Don't forget to check out http://www.auda.org.au/domain-news/ for the archive of the last 3 months of the news. And see my website - http://GoldsteinReport.com/ - for daily updates in between postings. *************************************************** The domain name news is supported by auDA *************************************************** Internet organisations furious over government-only IGF decision by Kieren McCarthy http://gibc.biz/2010/12/internet-organisations-furious-over-government-only-igf-decision/ ICANN Board Plans Consultation with Government Representatives on New Generic Top-Level Domains and .XXX Top-Level Domain http://icann.org/en/news/releases/release-2-10dec10-en.pdf ICANN delays TLD expansion approval [IDG] http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/371011/icann_delays_tld_expansion_approval/ ICANN Delays New gTLDs, Again, To Consider Public Comment http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=13098 Fate of new TLDs to be settled in private by Milton Mueller http://blog.internetgovernance.org/blog/_archives/2010/12/10/4700595.html Update from ICANN ? ?We have reached a turning point? http://www.mindsandmachines.com/2010/12/update-from-icann-we-have-reached-a-turning-point/ Another big step forward for new TLDs by Adrian Kinderis http://www.ausregistry.com/blog/?p=700 auDA seeks to wind up Bottle Domains (Australian Style Pty Ltd) http://www.auda.org.au/news-archive/auda-02122010/ Australians supported by auDA Foundation Grants http://blog.auda.org.au/2010/12/07/australians-supported-by-auda-foundation-grants/ SWITCH and wikileaks.ch http://www.switch.ch/about/news/2010/wikileaks The Swiss registry has refused to block domain name wikileaks.ch http://cctld.ru/en/news/news_detail.php?ID=1171 .XXX Faces More ICANN Approval Delays http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=13097 Implementing DNSSEC by Torbj?rn Ekl?v, Interlan Gefle AB, and Stephan Lagerholm, Secure64 Software Corp. http://www.cisco.com/web/about/ac123/ac147/archived_issues/ipj_13-2/132_dnssec.html Why WikiLeaks hackers are a glitch, not a cyberwar by Douglas Rushkoff, author most recently of "Program or Be Programmed" and "Life Inc: How Corporatism Conquered the World and How to Take it Back" http://edition.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/12/10/rushkoff.hacking.wikileaks/ Democratic Underground Responds to Righthaven Copyright Troll Lawsuit http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/12/democratic-underground-responds-righthaven Copyright Troll Demands Drudge Report Domain Name http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/12/drudge-report-domain ********************** REPORTS & RESEARCH PAPERS ********************** 2012 Isn't the End of the World by Vinton G. Cerf [IEEE Internet Computing] The Internet address space has used a format called IPv4 since 1977, but this only allows for 4.3 billion unique termination points in the Internet. It is now clear that more terminations must be supported and the recommended format is called IPv6 and uses 128 bit addresses. The IPv4 address space is going to exhausted by 2012 or sooner. It is time to implement IPv6 everywhere in the Internet and to assure full connectivity among all IPv6-capable devices and sub-networks. http://doi.ieeecomputersociety.org/10.1109/MIC.2010.131 ********************** GOVERNANCE ********************** ICANN Joins Broad Coalition in Opposing a Government Only U.N. Advisory Committee to Internet Governance Forum ICANN has joined other groups in sending a letter to the United? Nations? Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD), which expresses surprise and strong opposition to a government-only model for participation and consultation in working group whose mission is to study improvements to the Internet Governance Forum. http://icann.org/en/news/releases/release-3-10dec10-en.pdf Internet organisations furious over government-only IGF decision by Kieren McCarthy Ten Internet organisations, including ICANN, the Internet Society, regional Internet registry APNIC, and country registry operators AuDA and Nominet, have responded angrily to a closed-doors decision by the UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development to eliminate anyone but governments from a key decision-making on the future of the IGF. http://gibc.biz/2010/12/internet-organisations-furious-over-government-only-igf-decision/ Online groups slam Internet Governance Forum A number of internet groups are petitioning the United Nations over plans for the Internet Governance Forum (IGF). http://www.v3.co.uk/v3/news/2273887/icann-united-nations-internet ********************** DOMAIN NAMES ********************** ********************** - ICANN ********************** ICANN Board Plans Consultation with Government Representatives on New Generic Top-Level Domains and .XXX Top-Level Domain ICANN?s Board of Directors plans an extended meeting with its Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) to resolve the remaining concerns of the committee?s members over ICANN?s plans to expand the current number of 21 generic top-level domains (gTLDs), such as .com, .net and .gov. http://icann.org/en/news/releases/release-2-10dec10-en.pdf Advancing ICANN Accountability and Transparency ICANN is taking steps to provide unprecedented public access to actions by its Board of Directors. http://icann.org/en/news/releases/release-10dec10-en.pdf Public Comment: TLG Review ? Final Report ICANN continues its work to conduct bylaw mandated organizational reviews to provide for continual improvement in its technical coordination and policy development support roles. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-10dec10-en.htm ICANN delays TLD expansion approval [IDG] ICANN postponed approval of a mechanism to let groups apply for and manage new Internet domain extensions called generic Top Level Domains (gTLDs), such as the existing .com and .net. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9200818/ICANN_delays_TLD_expansion_approval http://www.networkworld.com/news/2010/121010-icann-delays-tld-expansion.html http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/213257/.html http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/371011/icann_delays_tld_expansion_approval/ ICANN Delays New gTLDs, Again, To Consider Public Comment ICANN has delayed, once again, the introduction of new gTLDs at its meeting in Cartagena, Colombia. http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=13098 http://www.domainpulse.com/2010/12/11/icann-delays-new-gtlds-again-to-consider-public-comment/ http://domainnews.com/en/icann-delays-new-gtlds-again-to-consider-public-comment.html Fate of new TLDs to be settled in private by Milton Mueller At the ICANN meeting in Colombia, the board passed resolutions indicating that it is one last step away from implementing the program to create new top level domains. The board considers the problems of trademark protection, root scalability, mitigating malicious conduct and economic analysis to be closed. http://blog.internetgovernance.org/blog/_archives/2010/12/10/4700595.html Update from ICANN ? ?We have reached a turning point? Here?s a quick update from the ICANN meeting in Cartagena. I will publish a fuller analysis later. The quick take-away is that the new gTLD process is now nearly inevitable, and that the GAC and the ICANN Board will meet in February 2011 to resolve the remaining issues. This will push the timeline out, but not by much, perhaps a month or two. http://www.mindsandmachines.com/2010/12/update-from-icann-we-have-reached-a-turning-point/ Icann delays web domain expansion plan The global body that controls website addresses has put off plans to enable the creation of hundreds of top-level domain names to compete with .com and .net in the wake of objections from the US http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/3b22f0e8-04b5-11e0-a99c-00144feabdc0,dwp_uuid=9a36c1aa-3016-11da-ba9f-00000e2511c8.html So What Exactly Did ICANN Decide About .XXX and New TLDs Today? There?s an old truism amongst lawyers. Show them a one page contract and they?ll tell you it?s rock solid. Show them a long contract and they can start poking holes in it. http://domainnamewire.com/2010/12/10/so-what-exactly-did-icann-decide-about-xxx-and-new-tlds-today/ ICANN new TLD launch delayed (again) ICANN?s new top-level