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The article discusses revelations that the U.S. government, with approval by President George W. Bush, secretly collected telephone records of millions of Americans. It also discusses the nomination of General Michael Hayden to Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Some Democrats have been critical of the program, whereas most Republicans support it but are concerned that goals and limits have not been clearly defined.

The article refers to consumer protection laws in U.S. which provide legal support to the victims of abusive business practices or defective products. It involves the court case Campbell-Ewald Co. v. Gomez, in which the consumer Jose Gomez asserted personal and punitive class action claims against Campbell-Ewald Co. for the violation of Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). It also discusses Genesis HealthCare Corp. v. Symczyk case, where Fair Labor Standards Act was violated.

The article looks at the decision of U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York in the case Thomas Jennings v. Continental Service Group Inc. regarding the violation of Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) by making automated telephone calls of using artificial voice.

The article offers information on the judicial decision of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in the case of Yvette Miller v. 3G Collect LLC. It informs that the Senior District Judge Ronald L. Buckwalter denied the motions to dismiss counterclaim for lack of subject matter jurisdiction in an action brought by the debtor against the debt collector for automated calls to her cellular telephone violating the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).

The article offers information on the accomplishments of the ACA International in 2012. It states that a regulatory victory was achieved by ACA in January when the U.S. Federal Communications Commission's final rule for the Telephone Consumer Protection Act 2012 Report and Order did not include a burdensome provision with regards to the written authorization to call a wireless number of a consumer. It says that omnibus comments were submitted by the organization to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) in February concerning inherited regulations' streamlining. It adds that ACA's Annual Convention held in July featured CFPB nonbank supervision deputy director Peggy Twohig as speaker.

The article discusses a case filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois by consumer Richard Vigus and similarly situated persons against Southern Illinois Riverboat and Casino Cruises Inc. due to unwanted telephone calls. As stated, consumers received unwanted calls on their residential number violating Telephone Consumer Protection Act. The court denied the motion of plaintiff as proposed class was overbroad and plaintiff gave misleading information.

Discusses the constitutional issues involved in U.S. President George W. Bush's policy of monitoring of telephone calls and electronic mail messages under a U.S. National Security Agency's program at preventing terrorist attacks. Presidential power cited by Bush to legitimize the program; Dispute between presidential authority and citizens' rights; Issue of balancing national security and civil liberties protection discussed at the Senate confirmation for U.S. Supreme Court nominee Samuel A. Alito Jr.

This section offers news briefs on U.S. politics as of December 2014. The Senate rejected a bill proposed by Senator Mary Landrieu which is aimed at approving the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. The Senate Republicans have blocked a bill to rein in the abuse of domestic telephone call tracking by the National Security Agency. Companies have introduced a pension advance product which targets vulnerable retirees.

The article reports that some lawmakers in the U.S. have urged U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to curtail the collection of overseas electronic communications by the National Security Agency, during a House Judiciary Committee hearing held on April 8, 2014. It mentions that the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama should make a proposal to restructure bulk collection of NSA of U.S. phone records.

Discusses the accusations against U.S. Vice President Al Gore concerning fund-raising telephone calls allegedly made from the White House in 1997. Claims related to the violation of the section 607 of the Pendleton Act; Background of the development of the Act in 1882; Issues on the clarity of the criminal scope of the legislation; Details of related cases filed against former federal employees.

The article reports that the U.S. House passed the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, which prohibits the electronic surveillance of cellular telephone calls, electronic mail messages, and digital communications. The law is a response to lobbying from a fifty-member coalition that includes the American Civil Liberties Union, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the International Business Machines Corp.

The article reports on the propose plan of the European Commission (EC)on several measures of international communication on topics including European Union (EU) protection to net neutrality, roaming-free mobile plans and abolishment of premiums for international phone call services. The proposed telecom market reform aims to create strategic interest and economic progress among the European market. Also discussed are the factors for maintaining telecommunication services.

The author discusses the legislation of ACA International on liability debt collector that should be updated. The author says that ACA promotes itself as the knowledge-based and comprehensive resource for success in the collection and credit industry. The author states that ACA continues to do its job well in articulating the value of collection and credit industry to policymakers, and on the effect of Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) to consumers and debt collectors.

The author reflects on the relationship between privacy and the government. Topics include telephone and online communications data collection by the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA), why citizens all over the world should be concerned about the collection of metadata by governments, and an article within the issue on the switch from Internet firms that give personal data to governments, such as Google, to independent Internet firms that do not log or share user data.

The article discusses a U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ's) investigation into who leaked details of a foiled al-Qaeda terrorist group bombing plot to the Associated Press (AP) news agency in 2012, including information on the DOJ's use of secret subpoenas to collect AP members' phone call records.

