Mark Summerfield, a patent attorney, analyses the current UK alleged piracy/copyright extradition case with major international ramifications. As well, there's links to the NYT coverage of proposed new US laws which are even more draconian, and to an SMH story of the real-life experience of an Australian extradited and jailed in the US for a similar 'offence'.

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Information Commissioner Prof John McMillan has agreed to highlight the risks surrounding biometric technology to both government and the private sector in future. His positive response follows a campaign by Civil Liberties Australia, the Australian Privacy Foundation and others over many months to raise appropriate awareness among those choosing security systems.

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Fringe-dwelling firms are finding sneaky ways to exploit government agreements to milk them for private data never envisaged when the deal was originally done. In the West, you park at your peril, because the government willy-nilly hands over your private address details – despite previously saying the information was 'off limits'

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Being selected for a 'Census' activity can be like the reverse of winning the lottery: all pain and no gain. CLA often gets complaints about mandatory rules of the Australian Bureau of Statistics for their numerous types of surveys. Here Toni Walker wonders what are the odds of being picked twice in a decade? What do you think?

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The Father of Freer Information in Australia, Senator John Faulkner, has given his creation – the Office of the Information Commissioner – a tick for achievements in its first 12 months. But he has reminded the Information, Privacy and FOI Commissioners that the big battles are still ahead, and that government information is a national resource.

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"Security" is the new catch-all excuse for massive, over-the-top spending without having to prove value for money, or pass a cost-benefit analysis, says economics guru Saul Eslake. From manufacturing through food to electricity and water, "security" has become the password for avoiding rigorous, independent, arms length scrutiny.

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The resignation of Ombudsman Allan Asher, pressured by the Executive Government, highlights the need for greater independence of the office, and a return to proper funding. John Wood – himself a former Deputy Ombudsman, and now consultant to Pacific states on the role – relates the history and urges taking the vital next step in protecting such an important citizens' advocate.

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The federal government has created another secret database where people merely "suspected" of arson will be tagged and flagged, to be hounded throughout summer if as much as a match strikes in their suburb. CLA is concerned that 'mates' will put mates' names down as a prank, neighbours in dispute will add the name of someone they don't like to the database: the traditional right of "innocent until proven guilty" is being trashed by governments in Australia.

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