DOJ

On April 25, 2023, four federal agencies — the Department of Justice (“DOJ”), Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”), Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”), and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) — released a joint statement on the agencies’ efforts to address discrimination and bias in automated systems. Continue Reading DOJ, FTC, CFPB, and EEOC Statement on Discrimination and AI

A group of senators announced on Wednesday that they would renew their push for federal legislation to limit the ability of federal authorities to compel journalists to reveal information about or obtained from confidential sources, after the U.S. Department of Justice announced it would tighten its own standards for when to seek such information.

The bill, the Free Flow of Information Act of 2013, is an updated version of a reporters’ shield bill that was considered in 2009. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) reintroduced the bill in mid-May of this year, co-sponsored by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC). The Obama administration asked Schumer to reintroduce the bill after the U.S. Justice Department disclosed that it had obtained call records for more than 20 telephone extensions of Associated Press journalists.

The bill generally would prevent federal authorities from compelling journalists to identify confidential sources or reveal information obtained under a promise of confidentiality, unless a court determines that the government has exhausted all reasonable alternative sources of the information and the government’s need for the information outweighs the public interest in the free flow of information.
Continue Reading Senators, Justice Department Voice Support for Expanding Journalists’ Protections

The Department of Justice has told a court that it will not be continuing its suit against Fox over Fox’s decision not to pay indecency fines relating to a 2003 episode of the reality show “Married by America.”  The episode in question showed pixelated nudity.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) originally had proposed a fine …
Continue Reading DOJ Drops Lawsuit to Collect on “Married by America” Indecency Fine

The Department of Justice (“DOJ”) is ramping up efforts against the illegal distribution of cell phone applications.  On August 21, 2012, Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer, Northern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Brian Lamkin announced a first of its kind seizure of three website domain names used to engage in the unlawful distribution of copyrighted Android cellular phone apps.  All three of the domain names—applanet.net, appbucket.net and snappzmarket.com—now resolve to websites displaying a message warning that willful copyright infringement is a federal crime.

Assistant Attorney General Breuer explained:  “Software apps have become an increasingly essential part of our nation’s economy and creative culture, and the Criminal Division is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to protect the creators of these apps and other forms of intellectual property from those who seek to steal it.”  Special Agent in Charge Lamkin added that this type of intellectual property theft “cost[s] companies millions of dollars and can even inhibit the development and implementation of new ideas and applications.”Continue Reading DOJ Seizes Domain Names To Prevent Theft Of Copyrighted Cell Phone Apps