Hi all, Apologies for the multiple postings last week. I wasn't receiving any of the postings to confirm they had gone out, but Kim has pointed out that they were. 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. Cheers David *************************************************** The domain name news is supported by auDA *************************************************** UN Mulls Internet Regulation, Draws Criticism From Google, Others http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/17/un-internet-regulation_n_798457.html Governments sidestep fight over multi-stakeholder Internet by Kieren McCarthy http://gibc.biz/2010/12/governments-sidestep-fight-over-multi-stakeholder-internet-igf-cstd/ Calls At UN For An International Body To Prevent Internet Control http://www.ip-watch.org/weblog/2010/12/15/calls-at-un-for-an-international-body-to-prevent-internet-control/ Extension of Public Comment Period on New gTLD Proposed Final Applicant Guidebook and Economic Study Phase II Report http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-2-17dec10-en.htm Apply Now for ICANN's Leadership Positions http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-17dec10-en.htm Possible new TLDs timeline revealed http://domainincite.com/possible-new-tlds-timeline-revealed/ ICANN Extends Public Comment Period for New TLD Guidebook http://domainnamewire.com/2010/12/17/icann-extends-public-comment-period-for-new-tld-guidebook/ Expressions of Interest for Review into Governance of .au http://www.auda.org.au/news-archive/auda-13122010/ auDA consults public on .au domains http://www.crn.com.au/News/242297,auda-consults-public-on-au-domains.aspx .COM.AU, .NET.AU, .ORG.AU, .ASN.AU [news release] http://www.internetx.com/en/domains/current-tld-recommendations/asnau-comau-netau-orgau-australia-is-booming.html US to target fake online pill pedlars http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12017185 Analysis: Cybersecurity's Double-Edged Sword http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20101217_7667.php au: DDoSing after school? Think again: AFP http://www.zdnet.com.au/ddosing-after-school-think-again-afp-339308045.htm au: Woolworths buys hardware.com.au for $33,000, as domain market heats up http://www.smartcompany.com.au/internet/20101217-woolworths-buys-hardware-com-au-for-33-000-as-domain-market-heats-up.html Hardware.com.au achieves record price http://www.coopermills.com.au/wordpress/index.php/2010/12/hardware-com-au-achieves-record-price/ Woolworths buys domain name from Bunnings http://www.finnewsnetwork.com.au/archives/finance_news_network16571.html Woolworths buys Hardware.com.au domain name for $33,000 http://www.dynamicbusiness.com.au/articles/articles-news/woolworths-hardware-com-au-domain-name-bunnings-2293.html ********************** GOVERNANCE ********************** UN Mulls Internet Regulation, Draws Criticism From Google, Others Together with word this week that the Federal Communications Commission will be voting on net neutrality rules comes news that the United Nations is mulling new efforts that could shape Internet regulation. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/17/un-internet-regulation_n_798457.html Governments sidestep fight over multi-stakeholder Internet by Kieren McCarthy Governments carefully sidestepped a fight over how the Internet should be governed earlier today in Geneva by appearing to compromise with groups representing business, civil society, and the technical community. http://gibc.biz/2010/12/governments-sidestep-fight-over-multi-stakeholder-internet-igf-cstd/ Calls At UN For An International Body To Prevent Internet Control Opinions were divided in a United Nations consultation yesterday in New York on enhanced cooperation of public policy issues pertaining to the internet, whether two bodies on the issue are needed. http://www.ip-watch.org/weblog/2010/12/15/calls-at-un-for-an-international-body-to-prevent-internet-control/ Google Criticizes UN Web Body for Including Only Governments [Bloomberg] Google Inc. criticized the United Nations for what it said was a plan that excludes companies and other non-government groups from a panel discussing improvements to an Internet governance body. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-12-17/google-criticizes-un-web-body-for-including-only-governments.html http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2010/12/16/bloomberg1376-LDL1OM0UQVI901-179714JSGA56U0MU74ACN4BLBO.DTL http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-12-17/google-criticizes-un-web-body-for-including-only-governments.html Google's Cerf says governments shouldn't control the Web Governments shouldn't be allowed to monopolize the governance of the Internet, according to Google Chief Internet Evangelist Vint Cerf in a statement released Friday. http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/134249-googles-cerf-says-governments-shouldnt-control-the-web Google?s Vint Cerf condemns death of open internet One of the internet?s founding fathers, Vint Cerf, has condemned the decision by the UN to only allow governments to sit on a working group to improve the influential Internet Governance Forum. http://www.siliconrepublic.com/comms/item/19726-googles-vint-cerf-condemns Google's Cerf Slams UN 'Monopoly on Internet Governance' Google on Friday criticized the UN Committee on Science and Technology for excluding academics, non-profits, and other tech companies from a working group that will examine improvements to IGF, an Internet discussion forum. http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2374490,00.asp UN mulls internet regulation options The United Nations is considering whether to set up an inter-governmental working group to harmonise global efforts by policy makers