The NYTimes broke a story this sunday on the results of the Electronic Privacy Information Center FIOA request for documents relating to CALEA. Article here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/11/national/nationalspecial3/11patriot.html
(You can find out what CALEA is and why I care by reading my professional blog at:
http://www.wetmachine.com/totsf/item/380
Among the parties actively resisting expansion of CALEA to apply to all broadband networks and private networks is the American Library Association. ALA operates a lot of networks, and would prefer not to have to have their architecture dictated by the FBI. Apparently, the FBI folks did not take kindly to this. In one memorable quote, an FBI analyst complained.
"While radical militant librarians kick us around, true terrorists benefit from OIPR's [the relevant FBI office] failure to let us use the tools given to us," read the e-mail message, which was sent by an unidentified F.B.I. official. "This should be an OIPR priority!!!"
Of course, the FBI stands in good company. The RIAA and other members of the copyright mafia have long expressed their ire that the ALA keeps opposing restrictions on technology to protect copyrights in the name of "fair use."
As I tell Aaron "lets go enjoy libraries now, while we still can."
