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 *************************************************** ICANN to Hold Open Teleconference on Registration Restrictions Dispute Resolution Procedure (RRDRP) http://blog.icann.org/2011/04/icann-to-hold-open-teleconference-on-registration-restrictions-dispute-resolution-procedure-rrdrp/ Conference summary: ICANN San Francisco - A comprehensive rundown of events at ICANN's 41st meeting in San Francisco, 13-18 March 2011 http://news.dot-nxt.com/2011/04/03/summary-icann-san-francisco The ends justify the means? ICANN GAC-Board two-day stall http://news.dot-nxt.com/2011/04/03/icann-gac-board-stall ICANN Revenues Grow http://www.internetnews.com/bus-news/article.php/3930246/ICANN+Revenues+Grow.htm ?..Now is the time to wend away?.until we meet again?. ? and often by Chris Disspain http://blog.auda.org.au/2011/04/07/?-now-is-the-time-to-wend-away?-until-we-meet-again?-and-often/ au: Bottle Domains Pty Ltd registrar accreditation terminated by consent http://www.auda.org.au/news-archive/auda-08042011/ A brand new way to promote yourself http://www.smh.com.au/business/media-and-marketing/a-brand-new-way-to-promote-yourself-20110407-1d5ya.html DNSSEC for .au at least a year off http://www.zdnet.com.au/dnssec-for-au-at-least-a-year-off-339312754.htm au: Engineers off to US for secret cyber school http://www.smh.com.au/technology/security/engineers-off-to-us-for-secret-cyber-school-20110408-1d7pt.html National Arbitration Forum Reports a 24 Percent Increase in Domain Name Dispute Filings in 2010 http://domains.adrforum.com/newsroom.aspx?itemID=1636 ICE vows to continue domain name seizures http://www.tgdaily.com/business-and-law-features/55249-ice-vows-to-continue-domain-name-seizures Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration Renews Call for U.S. Business to Prepare to Transition to IPv6 http://www.ntia.doc.gov/press/2011/IPv6Tool_04082011.html au: Prepare security networks for IPv6: Internode http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/382797/prepare_security_networks_ipv6_internode/ ********************** DOMAIN NAMES ********************** ********************** - ICANN ********************** Araneus Information Systems Report on Root Zone Glue Handling The "Report on Root Zone Glue Handling" makes a useful contribution to an ongoing discussion within the DNS community regarding the most appropriate way to manage glue changes in the root zone and their complexities. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-07apr11-en.htm ICANN to Hold Open Teleconference on Registration Restrictions Dispute Resolution Procedure (RRDRP) ICANN will convene an open teleconference on 13 April 2011. The Registries Stakeholder Group (RySG) requested this call to discuss issues relating to the current draft of the RRDRP. The latest comments from the RySG on the RRDRP were submitted on 7 December 2010 (see and subsequent to that the RySG submitted a redline of the RRDRP that is viewable here. http://blog.icann.org/2011/04/icann-to-hold-open-teleconference-on-registration-restrictions-dispute-resolution-procedure-rrdrp/ Public Comment: Proposed ICANN Bylaw Revisions Regarding the ALAC As part of the ALAC/At-Large Improvements Project, the Office of the General Counsel ? in coordination with the ALAC, At-Large Improvements Work Team A, and the At-Large Staff ? drafted proposed Bylaw revisions to reflect the ALAC?s continuing purpose within ICANN. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-08apr11-en.htm Fellowship Program Brings Global Voices Together at ICANN Global participation and ideas will be on the rise at the 41st Public Meeting of ICANN and Numbers thanks to ICANN's on-going Fellowship Program. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-2-08apr11-en.htm Conference summary: ICANN San Francisco - A comprehensive rundown of events at ICANN's 41st meeting in San Francisco, 13-18 March 2011 Summary: San Francisco was one of the more interesting ICANN events for some time. If we were to sum it up in one phrase, it would be: lousy meeting, good end result. http://news.dot-nxt.com/2011/04/03/summary-icann-san-francisco The ends justify the means? ICANN GAC-Board two-day stall The ICANN San Francisco conference agenda was torn up to allow for two full days of meetings between the GAC and Board. The organization provided the community with a chance to comment on ongoing discussions with the GAC for two-and-a-half-hours on the Monday; and a second chance for three hours of the Wednesday. The two Board-GAC meetings were then scheduled for all day Tuesday and Thursday. http://news.dot-nxt.com/2011/04/03/icann-gac-board-stall Registrar Stakeholder Group in GNSO Works Against the ICANN Multistakeholder Social Compact by Avri Doria One of the essential features of the social compact that makes ICANN viable in its stewardship of the Domain Name system is that the operations of the Contracted Parties, i.e. Registrars and Registries, are governed by the cooperation of the contracted parties and the non-contracted parties, i.e. the stakeholders, in the creation of policy. In ICANN, contracts and other agreements are the method by which this policy is instantiated. http://www.circleid.com/posts/registrar_stakeholder_group_gnso_works_against_icann_multistakeholder/ A Phased Array Early Warning System by Michael D. Palage The following is a proposal for an "Early Warning" system to resolve one of the remaining impasses between the ICANN Board and the ICANN Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) as identified in the GAC Scorecard. Based upon phased array radar technology, this proposal is designed to incorporate multiple discrete evaluation phases into the new generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) program to provide an integrated and comprehensive early warning system for the GAC in providing advice to the ICANN Board, potential applicants, and the broader Internet community. http://www.circleid.com/posts/a_phased_array_early_warning_system/ ICANN Revenues Grow ICANN had a busy year in 2010. New security was implemented to help protect the Internet and new IDNs were finally approved. http://www.internetnews.com/bus-news/article.php/3930246/ICANN+Revenues+Grow.htm Categories: ICANN?s Recurring Malady Some bad ideas at ICANN crop up again and again, stubborn and persistent like a case of herpes. These ideas seem innocent at first, but after they take root they turn out to be difficult to control and are guaranteed to scare people away. Even after treatment, they re-appear with unnerving regularity. http://www.mindsandmachines.com/2011/04/categories-icanns-recurring-malady/ ?..Now is the time to wend away?.until we meet again?. ? and often by Chris Disspain Although the auDA team and the ccNSO has already devoted a number of blog posts and YouTube clips to the recent ICANN meeting in San Francisco, I wanted to add a few of my personal observations and comments, particularly as the meeting was my last as Chair of the ccNSO Council before taking up a seat on the ICANN Board. http://blog.auda.org.au/2011/04/07/?