to regulate the internet. http://www.itnews.com.au/News/242051,un-mulls-internet-regulation-options.aspx http://www.crn.com.au/News/242298,un-mulls-internet-regulation-options.aspx UN talks on Internet Regulation labelled "offensive" ... Cert called on concerned stakeholders to sign a petition penned by, amongst others, Australia's top level domain regulator, auDA, The Internet Governance Caucus, the Internet Society and the ICANN, the International Chamber of Commerce, ICANN. http://www.itnews.com.au/News/242264,un-talks-on-internet-regulation-labelled-offensive.aspx ********************** DOMAIN NAMES ********************** ********************** - ICANN ********************** Extension of Public Comment Period on New gTLD Proposed Final Applicant Guidebook and Economic Study Phase II Report Taking into account public comment and decisions made during ICANN?s Cartagena meeting, the public comment period for the Proposed Final Applicant Guidebook and supporting documentation have been extended to 15 January 2011 (1200 UTC). http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-2-17dec10-en.htm Extending Public Comments: Fast Track Review Per community request the first annual review of the IDN ccTLD Fast Track Process has been extended. Comments can be submitted to fast-track-review-2010§icann.org through 31 January 2011. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-2-22oct10-en.htm Apply Now for ICANN's Leadership Positions ICANN's Nominating Committee (Nom Com) invites Statements of Interest and candidate recommendations from the Internet community for key leadership positions to fulfill ICANN's technical and policy coordination role. Interested individuals are invited to submit a Statement of Interest to the 2010 Nom Com for the following positions: http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-17dec10-en.htm Possible new TLDs timeline revealed ICANN?s decision to delay the approval of its new top-level domains Applicant Guidebook last week in Cartagena left one big question hanging: http://domainincite.com/possible-new-tlds-timeline-revealed/ ICANN Extends Public Comment Period for New TLD Guidebook ICANN frequently extends the deadline to submit public comments on both major and minor issues. But this is done prior to the comment period ending to give people more time to consider how they want to weigh in. http://domainnamewire.com/2010/12/17/icann-extends-public-comment-period-for-new-tld-guidebook/ Some countries not paying ICANN for their IDNs ICANN may have to fund some of its IDN ccTLD Fast Track program out of its own pocket, due to at least one country not paying its full fees, judging from information released this week. http://domainincite.com/some-countries-not-paying-icann-for-their-idns/ ICANN's NomCom Goes Transparent With Its Own Blog ICANN's 2011 Nominating Committee has taken the idea of transparency and pushed it along and started up a blog to better communicate with the wider ICANN community on its actions, and how it can be better. http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=13194 http://www.domainpulse.com/2010/12/20/icanns-nomcom-goes-transparent-with-its-own-blog/ http://domainnews.com/en/icann-s-nomcom-goes-transparent-with-its-own-blog.html Wellington man re-elected to help run internet [The Dominion Post] Wellington barrister Peter Dengate-Thrush has been unanimously re- elected chairman of Icann, the worldwide body that administers the internet. http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/4475702/Wellington-man-re-elected-to-help-run-internet ********************** - ccTLD & gTLD NEWS ********************** Africa Union joins .africa debate [Computerworld Kenya] The African Union (AU) has expressed interest in playing a key role in selecting the operator for the .africa and .afrique generic Top Level Domains (gTLDs). http://www.cio.de/news/cio_worldnews/2010/2258750/index.html http://news.idg.no/cw/art.cfm?id=EFAAA1C0-1A64-6A71-CE3979187410031B .at-Report with focus on technology Did you know that the domain zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz-zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.at plays a very special role for the zone transfer? Or that nic.at has already overseen over 700.000 domain transactions this year? Which .at nameservers are queried most often? And how many .at domains are in fact filled with content? Get to know more interesting facts and eye-catching figures from the world of .at in the third .at report with a special focus on technology! http://www.nic.at/en/uebernic/current_issues/nicat_news/news_view/article/81/at-report-rund-um-die-technik/ InterNetX: Almost 1 million registered .AT domains [news release] As 2010 draws to an end, the ccTLD looks set to break the magical barrier of 1 million registered domains. The Austrian registry nic.at is the official authority for the allocation of all domains with the extension .AT, as well as .CO.AT and .OR.AT. With AutoDNS 3.0, the domain management software developed by InterNetX, .AT domains can be registered and managed in real time ? and this can also be carried out within the framework of a special offer. http://www.internetx.com/en/internetx/news-press/press-releases/press-releases/article/internetx-almost-1-million-registered-at-domains.html Expressions of Interest for Review into Governance of .au auDA is seeking Expressions of Interest from suitably qualified and experienced organisations and individuals, to undertake an independent review into aspects of the governance arrangements for Australia?s ?.au? Internet domain. http://www.auda.org.au/news-archive/auda-13122010/ auDA consults public on .au domains Australian domain name regulator auDA has invited the public to comment on the allocation and use of .au