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Honoring our fallen heroes, Facebook listens in, and the House gives Freedom a chance [Government IT Week]

It's Memorial Day here in America, a day we remember our heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice (and, in a way that's uniquely American, we stuff our faces with burgers and hot dogs in their honor). In other news, Facebook wants to listen in, the House tries to stop the NSA from listening in, and lots more. Stay safe out there!
Written by David Gewirtz, Senior Contributing Editor

ZDNet's worldwide team provides global 24/7 technology news and analysis. In addition to my own coverage analysis here in the ZDNet Government column and on ZDNet's DIY-IT, every week I'll bring you a selection of the best government-related articles posted by our intrepid reporters and analysts. Here are some of the most interesting from the last week.

Top stories this week

Data caps are the least of America's internet problems
As American customers get themselves into a lather over the impost of fixed internet data caps, the reality is that soon, most internet users won't care or think about them.

Microsoft challenged an FBI National Security Letter, and won
Documents unsealed by a federal court in Seattle reveal Microsoft successfully litigated an information request from the FBI on one of its enterprise customers.

House passes Freedom Act in effort to curb NSA spying, despite withdrawn industry support
The bill was designed to curb NSA surveillance. But many groups have withdrawn their support after it was "watered down." Next stop, the Senate.

Facebook to listen in on status updates, if you let it
Facebook says its mobile application will be getting an ear for music, as well as for film or television show sound tracks.

Other government coverage around ZDNet

Labor to target NBN Co's Morrow over utilities lawsuit
In a move reminiscent of the Coalition's pursuit of former NBN Co CEO Mike Quigley, Labor has indicated it will question NBN Co CEO Bill Morrow in Budget Estimates this week about a lawsuit against a US utilities company he ran until 2008.

UK's data watchdog eyes probe into eBay's 'very serious' breach
eBay could soon face investigations in both Europe and the US.

Turnbull commences review of spectrum management
Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has commenced a review into the government's spectrum management policy for mobile technology use.

UK privacy watchdog says 'forget me, Google' ruling no threat to free expression
The UK's privacy watchdog challenges Google's view that Europe's top court got the "right to be forgotten" ruling wrong.

Two Anonymous members arrested for hacking
The Australian Federal Police have arrested two men suspected of attacking the websites and networks of the Australian and Indonesian governments, as well as Melbourne IT.

eBay argued against stronger privacy breach penalties
Just prior to suffering its own massive customer privacy breach, eBay had argued strongly against the need for statutory responses to privacy breaches.

eBay: Change your passwords due to cyberattack
eBay is telling customers they should reset passwords after a database holding customer names, addresses, and passwords was compromised.

Silent Circle secures $30 million in funding to expand Blackphone production
Private communications firm Silent Circle has secured $30 million in funding to cope with demand for the privacy-based Blackphone, as well as expand operations globally.

NSW e-voting shuns perfection for good, practical security
There will be several security measures in place for the next state election to ensure the security of votes through the iVote electronic voting system, New South Wales Electoral Commission CIO Ian Brightwell has said.

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