-now-is-the-time-to-wend-away?-until-we-meet-again?-and-often/ Man writes to ICANN with Whois look-up A second person has asked ICANN for ?a list of all registered domains?, using the organization?s freedom of information policy. http://domainincite.com/man-writes-to-icann-with-whois-look-up/ ICANN sponsors line up for Singapore ICANN?s web page for its Singapore meeting has gone live, and the organization looks to have already attracted almost $200,000 in sponsorship fees. http://domainincite.com/icann-sponsors-line-up-for-singapore/ Complaint to ICANN's Ombudsman re: Annual Report Update: ICANN finally published the Annual Report on Tuesday 5 April, 100 days late. We have yet to receive a response or notice of confirmation from ICANN's Ombudsman about the complaint below. http://news.dot-nxt.com/2011/03/30/icann-ombudsman-complaint ********************** - ccTLD & gTLD NEWS ********************** au: Bottle Domains Pty Ltd registrar accreditation terminated by consent Following legal proceedings between auDA and Australian Style Pty Ltd (trading as Bottle Domains) in 2009-10 , the registrar accreditation of Bottle Domains Pty Ltd has been terminated by consent of the parties, with no admission of liability on the part of Bottle Domains Pty Ltd. http://www.auda.org.au/news-archive/auda-08042011/ DNS.be experiences suspect extra load on name servers Starting Sunday 3 April, the DNS.be name servers experience 6 times more queries than average. This caused 2 name servers to be hardly available during 4 hours and sometimes even not available at all. The other 47 name servers were perfectly able to back-up, which is why no or little delay is caused for the end-user surfing to .be websites. http://www.dns.be/en/home.php?n=461 1,200 of the released 38,000 domain names were registered in the first 15 minutes At 12:00 today the Estonian Internet Foundation released approximately 38,000 domains names that had been registered in accordance with the old procedure but were not re-registered. 1,200 of these domains have been registered in the first 15 minutes of today. http://www.eestiinternet.ee/eng/news/1200-of-the-released-38000-domain-names-were-registered-in-the-first-15-minutes .eu birthday video on YouTube Over 130 MEPs joined .eu?s fifth birthday celebrations at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 5 and 6 April 2011. http://www.eurid.eu/en/content/eu-birthday-video-youtube "Dot.eu" internet domain name helps small businesses gain Single Market visibility 7th April 2011 marks the fifth birthday of the ".eu" ("Dot.eu") internet domain name. ".eu" has become the 9th biggest top-level domain (TLD) on the Internet, the 5th most popular country code top-level domain worldwide and ranks in 4th place in Europe. Having a ".eu" domain is especially beneficial to small and medium-sized companies as it raises their profile on European markets by providing them with a pan-European identity on the Internet. Registrations for a ".eu" domain have grown every year since its introduction and now reach almost 3.5 million. http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/11/447 Number of '.eu' domain names doubles over 5 years The number of registered websites with the '.eu' top-level domain name has reached 3.4 million, according to figures from EURid, the non-profit organisation that manages it. http://www.euractiv.com/en/infosociety/number-eu-domain-names-doubles-5-years-news-503856 ie Quarterly Registrations Exceed 10,000 for the First Time The IE Domain Registry (IEDR), the managed registry for Ireland?s official internet address .ie today reported that registrations for Ireland?s top level domain exceeded 10,000 in a three month period for the first time. http://www.iedr.ie/index.php/component/content/article/50-general/253-thursday-7th-april-2011-ie-quarterly-registrations-exceed-10000-for-the-first-time Laos to reclaim .la from Los Angeles? An effort has kicked off in the south-east Asian nation of Laos to ?reclaim and relaunch? the .la top-level domain, which is currently being marketed to businesses in Los Angeles. http://domainincite.com/laos-to-reclaim-la-from-los-angeles/ CCTLD .RU has turned 17! On this day of 7 April 1994, 17 years ago, the IANA introduced the respective entry about ccTLD .RU into its core database. For 17 years ccTLD .RU has gained momentum and now boasts 3,000.000-plus domain names, the 6th position in the global ranking of CCTLDs worldwide and a leader in terms of growth rates among the biggest CCTLDs (23% annually)! http://cctld.ru/en/news/news_detail.php?ID=1358 sa: Releasing new versions of the registration regulations and the Objection Rules As a part of the continues effort to develop and enhance the services provided for the local domain names (domain names that end with .sa or .????????) , SaudiNIC has published the latest Saudi Domain Name Registration Regulation ( version 3.0 ) and also the latest Saudi Domain Names Objection Rules ( version 1.1 ). http://blog.nic.net.sa/en/?p=53 .SE?s Internet Fund finances projects to increase digital inclusion among Swedes .SE (The Internet Infrastructure Foundation) has approved 13 of the applications in the digital inclusion focus area that were received during the Internet Fund?s first application period for the year. http://www.iis.se/en/pressmeddelanden/internetfondendigidelvt2011 .uk short domains - close of Unregistered Rights Sunrise phase The rights validation period of the Unregistered Rights Sunrise phase for the release of .uk short domains closed on 31 March. Uncontested domains will be registered at midday (12.00 BST) on Wednesday 13 April. http://www.nominet.org.uk/news/latest/?contentId=8329 ICM faces porn anger over .xxx ICM Registry executives took the brunt of angry opposition to the .xxx top-level domain from pornographers at an adult industry trade show this week. http://domainincite.com/icm-faces-porn-anger-over-xxx/ ********************** - NEW TLDS ********************** A brand new way to promote yourself BRAND owners have a unique opportunity to generate authority and trust on the internet using the new system of global top-level, or branded, domain names, but they need to start preparing for the changes now or risk missing out, according to an internet analyst. http://www.smh.com.au/business/media-and-marketing/a-brand-new-way-to-promote-yourself-20110407-1d5ya.html Countdown to the new domain .reise is on [news release] We are on the verge of the next Internet revolution. The domain suffixes .de, .com and .net are about to get some competition: New top-level domains, such as .berlin, .shop, and .reise, will pave the way for new Internet addresses. These new name spaces are scheduled to go online in summer 2012. http://www.pr-inside.com/countdown-to-the-new-domain-reise-r2524875.htm American Bankers Association and BITS Choose Verisign as Registry Operator for Potential New Generation of Financial Services Domains The American Bankers Association (ABA) and BITS, the technology policy division of The Financial Services Roundtable, are working to prepare the financial services industry for potential new financial gTLDs and have teamed with VeriSign, Inc., the trusted provider of Internet infrastructure services for the networked world, to serve as their exclusive registry operator. http://www.verisigninc.com/en_US/news-events/press-room/articles/index.xhtml?artLink=aHR0cHM6Ly9wcmVzcy52ZXJpc2lnbi5jb20vZWFzeWlyL2N1c3RvbXJlbC5kbz9lYXN5aXJpZD1BRkMwRkYwREI1QzU2MEQzJnZlcnNpb249bGl2ZSZwcmlkPTc0MDQ3NyZyZWxlYXNlanNwPWN1c3RvbV85Nw== New company joins competition to host prestigious .africa domain Competition among firms seeking to brand Africa on the Internet has heightened over the past few months. http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/New+company+joins+competition+to+host+prestigious+africa+domain/-/2558/1141544/-/dn1hjo/-/ ********************** - DNS SECURITY ********************** DNSSEC for .au at least a year off United States domain registrar Go Daddy spent the last 12 months bracing for the new Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC) specification, but it will be at least a year until it is available in Australia. http://www.zdnet.com.au/dnssec-for-au-at-least-a-year-off-339312754.htm au: Engineers off to US for secret cyber school AUSTRALIA's top civilian cyber unit is sending hundreds of engineers to be trained at a US government facility implicated in creating the world's most potent cyber weapon, Stuxnet. http://www.theage.com.au/technology/security/engineers-off-to-us-for-secret-cyber-school-20110408-1d7pt.html http://www.smh.com.au/technology/security/engineers-off-to-us-for-secret-cyber-school-20110408-1d7pt.html An Attack Sheds Light on Internet Security Holes The Comodo Group, an Internet security company, has been attacked in the last month by a talkative and professed patriotic Iranian hacker who infiltrated several of the company?s partners and used them to threaten the security of myriad big-name Web sites. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/07/technology/07hack.html White House says critical websites won't be affected by shutdown In the event of a government shutdown, federal websites "would remain operational" if they are deemed "necessary to avoid significant damage to the execution of authorized or accepted activities," a White House official told Nextgov in an email message late Wednesday. http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20110407_4872.php Federal Web sites may go dark in shutdown Many federal Web sites will go dark if the government shuts down tomorrow night, the White House indicated this afternoon. http://news.cnet.com/8301-31921_3-20051868-281.html Go Daddy: let registrars seize domain names Go Daddy has called for domain name registrars, not registries, to be responsible for seizing domain names associated with criminal activity. http://domainincite.com/go-daddy-let-registrars-seize-domain-names/ No joke: .com zone is DNSSEC signed As expected, VeriSign placed its key material in the root zone yesterday (click on the picture below to view more detailed key information, etc.). Secure resolvers can now authenticate the .com key starting from the root zone and validate DNSSEC secured domains in the .com zone. Certainly a big accomplishment for the technical community. http://blog.internetgovernance.org/blog/_archives/2011/4/1/4785735.html ********************** - DOMAIN DISPUTES ********************** National Arbitration Forum Reports a 24 Percent Increase in Domain Name Dispute Filings in 2010 The National Arbitration Forum (FORUM), an international provider of dispute resolution services, today announced that a total of 2,177 cases were filed in its domain name dispute resolution program in 2010, up 24 percent from 2009 (1,759 cases) and 23 percent from 2008 (1,770 cases). The FORUM is approved by ICANN to provide domain name dispute resolution services under policies like the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP). http://domains.adrforum.com/newsroom.aspx?itemID=1636 ICE vows to continue domain name seizures ICE Director John Morton says the DHS will continue to seize domain names suspected of engaging in copyright infringement. http://www.tgdaily.com/business-and-law-features/55249-ice-vows-to-continue-domain-name-seizures NAF sees rise in UDRP cases The National Arbitration Forum saw a steep increase in the number of cybersquatting complaints filed under the Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy last year. http://domainincite.com/naf-sees-rise-in-udrp-cases/ National Arbitration Forum Gets The Headline Right Today National Arbitration Forum released statistics about its UDRP caseload from 2010. It was up 24% from 2009 to 2,177 cases. http://domainnamewire.com/2011/04/07/national-arbitration-forum-gets-the-headline-right/ ********************** - IPv4/IPv6 ********************** Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration Renews Call for U.S. Business to Prepare to Transition to IPv6 The IPv6 Readiness Tool for Businesses is a comprehensive checklist for businesses preparing to deploy and adopt IPv6. The tool was developed by experts from industry and the Internet technical community in response to a call from U.S. Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra at an IPv6 workshop hosted by NTIA in September 2010. http://www.ntia.doc.gov/press/2011/IPv6Tool_04082011.html Migration to IPv6 still slow reports EURid Despite widespread reports that IPv4 numbers are running out ? and with parts of Asia expected to run out completely later this year ? EURid, the eu top level domain registrar, is reporting that the take-up of IPv6 numbers, and the understanding of the security needed, is still relatively low. http://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/view/17178/migration-to-ipv6-still-slow-reports-eurid/ au: Prepare security networks for IPv6: Internode With the death rattle of internet protocol version 4 (IPv4) getting louder, a key proponent of the protocol's successor has warned IT managers not to take a "lock down" approach to migration. http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/382797/prepare_security_networks_ipv6_internode/ ********************** - MISCELLANEOUS ********************** EFF: Certificate Authorities Signing Non Existent Top Level Domain Names SSL certificate providers gain trust by validating the domain names they are signing. So you might be surprised that they?re signing certificates for domain names that can?t even exist. http://domainnamewire.com/2011/04/07/eff-certificate-authorities-signing-non-existent-top-level-domain-names/ Netcraft April 2011 Web Server Survey In the April 2011 survey we received responses from 312,693,296 sites, a growth of almost 14.7M hostnames. This is the tenth consecutive month of growth seen by the survey. http://news.netcraft.com/archives/2011/04/06/april-2011-web-server-survey.html ********************** - DOMAINING & AFTERMARKET ********************** BIG Week for Domain Sales: Castello Brothers 6-Figure Sale + Three More at That Level Led the Charge Action in the domain aftermarket has been a bit slower than expected in the opening quarter of 2011, but a lot of catching up was done over the past seven days. In fact, four of the year's 10 biggest sales were logged since last week's report as the market served up its best performance of the year to date. A quartet of six-figure sales set the pace, with the Castello Brothers claiming the chart topper after selling Driven.com for $225,000. http://dnjournal.com/archive/domainsales/2011/20110406.htm ********************** INTERNET USE ********************** au: Net users logged on 21 hours a week The internet has surged ahead in its dominance of consumers' media activities, with Australians increasing their time online by a record-breaking four hours a week last year. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/net-users-logged-on-21-hours-a-week/story-e6frg996-1226036913878 Nielsen's state of the online market: Evolution or Revolution? The online landscape is at a turning point as another dimension is gaining momentum... according to the Nielsen Australian Online Consumer Report [news release] While use of the internet amongst the Australian population has reached maturity, the online landscape is at a turning point, as another dimension is gaining significant momentum. That of the internet-connected mobile device ? whether this be smartphones, tablet computers, eReader, connected games devices or some other hybrid forms likely to emerge, according to the Nielsen Australian Online Consumer Report, released today. http://au.nielsen.com/site/documents/AustralianOnlineConsumersReportMediaRelease.pdf Why more and more women are using internet porn Increasing numbers of women admit to being hooked on internet porn. Why is this happening, and where are they finding help? http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2011/apr/07/women-addicted-internet-pornography http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/why-more-and-more-women-are-using-internet-porn-20110408-1d6oe.html http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/why-more-and-more-women-are-using-internet-porn-20110408-1d6oe.html The Top Use For Tablets: Gaming A survey conducted by Google's AdMob offers insights into what people are doing with their tablets, where, and for how long. ... The most popular activity on tablets? Gaming, followed closely by search and email. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/08/the-top-use-for-tablets-stats_n_846565.html Cyberstalking 'now more common' than face-to-face stalking Cyberstalking is now more common than physical harassment, according to new figures due to be released next week, with many victims finding themselves pursued by complete strangers online. http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/apr/08/cyberstalking-study-victims-men Teens deprived of laptops and smart phones suffer cold turkey The withdrawal symptoms young people experience when deprived of their gadgets are comparable with those of drug addicts going 'cold turkey', a study claims. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8437051/Teens-deprived-of-laptops-and-smart-phones-suffer-cold-turkey.html Computer gamers less likely to go to university, research shows Frequently playing computer games appears to reduce a teenager's chances of going to university, while reading enhances the likelihood that they will go on to study for a degree, according to Oxford University research that tracked 17,000 people born in 1970. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/apr/07/computer-gamers-university-research Miss G.: A Case of Internet Addiction There are certain popular diversions ? television, video games, the Internet ? that we pursue so deliriously we end up hating ourselves for loving them. Others we brightly recast as the duties of citizenship: newspapers, public radio, sports. http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/09/miss-g-a-case-of-internet-addiction/ Worldwide, Students Suffer From Internet 'Addiction' "I sat in my bed and stared blankly." "My nerves were overwhelmed." "I had a raised heart rate, increased anxiety and was panicking." "It felt as though I was being tortured." "Emptiness overwhelmed me." http://www.huffingtonpost.com/susan-moeller/technology-internet-addiction_b_845172.html ********************** SOCIAL NETWORKING ********************** How News Corp Got Lost In Myspace As Rupert Murdoch stepped into the Grand Ballroom of San Francisco's Palace Hotel at the Web 2.0 conference in October 2007, the developers and engineers who packed the room fell into a respectful hush. It was the sort of greeting usually reserved for one of their own tech heroes, not a 76-year-old media mogul. http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/04/07/uk-myspace-idUKTRE7364H020110407 http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/04/08/idINIndia-56207420110408 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/07/how-news-corp-got-lost-in-myspace_n_846341.html ********************** NEW TECHNOLOGIES ********************** What does the Microsoft-Toyota tie-up mean for drivers? [Relaxnews] Much has been made of the April 6 announcement of a tie-up between Toyota and Microsoft, and while it's a little early to predict exactly how the new cloud-based system will look, both companies dropped big hints about the functionality. http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/motoring/what-does-the-microsofttoyota-tieup-mean-for-drivers-2264748.html Brain waves from thoughts of sounds used to move cursor A cursor on a computer screen can be controlled using thoughts about a range of vowel sounds, research has found. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12990211 Can Supercomputers Help Japan Predict Earthquakes? In the wake of a natural disaster, aid often comes in the form of food, water and medical supplies. Several universities are offering Japan another form of assistance that will help in the effort to rebuild: supercomputing capacity. http://www.businessweek.com/technology/technology_at_work/archives/2011/04/predicting_earthquakes_in_japan_with_supercomputers.html ************************************************ CHILD PROTECTION, FILTERING & CONTENT REGULATION ************************************************ Europol joins the Virtual Global Taskforce [news release] One of the largest online child protection taskforces today welcomed another new member. Chair of the Virtual Global Taskforce (VGT), Australian Federal Police (AFP) Assistant Commissioner Neil Gaughan, officially welcomed Europol to the VGT during VGT meetings held in Abu Dhabi. http://www.ceop.police.uk/Media-Centre/Press-releases/2011/Europol-joins-the-Virtual-Global-Taskforce/ uk: Ceop website form 'could have put children at risk' An investigation is under way after a web page - set up to protect children online - was found to be insecure. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13025228 au: Young people, teachers and parents to advise government on cybersafety issues [news release] The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy Senator Stephen Conroy today launched the 2011 Youth Advisory Group (YAG) on Cybersafety and a new advisory group for teachers and parents. http://www.minister.dbcde.gov.au/media/media_releases/2011/155 Computer stalking outstrips face-to-face harassment Cyberstalking is now more common than face-to-face harassment with many victims finding themselves pursued by complete strangers online, according to a new study. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8439833/Computer-stalking-outstrips-face-to-face-harassment.html ********************** ONLINE TV & MUSIC ********************** YouTube Recasts for New Viewers: Google Plans to Organize Site Around 'Channels,' Fund Original Content as TV and Web Converge Google Inc. is working on a major overhaul of YouTube as it tries to position itself for the rise of televisions that let people watch online video in their living rooms, according to people familiar with the matter. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704013604576247060940913104.html ********************** MOBILE/WIRELESS ********************** Mobile telecoms in Africa: Makers of mobile devices see a new growth market Sub-Saharan Africa has long been deprived of the cornucopia of media enjoyed in richer places. It was not until China began to export $50 black-and-white televisions to Africa about a decade ago that broadcasting took off outside the main cities. That new, much bigger market has led to big changes. Asif Sheikh of A24, an online-news channel in Nairobi, says Kenyan broadcasters have gone from showing almost exclusively Western-made programmes in 2005 to 80% African ones now. Local content is booming in other media too: talk radio, music videos and televangelism have all proved lucrative. But for all types of content, everyone agrees that the next big business opportunity is in mobile devices. http://www.economist.com/node/18529875 Google's Android 'to take half of smartphone market by end of 2012' About half of the world's smartphones will be using Google's Android operating system by the end of 2012, according to the research firm Gartner. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/apr/07/google-android-smartphone-market Gartner: Android market share to near 50 percent The Android operating system may soon own nearly 50 percent of the smartphone market, Gartner said today. http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-20051610-17.html Android set to power 50pc of smartphones: Gartner [AFP] Google's Android mobile operating system will power nearly half of the smartphones worldwide by the end of next year, technology research company Gartner said. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10717953 http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/android-smartphone-share-to-rise-prices-to-fall-2265107.html http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/android-smartphone-share-to-rise-prices-to-fall-20110408-1d6f6.html http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-technology/android-smartphone-share-to-rise-prices-to-fall-20110408-1d6f6.html Gartner Says Android to Command Nearly Half of Worldwide Smartphone Operating System Market by Year-End 2012 [news release] Worldwide smartphone sales will reach 468 million units in 2011, a 57.7 percent increase from 2010, according to Gartner Inc. By the end of 2011, Android will move to become the most popular operating system (OS) worldwide and will build on its strength to account for 49 percent of the smartphone market by 2012 (see Table 1). http://www.gartner.com/it/page.jsp?id=1622614 uk: Mobile phone users 'overpaying by ?200' per year Three-quarters of mobile phone subscribers are wasting an average of nearly ?200 a year because they are on the wrong contract, research suggests. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12996175 ********************** SPAM ********************** Spam, spam, spam: Twitter's arms race Biz Stone and Ev Williams discovered pretty quickly that Del Harvey was serious about the task they'd set her of putting a lid on Twitter's spam problem. Within a month of her joining in late 2008, she had suspended both of their accounts on the grounds that they seemed to be acting suspiciously ... like spam. Oh, and for good measure she also suspended the head of personnel and Jason Goldman, the head of products. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/apr/07/twitter-internet ********************** DIGITAL DIVIDE ********************** UN forms partnership to train women on computer use to boost livelihoods [news release] The United Nations telecommunications agency today partnered with a Philippines-based non-governmental organization (NGO) to train a million women worldwide to use computers and other information and communications technology (ICT) applications to improve their livelihoods. http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=38039 ITU launches global digital literacy campaign for women [news release] ITU today launched a digital literacy partnership with Philippine-based NGO telecentre.org Foundation that over the next 18 months will train one million unskilled women to use computers and modern information and communication technology (ICT) applications to improve their livelihoods. http://www.itu.int/net/pressoffice/press_releases/2011/08.aspx ************************** ONLINE CRIME, SECURITY & LEGAL ************************** E-commerce and data security: A large theft of company e-mail lists causes controversy An outraged consumer-advocacy group is calling it ?the Fukushima of the e-mail industry?. Comparing mere data theft to Japan?s nuclear nightmare is perhaps a bit over the top. But the theft of data from Epsilon, a marketing-services company, has nonetheless caused widespread concern. On April 1st Epsilon revealed that an outsider had managed to get hold of the e-mail addresses and names of some individuals that it held on its system. Many millions of records are reportedly involved, although Epsilon, which is still investigating the cause of the leak, refuses to confirm the exact number. http://www.economist.com/node/18529913 us: Urban Homesteaders Fight Baseless Legal Claims Over Generic, Descriptive Term Activists in the urban homesteading movement petitioned today to cancel the registration of bogus trademarks for the terms "urban homesteading" and "urban homestead" -- trademarks that have been used to threaten other urban homesteaders and remove online content and discussion. https://www.eff.org/press/archives/2011/04/04-0 Sophisticated cyber thieves behind Epsilon attack An online marketing firm hit by what may be one of the biggest data thefts ever was the victim of "highly sophisticated cyber thieves," according to its parent company. http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-technology/sophisticated-cyber-thieves-behind-epsilon-attack-20110407-1d5mn.html http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/sophisticated-cyber-thieves-behind-epsilon-attack-20110407-1d5mn.html ************************** PRIVACY ************************** BT escapes prosecution over web snooping BT will not be prosecuted for snooping on the web browsing habits of its customers. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-13015194 BT and Phorm escape prosecution for secret wiretaps BT and Phorm will not face prosecution for trials of technology that secretly intercepted and profiled the broadband traffic of tens of thousands of people, the Crown Prosecution Service has announced. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/8437978/BT-and-Phorm-escape-prosecution-for-secret-wiretaps.html No prosecution will be brought against Phorm and BT for breaching privacy laws The crown prosecution service (CPS) has said there is not enough evidence to bring a case against a software company accused of breaching data protection laws. http://out-law.com/page-11859 Web firms face increased US federal scrutiny over Internet privacy As LinkedIn prepares to sell its stock to the public, the social network for professionals is warning of a potential threat to its business: Internet privacy laws. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/web-firms-face-increased-federal-scrutiny-over-internet-privacy/2011/04/06/AFvREp1C_story.html au: Right to sue if online privacy violated: new law recommended Australians should have their rights to online privacy enshrined in legislation, according to a new Parliamentary report. Offenders would then risk being taken to court and sued for violating the privacy of their victims or collecting too much personal data. http://www.itwire.com/it-policy-news/government-tech-policy/46408-right-to-sue-if-online-privacy-violated-new-law-recommended ********************** CENSORSHIP ********************** Lawsuit Against YouTube Threatens Global Growth of Political Speech The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and a coalition of advocacy groups have asked a federal appeals court to reject attempts to thwart federal copyright law and saddle online communities with new litigation fears in the appeal of Viacom v. YouTube. https://www.eff.org/press/archives/2011/04/07 ************************** GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY ************************** au: Government must justify web snooping: senate report The federal government should justify why mandatory collection and retention of personal data is necessary for law enforcement, a senate report into online privacy has found. http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/government-must-justify-web-snooping-senate-report-20110407-1d6ao.html http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/government-must-justify-web-snooping-senate-report-20110407-1d6ao.html Google Still Plays Favorites With Itself, Groups Say The Department of Justice has approved a deal that allows Google to buy travel website ITA. But consumer groups are wary. http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2011/04/google-still-plays-favorites-w.php U.S. House rejects FCC's "open" Internet rules The U.S. House of Representatives voted on Friday to reject Internet "neutrality" rules that were adopted last year to keep big Internet service providers from blocking certain traffic http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/04/08/oukin-uk-congress-internet-idUKTRE7376VL20110408 http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/04/08/idINIndia-56224720110408 us: Lawsuits to strengthen Net traffic rules possible Public interest groups are keeping the option of lawsuits against the U.S. Federal Communications Commission on the table to fight for stronger Internet "neutrality" rules, an executive at a public interest law firm said on Saturday. http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/04/10/idINIndia-56240120110410 House Votes Against ?Net Neutrality? The House of Representatives approved a measure on Friday that would prohibit the Federal Communications Commission from regulating how Internet service providers manage their broadband networks, potentially overturning a central initiative of the F.C.C. chairman, Julius Genachowski. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/09/business/media/09broadband.html Google seals ITA deal; larger antitrust review looms The Justice Department approved Google Inc's purchase of ITA Software with stiff conditions on Friday, and left the door open to a larger probe into whether Google manipulates its search results to hurt rivals. http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/04/08/oukin-uk-ita-google-antitrust-idUKTRE7365GC20110408 http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/04/08/idINIndia-56220920110408 U.S. Clears Google Acquisition of Travel Software The Justice Department on Friday approved Google?s $700 million acquisition of a flight search software maker, but imposed conditions limiting how Google could use the company?s technology, potentially opening the door to broader antitrust scrutiny of the search giant?s activities. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/09/technology/09google.html Justice Department OKs Google's $700-million ITA Software purchase The Department of Justice approved Google's proposed $700-million purchase of travel data company ITA Software Inc., with some strings attached. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2011/04/google-ita-travel-software.html U.S. Clears Google's Travel Deal, With Conditions Google Inc. on Friday clinched U.S. approval for its acquisition of flight-data company ITA Software Inc. after a lengthy review, and will now be a powerful new player in the $80 billion online search industry. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704415104576250883736634482.html Internet companies challenge decree requiring them to store personal data The French Association of Internet Community Services (ASIC), which groups more than 20 Internet companies including Facebook, Dailymotion, PriceMinister and Google, filed a complaint with the Council of State on 6 April challenging a new addition to the 2004 Law on Confidence in the Digital Economy (LCEN) that requires them to keep large amounts of user data. http://en.rsf.org/france-internet-companies-challenge-07-04-2011,39980.html ca: The Conservatives Commitment to Internet Surveillance This post, which focuses on the Conservatives commitment to pass lawful access legislation that would fundamentally reshape the Internet in Canada within the new Parliament's first 100 days if it wins a majority, requires two caveats. The first is to emphasize that I believe digital policies are not a partisan issue. Developing a digital economy strategy, introducing balanced copyright, addressing cybercrime while preserving privacy is not a left or right, Liberal or Conservative, issue. http://www.michaelgeist.ca/content/view/5733/125/ ********************************* MISCELLANEOUS ********************************* James Gleick: 'Information poses as many challenges as opportunities' Here's a paradox: we live in an "information age" and yet information is a maddeningly elusive concept. We habitually confuse it with data, on the one hand, and with knowledge on the other. And yet it's neither. There's an arcane mathematical discipline called "information theory" that underpins all digital communications nowadays and yet resolutely disdains to make any connection between information and meaning. It would take a brave author to pursue such an elusive quarry. Or a foolhardy one. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/apr/10/james-gleick-information-interview InternetNZ policy director makes Labour list InternetNZ policy director Jordon Carter has been named number 40 on Labour's list, released this afternoon http://nbr.co.nz/article/internetnz-policy-director-makes-labour-list-ck-90386 Anthony Doesburg: An invitation to write the future Calling all developers, designers, makers, mixers, mashers, tinkerers, philosopher-mechanics and sales engineers!" http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10717724 ********************** TELECOMMUNICATIONS ********************** Undersea Internet cable to land in Africa [AFP] A new undersea telecommunications cable to boost Africa's Internet access will land this month, mobile service provider MTN said Thursday, calling it the continent's largest data pipeline yet. http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/undersea-internet-cable-to-land-in-africa-20110408-1d6eh.html http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-technology/undersea-internet-cable-to-land-in-africa-20110408-1d6eh.html E.U. Telecommunications Operators Seek to Rush Through Price Rises The price of broadband and phone services in Europe is poised to rise as the Continent?s big operators win large rate increases from their national regulators before the implementation of a new law that gives the European Commission more influence over setting of rates. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/11/technology/11iht-telecom11.html $20b feud with Telstra drove NBN's birth It is already the most expensive infrastructure project in Australia's history, and it seems the final cost of the National Broadband Network could blow out by billions. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/04/11/3187614.htm nz: Lobby forms to put pressure on broadband project Telecommunications companies and consumer advocate groups have united to try to ensure that the successful bidders for the Government's ultrafast broadband project do not become lightly regulated monopolies. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10718617 nz: Telcos and lobby groups unite to protest against UFB terms A group of 11 leading telecommunications companies and industry lobby groups have displayed a united front against the Ultrafast Broadband (UFB) plan, which they say will create an unregulated monopoly over the national fibre network. http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/telcos-and-lobby-groups-unite-to-protest-against-ufb-terms nz: Eleven telcos, consumer groups unite against Crown Fibre bill Eleven of New Zealand?s major telecommunications companies and consumer-advocate groups have united to oppose legislation that creates new telecommunications industry regulations for the Crown Fibre age, and allows Telecom to split - with its spun off network arm able to buy into lines or fibre companies. The bill also allows for the Crown to buy into Telecom. http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/eleven-telcos-consumer-groups-unite-against-crown-fibre-bill-ck-90449 Groups unite against UFB bill Industry and consumer groups, and several telecommunications companies have written to MPs to press their case for changes to the Telecommunications Amendment Bill, that would pave the way for the Government's ultrafast broadband initiative. http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/4873041/Groups-unite-against-UFB-bill NZ telcos lobby against fibre monopoly [AAP] New Zealand telecommunications companies and consumer advocate groups have united in an attempt to ensure that successful bidders for the NZ government's ultrafast broadband project do not become lightly regulated monopolies. http://www.zdnet.com.au/nz-telcos-lobby-against-fibre-monopoly-339312991.htm http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8235540 Eleven telcos, consumer groups unite against UFB Bill In an unprecedented move, 11 of New Zealand?s major telecommunications companies and the country?s leading consumer advocate groups have united to oppose the Government?s proposed UFB Bill. http://www.geekzone.co.nz/content.asp?ContentId=9188 All sides of industry unite to oppose NZ telecoms legislation In a rare show of unity, New Zealand telcos, user and consumer organisations have joined forces to oppose planned legislation that will pave the way for structural separation of Telecom NZ, and for the Government funded Ultrafast Broadband Network (UFB), the equivalent of Australia's NBN. http://www.itwire.com/it-policy-news/government-tech-policy/46464-all-sides-of-industry-unite-to-oppose-nz-telecoms-legislation nz: TELCON11: Joyce bites back at Freeth Communications minister Steven Joyce devoted a big chunk of his TelCon11 speech yesterday to answering critics of the government's $1.35 billion ultrafast broadband (UFB) initiative. http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/telcon11-joyce-bites-back-freeth-ck-90304 nz: Joyce defends UFB regulatory holiday at telco conference ICT Minister Steven Joyce staunchly defended the 10-year regulatory holiday granted to providers to the Ultra-fast broadband network during a speech at the Tel.Con 11 conference in Auckland this morning. http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/joyce-defends-ufb-regulatory-holiday-at-telco-conference nz: Telecom's FTTN rollout gives it the advantage in UFB: Freeth TelstraClear CEO Allan Freeth is ?95 per cent certain? that Telecom will get the bulk of the Ultra Fast Broadband initiative ? the remaining 25 areas, or around 80 percent of the build. http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/telecoms-fttn-rollout-will-win-it-ufb-freeth Australia lags in Internet Speed: Nielsen Comparing Global Internet - Connections across nine countries [news release] The days of dial-up Internet access (speeds up to 128Kb) are numbered as consumers around the world opt for the fast and even super-fast Internet connections now available. The Nielsen Company recently measured and compared connection speeds on home computers during February 2011 across nine countries and analysed whether speed affects the amount of time consumers spend online. The connection speeds were divided into four groups: ?slow? (up to 512Kb), ?medium? (512Kb ? 2Mb), ?fast? (2Mb ? 8Mb) and ?super-fast? (8Mb+). http://au.nielsen.com/site/documents/GlobalInternetConnectionsComparisonNielsen.pdf +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (c) David Goldstein 2011 ------ David Goldstein email: david§goldsteinreport.com web: http://goldsteinreport.com/ http://davidgoldstein.tel/ 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 Mon Apr 11 2011 - 01:44:49 UTC
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