domain names. http://www.itnews.com.au/News/242105,auda-consults-public-on-au-domains.aspx http://www.crn.com.au/News/242297,auda-consults-public-on-au-domains.aspx .COM.AU, .NET.AU, .ORG.AU, .ASN.AU [news release] Australia is booming - and online business is surfing the wave too. Clever investors realize that this is the perfect time to stake their claim in the flourishing Australian market or strengthen their activity there. InterNetX is supporting this trend with an exceptional offer for .COM.AU, .NET.AU, .ORG.AU and .ASN.AU domains. Make the most of our special price and register now! http://www.internetx.com/en/domains/current-tld-recommendations/asnau-comau-netau-orgau-australia-is-booming.html The Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority (FICORA) proposes reduction of fi-domain name fees FICORA has proposed to the Ministry of Transport and Communications that the fees collected for fi-domain names are dropped as of 1 January 2011. http://www.ficora.fi/en/index/viestintavirasto/uutiset/2010/P_44.html Did .jobs win or lose in Cartagena? Employ Media, the .jobs registry, had a victory in Cartagena last week, when the ICANN board voted not to overturn its August decision to allow .jobs to relax its registration policies. http://domainincite.com/did-jobs-win-or-lose-in-cartagena/ rf: The Federal Anti-Monopoly Service of Russia has set a new date to hear the case of registrars? unscrupulous activities On 16 December 2010 the FAS held hearings in the framework of initiated proceedings on infringement of the federal law ?135-FZ ?On Protection of Competition? in the course of domain names registration in ccTLD .??. The defendants were registrars accredited by the Coordination center for ccTLD .??: ANO ?Regionalny setevoy Informatsionny Tsentr?, ZAO ?Regionalny Setevoy Informatsionny Tsentr? (trde mark RU_CENTER), OOO ?RELKOM.DELOVAYA SET?, ZAO ?Demos-Internet?, ZAO ?Registrator?, ZAO ?Elvis-Telekom?. http://cctld.ru/en/news/news_detail.php?ID=1180 si: New rules for use of WHOIS New rules for use of WHOIS were published today and will be valid from 15. January 2011. Command line WHOIS (textual WHOIS) will have an additional way of data protection. http://www.registry.si/news/news-item/article/new-rules-for-use-of-whois/285.html ********************** - DNS SECURITY ********************** US to target fake online pill pedlars Online stores that sell fake drugs or pills without prescriptions are being targeted by the US government. ... Together, the firms hope to tackle every link in the chain that keeps unlicensed pharmacies operating by stopping them showing up in search results, taking their websites offline, delisting the domains they use and stopping payments reaching them. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12017185 Analysis: Cybersecurity's Double-Edged Sword New guidelines requiring continuous monitoring of federal networks are based on a wealth of real-world experience and highlight the necessity of using new tools to push agencies' cyber defenses to the next level. As envisioned in guidance released by the National Institute of Standards and Technology in June 2010, continuous monitoring enables organizations to proactively identify security issues that can be mitigated or plugged in advance of cyber intrusions or attacks. http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20101217_7667.php Pro-WikiLeaks DDoS reprisals overrated, says expert Headlines to the contrary, the WikiLeaks hacktivist attacks against Visa, MasterCard, PayPal and others last week were relatively small and disorganized, a security expert said. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9201458/Pro_WikiLeaks_DDoS_reprisals_overrated_says_expert Size of DDoS group 'doesn't matter', security agency says A European security agency has said that the numbers needed for a successful denial-of-service attack are significantly lower than those typically reported http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/security-threats/2010/12/16/size-of-ddos-group-doesnt-matter-security-agency-says-40091193/ au: DDoSing after school? Think again: AFP Young hackers who participated in the Wikileaks revenge attacks against PayPal, Visa and MasterCard are jeopardising their futures and face serious consequences because of their actions, according to a member of the Australian Federal Police (AFP). http://www.zdnet.com.au/ddosing-after-school-think-again-afp-339308045.htm Internet Domain Name Theft Conviction May be First in U.S. In what prosecutors are calling the first U.S. conviction for theft of an Internet domain name, a Union Township, N.J. man pleaded guilty Monday to stealing a web address and selling it on eBay to an innocent buyer: former professional basketball player Mark Madsen. http://www.law.com/jsp/cc/PubArticleCC.jsp?id=1202476296195 Industry Makes Rapid Progress on DNSSEC by Ram Mohan DNSSEC is being rolled out quickly in top-level domain registries around the world, but there's still some way to go to encourage other Internet stakeholders to adopt the new security technology. That was one of the key takeaways from a day-long, comprehensive session on Domain Name System Security Extensions implementation worldwide, held during ICANN's public meeting in Cartagena, Colombia, last week. http://www.circleid.com/posts/20101217_industry_makes_rapid_progress_on_dnssec/ Tucows Not Liable for Porn Spammer Domain name registrars cannot be held responsible for spammers who hide behind Whois privacy services, a California appeals court has ruled. http://domainnamewire.com/2010/12/17/tucows-not-liable-for-porn-spammer/ .Me Is All About You - And All About Security - With DNSSEC The .Me Registry and partner, Afilias, a global provider of Internet infrastructure services, announced today that .ME domains are now enabled with DNSSEC. http://www.nic.me/news/news.php?