ACM Cosponsors Policy Event Focused on Cyber Security Research
Working in partnership with the Computing Research Association Grand Challenges Conference, ACM cosponsored a policy luncheon for Congressional staff and agency officials focusing on long-term challenges in computer and network security research. (November 20, 2003)

USACM Outlines Concerns with ICANN's WHOIS Policy
USACM recently joined over 50 other organizations from 22 countries around the world to urge the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to limit the use and scope of the WHOIS database. (October 28, 2003)

USACM Co-Chair Participates in a Congressional Voting Discussion
USACM Co-Chair Barbara Simons participated in the Congressional Black Caucus 33rd Annual Legislative Week as a panelist in a discussion of the recent Help American Vote Act and voting rights. Dr. Simons offered comment on USACM's recommendation that a voter-verified audit trail be one of the essential requirements for deployment of new voting systems. (September 26, 2003)

USACM Supports Reasonable Access to Facts and Ideas
USACM recently endorsed the Congressional testimony of ACM Fellow William Wulf regarding proposals to create additional legal protections for data (facts and ideas) contained in a database. USACM remains concerned that new database proposals could threaten the legitimate needs and expectations of the research and higher education communities and supports the principles articulated in Dr. Wulf's testimony. (September 23, 2003)

USACM Helps to Shape Key Computer Technology Issues
An article in the current issue of ACM MemberNet provides an overview of several USACM policy initiatives over the past year. (September 1, 2003)

USACM Submits Annual Report to the ACM Council
USACM has submitted a report to ACM Council describing policy achievements and activities for the period of July 2002 through June 2003 (August 1, 2003).

USACM Sponsors Voter-Verifiable Election Systems Workshop
USACM sponsored a workshop to allow computer scientists and state and local election officials to discuss and debate the vulnerabilities of e-voting systems.(On July 28-29, 2003)

USACM's Internet Governance Committee releases a White Paper "Internet Governance: A View from the Trenches, Participation Needed for Successful Advocacy in the ICANN Arena". The report was prepared by the project director, Kathryn Kleiman, and reviewed by USACM. Funding for the report was provided by grant from Ford Foundation's Media, Arts and Culture unit. July 28, 2003

USACM Informs Senate Judiciary Committee on P2P Networks
USACM sent a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee concerning comments at a hearing to review policy issues raised by the emergence of Peer-to-Peer (P2P) file-sharing networks. The letter suggested that allowing copyright owners to intentionally damage computers used in acts copyright infringement would legitimize a variety of questionable acts and produce unintended consequences harmful to the use and continued development of the Internet. (July 27, 2003)

USACM Co-Chair Dr. Spafford Offers Cyber Security Testimony
USACM Co-Chair Dr. Eugene Spafford offered testimony before a House Armed Services Committee Subcommittee that focused on the Department of Defense's information assurance policy, assessing potential cyber threats and defense mechanisms currently in place to counter cyber threats, and private industry efforts to address cyber security. (July 24, 2003)

USACM Endorses a Position on SPAM and Privacy
USACM joined other groups in endorsing a SPAM privacy position. A letter sent to members of Congress outlined strong, effective and sensible solutions to limiting the growth of SPAM. (July 18, 2003)

USACM Informs Governor Bush of Super-DMCA Implications
USACM sent a letter to Florida Governor Jeb Bush concerning a broad state DMCA-like measure that restricts the use of certain computing technology in an effort to provide additional legal protections for communication services and digital content. (June 9, 2003)