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://technewsreview.com.au/ - for daily updates in between postings. *************************************************** The domain name news is supported by auDA *************************************************** ICANN Board Review: Interim Report Published http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-20feb09-en.htm ICANN responds to gTLD plan comments [IDG] http://www.pcworld.com/article/159854/.html Your Comments Front and Center in ICANN New gTLD Process by Kieren McCarthy http://www.circleid.com/posts/20090219_your_comments_icann_new_gtld_process/ Indigenous Activists Seek New .indigi Domain http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/02/20/indigenous-activists-seek-new-domain/ Kaminsky Calls For DNSSEC Adoption http://www.darkreading.com/security/vulnerabilities/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=214501924 Permanent fix needed for DNS security issues, Kaminsky warns at Black Hat http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9128356 Vint Cerf: We Still Have 80 Per Cent of the World to Connect http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/vint_cerf_we_still_have_80_per.php Is keyword advertising lawful? A new reference for a preliminary ruling to the European Court of Justice http://domaine.blogspot.com/2009/02/is-keyword-advertising-lawful-new.html au: New digital fund kicks off http://www.digital-media.net.au/Article/New-digital-fund-kicks-off/468407.aspx ********************** DOMAIN NAMES ********************** Board Review: Interim Report Published ICANN appointed the Boston Consulting Group/Colin Carter & Associates to perform the external review of its Board of Directors. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-20feb09-en.htm At-Large Summit - an Overview The Mexico City meeting is a landmark for At-Large. For the first time, the whole At-Large community will be meeting together face-to-face in the ?At-Large Summit?. About 90 representatives of the At-Large membership of organisations (called ?At-Large Structures?) are already confirmed. Mexico City meeting attendees will be able to spot them easily, as each will have a ribbon indicating their status as a Summit delegate attached to their ICANN meeting badges. http://blog.icann.org/2009/02/at-large-summit-an-overview/ Coming soon: DotTom, DotDick and DotHarry Forget the vanity licence plates and the personalised URLs: what about owning your own top-level internet domain name, to put yourself on a par with the .coms and .govs? You?ll probably be able to apply for one by the end of this year - though it?ll cost you $185,000. http://blogs.ft.com/techblog/2009/02/coming-soon-dottom-dotdick-and-dotharry/ ICANN responds to gTLD plan comments [IDG] ICANN has delayed its plans to sell new generic top-level domains in an effort to respond to public comments about the controversial proposal. http://www.pcworld.com/article/159854/.html http://www.arnnet.com.au/article/277326/ http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/021909-icann-responds-to-gtld-plan.html http://computerworld.com.au/article/ http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9128258 http://www.cio.com.au/article/277326/ http://pcworld.idg.com.au/article/277326/ Your Comments Front and Center in ICANN New gTLD Process by Kieren McCarthy ICANN published the second version of its Application Guidebook for new generic top-level domains earlier today (late evening Los Angeles time). http://www.circleid.com/posts/20090219_your_comments_icann_new_gtld_process/ Palage Statement on ICANN's Second Draft gTLD Guidebook [news release] ICANN has released its second Draft Applicant Guidebook concerning the creation of more generic top-level domains (gTLDs). The following statement may be attributed to Michael Palage, Adjunct Fellow at The Progress & Freedom Foundation and a former ICANN Board Member: http://pff.org/news/news/2009/021909advisorypalageICANN.html New gTLDs: 2nd Draft Applicant Guidebook now online! As anticipated, the 2nd version of the DAG has now been released by ICANN, and it is indeed a redline of the first document. http://domainesinfo.fr/english/259/new-gtlds-2nd-draft-applicant-guidebook-now-online.php ICANN: More delays for new gTLDs? I have learned that although the final version of the new gTLD DAG had been scheduled for release in May 2009, this now seems unlikely. Instead, a 3rd draft would be published prior to the 2nd ICANN meeting of the year, scheduled for Sydney at the end of the June. http://domainesinfo.fr/english/258/more-delays-for-new-gtlds.php ICANN Releases New gTLD Guide Book: Still Includes No Price Caps: Your Domains Are At Risk ICANN released its second draft of guide book for the New gTLD?s today. http://www.thedomains.com/2009/02/19/icann-releases-new-gtld-guide-book-still-includes-no-price-caps-your-domains-are-at-risk/ ICANN Delays New gTLD Application Process ICANN is expected to release a revised Draft Applicant Guidebook this week as part of their consultation process in planning for the calling for applications for new generic Top Level Domains (gTLDs). http://technewsreview.com.au/article.php?article=7353 http://www.domainpulse.com/2009/02/19/icann-revises-plan-for-web-changes/ http://www.domainnews.com/en/general/icann-revises-plan-for-web-changes.html ICANN Issues Latest New gTLD Guidebook ... After receiving hundreds of comments, mostly requesting major changes or clarifications to the original draft of the new TLD handbook, ICANN has made a good effort to acknowledge the comments. It released a 154 page analysis of the comments received and its response to them. http://domainnamewire.com/2009/02/19/icann-issues-latest-new-gtld-guidebook/ Will shorter domain names boost dot biz? Get ready for i.biz, u.biz and probably we.biz. One- and two-character domain names are coming to the .biz extension if NeuStar, the company that runs the .biz registry, succeeds in getting the change okayed by ICANN. http://www.thestandard.com/news/2009/02/21/will-shorter-domain-names-boost-dot-biz Field Guide to ICANN Reforms (Part 3): The Board's Plan to Reform the GNSO by Milton Mueller How reformers in the ICANN Board?s Governance Committee translated the recommendations of the LSE report into a blueprint for change. http://blog.internetgovernance.org/blog/_archives/2009/2/19/4098823.html ********************** - ccTLD & gTLD NEWS ********************** DENIC eG: Last Step of Data Center Concept Successfully Completed The comprehensive modernization of DENIC's data center has been successfully completed with the launch of the new data center in Amsterdam. With this data center and the one in Frankfurt am Main, which has been operating reliably since 11 September 2007, DENIC now operates data centers at two international hubs in Europe. http://www.denic.de/en/denic/news/news_90.html Indigenous Activists Seek New .indigi Domain Marginalized and oppressed for centuries, indigenous peoples ? native communities around the world often considered minorities by states ? are seeking Internet autonomy. Encouraged by the opportunity to create new generic top level domains (gTLD), some activists want registration of their own Internet domain ? [dot] indigi. But will they be able to overcome the financial challenge of the Internet? http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/02/20/indigenous-activists-seek-new-domain/ Trademark Owners Should Consider .mp Domain Name Registration Mark Partridge Saipan DataCom, Inc.?s upcoming late March 2009 open launch of chi.mp (?Content Hub & Identity Management Platform) has implications for trademark holders that seem to have gone unnoticed to date. Chi.mp is a free platform that enables social network users to create social hubs on their own stand-alone hosted Web sites... As an attorney representing both trademark owners and domain name registries, I see chi.mp as a unique situation. http://www.circleid.com/posts/20090220_trademark_owners_mp_domain_name/ no: Watch out for questionable catalogue companies Norsk Internett Register continues their misleading activity towards Norwegian companies. So does European City Guide, which operates from Spain. These companies are listed in a warning list including companies making confusing and misleading marketing from N?ringslivets sikkerhetsr?d (Norwegian Business and Industry Security Council). This kind of services has no connection to Norid. http://www.norid.no/nytt/dad2009.en.html .SE-DNSSEC keys published through ITAR Last summer, ICANN announced the decision for its IANA (the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority) to create and maintain a registry of DNSSEC trust anchors for the Internet?s top-level domains until the root zone of the Internet itself can be signed with DNSSEC. Now the registry is up-and-running and .SE ? the first top-level domain ever to offer a complete DNSSEC service ? is also amongst the first to publish its DNSSEC keys there. http://www.iis.se/about/press?id=185 Just .tel them to keep in touch ANDY Chantrill is hoping to do well over the next few years, recession or otherwise. Last week, the entrepreneur was one of the first to buy some of the new .tel domain names as they went on sale. http://smallbusiness.smh.com.au/growing/finance/just-.tel-them-to-keep-in-touch-909919244.html http://smallbusiness.theage.com.au/growing/finance/just-.tel-them-to-keep-in-touch-909919244.html tel: Internet Gets Richer Telnic Limited, the registry of .tel, has announced a special offer wherein anyone purchasing .tel domain name can use the inbuilt domain application and hence will not require websites. http://www.techtree.com/India/News/Internet_Gets_Richer/551-99186-643.html tel: Website could become ultimate phone book Could the web suffix ".Tel" forever do away with phone books, both printed and online? Unlike the other web suffixes ".Com" or ".Net," users don't create whatever they want with their ".Tel" address. Instead, it is a place to simply keep one's own up-to-date contact information accessible. London-based startup Telnic came up with the idea. http://news10now.com/content/features/134074/website-could-become-ultimate-phone-book/Default.aspx http://capitalnews9.com/content/living/134074/website-could-become-ultimate-phone-book/Default.aspx The Internet?s new contacts directory Have you ever wondered how many contacts in your contact list are outdated? How many people have your new telephone numbers or your e-mail address? It is often a herculean task to update everyone about your new numbers, especially when you are