First Amendment News

In “Secrecy News,” the Federation of American Scientists reports that outgoing federal officials have been put on notice that classified information belongs to the government, not them: Don’t Remove Gov’t Records, Departing Officials Are Told Government officials were reminded recently that as they depart from government service with the end of the current Administration, they are not permitted to take classified information with them. “Classified information is not personal property and may not be removed

Twenty-five organizations, including the Electronic Frontier Foundation, offer a 20-chapter set of policy recommendations for the new Congress and the Obama administration. The document urges increased government transparency and restraint in secrecy classifications. It also addresses reforms of the State Secrets privilege, updates to the Electronic Communications Privacy Act and limits on NSA spying. Read the announcement here.

A sexual assault on a middle school student that resulted in the arrest of two schoolmates and campus workshops on sexual harassment prevention didn’t warrant notification of all parents, a spokesman told KCBS radio and the Vallejo Times Herald. (Listen to the KCBS report here.) VCUSD kept mum after assault on girl By TONY BURCHYNS/Times-Herald staff writer Posted: 11/18/2008 02:03:32 AM PST Vallejo school district officials say not telling parents about a sexual assault was

The New York Police Department has been sued by three online journalists who are challenging the city’s procedures for credentialing–giving press passes and press identification to–journalists. Press passes are given to a “full-time employee of a news-gathering organization covering spot or breaking news on a regular basis . . .,” according to city regulations. Press IDs are for journalists who are “employed by a legitimate news organization” but who do “not normally cover spot or

Like many executives in his generation, President-elect Barack Obama is addicted to his BlackBerry, using it for near-constant communication by text messaging and email. Because many of those communications may be subject to the federal Freedom of Information Act, Obama is being advised to give up his PDA. This was not an issue for Obama the Senator, as Congress conveniently exempted itself from FOIA. But the President is covered. The New York Times November 16,