(Via Marginal Revolution) The Los Angeles Times graces us with this bit of news:
Initially proposed by the bipartisan commission that investigated the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board was created by the intelligence overhaul that President Bush signed into law in December 2004.[...]
Foot-dragging, debate over its budget and powers, and concern over the qualifications of some of its members ” one was treasurer of Bush’s first campaign for Texas governor ” has kept the board from doing a single day of work.[...]
Critics say the inaction shows the administration is just going through the motions when it comes to civil liberties.
This doesn’t exactly seem like earth shattering news. It’s not at all surprising, given the lack of any effective, comprehensive privacy protections at the federal level.
I’m still not holding my breath for passage of a privacy amendment to the Constitution.
Folks, now that so much of our lives are electronically recorded and internetworked, and as technological advances make mining that data ever easier, the more imperative it becomes that some codification be given to the right to privacy.