traveling and have a temporary local number or when you have changed your company or your city. http://www.expresscomputeronline.com/20090223/technology01.shtml ".tel is the biggest innovation since .com" The Internet has always driven innovation. Recently, a revolutionary new way of networking and storing contact details was introduced - '.tel'. Fabien Chalandon, VP of Telnic, the company behind .tel, lays bare the facts behind this concept. Excerpts from an interview with Abhinna Shreshtha http://www.cxotoday.com/India/Interview/tel_is_the_biggest_innovation_since_com/551-99222-906.html ********************** - DNS SECURITY ********************** Kaminsky Calls For DNSSEC Adoption The much-debated protocol to help secure the Domain Name System received a big boost today when DNS security guru Dan Kaminsky said the industry must adopt the DNSSEC protocol. http://www.darkreading.com/security/vulnerabilities/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=214501924 Kaminsky: DNS Is Still in Danger Security researcher Dan Kaminsky is a man with a mission. His goal: to warn the world about the dangers that still persist in the Domain Name System, or DNS (define), in spite of having earlier sounded the alarm on a widespread vulnerability. http://www.internetnews.com/infra/article.php/3804511 Permanent fix needed for DNS security issues, Kaminsky warns at Black Hat Seven months after the disclosure of a fundamental design flaw in the Domain Name System protocol that was discovered by security researcher Dan Kaminsky, industrywide efforts to address the DNS problem have made considerable headway, according to Kaminsky. http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9128356 Security researcher Kaminsky pushes DNS patching Dan Kaminsky, who for years was ambivalent about securing DNS, has become an ardent supporter of DNS Security Extensions. http://computerworld.com.au/article/277348/ For A Poisoned Internet, No Quick Fix Six months after revealing a crippling cybersecurity weakness, Dan Kaminsky says the world's systems remain largely unpatched. http://www.forbes.com/2009/02/19/dns-hacker-kaminsky-tech-security-0219_bug.html Kaminsky calls for DNSSEC deployment Dan Kaminsky's second act has begun: Pushing the adoption of the DNSSEC security standard for the domain-name system. http://www.securityfocus.com/brief/911 Domain Name System still less than secure Exploits for a serious cache-poisoning vulnerability discovered in the Domain Name System (DNS) last year have begun to appear in the wild, and they have made security researcher Dan Kaminsky a believer in DNS Security Extensions (DNSSEC). http://www.gcn.com/Articles/2009/02/19/Black-Hat-DNSSEC.aspx ********************** - DOMAIN DISPUTES ********************** ca: Fredericton MP loses domain name; website now sells prescription drugs Fredericton Conservative MP Keith Ashfield is learning a hard lesson about how the internet has changed the old question: what's in a name? The federal cabinet minister registered the domain name keithashfield.ca during the 2008 election to promote his candidacy. http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2009/02/20/nb-ashfield-website.html ********************** - IPv4/IPv6 ********************** Vint Cerf: We Still Have 80 Per Cent of the World to Connect "By 2010 we will have run out of IP addresses if we don't do something about it," Vint Cerf, Google's chief Internet evangelist and the man commonly referred to as "the father of the Internet," told ReadWriteWeb last month. http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/vint_cerf_we_still_have_80_per.php http://nytimes.com/external/readwriteweb/2009/02/21/21readwriteweb-vint_cerf_we_still_have_80_per.html Time for IPv6: Governments urged to plan to hit EU targets Detlef Eckert, senior advisor in the Directorate General Information Society and Media of the European Commission (EC), is today emphasising the crucial role of EU governments in leading the way to IPv6 migration, at a roundtable meeting for governments and regulators, hosted by the RIPE NCC. http://www.publictechnology.net/article_avantgo.php?sid=19039 ********************** - MISCELLANEOUS ********************** Web traffic in India grows by 50 per cent in 2008 news India registered a 50-per cent growth in web site traffic, as the total subscriber base for broadband (net speeds exceeding 256 kbps) reached 5.45 million by the end of December 2008. ... In support of this effort, VeriSign has joined ICANN and others in the Internet community to pursue development of Internationalized TLDs. http://www.domain-b.com/infotech/itnews/20090221_web_traffic_india_grows.html VeriSign Looking For Ways to Solve the Industry?s International Language Issues In their latest Industry Brief, VeriSign announced it is working with other members of the Internet community to provide a way for people of all languages to navigate the internet. The two most notable methods they are pursuing include implementing international domain names (IDNs) represented by local language characters for ccTLDs and creating new generic TLDs based on non-ASCII characters. http://www.domainnamenews.com/news/verisign-looking-for-ways-to-solve-the-industrys-international-language-issues/4058 Is keyword advertising lawful? A new