Historians crusade to preserve 'E-mail.' (electronic mail)
Article Abstract:
The Bush administration is fighting historians, librarians and public-interest coalitions to have the right to erase computer back-up tapes of electronic mail (E-mail) correspondence among US National Security Council officials during the period of the 'Iran-Contra' operation. The tapes the administration wants erased include 98 tapes that have not been examined by Iran-Contra investigators. The tapes they examined formed the basis for charges against the scandal participants. The administration claims the tapes contain no valuable historical data because all executive branch E-mail must be printed out if significant. Historians contend that the 7.3 million pages of text on the tapes might contain information vital to historical studies, as well as revealing more truths about the scandal. The basis for the court case to preserve the tapes is the Federal Records Act requiring government documents to be preserved for posterity and freedom of information.
Publication Name: The Wall Street Journal Western Edition
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0193-2241
Year: 1992
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Debate mounts over disclosure of driver data
Article Abstract:
A controversy has arisen over public access to personal information about private citizens that is kept by motor vehicle bureaus and other government agencies across the US. In over 20 states, it is legal for individuals to purchase the name, address, and in some cases, the height and weight, of anyone holding a driver's license. Some states sell their entire driver information database to marketing companies. As the result of an anti-abortion activist group looking up the names and addresses of car owners parked at abortion clinics, a bill has been introduced in Congress to prohibit the proliferation of personal information by public agencies without a subject's consent. Private investigators and direct marketing organizations are among those opposed to the privacy legislation. Some civil libertarians oppose the bill as well, noting that, aside from commercial intrusions, the public's right to know outweighs an individual's right to privacy.
Publication Name: The Wall Street Journal Western Edition
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0193-2241
Year: 1992
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Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
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