domains program has been delayed, likely for a few months at least, after governments submitted a laundry list of issues they believe are still unresolved. http://domainincite.com/icann-new-tld-launch-delayed-again/ Calls for ?fast-track? for new TLDs Some would-be top-level domain registries have started to call for ICANN to gradually phase in the launch of its new TLD program, so they can get their feet in the door early. http://domainincite.com/calls-for-fast-track-for-new-tlds/ Another big step forward for new TLDs by Adrian Kinderis So after the initial reaction and ?over-reaction? by some folks in the audience, I have been thinking about the implications of the ICANN resolution on new gTLDs at its Board meeting in Cartagena, Colombia. http://www.ausregistry.com/blog/?p=700 The Real Threat to the Single Root of the Internet Seems to Come from ICANN Itself, of All Places by Khaled Fattal The proposed final Guidebook for the New gTLDs and IDN gTLDs contains elements that raise grave risks to the ICANN single root of the Internet caused by none other than ICANN itself. Below is my intervention at the ICANN Cartagena Public Forum today. ICANN President and CEO Mr. Rod Beckstrom was prompt to reply and acknowledge the validity of my statement adding that ICANN is fully aware of the problem. http://www.circleid.com/posts/the_real_threat_to_the_single_root_of_the_internet_seems_to_come_from_icann/ Will generic top level domain name strategies change online marketing? What will gTLDs mean for marketers and how can you prepare for their arrival? Neil Barton, director at Hostway discusses the options. http://www.marketingweek.co.uk/disciplines/digital/will-generic-top-level-domain-name-strategies-change-online-marketing?/3021516.article $2 Million Wasted on Economic Studies for New TLDs Depending on which transcripts I read from the ICANN meeting in Colombia this week, ICANN has spent $1 million to $2 million on economic studies about new top level domain names to date. http://domainnamewire.com/2010/12/09/2-million-wasted-on-economic-studies-for-new-tlds/ ********************** - ccTLD & gTLD NEWS ********************** auDA seeks to wind up Bottle Domains (Australian Style Pty Ltd) On 29 November 2010, .au Domain Administration (auDA) filed an application with the Supreme Court of Victoria seeking a winding up order against Australian Style Pty Ltd (t/a Bottle Domains). auDA has notified the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) of the application. http://www.auda.org.au/news-archive/auda-02122010/ Australians supported by auDA Foundation Grants The auDA Foundation is a charitable organisation that provides funds for innovative projects which utilise internet technology to promote and encourage education and research for the benefit of the Australian community. http://blog.auda.org.au/2010/12/07/australians-supported-by-auda-foundation-grants/ SWITCH and wikileaks.ch SWITCH, the registry for .ch internet addresses, is currently receiving a large number of enquiries as to the circumstances under which SWITCH would delete wikileaks.ch. This is governed by law. http://www.switch.ch/about/news/2010/wikileaks The Swiss registry has refused to block domain name wikileaks.ch Pursuant to notice posted on the website switch.ch, despite many requests addressed to the registry regarding removal of wikileaks.ch, this site will not be blocked. Issues regarding blockage and removal of this site are subject solely to a court decision, SWITCH representatives reckon The registry for national domains .ch (Switzerland) and .li (Lichtenstein), SWITCH doesn?t hold itself responsible for content posted on these domain names. Furthermore, SWITCH does not host wikileaks.ch. Physically, the site is located in a different place and SWITCH only provides the domain name support. http://cctld.ru/en/news/news_detail.php?ID=1171 A .com domain name increases a company's exposure to foreign lawsuits, rules ECJ Companies using a .com or .eu domain name, or displaying international codes for phone numbers, are more likely to be 'directing' their activities at foreign consumers, affecting where they can sue or be sued, the Court of Justice of the EU has ruled. http://out-law.com/page-11658 Dispute lock - A new service from ISNIC While a domain dispute is being processed by the authorities, it is necessary to prevent the disputed domain from being transferred (it's registrant changed) to a third party. http://www.isnic.is/english/news/index.php Dot-P2P New gTLD Proposed But Unlikely to Get Up In response to the US government issuing seizure orders last week against 82 domain names of commercial websites engaged in what the government described as the illegal sale and distribution of counterfeit goods and copyrighted works, a new gTLD proposal has been launched. http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=13073 http://www.domainpulse.com/2010/12/09/dot-p2p-new-gtld-proposed-but-unlikely-to-get-up/ http://domainnews.com/en/dot-p2p-new-gtld-proposed-but-unlikely-to-get-up.html Accented Characters Now Allowed in Slovenian Domain Names, Registration Costs Reduced The Academic and Research Network of Slovenia (ARNES), a public institute responsible for managing Slovenia's country code top-level domain (ccTLD) .si, has announced new rules, effective October 20, 2010, governing the registration of internationalized domain names (IDNs). http://www.mondaq.com/article.asp?articleid=115512 What If There Were An Application For Dot Wikileaks? What would happen if ICANN ... received an application for a .wikileaks TLD next year, under its new system of opening up the internet for domains? It could make an interesting example of how well the complex system to apply for new TLDs works and how much political intervention is possible in the system. At the 39th ICANN meeting in Cartagena, Colombia this week, the self-regulatory body is trying to finalise issues in the published Final Applicant Guidebook ? and it is governments and trademark owners that are calling for more time and more procedures. http://www.ip-watch.org/weblog/2010/12/09/what-if-there-were-an-application-for-dot-wikileaks/ Launch of '.xxx' porn domain name delayed [AFP] THE global body responsible for regulating Internet domain names delayed on Friday launching an '.xxx' domain for pornographic websites. http://news.brisbanetimes.com.au/breaking-news-technology/launch-of-xxx-porn-domain-name-delayed-20101211-18t6r.html http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/launch-of-xxx-porn-domain-name-delayed-20101211-18t6r.html http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-technology/launch-of-xxx-porn-domain-name-delayed-20101211-18t6r.html http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/TechandScience/Story/STIStory_612733.html Internet oversight agency closer to approving '.xxx' address for online porn sites [AP] Porn sites are closer to getting their own address on the Internet. The online red-light district would be in the form of an ".xxx" domain name suffix alongside longstanding ones such as ".com" and ".org. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/sns-ap-us-tec-internet-pornography,0,977844.story http://www.latimes.com/technology/sns-ap-us-tec-internet-pornography,0,5813698.story http://www.afr.com/p/business/technology/porn_sites_move_closer_to_xxx_addresses_nldOAHPYTKhnBf8vJbwRYN .XXX Faces More ICANN Approval Delays ICANN delayed the introduction of the .XXX sTLD once again at its board meeting on Friday. http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=13097 http://www.domainpulse.com/2010/12/11/xxx-faces-more-icann-approval-delays/ Governments stonewall interwebs porn domain The bid to create .xxx ? a top-level domain just for web porn ? will be tied up in red tape for at least a few more months after national governments pressured ICANN to block its approval. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/12/10/xxx_domain_objected_to_by_governments/ Internet group calls for '.xxx' domain name [AFP] INTERNET specialists gathered in Colombia on Thursday called for the creation of an '.xxx' domain for pornographic websites, saying it would make it easier to police them. http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/internet-group-calls-for-xxx-porn-domain-name-20101210-18rro.html http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/TechandScience/Story/STIStory_612318.html http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/internet-group-calls-for-xxx-porn-domain-name-20101210-18rro.html http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10693411 ICM Registry Claims Dot-XXX Victory ICM Registry has commented following the vote in Cartagena today by the ICANN Board of Directors approving a resolution that paves the way for the final approval of ICM?s dot-XXX application after consultations with the Government Advisory Committee (GAC) in February. http://news.avn.com/articles/ICM-Registry-Claims-Dot-XXX-Victory-419245.html DotXXX reaches new milestone!!! [news release] Following successful attendance at a number of recent Adult Industry trade shows in Barcelona, Amsterdam , Berlin and Most recent as Sponsor of the Eurowebtainment show in Vienna, Austria, we are pleased to announced that we now have over 10,000 members of the Sponsored Community that have applied to pre-register over 187,000 domains ahead of our scheduled launch in Q1 next year. http://www.icmregistry.com/blog/?p=361 ********************** - DNS SECURITY ********************** Implementing DNSSEC by Torbj?rn Ekl?v, Interlan Gefle AB, and Stephan Lagerholm, Secure64 Software Corp. As a reader of The Internet Protocol Journal, you are probably familiar with the Domain Name System (DNS) "cache poisoning" techniques discovered a few years ago. And you have most likely heard that Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC) [0, 13, 14, 15] is the long-term cure. But you might not know exactly what challenges are involved with DNSSEC and what experience the early adopters have gathered and documented. Perhaps you waited with your own rollout until you could gather more documentation about operational experiences when rolling out DNSSEC. http://www.cisco.com/web/about/ac123/ac147/archived_issues/ipj_13-2/132_dnssec.html Rolling Over DNSSEC Keys by George Michaelson, APNIC, Patrick Wallstr?m, .SE, Roy Arends, Nominet, Geoff Huston, APNIC As we are constantly reminded, the Internet can be a very hostile place, and public services are placed under constant pressure from a stream of probe traffic, attempting to exploit any one of numerous vulnerabilities that may be present at the server. In addition, there is the threat of Denial of Service (DoS) [1] attacks, where a service is subjected to an abnormally high traffic load that attempts to saturate and take it down. This story starts with the detection of a possible hostile DoS attack on Domain Name System (DNS) servers, and narrates the investigation as to the cause of the incident, and the wider implications of what was found in this investigation. http://www.cisco.com/web/about/ac123/ac147/archived_issues/ipj_13-1/131_dnssec.html Why WikiLeaks hackers are a glitch, not a cyberwar by Douglas Rushkoff, author most recently of "Program or Be Programmed" and "Life Inc: How Corporatism Conquered the World and How to Take it Back" Like a momentary glitch on a flat-panel display, the attacks by hackers calling themselves "Anonymous" came and went. Visa, PayPal, MasterCard and Amazon report no significant damage, and business goes on as usual. The corporations acting to cut off WikiLeaks remain safe. http://edition.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/12/10/rushkoff.hacking.wikileaks/ WikiLeaks backlash: The first global cyber war has begun, claim hackers He is one of the newest recruits to Operation Payback. In a London bedroom, the 24-year-old computer hacker is preparing his weaponry for this week's battles in an evolving cyberwar. He is a self-styled defender of free speech, his weapon a laptop and his enemy the US corporations responsible for attacking the website WikiLeaks. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/dec/11/wikileaks-backlash-cyber-war Anonymous Wikileaks supporters explain web attacks A group of pro-Wikileaks activists who coordinated a series of web attacks have explained their actions. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11971259 Has progress been made in fighting DDoS attacks? [IDG] As the distributed denial-of-service attacks spawned by this week's WikiLeaks events continue, network operators are discussing what progress, if any, has been made over the past decade to detect and thwart DoS attacks. http://www.networkworld.com/news/2010/120910-wikileaks-ddos-attacks.html Pro-WikiLeaks cyber army gains strength; thousands join DDoS attacks The retaliatory attacks by pro-WikiLeaks activists are growing in strength as hackers add botnets and thousands of people download an open-source attack tool, security researchers said today. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9200659/Pro_WikiLeaks_cyber_army_gains_strength_thousands_join_DDoS_attacks http://www.networkworld.com/news/2010/120910-pro-wikileaks-cyber-army-gains-strength.html WikiLeaks: DDOS attacks reflect 'public opinion' WikiLeaks neither supports nor condemns the cyber attacks that have targeted its critics, it said Friday, just as it appears the attackers are mounting a fresh operation against Moneybookers.com. http://www.networkworld.com/news/2010/121010-wikileaks-ddos-attacks-reflect-public.html Wikileaks FAQ by Jonathan Zittrain ... I guess a too-crafty-by-half solution would be to mirror everything in the .ch zone to a new .ch server run by ICANN, then delete wikileaks.ch?s info from that server?s files, then redirect the root zone to the new server instead of the old. That would work for about five minutes. After that, increasing chaos as Swiss webmasters made changes to their .ch names in the ?official? nic.ch registry only to find them not reflected for those users unlucky enough to be rerouted to ICANN?s snapshot mirror. At which point the mirror roots (and the ISPs) awaken to the deception and take action a la the preceding graf. http://futureoftheinternet.org/wikileaks-cable-faq US House cybersecurity activist bemoans apathy about countering threats This week's hacker attacks on credit card and other consumer websites in the wake of the WikiLeaks controversy provide a perfect example of America's vulnerability to attacks against online networks by criminals, spies and enemy states, Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, co-founder of the House Cybersecurity Caucus, said Thursday. http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20101209_9425.php DNS Provider Mistakenly Caught in WikiLeaks Saga Now Supports the Group A DNS provider that suffered backlash last week after it was wrongly identified as supplying and then dropping DNS service to WikiLeaks has decided to support the secret-spilling site, offering DNS service to two domains distributing WikiLeaks content. http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/12/easydns/ VeriSign Deploys DNS Security Extensions in .net Zone VeriSign ... announced it has deployed DNS Security Extensions (DNSSEC) in the .net zone. https://press.verisign.com/easyir/customrel.do?easyirid=AFC0FF0DB5C560D3&version=live&prid=697413&releasejsp=custom_97 The .net domain joins the DNSSEC fold Domain name records in the .net Top Level Domain have been digitally signed with the DNS Security Extensions (DNSSEC) that help secure the Internet infrastructure against hijacking and misdirection of traffic. http://gcn.com/articles/2010/12/10/dnssec-.net-domain-signs-on.aspx ********************** - DOMAIN DISPUTES ********************** Democratic Underground Responds to Righthaven Copyright Troll Lawsuit Righthaven is attempting to make a business out of suing Internet websites for copyright infringement. It has filed 180 copyright actions so far ?without ever first asking that a work be removed from the target website?in each case alleging ?willful infringement? and attempting to extract settlements by threats of statutory damages (up to $150,000), attorneys? fees and seizure of the domain name. http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/12/democratic-underground-responds-righthaven Copyright Troll Demands Drudge Report Domain Name One of the litigation scare tactics employed by copyright troll Righthaven is it routinely demands allegedly infringing sites to forfeit their domain names. http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/12/drudge-report-domain Copyright troll Righthaven sues for control of Drudge Report domain News aggregation impresario Matt Drudge is being sued for