The lines between compliance and e-discovery are drawing closer. New York’s IBM has acquired California-based PSS Systems. PSS Systems develops Atlas, an information governance suite that helps users analyze and assess risks in maintaining data and formulate policies and automate workflows to dispose of excess data. According to Ron Ercanbrack, vice president of enterprise content management at IBM, Atlas is a “logical complement” to other IBM products like Content Collector and eDiscovery Analyzer and Manager. “With the acquisition of PSS Systems, we are able to expand our portfolio with a broader set of legal solutions that for the first time link corporate legal hold policies to the reality of how information is managed and disposed of,” explains Ercanbrack.
Judge Jacqueline Davies – The Twitter Joke Judge
November 28, 2010 — 585The twitter joke trial has now become main stream news thanks, almost entirely, to the blogging community.
The case itself it’s pretty shocking and has been dealt with by numerous other articles.
The aim of this article is not to discuss the specifics of case, but the latest Judge to become involved in this case – Judge Jacqueline Davies.
Judge Jacqueline Davies, pictured below, is a circuit judge. She was married to Paul Clark, also a judge, who died on October 6, 2008 (aged 68).
Judge Jacqueline Davies
During the appeal against the conviction of Paul Chambers Judge Jacqueline Davies stated that the “[The Tweet was] menacing in its content and obviously so. It could not be more clear. Any ordinary person reading this would see it in that way and be alarmed. The airport staff did see it and were sufficiently concerned to report it……We find it impossible to accept that anyone living in this country, in the current climate of terrorist threats, would not be aware of the consequences of their actions in making such a statement.”
Paul Chambers tweet, for those who have not seen it was
“Crap! Robin Hood Airport is closed. You’ve got a week and a bit to get your shit together, otherwise I’m blowing the airport sky high!”
A key part of her judgements is worth repeating, due to its sheer lunacy:
“[The tweet was] menacing in its content and obviously so. It could not be more clear. Any ordinary person reading this would see it in that way and be alarmed”
Given that thousands of people around the world repeated the words on Twitter, showed that many people do no find it phrase menacing. Clearly the “ordinary” person reading those words was not in anyway alarmed.
The question is how “ordinary” is Jaqueline Davies to convict a man, on appeal, of little more than an understandable tantrum?
A quick check of the internet will easily find people saying far more harmful things with no element of humour at all.
Below are a sample of comments taken from YouTube, found within a few moments:
- god dam pope can burn on a stick shoved up his ass
- I HOPE YOU FUCKING DIE!!!!!!!!”
- You fringe neo-Nazi freaks
- Hey shut the fuck up ur annoying kid , AND EAT MY NUTS NOOB
These quotes are all from the videos on subjects of science and politics, on one of the worlds largest sites. The people making these comments tend to be repeatedly aggressive and threatening, with no hint of humour. Sadly this is the nature of the internet.
It’s highly unlikely that Jacqueline Davies is aware of the nature of the internet, forums, YouTube, Facebook, instant messaging or Twitter.
Paul Chambers next step is to head to the High Court.
WikiLeaks Under “Attack” by DDoS
November 28, 2010 — 585Wikileaks is currently under a massive Distributed Denail of Service according the BBC.
In other, and entirely unreleated news WikiLeaks is just about to release diplomatic cables that are both secret and embarassing for the US Government.
Information Commissioner – June 2009
November 28, 2010 — 585The current Information Commissioner is Christopher Graham, who replaced the outgoing Richard Thomas
Chris Graham ICO
Christopher Graham became Information Commissioner in June 2009. The Information Commissioner is appointed by HM The Queen and has independent status, reporting directly to Parliament, with a range of responsibilities under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Data Protection Act 1998 and related laws. The functions of the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) include promoting good practice, ruling on complaints and taking regulatory action.
Christopher’s career began at the BBC as a radio and TV journalist. Most recently he has been:
- Director General of the Advertising Standards Authority;
- Chairman of the European Advertising Standards Alliance; and
- Secretary of the BBC.
He was a Non-Executive Lay Representative of the Bar Standards Board and a Non-Executive Director of Electoral Reform Services Ltd. He studied History at Liverpool University and his interests include media, music, singing, history and writing.
Where is Your Data? 