Privacy battle picks up steam

Now that the impeachment trial is no longer the primary focus of the federal government, the issue of online privacy returns to the fore. As Sen. Conrad Burns posts a draft of the Online Privacy Protection Act, critics of Intel's new chip technology are trying to enlist the government to take a stand against the company's Pentium III processor, which allegedly can trace where users have been on the Internet.

Net privacy protection measures proposed Web sites could be forced to disclose their personal data collection practices under regulations being formulated by Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Montana). Critics may try to widen Intel boycott Critics of Intel's new chip technology reportedly are trying to widen a boycott and enlist the government to take a stand against the Pentium III processor. Virginia cracks down on sexual content A federal court rules that state employees in Virginia do not have a First Amendment right to access "sexually explicit communication" on the Net, even if it is job-related.