[Dataloss] off-topic: Learning from Librarians

[Al Mac Wheel]

What a librarian can teach you about privacy
http://cwflyris.computerworld.com/t/3124317/308968/108105/2/

[...]

In 2003, the chief librarian of the city of Santa Cruz, Calif., was able to 
warn her patrons about whether the FBI had served a National Security 
Letter (NSL) demanding information about who was reading what books. She 
managed that task despite specific provisions in the USA Patriot Act at the 
time that prohibited librarians or booksellers from revealing to anyone 
that they'd been issued an NSL.

So, how did the librarian get the word out? By regularly reporting to the 
library board that no NSL had been issued to any of the city's 10 branches, 
which was perfectly legal. Everyone knew that if the chief librarian failed 
to report that nothing had happened, then indeed an NSL had been served.

{...]

virtually every librarian will comply with a court order or subpoena, where 
a specific suspect has been identified by law enforcement agencies

[ ..]

librarians will balk at what they consider "fishing expeditions," where the 
government simply wants to know who has been reading this or that book.

Let's face it: When it comes to keeping data secure, there's plenty that IT 
can learn from librarians. Just as ALA members ensure that their patrons' 
reading habits remain strictly private by establishing privacy audits, so, 
too, can CIOs audit their systems to ensure that customer and employee data 
is protected, says Caldwell-Stone. Privacy audits keep customer and 
employee content under wraps and can protect companies from embarrassing 
revelations.
-
Al Mac