copyright infringement for reproducing a copyrighted photo along with a link to a story about airport security on the Las Vegas Review-Journal website. ... In the new lawsuit, Righthaven asks a judge to "lock the Drudge Report Domain and transfer control of the Drudge Report Domain to Righthaven." http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2010/12/copyright-troll-righthaven-sues-for-control-of-drudge-report-domain.ars Copyright trolls demand Drudge Report domain Copyright troll Righthaven has demanded that the high-profile online magazine the Drudge Report hand over its domain name. http://www.fudzilla.com/home/item/21164-copyright-trolls-demand-drudge-report-domain ********************** - IPv4/IPv6 ********************** Protect your pre-1997 IP address: With IPv4 space running out any day now, is your legacy IP address space safe? If your company obtained its IP address space before 1997, you have probably received several letters from the American Registry for Internet Numbers Ltd. (ARIN) encouraging you to enter into a contractual agreement to protect the IP address. But should you sign it? http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9200359/Protect_your_pre_1997_IP_address ********************** - DOMAINING & AFTERMARKET ********************** Two Six-Figure Sales Totaling Over $867,000 Top This Week's Domain Sales Chart The four-day Thanksgiving weekend gave most Americans a very short work week last week but the domain aftermarket continued full steam ahead, producing two of the year's 30 biggest sales to date. In a private transaction the owners of HomeInsurance.com reported they have acquired HomeOwnersInsurance.com for a whopping $570,000 - the 11th biggest cash sale reported for far in 2010. http://dnjournal.com/archive/domainsales/2010/20101208.htm ********************** REPORTS & RESEARCH PAPERS ********************** Internet Economy: broadband statistics (June 2010) The OECD has just released new statistics on broadband penetration in OECD countries as of June 2010. These include the number of broadband subscribers per country, broadband subscriptions by technology, the percentage of fibre connections in total broadband and, for the first time, a wireless broadband penetration indicator. http://www.oecd.org/document/1/0,3343,en_21571361_44315115_46614657_1_1_1_1,00.html Balancing Act: Finding Consensus on Standards for Unmasking Anonymous Internet Speakers by Matthew Mazzotta [Boston College Law Review] Abstract: The growth in popular use of the internet has led to a dramatic increase in both the amount of anonymous speech and the number of aggrieved plaintiffs claiming to be harmed by it. Lawsuits involving anonymous internet speech present thorny questions for courts because plaintiffs typically must obtain the identity of anonymous speakers during discovery before any adjudication of the underlying claim. Compelled disclosure of identifying information thus risks chilling speech by subjecting anonymous speakers who have done nothing illegal to unwarranted harassment and retaliation. In response to these concerns, courts have formulated ?unmasking? standards for determining when to allow anonymous speakers to be identified. This Note examines trends within various unmasking standards and proposes a single standard for future courts that requires notice, an evaluation on the merits of the plaintiff?s claim, and a balancing of the First Amendment rights of the anonymous speaker against the strength of the plaintiff?s claim and the need for unmasking. http://www.bc.edu/content/dam/files/schools/law/bclawreview/pdf/51_3/07_mazzotta.pdf Extending Tort Liability to Creators of Fake Profile on Social Networking Websites by Kay, Bradley In today?s world, social media has become ubiquitous. While social media provides opportunities for networking, there are also opportunities for exploitation. Courts and legislatures have provided remedies for some wrongs that can occur on social networking websites. However one area remains neglected- false profiles made for real people. http://jip.kentlaw.edu/art/Volume 10/10 Chi-Kent J Intell Prop 1.pdf Knowledge and Misfeasance: Tiffany v. eBay and the Knowledge Requirement of Contributory Trademark Infringement by Matthew C. Berntsen [Boston University Journal of Science & Technology Law] Introduction: eBay created a new business model, made possible by the internet. The popular legend is that eBay was originally intended as a site at which consumers could offer for sale and sell still useable items sitting in garages and basements. But it blossomed into the world?s largest marketplace where anonymous sellers offer unseen and unexamined merchandise to distant buyers. Given such circumstances, it was not long before the counterfeiters and grifters of the world realized that the site could be exploited by them without risk. http://www.bu.edu/law/central/jd/organizations/journals/scitech/volume161/documents/Berntsen_WEB.pdf The Law and Politics of Net Neutrality: Part 1 by Jeff Kao [Columbia Science and Technology Law Review] The current political climate portends significant political changes following today?s midterm elections. The balance of power will likely shift back toward the right, greatly reducing the governing mandate of the Democratic Party. The current administration?s ability to push policies through will be tempered by a shift of power in Congress, possibly preventing the Obama administration from achieving its stated policy goals after two years in power. One of the policy goals under attack is Net Neutrality, a term popularized by Tim Wu, professor here at Columbia Law School, and an issue that has greatly divided political actors in this country. http://www.stlr.org/2010/11/the-law-and-politics-of-net-neutrality-part-1/ The Law and Politics of Net Neutrality: Part 2 by Jeff Kao In the previous post, I wrote about the recent history of net neutrality, the Open Internet Rules in the works, and the ensuing backroom dealings and legislative battles. But now that the mid-term elections are over, has the future of net neutrality rules changed, and is net neutrality dead? Republicans made gains in the Senate and took control of the House, but does the change in legislative politics impact the regulatory process (and the profit outlook for any company that does business over the Internet)? To have a shot at predicting the regulatory and legislative action over the next two years ? an eternity in Internet time ? we must examine the legal force of the rules being considered. Even though the Comcast BitTorrent decision was a blow to the agency?s regulatory position, Comcast Corp. v. FCC, 600 F.3d 642 (2010), an analysis of the legal framework that underlies it shows that not all (jurisdiction) was lost for the FCC. To properly understand the FCC?s current regulatory position, we have to go back beyond the April 2010 Comcast BitTorrent decision by the D.C. Circuit. http://www.stlr.org/2010/12/the-law-and-politics-of-net-neutrality-part-2/ Telecommunications (interception and access) and its Regulation in Arab Countries by Nazzal Kiswani [Journal of International Commercial Law and Technology] Abstract: Telecommunication has been a necessity in all countries this century. Communication has always been an essential part of our lives, education, family relations, business, government and other organizational activities. As telecommunication technology has advanced, so has the need for the interception of telecommunications and access by law enforcement authorities. http://jiclt.com/index.php/jiclt/article/view/117 Applying Copyright Abandonment in the Digital Age by Matthew W. Turetzky Abstract: Copyright law protects orphan and parented works equally--but it shouldn't. Consequently, current law unnecessarily restrains public access to works that authors have not exercised dominion over for decades.This problem has come to the fore in the Google Books settlement, which critics argue will give Google a de facto monopoly over orphan works. But this criticism implicates an obvious question: Why are orphan works protected by copyright law in the first place? If orphan works were in the public domain, then no one would worry about Google's supposed "monopoly" because Google's competitors would be free to copy the works without facing class action lawsuits. To address these concerns, I propose a new equitable