The public has the right to know about information collected, disseminated and maintained by the government in order to increase accountability and public awareness. CDT believes that the Internet is an ideal medium for gaining greater public access to government information.
CDT Supports Transparency Act Improvements - CDT wrote today to sponsors of the Strengthening Transparency and Accountability in Federal Spending Act, a bill improving the Transparency Act introduced today by Senators Barack Obama (D-IL) and Tom Coburn (R-OK). CDT wrote to the sponsors of the bill in support for the goals of the legislation, including improved data quality on USASpending.gov and greater availability of information about recipients of federal money. June 04, 2008
Share this articleCDT: Commission Needed to Explore Revamping Privacy Act - The Privacy Act of 1974 is in need of improvements to ensure its relevance into the future, CDT Deputy Director Ari Schwartz said in testimony before a congressional panel today. The Act’s limitations are particularly apparent with regard to government use of commercially compiled personal information, Schwartz told the Information Policy, Census, and National Archives Subcommittee. Commercial information plays a key role in important government functions, like law enforcement and national security. However, agencies relying on that data should have clear guidelines on its use. The role Privacy Impact Assessments play in protecting privacy is essential. Two bills help bolster PIAs: S.2341 lays out "best practices" guidelines and HR 4791 requires PIAs for government use of commercial databases. CDT believes Congress should create a Commission to review the Act and suggest possible reforms. March 11, 2008
Share this articleEasy, Timely, Public Access to CRS Reports Urged - Efforts to make Congressional Research Service (CRS) reports more accessible to the public received another boost today from Sen. Joe Lieberman, (ID-Conn.), who asked that a complete system be crafted that is readily accessible to the public. Currently, making the reports public is a time intensive task handled by congressional staff. Lieberman's request went to Sen. Dianne Feinstein, (D-CA), head of the Senate Rules Committee, and follows his introduction of resolution S. Res 401, which also calls for greater public access to the reports. CDT supports Sen. Lieberman's request and calls on Congress and the CRS to develop a system as described in his letter. CDT's OpenCRS project provides public access to a portion of these taxpayer funded, unclassified reports that have been released by various members of Congress. February 28, 2008
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