Obama Gets Failing Grades From Privacy Advocates

President Obama earns poor to failing grades from privacy advocates who claim that his administration is neglecting privacy and civil-liberties issues as it focuses on the economy and health care.

The Privacy Coalition released a dismal report card Wednesday on the government's handling of such issues as online marketing, medical-record confidentiality, terrorist no-fly lists and airport security.

A consistent complaint is that the Obama White House hasn't delivered enough change from the previous administration. For instance, Obama's failure to disavow Bush-era electronic surveillance policies earned the administration a D overall from the coalition. "Privacy is a human rights issue. These rights aren't just abstract ideals in the sky," said Chip Pitts, president of the Bill of Rights Defense Committee. "For a former constitutional law lecturer, it's inexcusable."

Michael D. Ostrolenk, founder of the Medical Privacy Coalition, gave the president a D+ for his handling of medical record security, a grade worse than the group gave either presidents Bush or Clinton.

The Electronic Privacy Information Center conducted an online poll of visitors to its website which garnered the president straight F's on consumer privacy, medical privacy, civil liberties and cyber security.

"We gave the Obama administration an incomplete score (for consumer privacy) because they haven't really responded," said Susan Grant, the Consumer Federation of America's director of consumer protection. "Perhaps that's why many people who took the poll gave them a failing grade."

Comments

[mikebarden]

08:13 AM on 10/19/2009

Gee, I'm catchin' on to things that EVEN I'm not sure I wanna know.
I guess it comes down to this:
If you EVER get on the net, don't have ANY information on your computer that you don't wanna share.

[protagonia]

11:17 AM on 09/10/2009

Now that our H-G's (Home Grown Turrrorsuts's) are gathering, these laws now invert to be used on them, thus giving the current POTUS some protection both physically and legally. Leave them to stand for now.

[BBCup]

09:15 AM on 09/10/2009

Yes, Obama has to do it all right this second, juggle all those balls. He has an over-crowded playground full of spoiled, belligerent toddlers to deal with. How about we cut the man a break and give him his four years to get things done.

[yweston]

09:43 AM on 09/10/2009

People are "Cwazy". Give the man a chance to get one thing done before whining about another.

[BBCup]

09:48 AM on 09/10/2009

Exactly, especially when the kids play so well together.

[MicheleCA]

12:49 AM on 09/10/2009

from the first time i heard him speak about it i have been concerned over health/medical records & privacy rights.

i don't like having to become a supermarket or drugstore "club member", i opt out of everything, & i know once something goes IT...

it would be one thing if each hospital used their own data base & it remained at that facility.

i bet corporations would find a use for the information!

[WillTell]

09:57 PM on 09/09/2009

Regarding the President's address on health care:
"Let me say this about that" J.F.K.
Congratulations President Obama! Your outline of what you propose could not have been made more clear, and can only help everyone in America. To those that still oppose this progressive approach I can only say. " Oh ye of little faith", and I'll add "little charity".

To Rush, Beck and the like who only care about their ratings, I say, "You are nothing compared to the President of the United States" who's only true goal is for the betterment, and to do right for all the American people.

[lmvd3]

09:45 PM on 09/09/2009

NOW THAT'S good news.

[Phxflyer]

06:51 PM on 09/09/2009

The President is busy. He'll get to you issue later. Jesus.

[wandering girl]

09:52 PM on 09/09/2009

amen.

[Sarahmay57]

10:43 AM on 09/10/2009

Totally.

[naturesway]

06:24 PM on 09/09/2009

For heaven's sake, the man voted for FISA.
He said he had to to get elected.
You all believed him.
Said he would reverse it once elected.
He duped you all.
Meet the new boss...same as the old boss.

[JDM73]

06:50 PM on 09/09/2009

You said it, naturesway. When the man's last act as a senator was to vote in favor of continued warrantless wiretapping, it's hard to imagine how anyone could expect him to be a champion of civil liberties as president.

[AudiGuy]

08:20 PM on 09/09/2009

While you are on your soap box, research the liquid bombing plot discovered by the British in 2006. If successful, the plan would have made 911 look like a minor league game. So I will give my President a break on FISA and the benefit of the doubt on this subject.

[protagonia]

11:13 AM on 09/10/2009

But you voted for the old boss.

[MaybeMilo]

06:09 PM on 09/09/2009

F__k, it's not like President Obama doesn't have plenty to worry about - one thing at a time.

[tel8034]

06:09 PM on 09/09/2009

We know the President Obama has made history by becoming the first AA President, but NEVER in this country's history has there been a need to have SOOOOOOOOOO MANY CO-PRESIDENTS from every sector who believe that he needs to wait for their guidance and instruction on ALL aspects of both his professional and personal life BEFORE he acts.

Suddenly EVERYONE has become an EXPERT on what he should do or not do, and in what time frame he should do it in.................. No other president in US history has had to endure this constant pressure.

The color of President Obama's skin DOES NOT diminish his mental capacity ................. And not everything can be solved at once (especially if it's to be done properly).

While we often attempt to find OTHER reasons for the disrespect, the microscopic scrutiny of everything he says and does, the unsolicited advice from all quarters, and we try to avoid the OBVIOUS elephant in the room, it all comes back to the fact that the ONLY reason this is happening now (and NEVER before), is because he is the 1st AA President.

Have we really moved away from the historical racial stereotypes especially the ones where an AA is not smart and capable enough, cannot think through and solve complex problems on their own, cannot be given responsibility, and is certainly not on the same level and status as their white counterparts to be afforded the same respect, rights and perks?

[magnoliabird]

06:18 PM on 09/09/2009

Had to fav you for this statement. This is so true and needs to be posted and framed! Say it louder!

[mikebarden]

06:02 PM on 09/09/2009

Here's the way I see it:
He's only been President for 9 months &
he's kinda had his hands busy, but...
this is one I wonna keep an eye on.

[ilse]

05:38 PM on 09/09/2009

Blue dog democrats who have not yet openly supported Public Healthcare plan. Please call or contact them through their websites and ask them to support President Obama and the Public Healthcare Plan. We need to start putting pressure on them and let them know we want Public Healthcare.

Sen Max Baucus D MT Phone: [phone]
Sen Evan Bayh D IN Phone: [phone]
Sen Mark Begich D AK Phone: [phone]
Sen Robert Byrd D WV Phone: [phone]
Sen Thomas Carper D DE Phone: [phone]
Sen Kent Conrad D ND Phone: [phone]
Sen Mary Landrieu D LA Phone: [phone]
Sen Blanche Lincoln D AR Phone: [phone]
Sen Bill Nelson D FL Phone: [phone]
Sen Benjamin Nelson D NE Phone: [phone]
Sen Mark Pryor D AR Phone: [phone]
Sen Jon Tester D MT Phone: [phone]
Sen Mark Warner D VA Phone: [phone]
Sen Ron Wyden D OR Phone: [phone]

[bzb]

05:10 PM on 09/09/2009

President Obama we all know the conservatives and the rethuglicans are loonies over you being the first African-American which shouldn't make any difference. We also know the Senate is also deliberately holding up your appointees to your adminastration. But we all know your not bother by that and I'm glad your POTUS.

[VocalVet]

05:07 PM on 09/09/2009

I love the justifications in the comments: 'he can trample privacy rights for 3.5 years then right before re-election do something minor, then we can say to ourselves there was some change'. O how easy it is to buffalo the faithful.

[Siebenstein]

05:00 PM on 09/09/2009

Grades don't matter---votes DO !

Lets wait and see...............give it some time.

Today will be a BIG one !