Privacy Law Commons^™

Undermined Norms: The Corrosive Effect Of Information Processing Technology On Informational Privacy, Richard Warner

All Faculty Scholarship

Informational privacy is a matter of control; it consists in the ability to control when one’s personal information is collected, how it is used, and to whom it is distributed. The degree of control we once enjoyed has vanished. Advances in information processing technology now give others considerable power to determine when personal information is collected, how it is used, and to it is whom distributed. Privacy advocates sound the alarm in regard to both the governmental and private sectors. I focus exclusively on the later. Relying on the extensive privacy advocate literature, I assume we should try to regain …

Flexing Judicial Muscles: Did The Ninth Circuit Abandon Judicial Restraint In United States V. Comprehensive Druge Testing, Inc.?, Allen H. Quist

Brigham Young University Journal of Public Law

No abstract provided.

Coping With Metadata: Ten Key Steps, Steven C. Bennett, Jeremy Cloud

Mercer Law Review

Nearly every electronic document contains "metadata," information that typically does not appear in the paper form of the document but that can be retrieved from electronic files. Metadata is often harmless and irrelevant, but in some cases, it can reveal much about the creation, alteration, and transmission of a document. Metadata, moreover, may contain privileged and confidential information. In some instances, electronic documents cannot be reviewed or used efficiently without metadata. Because modern businesses and law firms depend heavily on electronic communication, data management, and word processing, lawyers must learn to cope with metadata and its legal implications.

This Article …

A Fourth Amendment For The Poor Alone: Subconstitutional Status And The Myth Of The Inviolate Home, Jordan C. Budd

Law Faculty Scholarship

For much of our nation’s history, the poor have faced pervasive discrimination in the exercise of fundamental rights. Nowhere has the impairment been more severe than in the area of privacy. This Article considers the enduring legacy of this tradition with respect to the Fourth Amendment right to domestic privacy. Far from a matter of receding historical interest, the diminution of the poor’s right to privacy has accelerated in recent years and now represents a powerful theme within the jurisprudence of poverty. Triggering this development has been a series of challenges to aggressive administrative practices adopted by localities in the …

A New Approach To Data Security Breaches, Gideon Emcee Christian

Canadian Journal of Law and Technology

This article examines the problems associated with data security breaches from two different, but not mutually exclusive, perspectives. The first part of the article examines the need for notification in the event of a data security breach and proposes an amendment of the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Document Act (PIPEDA) to create a legal, or statutory, obligation in Canada to compel disclosure or notification of data security breaches. My recommendations are based on the examination of legislation from other legal jurisdictions, highlighting, where necessary, the shortcomings of the legislation, which ought to be taken into consideration in amending PIPEDA …

Lock The Closet Door: Does Private Mean Secret, Whitney Kristen Mcbride

McGeorge Law Review

No abstract provided.

There Is A Time To Keep Silent And A Time To Speak, The Hard Part Is Knowing Which Is Which: Striking The Balance Between Privacy Protection And The Flow Of Health Care Information, Daniel J. Gilman, James C. Cooper

Michigan Telecommunications & Technology Law Review

Health information technology (HIT) has become a signal element of federal health policy, especially as the recently enacted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act or ARRA) comprises numerous provisions related to HIT and commits tens of billions of dollars to its development and adoption. These provisions charge various agencies of the federal government with both general and specific HIT-related implementation tasks including, inter alia, providing funding for HIT in various contexts: the implementation of interoperable HIT, HIT-related infrastructure, and HIT-related training and research. The Recovery Act also contains various regulatory provisions pertaining to HIT. Provisions of the …

Cyberwar Policy, 27 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 303 (2010), Matthew Borton, Samuel Liles, Sydney Liles

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

Cyberwarfare is a very real threat to the security of the nation. Yet there is confusion and disagreement as to which government body is most appropriate to assume the cyberwar mission. The Strategy to Secure Cyberspace treats the threat primarily as a criminal issue, and assigns responsibility to the Department of Homeland Security. The National Defense Strategy implies that cyberwarfare is a military issue. Both documents may be correct, depending on the case. The cyberspace terrain transcends boundaries, quickly blurring the line between civil or criminal action and an act of war, leaving the government with the issue of assigning …

Law School & The Web Of Group Affiliation: Socializing, Socialization, And Social Network Site Use Among Law Students, 27 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 325 (2010), Eric M. Fink