defense to copyright infringement: the orphan theory of abandonment. http://www.law.duke.edu/journals/dltr/articles/2010dltr019 Vertical Separation of Telecommunications Networks: Evidence from Five Countries by Robert W. Crandall, Jeffrey A. Eisenach, and Robert E. Litan The widespread adoption of mandatory unbundling in telecommunications markets has led to growing interest in mandatory ?functional separation,? i.e., separation of upstream network operations from downstream retail operations. Since 2002, vertical separation has been implemented in five OECD countries: Australia, Italy, New Zealand, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. http://www.law.indiana.edu/fclj/pubs/v62/no3/7- CRANDALL_FINAL.pdf Keywords Advertising: Issues of Trademark Infringement by Althaf Marsoof [Journal of International Commercial Law and Technology] Abstract: The Internet has become a crucial advertising tool for modern-day businesses. Increasingly, business enterprises are opting for online presence, and this phenomenon has significantly transformed advertising techniques. Consumers wish to spend less time and gain optimal results whilst searching for products and services on the Internet. In this setting, enterprising entities, such as Google, have sought to make maximum use of the need for online presence which has given rise to Internet advertising schemes such as Google?s ?AdWords. http://jiclt.com/index.php/jiclt/article/view/118 Singapore teens' perceived ownership of online sources and credibility by Andrew Michael Duffy, Tan Liying, Larissa Ong Abstract: This study investigates teenage attitudes towards unofficial versus mainstream media as a source of information. It starts from three unproven premises. First, that young people place more trust in unofficial online news than in mainstream media, because they feel a greater ownership of the cyberworld. Second, due to a perception of authoritarian control over Singapore's mainstream media, truth and accuracy in unofficial sources are of secondary importance to a feeling of ownership. Third, teenagers' need for accuracy is secondary to their need for ownership and differentiation; and, unofficial information sources are a badge of identity worn by the young. http://www.uic.edu/htbin/cgiwrap/bin/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/2197 Facebook privacy settings: Who cares? by danah boyd, Eszter Hargittai Abstract: With over 500 million users, the decisions that Facebook makes about its privacy settings have the potential to influence many people. While its changes in this domain have often prompted privacy advocates and news media to critique the company, Facebook has continued to attract more users to its service. This raises a question about whether or not Facebook's changes in privacy approaches matter and, if so, to whom. This paper examines the attitudes and practices of a cohort of 18- and 19-year-olds surveyed in 2009 and again in 2010 about Facebook's privacy settings. http://www.uic.edu/htbin/cgiwrap/bin/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/3086 Protecting the Children: Challenges that Result In, and Consequences Resulting From, Inconsistent Prosecution of Child Pornography Cases in a Technical World by Francis S. Monterosso Of all the sinister things that Internet viruses do, this might be the worst: They can make you an unsuspecting collector of child pornography. Heinous pictures and videos can be deposited on computers by viruses?the malicious programs better known for swiping your credit card numbers. In this twist, it?s your reputation that?s stolen. Pedophiles can exploit virus-infected PCs to remotely store and view their stash without fear they?ll get caught. http://jolt.richmond.edu/v16i3/article11.pdf Sexting and Teenagers: OMG R U Going 2 Jail??? by Catherine Arcabascio Sexting is a relatively recent practice engaged in by the young, and sometimes not-so-young, and foolish.1 ?Sexting? is ?the practice of sending or posting sexually suggestive text messages and images, including nude or semi-nude photographs, via cellular telephones or over the Internet.? While sexting can and does occur between and among people of any age, the real concerns are with teenagers who are sexting. http://jolt.richmond.edu/v16i3/article10.pdf ********************** INTERNET USE ********************** Rivals Say Google Plays Favorites, Displaying Own Health, Shopping, Local Content Ahead of Links to Competing Sites Google Inc. increasingly is promoting some of its own content over that of rival websites when users perform an online search, prompting competing sites to cry foul. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704058704576015630188568972.html Wi-Fi Threat to Trees Rooted in Shaky Stats A study that implied that 70% of urban trees are sick because of exposure to electromagnetic radiation from Wi-Fi towers show how quickly sensational numbers can spread. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704457604576011471557164008.html Hate and the internet: Does the internet encourage insidious and bullying behaviour? I remember the first time I logged into a chatroom. It was 1996, and I was using my mum's AOL account to mooch around the world wide web, which was still very much in its infancy. I was in that glorious, unrestricted period of life between college and reality, and the web seemed to offer splendid, unrestricted access to the outside world in a way that no generation had known before. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/dec/12/aleks-krotoski-hate-internet-racism The Words We Searched in 2010, From Google What do the terms Chatroulette, iPad and Justin Bieber have in common? No, they are not a part of a new Internet-inspired movie; they were the ?fastest rising? terms typed into Google?s search engine over the past year. http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/09/the-words-we-searched-in-2010-from-google/ Nicki Minaj and Justin Bieber rank high in Google's Zeitgeist list for UK Google publishes its annual Zeitgeist ? the list of the year's most popular UK search terms ? and it reveals that a fascination with Americana is in rude health, with gossip and news about "celebutante" Kim Kardashian and YouTube darling and teeny-bopper Justin Bieber in high demand. http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2010/dec/09/justin-bieber-kardashian-google-zeitgeist Colombia Internet Audience Increases 31 Percent in Past Year to Rank as Fastest-Growing Market in Latin America comScore ... released results from its latest study on Internet usage in Colombia. The report found that Colombia is the fastest-growing Internet market in Latin America, growing 31 percent in the past year to reach 11.8 million unique visitors in September 2010. http://www.comscore.com/Press_Events/Press_Releases/2010/12/Colombia_Internet_Audience_Increases_31_Percent_in_Past_Year_to_Rank_as_Fastest-Growing_Market_in_Latin_America ********************** SOCIAL NETWORKING ********************** 8 Percent of American Internet Users Go to Twitter, Report Says A new study released Thursday by The Pew Research Center found that 8 percent of Americans who are active on the Internet are enthusiastic users of the social networking service Twitter. http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/09/8-percent-of-american-internet-users-go-to-twitter-report-says/ 8% of Americans use Twitter, Pew study says Nearly one in 10 American adults who use the Internet are Twitter users. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9200621/8_of_Americans_use_Twitter_Pew_study_says http://www.networkworld.com/news/2010/120910-8-of-americans-use-twitter.html http://www.pcworld.com/article/213135/.html Study: Twitter Use More Popular Among Young Minorities The Pew Research Center's first-ever study that exclusively examined Twitter users found that 8 percent of U.S. adults online use the micro-blogging platform. http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2010/12/study-twitter-use-more-popular.php 8% of online Americans use Twitter Overview: This is the first-ever survey reading from the Pew Research Center?s Internet & American Life Project that exclusively examines Twitter users. In previous surveys, the Project had asked internet users whether they ?used Twitter or another service to share updates about yourself or to see updates about others?? http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2010/Twitter-Update-2010.aspx Facebook emerges as 'terrorist recruiting ground' The US government has warned that terrorist groups like al-Qaeda are targeting Facebook as a prime recruitment ground. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/facebook/8195214/Facebook-emerges-as-terrorist-recruiting-ground.html ********************** NEW TECHNOLOGIES ********************** Cloudy outlook as Google steps up push to rule web Google?s ambitions are so sweeping, the theatres in which its campaign is being advanced so dispersed, that it is not always easy to trace the outlines of the broader war it is fighting. Sometimes it takes simultaneous advances on a number of fronts to bring its progress into focus. This has been one of those weeks. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6e6f0a9a-02f3-11e0-bb1e-00144feabdc0.html ************************************************ CHILD PROTECTION, FILTERING & CONTENT REGULATION ************************************************ uk: New tactics for tackling online sexual predators [news release] The Virtual Global Taskforce (VGT) Conference held this week highlighting that international law enforcement agencies need to work with global industry partners, including non-government organisations, to keep children across the world safe from online child sexual exploitation. http://www.ceop.police.uk/Media-Centre/Press-releases/2010/New-tactics-for-tackling-online-sexual-predators/ au: 'Sexting' teens breach child porn law CHILDREN sending and receiving sexually explicit images on mobile phones - or 'sexting' - are unwittingly falling foul of child pornography laws, a parliamentary hearing on child cyber-safety has heard. http://www.theage.com.au/national/sexting-teens-breach-child-porn-law-20101209-18req.html nz: Online risks shown in Facebook teen sex case An internet safety group is warning about the dangers of social networking sites after a Whangarei man was sentenced for sexually abusing a 15-year-old girl he befriended through Facebook. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10693886 nz: Facebook stalking could stunt your child's growth Sarah Lester enjoys an active social life. And like many girls her age - she relies on Facebook to stay in touch with friends and the latest happenings. http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/4453376/Facebook-stalking-could-stunt-your-childs-growth us: F.C.C. to Hold Forum on Teenagers and Technology Parents, researchers and educators have been asking whether the spread of mobile devices and Internet access, for all their benefits, can have negative side effects for young people, interfering with homework or leading to cyberbullying. Now the government is asking the same question. http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/10/f-c-c-to-hold-forum-on-teenagers-and-technology/ Barbie video doll sparks child pornography fears The FBI has issued an alert about a popular Barbie doll containing a hidden video camera it says could be used to produce child pornography ? but stressed that the toy has not been linked with any reported crimes. http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/dec/08/barbie-video-doll-pornography-fears ********************** ONLINE TV & MUSIC ********************** us: EFF Asks Judges to Protect Identities in Porn-Downloading Lawsuits The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has asked judges in Texas and West Virginia to block requests to unmask accused file sharers in several predatory copyright troll lawsuits involving the alleged illegal downloading of pornography. http://www.eff.org/press/archives/2010/11/29 Arrr, we pillage a fine booty of free films: Australian study The scale of global digital piracy has been revealed in new research by a team at the University of Ballarat that found the action-comedy film Kick-Ass was downloaded more than 323,000 times in one week in July - three weeks before it was released on DVD. http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/arrr-we-pillage-a-fine-booty-of-free-films-20101210-18svm.html http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/arrr-we-pillage-a-fine-booty-of-free-films-20101210-18svm.html ********************** MOBILE/WIRELESS ********************** Smartphones changing the way we shop Mobile shopping and m-commerce the buzzwords as high street stores try to keep up with consumers' altered behaviour http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/dec/10/smartphones-changing-way-we-shop Angry Birds, Flocking to Cellphones Everywhere It sounds like a tough sell: a game that involves catapulting birds at elaborate fortresses constructed by evil pigs. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/12/technology/12birds.html Apple, Google Asked to Pay Up as Mobile Operators Face Data Flood Google Inc., Apple Inc., and Facebook Inc. need to pitch in to help pay for the billions of dollars of network investments needed for their bandwidth-hogging services, European phone operators say. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-12-07/apple-google-asked-to-pay-up-as-europeean-operators-inundated-by-data.html European mobile operators say big sites need to pay for users' data demands European mobile networks have called on companies such as Facebook, Apple, Google to help pay for network upgrades as the growth in smartphone use has made data demand soar. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/dec/09/mobile-networks-content Nokia's MeeGo Will Bet on Differences to iOS and Android One of the most interesting talks today at LeWeb, Paris, came from Marko Ahtisaari, senior vice president of design at Nokia. ... Mr. Ahtisaari identified two ?dominant design candidates? for mobile phones ? the Apple iOS look with screens of apps and a physical home key, and a second model shared between Symbian and Andriod that sees multiple home screens and ? depending on the phone model ? lots more keys. The iOS was, he said, ?beautifully elegant,? simple to learn, and ?fantastically constrained.? The second model, which is the fastest growing, he said, was simple and organic, and built by user over time. http://blogs.wsj.com/tech-europe/2010/12/08/nokias-meego-will-bet-on-differences-to-ios-and-android/ 300,000 Android phones activated a day, claims Google While Android's success has been well-documented, it's still hard to wrap your head around the idea that 300,000 Android phones are being activated every day. http://www.networkworld.com/news/2010/120910-android-google.html http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/370833/300_000_android_phones_activated_day_claims_google/ Google Android Phones Are Selling Like Hotcakes The Nexus S smartphone.Google's lead Android developer Andy Rubin tweeted that the company is activating more than 300,000 Android phones each day. This equates to more than 9 million Android phones activated per month, despite reports that the platform's activation numbers were plummeting as of late. http://www.pcworld.com/article/213068/.html Android's Aussie market share triples Yesterday, local analyst firm IDC published a research report noting that although Apple was still growing strongly, it was Google's mobile operating system Android that was expanding its turf the fastest. http://www.zdnet.com.au/android-s-aussie-market-share-triples-339307872.htm Mobile services in Australia hit 25.99 million [news release] The total number of mobile services in operation (voice and data services) in Australia increased by seven per cent during 2009?10 to reach 25.99 million services at June 2010, according to the Australian Communications and Media Authority's Communications Report 2009-10, tabled by the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy in Parliament today. http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=PC_312386 ********************** SPAM ********************** Spam Will Wreck Social Networks Next Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates announced in 2004 that the problem of e-mail spam would be "solved" within two years. http://www.pcworld.com/article/213347/.html ********************** DIGITAL DIVIDE ********************** Mobile 'revolution' eases Pacific isolation, poverty [AFP] From the rugged highlands of Papua New Guinea to the remote islands of Tonga, a telecommunications