reference for a preliminary ruling to the European Court of Justice In a dispute between Dutch companies Portakabin and Primakabin over the use of a trademark through Google AdWords (C-558/08), five questions are asked to the ECJ. http://domaine.blogspot.com/2009/02/is-keyword-advertising-lawful-new.html ********************** - DOMAINING & AFTERMARKET ********************** au: New digital fund kicks off The deposed chief executive of Realestate.com.au, Simon Baker has emerged as one of the mystery investors behind new digital investment vehicle the Future Capital Development Fund. ... The Fund?s investment style is hands-on, with Carosa taking a ?roll up your sleeves approach? to transforming the business within a 2-3 year period and setting it up for further investment or a trade sale. Core areas of interest for the fund are domain name monetisation companies and youth-oriented online advertising-based enterprises. http://www.digital-media.net.au/Article/New-digital-fund-kicks-off/468407.aspx Toys.com To Be Auctioned February 27 In the continuing saga of Toys.com, a new auction will be held February 27. The domain name was originally won at a bankruptcy auction earlier this month for $1.25M by Faculty Lounge Partners. However, another party indicated it may be willing to pay more for the domain name. http://domainnamewire.com/2009/02/19/toyscom-to-be-auctioned-february-27/ Median End User Domain Name Sales Price $1200 Earlier this month I reported that the median sales price for domain names at Sedo last year was $500. I pointed out that this number represents a mix between end user sales and investor sales. http://domainnamewire.com/2009/02/19/median-end-user-domain-name-sales-price-1200/ Sedo Sells Dollars.com for Over $380,000 in the Second Biggest Sale Reported So Far in 2009 With the general economy in disarray, high ticket domain sales have been few and far between in the early going so far in 2009. Sedo.com hit one deep this week though as they handled a ?302,500 ($381,150) sale of Dollars.com. http://dnjournal.com/archive/domainsales/2009/02-24-09.htm RT.TV Tunes in $62,500 to Lead This Week's Action in the Domain Aftermarket A pair of strong country code domains headed the .coms off at the pass to lead this week's all extension Top 20 domain sales chart. RT.TV took the top spot after changing hands in an impressive $62,500 private transaction. Seller John van den Berg sent the domain to the non-profit organization, TV-Novosti, based in Moscow, Russia, that operates the RussiaToday.com website. http://dnjournal.com/archive/domainsales/2009/02-17-09.htm Year's First 7-Figure Sale Shows the High End of the Market Still Has a Pulse The severe economic recession brought high end domain sales to a near standstill over the past six months, but just when the coroner was about to pronounce 7-figure sales dead, a blip showed up on the heartbeat monitor. Publicly traded TravelZoo breathed life back into the high end's body with a $1,760,000 cash purchase of Fly.com that was brokered by Sedo. TravelZoo said it will launch a new website on the domain this month. http://dnjournal.com/archive/domainsales/2009/02-10-09.htm Domainer Mardi Gras 2009 Aftermarket.com Live Auction Results We were liveblogging the Domainer Mardi Gras Aftermarket.com Live Auction. 26 Names had bids before the auction started. Out of the listed 51 domains, 34 sold (66.67% of the inventory) for a total of $439,369.00 with voodoo.com being the highest sale for $300,000 and Heal.tv being the lowest sale for $300. About 40 people were present in the room, and up to 90 people were viewing the auction video feed online. http://www.domainnamenews.com/domain-auction/domainer-mardis-gras-aftermarketcom-live-auction/4083 ********************** RESEARCH PAPERS ********************** The influence of market developments and policies on telecommunication investment This paper assembles some evidence on developments in investment by incumbent and alternative telecommunications operators during the period 2000-2005. The quality of data on investment is not in general sufficient to clearly differentiate between investment by new entrants and investment by incumbents. Definitional problems also exist in that the players in communication markets are no longer the traditional alternative operators providing voice services, but a range of service providers including ISPs and cable television service providers who, through cable modems, provide VoIP services and broadband access. As such it is much harder to make judgements about how policy impacts on investment. Although the period 2000-2005 coincides with the development of broadband in most OECD countries and the implementation of LLU, the paper does not try to show a correlation between investment and unbundling policies. http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/34/36/42037713.pdf The Future of Internet Regulation by Phil Weiser [University of Colorado Law Legal Studies] Abstract: Policymakers are at a precipice with regard to Internet regulation. The FCC's self-styled adjudication of the complaint that Comcast had violated the agency's Internet policy principles (requiring reasonable network management, among other things) made clear that the era of the non-regulation of the Internet is over. Equally