NEWS ROUNDUP

Government

• Comprehensive credit card complaint collection commenced: A new public database of consumers’ official complaints to credit card companies has been released by the Consumer Fraud Protection Bureau. (Washington Post)
• Country with most user data requests is U.S., says Google: According to Google’s biannual transparency report, the United States has filed more requests with the company to provide user data in 2011 than any other country, and the number of these requests has grown by over a third from the year before. (All Things Digital)

Campaign Finance

• Super PACs outspent by nonprofits in 2010 elections: 501(c)(4) nonprofit groups spent $95 million in the 2010 election cycle compared to the $65 million spent by super PACs. These groups do not have to disclose their donors, and subsequently almost 90% of the nonprofits’ money came from groups who kept the identities of their funders in the dark. (iWatch News)
• First texting, now Twitter?: In the wake of the FEC approval of campaign donations by text message, a new tool has been launched that allows people to tweet monetary contributions to campaigns. Two dozen campaigns have already enlisted the service.(Politico)

International

• New EU ethics guidelines include transparency: An announcement by the European Union’s ombudsman that defines principles to be followed by officials and civil servants contains a provision for a commitment to transparency. (Europa)
• Spain’s information access law still inadequate: The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe has released a statement condemning the second draft of Spain’s transparency law, calling the changes “cosmetic” and offering suggestions of its own. (Access Info)

RELEVANT BILLS INTRODUCED

• H.R.5905: A bill to to combat international violence against women and girls. “Upon request, the Secretary of State shall provide to Congress the information made available under sections 5(b) and 6(b), including outcomes and impacts related to prevention and response to violence against women and girls internationally submitted by contractors, subcontractors, grantees, and subgrantees, unless such disclosure would inhibit the security or effectiveness of such entities.” Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

HAPPENING TODAY 6/19

• Best Practices in Transforming Research into Innovation. House Science, Space, and Technology. Tues. 6/19. 10:00 a.m. 2318 Rayburn House Office Building. Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation hearing.

• New Technologies and Innovations in the Mobile and Online space, and the Implications for Public Policy. House Judiciary. Tues. 6/19. 10:00 a.m. 2141 Rayburn House Office Building. Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Competition, and the Internet hearing.

• The Economic Impact of Ending or Reducing Funding for the American Community Survey and other Government Statistics. Joint Economic Committee. Tues. 6/19. 2:30 p.m. 210 Cannon House Office Building. Hearing.

• The Internet Presidential Campaign of 2012. Tues. 6/19. 8:00 – 10:00 a.m. Clyde’s of Gallery Place, 707 7th Street NW, Washington, D.C.

SCHEDULED TOMORROW 6/20

• Pro Technology Breakfast Briefing. Wed. 6/20. 8:00 – 9:30 a.m. 901 K St NW, Washington, D.C.

• Open Source Summit: Wed. 6/20 – Thurs. 6/21. 9:00 a.m – 5:00 p.m. Van Munching Hall: University of Maryland Business School. 7621 Mowatt Lane, College Park, Maryland.

• U.S Department of State Twitter Briefing. Wed. 6/20. 2:30 p.m. https://twitter.com/StateDept. #AskState.

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