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

Online social network sites (“SNS”) have emerged as a significant socio-technical phenomenon in the past several years. Scholars from various disciplines have examined these sites to develop a better understanding of their social significance and implications from a variety of perspectives. Within the burgeoning field of SNS studies, one strand of work focuses on the place of SNSs in students’ educational experiences and the potential pedagogical applications of SNSs. However, the SNS phenomenon generally, and its educational/pedagogical significance in particular, have received scant attention from legal scholars. This article examines the place of SNSs within the contemporary law school experience, …

Firearm Transaction Disclosure In The Digital Age: Should The Government Know What Is In Your Home?, 27 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 497 (2010), Elaine Vullmahn

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

This comment examines the primary arguments for continuing to prohibit the federal government from establishing a federal firearm registry. The Background section of this comment surveys the development of laws restricting firearm sales and requiring federal firearm licensed dealers to maintain pertinent records. This section also describes how, if enacted, the Blair Holt’s Firearm Licensing and Registration Act of 2009, known as H.R. 45, would, through the creation of federal firearm registry, expose electronic records of private citizens’ firearm purchases and ownership to possible government abuse. The Analysis section examines why H.R. 45 is not the correct means for achieving …

The Cathedral And The Bizarre: An Examination Of The "Viral" Aspects Of The Gpl, 27 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 349 (2010), Michael F. Morgan

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

While there is a growing body of literature dealing with the General Public License (“GPL”), the potential viral effects of the GPL do not appear to have been analyzed in a detailed technical manner. This paper will attempt to demonstrate that a proper legal analysis of the viral effects of the GPL is dependent on a detailed technical understanding of the specific mechanisms used for each type of program-to-program interaction. Once these technical mechanisms are properly understood it will then be possible to identify the applicable copyright law needed to assess the viral effects of the GPL.

How Safe Is This Shore? - Data Protection And Bpos In India, 27 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 539 (2010), Kritika Bharadwaj

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

India has one of the fastest growing demographics of personal computer and Internet usage, following the U.S. and the U.K. In the light of this progress, there is no doubt that India has benefited from the worldwide process of outsourcing. On the same note, the service offered by India has rendered her indispensible to countries around the world, including the U.S. and the U.K. However, where convenience, speed, and accessibility are taken for granted in this digital era, this paradigm shift has consequently resulted in changes in its management and control, safeguard measures, and a surge of unprecedented threats and …

Cyber Fatwās And Classical Islamic Jurisprudence, 27 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 577 (2010), Derek John Illar

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

The first section of this paper will explain what fatwâs are, why they are important, and what is the relationship between fatwâs and the Islamic judiciary. This section will also address who can issue such opinions and how scholars reach their conclusions. In the second part of this paper, I will explore the recent emergence of cyber fatwâs. This section specifically will focus on how Muslims have used this medium and how fatwâs have manifested themselves therein. The third portion of this paper will identity the problems that cyber fatwâs create and why they fail to comport with particular tenets …

An Evolutionary Study Of Cloud Computing Services Privacy Terms, 27 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 593 (2010), Konstantinos K. Stylianou

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

This paper examines the evolution of a number of cloud computing services’ terms of use with the aim to discern whether they offer less or more (or equal) privacy safeguards. To better highlight the changes cloud computing has brought about, I focus on those privacy terms that relate to the special modus operandi of cloud services. This paper proceeds in three parts. Part I identifies the special ways by which cloud computing challenges privacy. Part II discusses a series of privacy terms commonly found in the sampled cloud computing services and follows their evolution by comparing previous versions where available. …

Increasing Access To Startup Financing Through Intellectual Property Securitization, 27 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 613 (2010), Kyle Tondo-Kramer

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

This paper will discuss how a private company running a single, nationwide database for filing financing agreements can ease the burden on creditors and pave the way for more creditors to enter this market. Part two offers a brief overview of how intellectual property securitization works and some of the impediments to using this type of securitization. Part three proposes a possible solution to the problem creditors face regarding the filing of a financing statement when attempting to securitize intellectual property, and provides an in depth analysis as to why the suggestion that a private company runs a single, nationwide …

300 Years Of Copyright Law? A Not So Modest Proposal For Reform, 28 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 1 (2010), James Gh Griffin

