The Wall Street Journal writes that “Yahoo Inc. is in the final stretch of its search for a chief executive officer, and a decision could come as soon as next week, said people close to the Internet company.  Among candidates still under consideration is Carol Bartz, the former chief executive officer of Autodesk Inc., a publicly traded company that builds design software used in engineering. She's ‘on the list,’ said a person familiar with the matter, adding that she has impressed the Yahoo directors she has met so far.  A Yahoo spokesman declined to comment. An Autodesk spokeswoman said Ms. Bartz was traveling Thursday and couldn't be reached for comment. Her candidacy was first reported by the Web site AllThingsD.com, which is owned by Dow Jones & Co., publisher of The Wall Street Journal.  Whether Ms. Bartz is a backup candidate or a front-runner remains unclear. People familiar with the matter said the board is leaning toward an external pick at this phase, as it winds down a search it formally announced on Nov. 17.”

According to the Register, “

[a] heavyweight advisory report has said that current US technology controls and regulation on foreign researchers are ‘broken’ and ‘quietly undermine our national security and economic well-being.’  The authors – including former national security adviser Brent Scowcroft – recommend that President Obama should streamline the rules aggressively using an executive order.  The report, titled Beyond Fortress America – National Security Controls on Science and Technology in a Globalised World can now be read online here.  In it, the authors – led by Mr Scowcroft, who was national security adviser to Presidents Ford and Bush the Elder – have stinging words for the unwieldy US technology-export controls, designed to prevent America's enemies acquiring its advanced weapons.

Slashdot reveals that “Representative Rick Boucher (D-VA) will be taking the chair of the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet. Rep. Boucher has been an advocate for consumers rights and is a co-founder of the Congressional Internet Caucus.” 

Internetnews.com reports that “[o]ne year after trying unsuccessfully to introduce legislation on data breaches and protection of individual privacy, California Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) is trying again.  This week, she introduced Bills S.139, the Notification of Risk to Personal Data Act and S.141, the Social Security Number Misuse Prevention Act.  Bill S.139 would require federal agencies or businesses to notify both the media and victims whose personal data has been breached without unreasonable delay, although limited exemptions are allowed for law enforcement and national security reasons.”

MSNBC has an interesting CES-related article pointing out that “[t]he big consumer electronic debuts at this year’s more subdued CES aren’t whiz-bang computer or gaming systems. They’re innovations designed to finally meet longstanding demands in the technology already used by consumers, who are reluctant to spend big on new toys during a recession.”