Tag Archives | Students

EFF Internship Week 2: Facial Recognition and Privacy

By on June 2, 2013 in Internet, Privacy

[Ed: This is the second in a series of posts by Natasha Duarte, who is blogging about her summer internship experience at EFF.] This week I researched how state law enforcement agencies use facial recognition software to track individuals. I’m helping EFF prepare public records requests to gather more information on the facial recognition and biometric tracking programs being deployed throughout the United States.

If you’ve ever had your picture taken for a driver’s license or other photo ID, your face is probably in a database used by the DMV, state law enforcement agencies, and the FBI for almost limitless tracking purposes.  Some agencies use mobile systems in the field to detect a person’s facial measurements, fingerprints, and other biometrics. The system automatically scans a database and matches the person’s face with any other information the government has access to.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is reportedly developing systems that will scan crowds in stadiums or other areas, matching faces in the crowd with these extensive databases. While it might help track criminal suspects, the curre

nt technology is susceptible to mismatches, and the databases include photos of individuals who have never been arrested, charged, or convicted.

Despite its dangerous privacy implications, the use of facial recognition technology by the government remains unregulated. In Arizona, facial recognition systems developed to find “terrorists” reportedly have been used to track protestors associated with the Occupy movement and to do instant immigration background checks at traffic stops.

But the most detailed facial recognition database is not the FBI’s—it’s Facebook’s. Facebook already uses facial recognition software (that’s how it knows whom to tag when you upload a photo). Some proponents of facial recognition programs have suggested that the government should incorporate social network photos into its databases. Unlike most frontal driver’s license photos, Facebook photos reveal what a person looks like from different angles, how tall she is, how she dresses, whom she hangs out with, and where she hangs out. Facebook has not indicated that it would cooperate with requests to search its database, but access to social network data could be a powerful and dangerous tool for law enforcement.

Living in San Francisco:

 

Dancers in a parade at Carnaval, an annual Latin American and Caribbean festival that takes place in San Francisco’s Mission District.

Dancers in a parade at Carnaval, an annual Latin American and Caribbean festival that takes place in San Francisco’s Mission District.

Carnaval, a Latin American and Caribbean festival, took place in my neighborhood last weekend. I love how many different cultures intersect in San Francisco, especially in the Mission District. Here’s a photo I took of some of the dancers in the Carnaval parade.

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Center Staffers Honored

By on April 23, 2013 in Center for Media Law and Policy

Three students who work in the UNC Center for Media Law and Policy were honored at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication’s annual awards ceremony on April 22, 2013.

Liz Woolery, a second-year Ph.D. student, won the John B. Adams Award for Excellence in Mass Communication Law.  Liz plans events and does communications work for the center

John Remensperger was honored as the year’s outstanding master’s graduate.  He designed and maintains the center’s website.

Julia Wall received the Stuart Sechriest Award, which is given to the top undergraduate photojournalism student.  She was the center’s photographer this semester.

Congratulations to our wonderful students!

 

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Summer Public Interest Grants for Law and Graduate Students

By on March 21, 2013 in Journalism

Each year, the UNC School of Law provides summer grants to law students taking unpaid or low-paying summer public interest jobs. Funding for these grants comes from several sources including: the Carolina Public Interest Law Organization (CPILO), private funds given through generous donors, law school funds allocated by the Dean, and student organizations that fundraise to support students working in a particular area of interest.  This year the Center for Media Law and Policy is also contributing funds to assist students (both UNC law and graduate students) who have a summer job in the field of media law or media policy.

For UNC law students, the deadline for applying for a summer grant is March 21, 2013 at 5:00 p.m.  The application process (and general requirements) for these funds is the same as for the law school’s Summer Public Interest Grant.  Simply check the box on the general application for “Media Law or Policy” under the heading “Substantive Areas Your Summer Employment Will Involve” and you will be automatically considered for these funds.  If you have already filled out an application, just log back in and check the box for “Media Law or Policy”; you can make changes to your application until the application deadline at 5pm today (3/21).

For UNC graduate students, the deadline for applying for a summer grant is March 25, 2013 at 5:00 p.m.  Please download the application form and send it directly to us at medialaw [at] unc.edu along with the other supporting material described below.  Students will be notified of a decision in early April.

Requirements and Information on How to Apply

You must have a job offer from one of the following types of organizations to be eligible: a nonprofit organization (an organization that is described in section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of the Code), a legal aid office, a state or federal government agency, a public defender office, or a district attorney office.

Applications will be evaluated based on (a) your demonstrated commitment to public service and (b) the quality of your essays (each essay must not be more than 500 words).