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

2010 sees the three hundredth anniversary of the U.K.'s Statute of Anne 1710. This paper suggests that with the increased ability of content recipients to re-use works, there is a need to readdress the concerns of stakeholders, namely authors, publishers and content recipients. The paper sets out in detail how this should be achieved. To do so, it utilises the notion of creativity as the benchmark by which to balance the interests of stakeholders. This has been used in early eighteenth century case law in the U.K., and there are also other historical and theoretical justifications. The paper then proceeds …

The Olympic Meddle: The International Olympic Committee's Intrusion Of Athletes' Privacy Through The Discriminatory Practice Of Gender Verification Testing, 28 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 49 (2010), Raheel Saleem

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

The IOC and the IAAF act as governing bodies for athletes and, therefore, are innately responsible for their actions. However, the gender verification rule exemplifies that irresponsible actions by these governing agencies adversely effects its athletes. The gender verification rule empowers both the IOC and the IAAF to make life-changing decisions without any restriction, leaving athletes susceptible to the unfettered power and abuse of the rule. The legal foundation established by the international human rights declarations support the argument that gender verification testing must be abolished because of its embedded discrimination and intrusive nature. An application of the ICCPR provides …

The Twenty-Ninth Annual John Marshall International Moot Court Competition In Information Technology And Privacy Law: Bench Memorandum, 28 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 81 (2010), Erin Murphy-Hillstrom, Whitney Hutchinson, Efthymios Katsarelis, Amber Lynn Wagner, Panagiota Kelali

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

Petitioner, Aaron Murphy, appeals to the Marshall Supreme Court from a decision affirming the grant of summary judgment in favor of Respondent, MarshCODE, on his claims of defamation, false light invasion of privacy, and breach of contract. Thus, there are now three issues before the Marshall Supreme Court. The first two issues concern whether an individual can maintain an action of defamation and false light invasion of privacy when the false statement arose because of a computer malfunction. The last issue concerns whether the unilateral modification of a privacy agreement constitutes a breach of contract when assent to the modification …

The Twenty-Ninth Annual John Marshall International Moot Court Competition In Information Technology And Privacy Law: Brief For Petitioner, 28 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 119 (2010), Kelly Foss, Vince Lombardozzi, Jared Palmer

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

The circuit court erred when it granted summary judgment in favor of MarshCODE because Mr. Murphy has demonstrated facts to support the elements of the (1) defamation, (2) false light invasion of privacy, and (3) breach of contract claims. First, Mr. Murphy has provided facts to support the defamation claim. MarshCODE made a false and defamatory statement about Mr. Murphy when it told Ms. Who that he was her father. Because this matter concerns Mr. Murphy's private life, a negligence standard applies rather than the First Amendment's actual malice standard. Mr. Murphy has demonstrated that MarshCODE acted either negligently or …

The Twenty-Ninth Annual John Marshall International Moot Court Competition In Information Technology And Privacy Law: Brief For Respondent, 28 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 151 (2010), Kimberly Hodgman, Jody Rodenberg, Erin Tyler

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

The First District Court of Appeals properly affirmed summary judgment on behalf of MarshCODE because Appellant failed to raise a genuine issue of material fact on his defamation claim. First, MarshCODE's accidental disclosure of information, which implied that Appellant participated in premarital sex or had a homosexual child, was not defamatory because an average person would not lower his estimation or be deterred from associating with Appellant based on such a statement. Second, no publication was made because MarshCODE did not act with negligence and was unaware of the program malfunction that resulted in the release of the information. Third, …

Protecting Consumers From Spyware: A Proposed Consumer Digital Trespass Act, 28 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 185 (2010), Richard G. Kunkel

UIC John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law

“Spyware” is a broad term used to describe software that resides on a user’s computer and monitors the user’s online behavior. Though spyware may be helpful or benign, it can also be used for malicious purposes, commonly classified as “malware”. Consumers, who lack sophistication to avoid unintentionally downloading spyware, are especially vulnerable to the threat of malware. In lieu of this threat, it is important to understand the nature and scope of spyware problems affecting consumers. The paper will discuss how common law tort theories of trespass and trespass to chattel are difficult to apply to spyware, and how a …

Doninger's Wedge: Has Avery Doninger Bridged The Way For Internet Versions Of Matthew Fraser?, 43 J. Marshall L. Rev. 439 (2010), Adam Dauksas

UIC Law Review

No abstract provided.