The article discusses the penalties imposed on the University of Cincinnati by the National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) Committee on Infractions (COI), due to impermissible telephone recruiting calls by the coaching staff of women's basketball program. Details of penalties are also presented.

The article discusses the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on releasing a plan for debt collectors. Topics include plan to restrict phone collection attempts and allow borrower to receive other communications; views of Mark Neeb, chief executive officer at the Association of Credit and Collection Professionals on improving of several area including the arbitrary limit on call attempts; and rules for companies which include use of text messages and emails which benefited to debt collectors.

The article discusses the Telephone Consumer Protect Act (TCPA) regarding calls to cellular services without consent of the party and outside emergency purposes. Topics discussed include the case law Nigro versus Mercantile Adjustments Nureau, 2014 U.S. Appelate LEXIS 19817 (2nd Circuit October 16, 2014) on the numerous collection calls he received regarding the outstanding balance of another consumer. It also mentions the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) opinion on the case.

The article offers information on the adoption by U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) of additional protection under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) which would be effective on October 16, 2013. It states that the changes would increase protection of consumers from autodialed and robocalls through requiring of prior express written consent and application of no established business relationship exemption. It says that companies need to comply to avoid penalties.

The article focuses on the Do-Not-Call (DNC) registry carried out by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to step up its battle against illegal commercial robocalls in the U.S. According to Lois Greisman of FTC, the DNC registry has more than 221 million phone numbers and has protected consumer's privacy from unwanted calls of legitimate telemarketers. Moreover, FTC tells that robocalls still cause significant economic harm with deceitful goods and services.

The article offers information on various suggestions given to lawyers for time management. It gives recommendations that lawyers reduce the time of returning phone calls and response of e-mail. It highlights to prioritize the important tasks. It further discusses the importance of staff training for the enhancement of team work.

The article reports on the strict laws against the record of telephone conversations without permission in Illinois. This suggests that a recorded phone call can be used a basis for termination provided that the firing offense bordered on illegal activity. It presents a case noting the state's permission of exceptions for telephone calls that involve possible criminal activity.

The article reports on the opposition of ACA International Inc. to the proposal of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to amend rules enforcing the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). It states that the members and units collect funds worth 270,000 dollars to help fight the regulation that restricts anyone to contact consumer's wireless number. Moreover, ACA has outlined suggested amendments to the TCPA to address the concerns of affected industries.

The article discusses lawsuit by Pennsylvania woman Melody Stoops who admitted that she was in business of bringing lawsuits against companies over calls they made to her cell phones without her permission, violating the U.S. Telephone Consumer Protection Act and lawsuit against Wells Fargo firm.

The article talks about a decision by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to reform the prison phone industry.

The article reports on the ruling of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission's, regarding lowering of rate for phone calls placed by inmates and mention that the companies carrying phone calls have won a stay from the Federal appeals court in Washington, as the new rates are too low.

The article presents updates on issues related to the U.S. Armed Forces. Phone calls home for troops deployed overseas will be less costly through the implementation of the Call Home Act of 2006. A bill to improve benefits and services for combat veterans has been introduced by Democrat U.S. Democratic Senator Barack Obama from Illinois. The symposium "Is There Science Underlying Truth Detection?" will be held by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

The article offers technology updates as of September 2015. A U.S. Appeals court ruled that telephone calls resulting from inadvertent dialing are not protected by federal wire-tapping laws. There is a new system for measuring airport wait times that travelers at JFK Airport in New York can use. New roadside barriers that combine multiple technologies into brightly colored walls that combat noise pollution and collect solar energy are being tested by Dutch researchers.

The article reports on a ruling by United States Court of Appeals against dialing phones by mistake.

The article offers news briefs related to the computer industry. A U.S. surveillance court approves the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) request to extend the telephone records collection. The FBI conducts an investigation about an incident of damage to fiber-optic cables in the Bay Area. Amazon Web Services Inc. launches open source cryptographic module which secures sensitive data passing over the Internet.

The article reports on the approval of the U.S. Congress of the changes proposed to the surveillance laws enacted after the September 11, 2011 terrorism attacks, which eliminates the disputed bulk phone-records collection program of the National Security Agency.

The article focuses on the move of U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to push for a vote to extend the provisions of the Patriot Act that the National Security Agency has used to collect domestic telephone records. McConnell seeks to schedule votes to close debate over the USA Freedom Act and a second bill extending records collection program under the Patriot Act. An overview of the USA Freedom Act is provided.

The article reports on the opposition of civil liberties groups to the USA Freedom Act that would end the bulk domestic telephone record collection of the U.S. National Security Agency. Topics discussed include the provisions of the legislation, the amendment of the Patriot Act, and the reestablishment of proper national security-privacy balance.