revolution in the Pacific is helping ease poverty and isolation in some of the world's poorest countries. http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/mobile-revolution-eases-pacific-isolation-poverty-20101210-18sds.html http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-technology/mobile-revolution-eases-pacific-isolation-poverty-20101210-18sds.html ************************** ONLINE CRIME, SECURITY & LEGAL ************************** EBay not liable on trademark dispute: EU court Internet auction site eBay Inc is generally not liable for trademark infringements committed by users on its site, a European Court of Justice legal expert said on Thursday, ahead of a final court ruling. http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE6B83L620101209 eBay wins preliminary EU court backing in L'Oreal fight US online auction site eBay won preliminary backing from Europe's highest court Thursday in a copyright battle with French cosmetics giant L'Oreal. http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/ebay-wins-preliminary-eu-court-backing-in-loreal-fight-20101210-18rmg.html http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-technology/ebay-wins-preliminary-eu-court-backing-in-loreal-fight-20101210-18rmg.html WikiLeaks vs The Machine US government tells firms to pull plug on whistleblowing website as hackers cause chaos with revenge attacks on Assange's 'enemies' http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/wikileaks-vs-the-machine-2155031.html WikiLeaks row: why Amazon's desertion has ominous implications for democracy Amazon's decision to abandon WikiLeaks sends out a clear message: you can publish what you like ? as long as it meets with the government's approval http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/dec/11/wikileaks-amazon-denial-democracy-lieberman Hackers Give Web Companies a Test of Free Speech A hacking free-for-all has exploded on the Web, and Facebook and Twitter are stuck in the middle. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/09/technology/09net.html Why WikiLeaks hackers are a glitch, not a cyberwar by Douglas Rushkoff, author most recently of "Program or Be Programmed" and "Life Inc: How Corporatism Conquered the World and How to Take it Back" Like a momentary glitch on a flat-panel display, the attacks by hackers calling themselves "Anonymous" came and went. Visa, PayPal, MasterCard and Amazon report no significant damage, and business goes on as usual. The corporations acting to cut off WikiLeaks remain safe. http://edition.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/12/10/rushkoff.hacking.wikileaks/ WikiLeaks backlash: The first global cyber war has begun, claim hackers He is one of the newest recruits to Operation Payback. In a London bedroom, the 24-year-old computer hacker is preparing his weaponry for this week's battles in an evolving cyberwar. He is a self-styled defender of free speech, his weapon a laptop and his enemy the US corporations responsible for attacking the website WikiLeaks. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/dec/11/wikileaks-backlash-cyber-war Anonymous Wikileaks supporters explain web attacks A group of pro-Wikileaks activists who coordinated a series of web attacks have explained their actions. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11971259 Has progress been made in fighting DDoS attacks? [IDG] As the distributed denial-of-service attacks spawned by this week's WikiLeaks events continue, network operators are discussing what progress, if any, has been made over the past decade to detect and thwart DoS attacks. http://www.networkworld.com/news/2010/120910-wikileaks-ddos-attacks.html Pro-WikiLeaks cyber army gains strength; thousands join DDoS attacks The retaliatory attacks by pro-WikiLeaks activists are growing in strength as hackers add botnets and thousands of people download an open-source attack tool, security researchers said today. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9200659/Pro_WikiLeaks_cyber_army_gains_strength_thousands_join_DDoS_attacks http://www.networkworld.com/news/2010/120910-pro-wikileaks-cyber-army-gains-strength.html WikiLeaks: Who are the hackers behind Operation Payback? The MasterCard website was forced offline for several hours today, following an online assault led by a shadowy group of hackers protesting against the card issuer's decision to block payments made to the WikiLeaks website. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/dec/08/anonymous-4chan-wikileaks-mastercard-paypal Operation Payback fails to take down Amazon in WikiLeaks revenge attack The transient group of online activists crippling websites in "revenge" for cutting off ties with WikiLeaks today attempted its most audacious attack yet ? and failed. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/dec/09/operation-payback-wikileaks-anonymous Web Attackers Point to Cause in WikiLeaks They got their start years ago as cyberpranksters, an online community of tech-savvy kids more interested in making mischief than political statements. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/10/world/10wiki.html Anonymous cyberwarriors stun experts: Anarchists and idealists behind ?Operation Payback? Internet subcultures rarely make front page news. But when the mysterious forces of Anonymous took it upon themselves to attack opponents of WikiLeaks, the whistle-blowing website, their success took everyone ? not least victims such as Visa, MasterCard and PayPal ? by surprise. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1f596aa4-048d-11e0-a99c-00144feabdc0.html WikiLeaks supporters disrupt Visa and MasterCard sites in 'Operation Payback' It is, according to one breathless blogger, "the first great cyber war", or as those behind it put it more prosaically: "The major shitstorm has begun." http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/dec/08/wikileaks-visa-mastercard-operation-payback Web Attackers Point to Cause in WikiLeaks They got their start years ago as cyberpranksters, an online community of tech-savvy kids more interested in making mischief than political statements. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/10/world/10wiki.html Pro-Wikileaks activists abandon Amazon cyber attack Pro-Wikileak activists have abandoned plans to bring down the website of online retailer Amazon, and switched back to targeting PayPal. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11957367 Increased illicit behavior on Internet pharmacies Of the nearly 7,000 sites reviewed by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, only 4% of those online sites appear to be in compliance with pharmacy laws and practice standards. http://www.net-security.org/secworld.php?id=10291 NZ security breaches down, but reporting still low ? survey An Otago University survey of computer crime and security shows a noticeable drop in intrusions and other compromises of New Zealand computer systems in 2009, compared to the survey done in 2007. http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/security-breaches-down-but-reporting-still-low-survey ************************** PRIVACY ************************** Technology Outpaces Privacy (Yet Again) How far does consumer privacy protection lag behind data-collection systems, those advanced technologies that media companies use to gather, share and profit from our personal information? Too far, according to two privacy advocates. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/12/business/12stream.html Privacy project uses cryptography to reduce shared info A project that could radically reduce the amount of personal information we share in our dealings has been revealed by IBM researchers. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11948500 Report: No Real Leader On Browser Privacy A new report released Thursday from the Center for Democracy and Technology analyzing privacy controls on Internet browsers found that while they all offer privacy control features none stand out as a real leader on the issue. http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2010/12/report-no-real-leader-on-brows.php CDT Releases Comprehensive Report on Browser Privacy Controls The Center for Democracy & Technology today released a report assessing the privacy control features of the five major browsers. The report concludes that no single browser stands above the rest?all have strengths that are offset by weaknesses. The report is an update of CDT's 2009 browser report. http://cdt.org/pr_statement/cdt-releases-comprehensive-report-browser-privacy-controls ********************** CENSORSHIP ********************** Join EFF in Standing up Against Internet Censorship Over the past few weeks, we here at EFF have watched as whistleblowing website WikiLeaks has fueled an emotionally charged debate about the secrecy of government information and the people's right to know. We have welcomed this debate, and the fact that there have been myriad views is the embodiment of the freedom of expression upon which this country was founded. http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/12/join-eff-in-standing-up-against-internet-censorship Can Free Speech Be Protected on a Private Internet? Does the US constitution protect WikiLeaks? Only courts can decide how far the whistleblowing platform can go. Yet Amazon and others have simply blocked the site, rather than waiting for legal clarification. The companies' cowardice is now threatening Internet freedom. http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,733942,00.html Dealing with WikiLeaks: America is rightly furious. But it should learn from its mistakes in the past decade and stick to its own rules Big crimes deserve tough responses. In any country the theft and publication of 250,000 secret government documents would deserve punishment. If the leak costs lives, let alone the careers and trust that have already perished amid the WikiLeaks disclosures, the case for action is even stronger. http://www.economist.com/node/17677820 Venezuela seeks to regulate Internet with media bill Venezuela plans to include the Internet in a law that regulates the media, under a proposed bill presented to parliament on Thursday that the opposition claims will result in censorship. http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-53474120101210 http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE6B90SP20101210 Beijing blocks websites ahead of award ceremony China's aggressive crackdown ahead of the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo stepped up a notch last night with the removal of access to key foreign news sites in an attempt to starve the country of news on Liu Xiaobo's award. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/beijing-blocks-websites-ahead-of-award-ceremony-2155876.html Nobel prize: Chinese censors clamp down on internet buzz over Liu Xiaobo Chinese internet users hit upon the idea of using the phrase ?empty chair? to refer to Mr Liu, a reference to the empty chair that will represent him at today?s Nobel ceremony. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/8193345/Nobel-prize-Chinese-censors-clamp-down-on-internet-buzz-over-Liu-Xiaobo.html ************************** GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY ************************** Chairman Genachowski?s Next Net Neutrality Proposal: What to Watch For: Commentary by Corynne McSherry EFF has been monitoring the net neutrality debate with an eye to two main concerns, both stemming from our conviction that however laudable the goal of neutrality--and it is a laudable goal--the regulatory and legislative paths that get us there must not amount to a ?Trojan horse? that we?ll all regret: http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/12/chairman-genachowski-s-next-net-neutrality us: Phone, Cable Lobbying War Over Net Neutrality Heats Up Big phone and cable companies are outgunning Silicon Valley in last-minute lobbying to shape a pending Federal Communications Commission proposal to prevent Internet providers from interfering with web traffic. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704720804576009713669482024.html Brussels mulls shortening data retention periods The European Commission is planning a review of the Data Retention Directive, which could include harmonisation and a reduction of the periods when public authorities can access citizens' private electronic data for security reasons. http://euractiv.com/en/infosociety/brussels-mulls-shortening-data-retention-periods-news-500296 nz: Labour: broadband law change creates consumer risk The government's telecommunications amendment bill has passed its first reading and will be opened up for feedback from the public. http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/labour-broadband-law-change-creates-consumer-risk-134609 nz: Constructive Suggestions To Improve Copyright Bill Released A coalition of organisations and concerned citizens has today released a letter and briefing paper proposing final improvements to copyright legislation currently before Parliament. http://www.voxy.co.nz/national/constructive-suggestions-improve-copyright-bill-released/5/75219 NZ Govt Copyright Leak: Doubts Value of WIPO Internet Treaties, Supports Flexible Digital Lock Rules New Zealand is one of several countries currently negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, a regional trade deal that the U.S. would like to see include a major chapter on intellectual property (Canada has been excluded from the talks). http://www.michaelgeist.ca/content/view/5498/125/ ********************** TELECOMMUNICATIONS ********************** Welsh government lays out broadband plans Welsh businesses will all have access to next-generation broadband by 2016, the Welsh Assembly pledged on Wednesday. http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/networking/2010/12/10/welsh-government-lays-out-broadband-plans-40091133/ Phones calls used to redefine UK regions Social networks could provide the key to redrawing the regional map of Britain, producing areas with strong social cohesion. That's the idea of an international team, who have created a social map of Great Britain. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11948680 Tax protest turns Vodafone's smile upside down It was a clever PR ruse designed to promote Vodafone as generous, Christmas-loving and hip: the mobile phone operator would give away free handsets to lucky Twitter users who used the tag #mademesmile to tell the company what made them beam. http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/dec/12/vodafone-smile-tax-protest-twitter Telco complaints scheme under fire from Consumer NZ, Tuanz The award-wining Telecommunications Disputes Resolution Scheme, which has shed several members since it began over two years ago, is under fire from consumer groups. http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/telco-complaints-scheme-under-fire nz: Wilde laments wait for ultrafast network It is disappointing Wellington was not included in the first tranche of regions that will get ultrafast broadband under a government scheme, Greater Wellington regional council chairwoman Fran Wilde says. http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/4442563/Wilde-laments-wait-for-ultrafast-network ********************************** ARRESTS/COURT CASES FOR ONLINE CHILD PROTECTION ********************************** Dutch man had up to 50 child victims [Reuters] Dutch police arrested a 19-year-old man on Saturday on suspicion of joint responsibility for a cyber attack on the website of the public prosecution office. http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE6BA26H20101211 http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/europe/4452970/Dutch-man-had-up-to-50-child-victims Police arrest paedophile babysitter in one of the Netherlands' worst abuse cases Parents of dozens of young children in Amsterdam have been warned their children may have been abused by a babysitter in one of the worst sexual abuse cases to come to light in the Netherlands. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/netherlands/8198137/Police-arrest-paedophile-babysitter-in-one-of-the-Netherlands-worst-abuse-cases.html +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (c) David Goldstein 2010 --------- David Goldstein email: goldstein_david§yahoo.com.au web: http://davidgoldstein.tel/ http://goldsteinreport.com/ phone: +61 418 228 605 - mobile; +61 2 9665 5773 - office/home "Every time you use fossil fuels, you're adding to the problem. Every time you forgo fossil fuels, you're being part of the solution" - Dr Tim FlanneryReceived on Sun Dec 12 2010 - 18:30:25 UTC
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