Photo Enforcement Programs: Are They Permissible Under The United States Constitution?, 43 J. Marshall L. Rev. 463 (2010), Paul Mcnaughton

UIC Law Review

No abstract provided.

Gina's Genotypes, David H. Kaye

Michigan Law Review First Impressions

In August 2009, the Board of Trustees of the University of Akron added to the university's employment policy the following proviso: "any applicant may be asked to submit fingerprints or DNA sample for purpose of a federal criminal background check." Although the federal government does not do background checks with DNA, the policy is significant because it highlights a largely unexplored feature of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 ("GINA"). Hailed by the late Senator Edward Kennedy as "the first civil rights bill of the new century of life sciences," GINA generally prohibits employers from asking for "genetic information." …

Stories Told And Untold: Confidentiality Laws And The Master Narrative Of Child Welfare, Matthew I. Fraidin

Journal Articles

In most states, child welfare hearings and records are sealed or confidential. This means that by law, court hearings and records may not be observed. The same laws and court rules also preclude those who are authorized to enter and watch from discussing anything learned or observed in a closed courtroom or from a sealed court record with anyone not involved in the case. It is the restriction on speech—on telling stories about child welfare—with which this Article is concerned. I will argue in this Article that the insights of narrative theory and agenda-setting studies help us understand the damaging …

Legal And Ethical Issues Associated With Employee Use Of Social Networks, Gundars Kaupins, Susan Park

Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

Social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter can help employees enhance a company’s marketing, recruiting, security, and safety. However, employee’s use of social networking sites and employers’ access of those sites can result in illegal and unethical behavior, such as discrimination and privacy invasions. Companies must gauge whether and how to rely upon employees’ use of personal social networking sites and how much freedom employees should have in using networks inside and outside of the companies. This research summarizes the latest legal and ethical issues regarding employee use of social networks and provides recommended corporate policies.

Google Analytics: Analyzing The Latest Wave Of Legal Concerns For Google In The U.S. And The E.U., 7 Buff. Intell. Prop. L.J. 135 (2010), Raizel Liebler, Keidra Chaney

UIC Law Open Access Faculty Scholarship

The next wave of concern regarding Google involves web analytics. Web analytics is the measurement, collection, analysis, and reporting of Internet data for the purposes of understanding and optimizing web usage. The concerns of web analytics use touches on issues of online user privacy, government use of personal information, and information on website user activity. While Google Analytics is not the sole web analytics product on the market, it is widely used by corporate, non-profit, and government organizations. The product has been reported to have a 59% market share among web analytics vendors in a 2008 study.

Web analytics technology …

Envisioning The Smart Grid: Network Architecture, Information Control, And The Public Policy Balancing Act, Elias L. Quinn, Adam L. Reed

University of Colorado Law Review

While smart grid development promises benefits for utilities and consumers alike, the public policy surrounding its rollout remains conflicted. Will regulation guide the structure and usability of the smart grid, or will the ways in which the smart grid is already being applied force specific types of regulation? Early decisions by regulators will surely influence the balancing of policy concerns later in the smart grid development process; yet these decisions will be made in a regulatory environment in which utilities may lack the proper incentives to promote energy efficiency and consumer awareness-both functions of the smart grid. This Article examines …

The Weak Protection Of Strong Encryption: Passwords, Privacy, And Fifth Amendment Privilege, Nathan K. Mcgregor

Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment & Technology Law

While the constitutional protection afforded private papers has waxed and waned for more than a century, the Supreme Court has greatly restricted the Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination--at least as applied to voluntarily prepared documents. Specifically, where the government knows of the existence and location of subpoenaed documents, the Fifth Amendment guarantee will not justify a failure to produce them, unless the act of production would itself incriminate the defendant. However, the Self-Incrimination Clause still precludes the compelled creation of documents that are both incriminating and testimonial.

The "private papers" doctrine has remained relatively stable for approximately thirty years now, …

Keynote Address, Dean Spade

Faculty Articles

This article challenges the traditional methods taken by progressive lawyers and activists. It argues that superficial changes to a marginalizing system simply create “window dressing” that serves to reinforce the status quo. This article is a provocative call to radicalize legal practice, to be critical of all movements, and always question who is being excluded. It highlights that what may appear like making things better may actually be a contribution to the legitimization of the system that one intends to challenge.