and Cracker, Lowery had a modicum of fame in the 1980s and ’90s. But recently, he has become a celebrity among musicians for speaking out about artists’ shrinking paychecks and the influence of Silicon Valley over copyright, economics and public discourse. In public appearances and no-holds-barred blog posts, Lowery, 53, has come to represent the anger of musicians in the digital age.

Radio stations would pay for music under House bill

Radio stations may have to start paying musicians to play their songs. Rep. Mel Watt (D-NC) introduced a bill that would require radio broadcasters to negotiate with musicians for the rights to play their songs.

Rep. Watt’s bill – which he called the free market solution – was applauded by members of the music industry and decried by broadcasters. Rep. Watt’s bill would do away with the compulsory license that requires musicians to make their work available. Instead, musicians and platforms – including AM/FM stations – would negotiate through SoundExchange, a performance royalty non-profit that facilitates those kinds of negotiations. The National Association of Broadcasters said it “respectfully opposes” Rep. Watt’s bill and supports “market-based negotiations like the recent Warner Music-Clear Channel accord.”

Silicon Valley wonders who is behind mystery NSA billboard

As if Silicon Valley's relationship to the whole National Security Agency spying-on-the-Internet thing wasn't awkward enough. Now someone has placed a slogan on a billboard over Highway 101 near South San Francisco that reads: "Your data should belong to the NSA."

Guessing the identity of the organization or person behind the sign has become one of Silicon Valley's favorite parlor games in recent days. Of course, it's possible that despite creepy, Big Brother-ish overtones, that it's the NSA itself just trying to get some good marketing. Others have wondered, could it be the work of Michael Arrington, erstwhile blogger-turned-venture-capitalist-turned conscience of Silicon Valley? Arrington has been on a one-man crusade to shame valley companies that have been assisting NSA efforts. As Arrington recently said on his blog: "I'm scared of our government and I'm disgusted by what little Silicon Valley has done to fight it."

White House Defends NSA Amid Social Mapping Report

The White House is defending the National Security Agency following a new report that the agency has been scanning the data it collects to map out some Americans' social connections.

White House spokesman Jay Carney says he won't comment on specific intelligence activities. But he says the NSA's activities are directed against foreign intelligence targets and geared toward targeting security risks like terrorism. Carney says US intelligence collection is similar to what other nations do. He says NSA's procedures are approved by the attorney general and, in certain circumstances, a federal oversight court.

Broadcasters to FCC: Taking Time To Get Auction Reimbursement Right is Key

The Federal Communications Commission heard from broadcasters on the cost and complexity of FCC repacking after the incentive auctions.

Congress gave the FCC $1.75 billion and three years to compensate broadcasters who change channels, switch from UHF to VHF assignments and make other adjustments. National Association of Broadcasters’ Jane Mago says that the deadline could be problematic. Mango said it was "crucial" for the FCC to get the table of allotments out ASAP, but even so, "we should be considering whether we need more time.” The FCC issued a request for further input from broadcasters on what expenses they expected to be covered and potential ways the FCC could save money given that $1.75 billion cap. The FCC asked in that information request whether it should consider either bulk buying or competitive bidding. Among the reimbursement costs the FCC is contemplating covering includes new towers, towers fixes, antennas, transmission lines, backup equipment, attorneys and engineering fees and a dozen more pages worth.

Rep. Eshoo: FCC Needs To Better Sell Auctions To Broadcasters

Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) told the Federal Communications Commission it needs to do more outreach to broadcasters about the benefits of participating in the broadcast spectrum incentive auctions.

In a letter to FCC Chairwoman Mignon Clyburn, Rep. Eshoo, ranking member of the House Communications Subcommittee, praised the outreach to date via webinars and workshops in the FCC's LEARN outreach program. But she said that given the complexity of the auction, more needs to be done to reach "as many broadcasters as possible" about how they "may be able to serve their community" by sharing channels, moving from UHF to VHF or opting for cable- or satellite- or Internet-only delivery.

FCC Stays the Course on Digital Transition for LPTV/Class A Stations

The Federal Communications Commission has nixed requests submitted by a number of Low Power Television (LPTV) and Class A stations looking for relief from spectrum-clearing measures put in place two years ago.

In 2011, the FCC announced the end of the transition to digital broadcasting for Class A and LPTV stations. In so doing, it set a number of deadlines. In response to a handful of petitions of reconsideration, the FCC has now reaffirmed those deadlines. Under the deadlines set in 2011, all TV operation of any kind, analog or digital, on Channels 52 and above had to end by December 31, 2011, and all analog LPTV broadcasting on any channel must end by September 1, 2015. While a number of LPTV representatives asked the Commission to re-think the December 31, 2011 deadline, the Commission has now concluded that no such re-think is necessary. Looking back on what actually happened post-December 31, 2011, the FCC is satisfied that it gave everybody plenty of time to get the job done and that its staff bent over backwards to help out where possible. With respect to the September 1, 2015 deadline for ceasing all analog operation on any channel, one LPTV licensee suggested that that hard-and-fast deadline be softened to permit LPTV stations to continue to operate in analog mode until some later time tied to the roll-out of the National Broadband Plan. The FCC’s response in a nutshell? Enough is enough. Analog is inefficient, and it’s time to put an end to it.

Government Social Media Feeds Will Go Dark During a Shutdown

Most agency Twitter handles and other social media will go dark in the event of a government shutdown, officials said.

There’s no official list of Twitter handles and Facebook pages that will cease posting, according to tweets by the General Services Administration’s @GovNewMedia Twitter handle, which reports on government-wide social media topics. “Unless an emergency, it should be reasonably expected that most accounts will cease engaging & posting, as with other services,” the GSA said.

Furloughed Feds May Have to Turn in Cellphones, Other Mobile Devices

Federal employees forced off the job during a government shutdown may have to turn in their government-issued BlackBerrys, iPhones and other mobile devices, according to White House guidance on technology matters.

“Prohibitions of the Antideficiency Act extend to work performed from outside of the office, including via mobile devices or remote computer connections,” according to a Sept. 17 memo issued by the Office of Management and Budget. The Antideficiency Act makes it illegal for the federal government to engage in activities for which it is not funded.

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