Required documents include:

  1. Resume (without grade information)
  2. Offer letter from your employer
  3. Essays (no more than 500 words each) *

* Essay questions:

  • Essay #1: Describe your work responsibilities and the community needs you will be addressing.
  • Essay #2: Describe your commitment to public service. How have your past interests and work experiences contributed to your proposed summer internship responsibilities?
  • Essay #3: How do you see this summer work experience contributing to your long-term career goals?

Be sure to check out 10 Tips for Writing a Strong Grant Application.

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Paid Internship at the NPPA Writing About Media Law

By on March 8, 2013 in Journalism

This just dropped into my inbox from the National Press Photographers Association, located just up the road in Durham:

The National Press Photographers Association is searching for a paid intern to help promote our advocacy efforts and assist with legal writing, news stories and press releases. Topics that you will write about will primarily include legal issues facing photojournalists, in particular First Amendment and copyright issues, and NPPA’s response to those issues. Some of the issues can be complex, so a willingness to learn and an ability to break down complicated issues into readable stories is critical. You may also be asked to write about non-legal issues facing photojournalists. NPPA’s two attorneys will supervise, providing legal knowledge and information but you will be expected to be able to work independently. We are willing to work with schools who will allow credit for the internship. You will be working remotely and must provide your own computer with Microsoft Word, and internet access.

Required:
Previous writing experience is required with a preference for writing about media industry or legal issues.
Copy editing experience
Ability to work 10 to 15 hours per week.
Basic understanding of the law, the media and photography industry
Ability to work independently, with and without supervision

Desired:
Photography experience.
Proximity to Durham, North Carolina.

To apply:

Send cover letter explaining why you are well suited for this position, along with a resume, three references and three to five published writing samples to:

Mindy Hutchison
Executive Director
National Press Photographers Association
3200 Croasdaile Dr Ste 306
Durham NC 27705

Or via email to: director@nppa.org

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UNC Students Presenting Research at AEJMC Southeast Colloquium

By on February 28, 2013 in Copyright, First Amendment, Internet, Journalism, Privacy

UNC School of Journalism and Mass Communication graduate students will present 13 research papers at the AEJMC Southeast Colloquium in Tampa this week. Ph.D. student Liz Woolery, who works in our media law center, will present two papers, one of which won third place in the Law and Policy Division. Both of Liz’s papers are about the rights of journalists and others to gather news.

For this conference, papers go through a process of blind review, and then the best papers are selected to be presented at the conference. Faculty and student authors compete against one another.

This will be the first academic conference for most of the students, but they’re ready. They have polished their papers and rehearsed their presentations.

 

Accepted Law and Policy Division papers include:

“Documenting Fair Use: Has the Statement of Best Practices Loosened the Fair Use Reins for Documentary Filmmakers?” — Jesse Abdenour, first-year doctoral student

“The Advertising Regulation ‘Green Zone’: Analyzing Parallels of Commercial Speech Jurisprudence As It Might Apply to the Growing Issue of Medicinal Marijuana Advertising, Using the Denver Advertising Ban as an

Illustrative Example” — Joseph Cabosky, first-year doctoral student

“Hazelwood’s Footnote Seven” — Ryan N. Comfort, first-year master’s student

“Consumer Protection Challenges on the Social Web: How the FTC Regulates Consumer-Generated Media as Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising” — Emily A. Graban, first-year master’s student

“Abortion Informed Consent Laws: How Have Courts Considered First Amendment Challenges?” — Jaya Mathur, first-year master’s student

“How the FTC Has Enforced Its Deception Jurisdiction in Cases Involving an Ill, and Therefore, Vulnerable Audience” — Emery Rogers, first-year master’s student

“A Decade of True Threats Decisions Since Virginia v. Black: The Digital Age Demands Supreme Court Attention to True Threats Definition and Doctrine” — Lynn Marshele Waddell, first-year master’s student

“The Press, the Public, and Capital Punishment: California First Amendment Coalition and the Development of a First Amendment Right to Witness Executions” — Elizabeth Woolery, second-year doctoral student

“When News(Gathering) Isn’t Enough: The Right to Gather Information in Public Places” — Elizabeth Woolery, second-year doctoral student

 

Accepted Newspaper and Online Division papers include:

“Three Days a Week: Has a New Production Cycle Altered The Times-Picayune’s News Coverage?” — David Bockino, first-year doctoral student

 

Accepted Open Division papers include:

“The Creepiness Factor: Explaining Conflicting Audience Attitudes toward Tailored Media Content” — Lisa Barnard, second-year doctoral student

“What Motivates People to Pass on Anti-brand Rumors Online?” — Hyosun Kim, second-year doctoral student

“What Sports Journalists Need to Know: Four Areas of Student-athlete Privacy Invasion” — Sada Reed, first-year doctoral student

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