clear is that the agency has yet to develop a model of regulation for a new era. As explained in this Article, the old models of regulation-reliance on command-and-control regulation and market forces subject only to antitrust law-are doomed to fail in a dynamic environment where cooperation is necessary to effective competition and continued Internet connectivity by a range of actors. Thus, this Article calls for a new model of regulation built around the concept of co-regulation-a self regulatory body subject to public agency oversight and backstop-as the best strategy for Internet regulation going forward. http://ssrn.com/abstract=1344757 Mind the Gap: A New Model for Internet Child Pornography Regulation in Canada by Sara M. Smyth [University of Ottawa Law and Technology Journal] Abstract: Canada's child pornography provisions were enacted just as the "computer revolution" was building momentum. At that time, very few policy makers had any idea about what the internet was, how it could be used, and its vast potential for facilitating criminal activity on an international scale. Although Parliament has proven to be both willing and able to respond to the child pornography problem, our legislators have not implemented appropriate regulatory measures to combat the circulation of these materials on the internet. http://ssrn.com/abstract=1345910 ********************** INTERNET USE ********************** Everyone Loves Google, Until It?s Too Big The popularity of Google?s search engine in the United States just grows and grows. In the past three years, its market share gains have even been accelerating, making some people wonder whether the company will eventually obliterate what remains of its competition in search. Certainly, antitrust scrutiny is a growing worry at the Googleplex. Last year, the company abandoned a proposed advertising pact with Yahoo when the Justice Department said it would file an antitrust lawsuit to block the deal. Last week, a small Web site operator, TradeComet.com, filed an antitrust suit against Google, accusing it of unfairly manipulating its advertising system to harm a potential competitor. http://nytimes.com/2009/02/22/business/22digi.html ********************** SOCIAL NETWORKING ********************** Facebook privacy story a beat-up Facebook's chief privacy officer has spoken out defending the company's controversial decision to change its terms of use, saying the entire story was a beat-up and Facebook never intended to use people's personal information outside of the site. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2009/02/20/1234633030903.html http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2009/02/20/1234633030903.html http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4854305a28.html ************************************************ CHILD PROTECTION, FILTERING & CONTENT REGULATION ************************************************ NZ police target web predators A new police unit is being launched to protect kids from online sexual predators and the dangers of social networking sites. http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4856032a28.html http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/dominionpost/4856032a27483.html http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/thepress/4856032a26834.html NZ police beam in on online sex predators A specialised police unit is being established to protect children from online sex predators and the dangers of social networking sites. http://www.3news.co.nz/News/NationalNews/Police-beam-in-on-online-sex-predators/tabid/423/articleID/92224/cat/64/Default.aspx Ill, disabled Aussie kids get first online network Being a teenager can be hard, and even tougher if you're different, but an Australian organization hopes to ease these growing pains through an online social network dedicated to youth with illnesses or disabilities. http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSTRE51J4B920090220 http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2009/02/22/1235237423307.html http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2009/02/22/1235237423307.html au: Stop cyber bullying 'epidemic' A Melbourne youth worker has called for politicians to get tough on cyber bullying, saying it has reached epidemic proportions. http://www.skynews.com.au/news/article.aspx?id=305456 uk: IWF chief: why Wikipedia block went wrong The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), an organisation set up by internet service providers to monitor child sexual abuse websites, caused a furore in December when it attempted to block a page on online collaborative encyclopaedia Wikipedia. Through a combination of technical factors, people wishing to edit Wikipedia were blocked from doing so, causing an outcry. The image the IWF tried to block was the LP cover for Virgin Killer, a 1976 album by German rock band Scorpions. http://news.zdnet.co.uk/internet/0,1000000097,39616171,00.htm The IWF: Charity disparity? The Internet Watch Foundation is under fire again, this time on the grounds that it shouldn't be classed as a charity. The challenge comes from a Yorkshire-based software developer, who spoke with The Register on condition that we respect his confidentiality. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/02/20/iwf_charity/ us: FTC to Host Ad It Up! Kids in a Commercial World [news release] The Federal Trade Commission staff will host a forum on March 12, 2009 to gather input for its upcoming education program on advertising literacy for ?tweens,? or kids who are 8 to 12 years old. At the forum, experts on advertising and marketing to kids will discuss a range of issues, including: http://ftc.gov/opa/2009/02/aditup.shtm ********************** ONLINE TV & MUSIC ********************** Pirate Bay: survey says that 80% of our torrents are legal Pirate Bay spokesman Peter Sunde Kolmisoppi took the stand today at his trial and attacked the notion that The Pirate Bay is stuffed to the crow's nest with illegal content. Not true, he said; his own survey of 1,000 torrents suggested that most were legal. http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/02/pirate-bay-survey-says-that-80-of-our-torrents-are-legal.ars Pirate Bay Trial Turns into a Circus If nothing else, the copyright infringement trial of The Pirate Bay Four in Sweden is turning into an entertaining spectacle. For courtroom drama, it's got it all: Irreverent defendants joking with prosecutors; rabid anti-copyright proponents with megaphones; a hacked recording industry Website; and even a cool pirate bus parked outside the court. http://www.pcworld.com/article/159881/.html ********************** MOBILE/WIRELESS ********************** 6,473 Texts a Month, But at What Cost? Constant Cellphone Messaging Keeps Kids Connected, Parents Concerned Julie Zingeser texts at home, at school, in the car while her mother is driving. She texts during homework, after pompon practice and as she walks the family dog. She takes her cellphone with her to bed. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/21/AR2009022101863.html Sprint Nextel: The Canary in Wireless's Coal Mine? The wireless carrier's fourth-quarter challenges may be shared by the rest of the industry in the coming months http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/feb2009/tc20090219_185642.htm ********************** SPAM ********************** Five Years On, Can-Spam Gets Help Since Congress passed the Controlling the Assault of Non- Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act--known as Can-Spam--in 2003, the government has had a few small successes, including prosecutions of a handful of spammers and a drop in the amount of pornographic spam. But overall spam has increased, from about 60% of all e-mail in 2003 to more than 90% of e-mail today. http://www.informationweek.com/news/security/management/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=214501908 ********************** DIGITAL DIVIDE ********************** Pacific ICT Ministers set priorities to "connect the unconnected" - ITU launches new partnerships for ICT development in the Pacific [news release] The Pacific ICT Ministerial Forum: Connecting the Unconnected wrapped up today in Nukualofa, Kingdom of Tonga. Thirteen ICT Ministers from Pacific Island Countries, including two Prime Ministers agreed to a set of priorities and actions to spur ICT development. The Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau, Mr Sami Al Basheer Al Morshid, joined with partners to launch new complementary initiatives. http://www.itu.int/newsroom/press_releases/2009/05.html UN telecom agency launches partnerships for Pacific Island countries [news release] The United Nations International Telecommunication Union (ITU) today launched new partnerships to help 13 Pacific Island countries develop information and communications technology (ICT) in the region. http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=29974 ************************** ONLINE CRIME, SECURITY & LEGAL ************************** International drugs body calls for global action as internet dealing rises to 'alarming' levels The internet is playing an increasing and "alarming" role in the trafficking of both illegal and unauthorised prescription drugs, according to the body that monitors the trafficking and use of narcotics. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/feb/19/online-drugs-trade Hackers target Xbox Live players Xbox Live is being targeted by malicious hackers selling services that kick players off the network. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7888369.stm us: Tracking Internet Fraud Complaints The Internet Crime Complaint Center, or IC3, which gets more than 20,000 complaints a month from potential fraud victims, looks for patterns to build criminal cases. http://www.fbi.gov/multimedia/internet022009/internet022009.htm ************************** GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY ************************** nz: No surprise at growing dismay over Copyright Act [news release] InternetNZ (Internet New Zealand Inc) is not surprised at the spread of local and international reaction against Section 92A of the Copyright Act, noting that InternetNZ has consistently urged the Government to repeal or at least delay introduction of the Section. http://www.internetnz.net.nz/media/media-releases-2009/no-surprise-at-growing-dismay-over-copyright-act Lawyer says Queensland police can tap email, Facebook FEARS have been raised about police abusing new phone-tapping powers to snoop