• The State E-rate Coordinators’ Alliance criticized the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) in recent comments regarding a rulemaking under the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA). According to the Alliance, USAC set a dangerous precedent by citing a school district for the failure of its filter to block access to Facebook and MySpace. Social networking sites “if properly monitored as required by CIPA rules, may provide valuable educational benefits,” the Alliance said. The Alliance urged the FCC to make clear that USAC’s authority “does not extend to interpretations of what Web sites must be blocked by E-rate applicants.”
  • A federal judge in the US District Court for the Northern District of California has approved the settlement of a class action lawsuit against Facebook, Inc. for privacy violations. US District Judge Richard Seeborg in San Jose ruled that the settlement, which will have settlement funds directed toward the establishment of a privacy foundation, rather than distributing funds to the 3.7 million people represented in the class action, is a better use of the money. Some had objected to the proposed settlement and the fact that Facebook would have authority to appoint some of the members of the foundation’s board of directors. Judge Seeborg dismissed that objection, stating, “there is no persuasive showing that the foundation will be a mere publicity tool for Facebook.”