XML standards body starts criminal record committee

The Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards has formed a committee to create a framework for government agencies to share criminal records.

The OASIS LegalXML Lawful Intercept XML technical committee will match technical standards with governmental mandates, such as the Homeland Security Information Sharing Act of 2002, H.R. 4598. The act allows federal agencies to declassify information so that it can be made more quickly available to local law enforcement agencies. The law also eases prohibitions on wiretap and foreign intelligence information, according to the National Association of Police Organizations.

"Government agencies, as well as providers of electronic communication services worldwide, will benefit from uniform XML schema that facilitates fully electronic receipt, authentication, and implementation of lawful process," said Anthony Rutkowski, vice president for Internet strategy for VeriSign Inc., Mountain View, Calif. Rutkowski chairs the OASIS LegalXML LI-XML Technical Committee.