on social networking sites such as Facebook and private emails. http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25086007-421,00.html Opinion: New Zealand gets insane copyright law Organised crime is everywhere. There's the Sicilian Cosa Nostra, the American Mafia and the Russian Mafia. There's also the Japanese Yakuza and, until they got so wealthy from their realty holdings and legitimate businesses they couldn't afford to be outside of the law, the Irish Sinn Fein. http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/3DFA797D6D7326CACC2575630071617A New US bill would force ISPs to retain user data for two years A pair of Republican legislators have introduced legislation that would require ISPs to retain user data for two years as a means of helping law enforcement fight child porn; is this latest effort narrow enough to finally pass? http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/02/new-bill-would-force-isps-to-retain-user-data-for-2-years.ars Bill proposes ISPs, Wi-Fi keep logs for police Republican politicians on Thursday called for a sweeping new federal law that would require all Internet providers and operators of millions of Wi-Fi access points, even hotels, local coffee shops, and home users, to keep records about users for two years to aid police investigations. http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10168114-38.html ISPs worry that Net safety bills would outlaw e-mail Two new federal proposals that Republican supporters claim will protect children have alarmed Internet companies, who say the measures could make it a crime to provide e-mail. http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10168704-38.html Proposed law might make Wi-Fi users help cops [IDG] A proposed U.S. law would require Internet service providers to store information about every user of their services and keep that data for at least two years, in a bid to crack down on Internet-based predators and child pornographers. http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/022109-proposed-law-might-make-wi-fi.html http://www.pcworld.com/article/159967/.html Misguided Online Child-Safety Laws Will Hurt Business Do you think Congress has given any thought to what its latest effort to police the Internet is going to cost? Not just the cost to Internet Service Providers, like AT&T and Comcast, but also to anyone who offers Internet access to anyone, potentially including you and me? http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/159958/.html http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/022109-misguided-online-child-safety-laws-will.html Proposed Law Saves Internet User Data In the most recent effort to thwart child predators online, both the U.S. House and Senate are considering bills that would require any Internet access provider -- possibly including public Wi-Fi hotspots -- to retain Internet user data for up to two years. http://www.pcworld.com/article/159910/.html ********************** TELECOMMUNICATIONS ********************** Russia May See Turbulence In Telecom Market The high-flying Russian telecommunications market could encounter some turbulence in the coming years as the market begins to level off and the Russian government considers making business life more difficult for foreign firms with ownership in the country's telecom companies. http://www.informationweek.com/news/telecom/business/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=214501997 German government presents broadband strategy details The German federal government plans to use a large portion of the digital dividend frequencies for broadband services to ensure all German households have access to a broadband connection by the end of 2010. http://www.broadband-europe.eu/Pages/NewsDetail.aspx?ItemID=488 nz: Telcos to govt: keep your $1.5 billion Showing rare unity, Telecom, TelstraClear and Vodafone have released a joint report saying their existing broadband plans can deliver faster internet for all, no government funds required. The report provides a convenient ?out? for a cash-strapped government, and potential telco partners unwilling to accept the strings that would almost inevitably be attached to public funding - but provides extra incentive for Vector, and other power line companies also chasing the $1.5 billion. http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/telcos-govt-keep-your-15-billion-59031 Tuanz slams ?self-serving? telco report A consumer advocate says Telecom, TelstraClear and Vodafone show lots of self-interest, and little vision, with their joint report, which rejects any need for the government to spend $1.5 billion on fibre-to-the-home. http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/tuanz-slams-self-serving-telco-report-59367 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (c) David Goldstein 2008 --------- David Goldstein address: 4/3 Abbott Street COOGEE NSW 2034 AUSTRALIA email: Goldstein_David §yahoo.com.au phone: +61 418 228 605 (mobile); +61 2 9665 5773 (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 Flannery Stay connected to the people that matter most with a smarter inbox. Take a look http://au.docs.yahoo.com/mail/smarterinboxReceived on Sun Feb 22 2009 - 05:46:35 UTC
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