[10527] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
FOI Request for Database
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Paul P.Wittry III)
Thu Aug 15 20:19:07 1996
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 1996 15:59:35 -0500 (CDT)
From: "Paul P.Wittry III" <ppw3@everett.com>
To: Multiple recipients of list PACS-L <PACS-L@UHUPVM1.UH.EDU>
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L@UHUPVM1.UH.EDU>
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Hello all,
This message is relevent to both Libraries and Public Access Networks. I
suppose it's a good example of; "In order to get a 'right' we must give up a
'right'".
Does a company, or individual have the 'right' to a list of registered
'freenet' users? I guess it/they do. It _is_ public domain. Or is it? Should
it be? These are the questions I am asking myself.
These are the questions I would like to ask you. I assume, after reading
this list for a while, that many of its subscribers are involved with
libraries, and public access networks/systems. How do you feel when you read
this message? Are you a registered member of a 'freenet'? Have you or your
organization been "FOIA'd" for a list of its registered users? If so did you
respond with the information? How did you feel about doing that?
I have been doing some research in this area and would appreciate your
feedback. I'm after emotion and reaction, so feel free to rant. Answer by
private email if not appropriate for this list.
TIA,
-Paul
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>Date: Mon, 12 Aug 1996 08:06:39 -0700
>From:matt@dasher.csd.sc.edu
>Subject: FOI Request for Database
>
>Hello,
>I hope my first comment to the list generates some discussion. Please
>excuse the length, but I think some background will help the discussion.
>I am the current Director of MidNet, the community information network
>serving Columbia and the Midlands of South Carolina. We started with
>money from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting's Community-Wide
>Education and Information Service Program. Our founding sponsors were
>(and continue to be) the University of South Carolina, the Richland
>County Public Library, and South Carolina Educational Television. Our
>grant ran out on June 30, 1996, and we started charging an $18/year fee
>for a registered account. We are strictly non-profit, educational, and
>introductory in our focus. We receive some administrative and financial
>support from the University. In fact we are operated out of the
>College of Library and Information Science here at USC where I am also a
>very part-time student working on my Masters. We provide, dial-in access,
>free WWW services to non-profit agencies in the Midlands, inexpensive
>E-mail access, and free educational support through classes given at the
>library and university. I think we provide some good and necessary services
>to the community.
>
>On July 23 we received a Freedom of Information Act Request
>for "the complete database of information on users compiled under
>MidNet's operations." It was submitted by a local, commercial Internet
>service provider. (I quoted the request itself.) In other words, they want
>our mailing list so they can advertise with direct marketing. University
>legal council studied the situation and directed us to make available
>the information. Though I have been directed to not discuss the
>situation, I feel it is my duty to warn other folks in similar situations
>that it could happen to you too, and, if you are as opposed to the idea
>as I am, you need to study your organization and the law and prepare
>yourselves for what may come. I am sorry that it hit us out of the
>blue. I think it is a blatant misuse of the Act and bad business to
>boot! The Act was designed and implemented by Congress to make the
>government accountable to the people for possible abuses of power -- not
>to steal a membership database from a non-profit agency trying to make a
>difference through education and support. I view the surrender of our
>users' personal information as fundamentally wrong in every way.
>
>Has this happened to anyone else? I know most of you folks work for
>libraries and are protected somewhat, but I got a real problem because I
>consider myself a public librarian, and I don't want to give up this list.
>( I am supposed to this Friday.) I also need discussion on how we can
>prevent this in the future, other than eliminating support from the
>university which, at this point, is vital. Please commiserate or tell me
>why I am wrong!
>
>Matthew Penn
>Director, MidNet
>matt@dasher.csd.sc.edu
>http://www.midnet.sc.edu
>
>
-----------------------------------END--------------------------------
___________________________________________________________________________
Paul Wittry, Visual Artist, Philosopher, Poet|"A poet is a dethroned king
Internet:<ppw3@everett.com> <bi065@scn.org> |sitting among the ashes of
Homepage:<http://www.everett.net/users/ppw3> |his palace trying to form an
PGP Public Key=Finger:<ppw3@everett.com> or |image from out of the ashes."
Homepage. Please, encrypt your messages!!!! |_______________Kalil Gibran__