&news=214 ********************** - DOMAIN DISPUTES ********************** ?DEAR SANTA? WEBSITES? CARU RECOMMENDS ADULTS CHECK THE PRIVACY POLICY TWICE More than 60 domain names have been registered in the name of Santa Claus, offering children a wide range of opportunities to persuade St. Nick via email that they were not at all naughty in 2010. http://www.caru.org/news/2010/CARUDearSantaPR.pdf Web warning for Santa sites: Wish lists shouldn't require too much info Kids don't have to sit on Santa's lap or mail him a letter to deliver their wish lists. In the computer age, a couple clicks and you've got an internet connection directly to the North Pole. More than 60 domain names are registered to Santa Clause, many offering up a chance to email him personally. But officials from a child advocacy group want to remind parents not to share too much information on these sites. http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/news/region_pasco/new_port_richey/web-warning-for-santa-sites A Study On Omitted-Letter Domain Name Typos SUMMARY: In the past on these pages, I have been hard on Apple Inc. for apparent missteps in securing trademark rights to some of its more well-known products (iPhone, iPad). Last week, Apple landed a victory on the domain name front, winning a Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Procedure ("UDRP") decision for the appl.com domain name. http://www.jdsupra.com/post/documentViewer.aspx?fid=e4608c53-47e4-4589-b2f6-087f590398d0 us: The Details Behind The Government?s Recent Domain-Name Seizures When Immigrations & Customs Enforcement agents seized 82 web domain names over the Thanksgiving weekend, it was an unprecedented event?not just because of the scope of the seizures, but also because the web sites grabbed included a search engine and some well-known music blogs. That?s outside the scope of the intellectual property issues ICE has traditionally dealt with, which involve counterfeit goods. http://paidcontent.org/article/419-documentsoffernew-detailsaboutgovernmentsdomain-name-seizures/ California ISP Guilty of Reverse Domain Name Hijacking A World Intellectual Property Forum panel has found California internet service provider Webpass, Inc guilty of reverse domain name hijacking in its attempt to get the domain name WebPass.com. The ISP uses Web-Pass.com as its web page. http://domainnamewire.com/2010/12/17/california-isp-guilty-of-reverse-domain-name-hijacking/ ********************** - IPv4/IPv6 ********************** Planned Changes to IPv4 Reverse DNS Infrastructure ARIN and ICANN are planning changes to the infrastructure which supports the IPv4 Reverse DNS, the part of the DNS which provides the ability to look up an IPv4 address and convert it to a name. https://www.arin.net/announcements/2010/20101215.html ********************** - MISCELLANEOUS ********************** InterNetX cracks the 3 million mark InterNetX manages more than 3 million domains and as such belongs to the top registrars worldwide! There are only a handful of registrars worldwide that manage more than 3 million domains. InterNetX is now one of them! On December 5, 2010, the Regensburg Internet Service Provider cleared the magical hurdle of 3 million managed domains! http://www.internetx.com/en/internetx/news-press/news/news-details/article/internetx-cracks-the-3-million-mark.html Whistleblower alleged shenanigans at DirectNIC A former employee of a company allegedly affiliated with domain name registrar DirectNIC claimed the company operated a fraudulent domain arbitrage scheme using Yahoo ads and Parked.com. http://domainincite.com/whistleblower-alleged-shenanigans-at-directnic/ ********************** - DOMAINING & AFTERMARKET ********************** GoDaddy Auctions Posts $350,000 Sale and Sedo Set to Close Another Six-Figure Blockbuster GoDaddy Auctions staked their claim as a viable high end marketplace this past week when they closed a huge $350,000 sale of Color.com to take the pole position on our latest all extension Top 20 Sales Chart. Color.com was just part of the GoDaddy story too. They went on to ring up four of the eight biggest sales reported this week - the best performance ever from their venue. http://dnjournal.com/archive/domainsales/2010/20101215.htm au: Woolworths buys hardware.com.au for $33,000, as domain market heats up The domain name market in Australia is heating up as SEO competition becomes even more fierce and the number of innovative URLs being created dwindles, one expert says, following a move by Woolworths to buy hardware.com.au for over $33,000. http://www.smartcompany.com.au/internet/20101217-woolworths-buys-hardware-com-au-for-33-000-as-domain-market-heats-up.html Hardware.com.au achieves record price In an auction conducted by Drop.com.au yesterday, domain name hardware.com.au sold for a record $33,333. http://www.coopermills.com.au/wordpress/index.php/2010/12/hardware-com-au-achieves-record-price/ Woolworths buys domain name from Bunnings Woolworths Ltd has moved into the hardware space by acquiring the domain name hardware.com.au from rival company Bunnings for over $33,000. http://www.finnewsnetwork.com.au/archives/finance_news_network16571.html Woolworths buys Hardware.com.au domain name for $33,000 Woolworths has bought the Hardware.com.au domain name for over $33,000 as the supermarket chain prepares for the launch of its hardware warehouse big-box chain with Lowe?s hardware from the USA. http://www.dynamicbusiness.com.au/articles/articles-news/woolworths-hardware-com-au-domain-name-bunnings-2293.html ********************** INTERNET USE ********************** Google creates a tool to probe 'genome' of English words for cultural trends How many words in the English language never make it into dictionaries? How has the nature of fame changed in the past 200 years? How do scientists and actors compare in their impact on popular culture? http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2010/dec/16/google-tool-english-cultural-trends Word-Wide Web Launches: New Google Database Puts Centuries of Cultural Trends in Reach of Linguists Language analysts, sifting through two centuries of words in the millions of books in Google Inc.'s growing digital library, found a new way to track the arc of fame, the effect of censorship, the spread of inventions and the explosive growth of new terms in the English-speaking world. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704073804576023741849922006.html In 500 Billion Words, New Window on Culture With little fanfare, Google has made a mammoth database culled from nearly 5.2 million digitized books available to the public for free downloads and online searches, opening a new landscape of possibilities for research and education in the humanities. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/17/books/17words.html Online generation gap is narrowing, Pew report finds The generation gap is narrowing online, according to a newly released report by the Pew Research Center. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2010/12/generation-gap-internet.html Generations 2010 Overview: There are still notable differences by generation in online activities, but the dominance of the Millennial generation that we documented in our first ?Generations? report in 2009 has slipped in many activities. http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2010/Generations-2010.aspx Wikipedia's Jimmy Wales: 'It's not about how many pages. it's about how good they are' It?s not yet the tenth day of Christmas and time for lords to start leaping, but one of the great aristocrats of the internet, Jimmy ?Jimbo? Wales, can be forgiven for having a spring in his step as he walks the London streets. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/jimmy-wales-its-not-about-how-many-pages-its-about-how-good-they-are-2164840.html The Angry Birds smartphone game seeks new platforms In Washington, D.C., on Saturday morning, in the Metro Center station, on the Red Line platform, two kids?tweens, perhaps, or teenagers?ducked, jostled, and kicked in a brief moment of karate-type activity. The platform was crowded. Nobody noticed. Apparently, the two were not practiced flash-mob participants: If you are going to create a chain of leap-froggers in a busy subway, overwhelming force is probably a good strategy. But across the world, others joined in more successful, effervescent public demonstrations?such as one in Trafalgar Square, London. http://www.slate.com/id/2277919/ Can Google break the computer language barrier? Google Translate is chasing the holy grail of machine learning, but there's a long way to go before accurate translation is a reality http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/dec/19/google-translate-computers-languages Parents see TV, internet the same [AP] No TV for a week, the time-honoured punishment for misbehaving children, has been enhanced. Now, parents are also withholding internet access to punish their kids, further sign that the web has become as important to families as television. http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/4471207/Parents-see-TV-internet-the-same http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40712529 ********************** SOCIAL NETWORKING ********************** Biz Stone Gives Stephen Twitter's First Golden Tweet Award -- Watch Now! Twitter founder Biz Stone presents Stephen with the first-ever Golden Tweet Award for writing the most popular tweet of 2010. http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/368531/december-14-2010/stephen-wins-twitter---biz-stone ********************** NEW TECHNOLOGIES ********************** CSIRO trials TV aerial Wi-Fi broadband The CSIRO has started testing its wireless broadband technology, which uses existing TV antennas, at the first National Broadband Network roll-out site of Smithton in Tasmania. http://www.zdnet.com.au/csiro-trials-tv-aerial-wi-fi-broadband-339308066.htm ************************************************ CHILD PROTECTION, FILTERING & CONTENT REGULATION ************************************************ Cyber-Bullying: It's Not Cool to Be Cruel by Ronald Alexander, Ph.D., Author of Wise Mind, Open Mind and Executive Director of the OpenMind Training Institue We've all heard the horror stories of young adults and children having hurtful or embarrassing photos, videos and/or speech about them posted on the Internet for the world to see. But did you know that cyber-bullying can be as simple as sending an e-mail to someone who has indicated they do not want to have any further contact with you? I also have a personal dislike for all the chain e-mails that go out, especially those that indicate that something will or won't happen if you don't forward it on to 10 or more of your friends. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ronald-alexander-phd/cyberbullying-its-not-cool-to-be-cruel_b_793968.html us: Parents to kids: No Internet for you Today's parents are trying another form of punishment for their misbehaving kids: no Internet. A new report from the folks at the USC Annenberg Center for the Digital Future found that three in five American households restrict their kids' access to TV as punishment, a figure that's been virtually the same the past 10 years. http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-20026020-93.html au: School bully victims paid $1m SCHOOL bullying victims have received almost $1 million in compensation from the Department of Education since January last year. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/school-bully-victims-paid-1m/story-e6freuy9-1225973555354 nz: Walking to save kids MOST university students want to spend their summer holidays relaxing. But Kate Medlicott and her boyfriend Tim Geaney are walking the length of New Zealand to raise awareness and funds for a charity protecting children. http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/western-leader/4453855/Walking-to-save-kids nz: Spending risk on Facebook An 8-year-old Auckland boy used his dad's credit card to buy credits for a Facebook game using a loophole the family are warning parents to be aware of. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10695310 uk: All internet porn will be blocked to protect children, under UK government plan [NewsCore] The UK Government is to combat the early sexualization of children by blocking internet pornography unless parents request it, it was revealed today. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/all-internet-porn-will-be-blocked-to-protect-children-under-uk-government-plan/story-fn3dxix6-1225973481287 http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/all-internet-porn-will-be-blocked-to-protect-children-under-uk-government-plan/story-fn7bsj10-1225973501259 uk: BLOCKING PORN WEBSITES WOULD PROTECT CHILDREN CAMPAIGNERS yesterday welcomed Government proposals to protect ?children from internet pornography by blocking explicit websites. http://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/218412 ********************** ONLINE TV & MUSIC ********************** Britons 'downloaded 1.2bn illegal tracks this year' Britons downloaded 1.2bn digital music tracks this year, the BPI claimed today, as it produced research showing online piracy is still growing. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/dec/16/illegal-music-downloading-online-piracy Study sees 1.2 billion illegal song downloads in '10 At least 1.2 billion songs will have been illegally downloaded by the end of 2010 in Britain, a study for the recording industry lobby group the BPI said on Thursday. http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE6BF2KT20101216 http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-53613620101216 uk: Illegal music downloads are 'on the rise' Around 7.7m people have illegally downloaded music this year, according to research commissioned by the British record industry's trade association. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-12003499 au: TV the real business of the NBN The NBN business plan due to be released today by the Communications Minister Stephen Conroy probably won't describe the network as a TV distribution system. But that's what it will be. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/12/20/3097186.htm ********************** MOBILE/WIRELESS ********************** Nokia Sues Apple for Patent Infringement in Europe In the latest salvo of a protracted legal battle, Nokia sued Apple on Thursday in Britain, Germany and the Netherlands, alleging that the U.S. technology company used 13 of its patents, including a basic touch-screen maneuver, without its permission. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/17/technology/17nokia.html Nokia Apple patent row escalates Nokia has extended its legal action against Apple by filing 13 more patent infringement claims. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12010872 ITU Softens on the Definition of 4G Mobile [IDG] After setting off a marketing free-for-all by effectively declaring that only future versions of LTE and WiMax will be 4G, the International Telecommunication Union appears to have opened its doors and let the party come inside. http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/214088/.html Santa via Cellphone: Shopping Online Without a Computer This holiday season, consumers are beginning to shop and make purchases on their mobile phones. The shift from buying presents in front of the computer at home or work to doing it during bus commutes or while standing in line at cafes is small, but, for the first time, noticeable and even significant. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/18/technology/18mobile.html ************************** ONLINE CRIME, SECURITY & LEGAL ************************** US to target fake online pill pedlars Online stores that sell fake drugs or pills without prescriptions are being targeted by the US government. It has set up an initiative that will try to shut down the web stores and educate people about the dangers of buying drugs from such places. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12017185 EU could turn to 'crowd sourcing' in cyber crime fight Millions of internet users across the EU could be encouraged to join the fight against cyber crime if a ground breaking experiment in "crowd sourcing" goes ahead. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12004134 Who's afraid of the interweb? Judges to rule on Twitter in court: new media threatens a revolution in judicial reporting Should journalists be allowed to tweet from court? It's become a question of some urgency since Tuesday, when district judge Howard Riddle gave the nod for reporters to tweet proceedings from inside Westminster Magistrates' Court during Julian Assange's bail hearing. It is a matter of such importance that the Lord Chief Justice has already announced there is to be a consultation on live reporting. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/online/whos-afraid-of-the-interweb-judges-to-rule-on-twitter-in-court-2164159.html WikiLeaks: infosecurity approach a danger to the Internet Whether or not you think leaking confidential internal government messages is a good thing or not, there is little doubt that the recent events around the WikiLeaks saga are testing the Internet and governments. There are more fundamental questions, such as threats to an open Internet, mixed amongst the constant daily flow of news about actions and reactions. http://internetnz.net.nz/news/blog/2010/wikileaks-infosecurity-approach-danger-internet Analysis: Cybersecurity's Double-Edged Sword New guidelines requiring continuous monitoring of federal networks are based on a wealth of real-world experience and highlight the necessity of using new tools to push agencies' cyber defenses to the next level. As envisioned in guidance released by the National Institute of Standards and Technology in June 2010, continuous monitoring enables organizations to proactively identify security issues that can be mitigated or plugged in advance of cyber intrusions or attacks. http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20101217_7667.php au: Stay safe and secure online this festive season [news release] The Australian Government today encouraged Australians to stay safe and secure online this festive season. The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy said: ?Australians use the internet for banking, shopping, buying tickets, booking holidays and keeping in touch with friends and family. These things become even more popular during the festive season. However, there are risks associated with online activities. http://www.minister.dbcde.gov.au/media/media_releases/2010/118 ************************** PRIVACY ************************** Your Apps Are Watching You: A WSJ Investigation finds that iPhone and Android apps are breaching the privacy of smartphone users Few devices know more personal details about people than the smartphones in their pockets: phone numbers, current location, often the owner's real name?even a unique ID number that can never be changed or turned off. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704694004576020083703574602.html Web warning for Santa sites: Wish lists shouldn't require too much info Kids don't have to sit on Santa's lap or mail him a letter to deliver their wish lists. In the computer age, a couple clicks and you've got an internet connection directly to the North Pole. More than 60 domain names are registered to Santa Clause, many offering up a chance to email him personally. But officials from a child advocacy group want to remind parents not to share too much information on these sites. http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/news/region_pasco/new_port_richey/web-warning-for-santa-sites U.S. proposes online privacy bill of rights A Commerce Department task force calls for Internet businesses to develop principles to protect consumer data and for a new government office to oversee privacy efforts. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-obama-privacy-20101217,0,7414729.story A Call for a Federal Office to Guide Online Privacy A Commerce Department task force called for the creation of a ?Privacy Bill of Rights? for online consumers and the establishment of an office within the department that would work to strengthen privacy policies in the United States and coordinate initiatives with other countries. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/17/business/media/17privacy.html Commerce Department's Online Privacy Report a Positive Step, But Self-Regulation Isn't Enough Online privacy continues to be a hot topic in Washington, D.C. A few weeks ago, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a staff report calling for greater protection of online consumer privacy. A House subcommittee heard testimony on the increasingly popular idea of ?do not track? for the Internet. Soon thereafter, Microsoft announced a new tracking protection mechanism for Internet Explorer 9. http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/12/commerce-departments-online-privacy-report U.S. Seeks Web Privacy 'Bill of Rights' In a reversal of the federal government's hands-off approach to Internet privacy regulation over the past decade, the Obama administration said Americans should have a "privacy bill of rights" to help regulate the commercial collection of consumer data online. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703395204576023521659672058.html Privacy Groups Critical Of Commerce Privacy Report Privacy advocates were skeptical of the proposals outlined in a privacy report released by the Commerce Department Wednesday. http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2010/12/privacy-groups-critical-of-com.php European Parliament demands that Commission protect web users from advertising The European Parliament has asked the European Commission to come up with plans to control online advertising more closely; give internet users more control of their privacy; and stop companies publishing advertising masquerading as opinion. http://out-law.com/page-11677 Google refuses Connecticut attorney general's request for data Google Inc. has declined to meet a deadline set by Connecticut's top prosecutor to provide detailed records on any information it may have collected from unsecured wireless networks in his state while taking photographs for its Street View feature. StreetView http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2010/12/google-wifi-data-connecticut-blumenthal.html Connecticut Jabs Google Over Data Connecticut's attorney general said Friday his office may take legal action against Google Inc. after the Internet company rejected his request to turn over personal data it inadvertently collected from wireless networks. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704034804576025663665986164.html Granting Anonymity Transparency is secretive business. WikiLeaks, the swashbuckling new-media organization whose motto is ?We open governments,? relies on a technology of extreme reticence called Tor Hidden Services ? a part of the Tor Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated not to light and clarity but to shadows and opacity, to the increasingly difficult art of keeping secrets online. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/19/magazine/19FOB-Medium-t.html ********************** CENSORSHIP ********************** Opinion: Net freedom 'at stake' on WikiLeaks Since the release of the 'Collateral Murder' video in April of this year, Julian Assange has been a hunted man, with calls for everything from treason (rather ineffective, given that Assange is an Australian citizen) to vigilante justice. Now, in the wake of Cablegate, it is no longer just Assange and his cronies, or WikiLeaks, but Internet freedom that is at risk. http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2010/12/2010127103823984201.html Not-So-Gentle Persuasion: US Bullies Spain into Proposed Website Blocking Law It?s no secret that the US government has used its annual Special 301 Report to intimidate other countries into adopting more stringent copyright and patent laws by singling out particular countries for their "bad" intellectual property policies, and naming them on a tiered set of "watch lists". Listing results in heightened political pressure and in some cases, the potential for trade sanctions, which encourages foreign trading partners to change their laws to mirror those in the US. But now some of the cables provided by WikiLeaks to Spanish newspaper El Pais confirm that the US government has pushed other countries to adopt measures that go beyond US law, unleashing the fury of Spanish Internet users. http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/12/not-so-gentle-persuasion-us-bullies-spain-proposed Comic fans protest 'extreme sex' manga bans [AFP] Japan's capital city is to restrict the sale of manga comics and anime films with extreme depictions of rape, incest and other sex crimes, a plan that has brought cries of censorship. http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/entertainment/books/comic-fans-protest-extreme-sex-manga-bans-20101215-18x9h.html?from=watoday_ft ************************** GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY ************************** European Antitrust Inquiry Into Google Is Broadened The European Commission has widened its investigation into Google by taking on two German cases involving complaints from a powerful group of newspaper and magazine publishers and an online mapping company, officials said on Friday. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/18/technology/18google.html us: Editorial: Protecting the Internet The intensely competitive nature of the Internet is vital to the American economy and democracy. So we worry that rules proposed this month by Julius Genachowski, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, to guarantee the Internet?s openness may not be able to guarantee the survival of that competition. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/18/opinion/18sat2.html Is Google Too Big to Shop? This week, Steve Pearlstein, a columnist for The Washington Post, locked horns with Google over the thorny subject of the search giant?s dominance and its quest to spread into new corners of the Web by buying other companies. http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2010/12/15/is-google-too-big-to-shop/ Google Will Respond to "Valid Requests" for Data From India [IDG] Google recognizes the legitimate investigative needs of law enforcement agencies across the world, including in India, and will respond to valid requests for information that are received in accordance with applicable laws, the company said on Thursday. http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/213890/.html FCC's Dems Narrowing Net Neutrality Gaps Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski is making progress in narrowing gaps with his two Democratic colleagues over his controversial plan to adopt sweeping new rules for the Internet, National Journal has learned. But with the talks very fluid, and differences remaining, there's still a possibility that the regulatory initiative could be pulled at the last minute from the agenda of Tuesday's commission meeting. http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2010/12/exclusive-fccs-dems-narrowing.php U.S. Internet road rules near FCC vote A controversial proposal for Internet traffic rules that would allow providers to ration access to their networks is scheduled to come before U.S. communications regulators for a vote on Tuesday. http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-53670620101219 TV's future: FCC decisions on Internet access, Comcast-NBC merger approaching America's beloved television is getting an extreme Internet makeover, and questions over what shows viewers will see online and how much they pay for them could soon be resolved by the Federal Communications Commission. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/17/AR2010121703792.html au: Major retailers to copy miners in campaign over GST brawl for online purchases abroad Australia's biggest retail and shopping centre owners have joined forces to launch a mining tax-style campaign. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/industry-sectors/major-retailers-to-copy-miners-in-campaign-over-gst-brawl/story-e6frg9h6-1225972956210 au: Online buying sparks retail inquiry [AAP] The growing trend to shop online has prompted a government inquiry into Australia's retail sector amid complaints by traditional retailers that shoppers are avoiding paying GST by buying goods from overseas websites. http://www.theage.com.au/national/online-buying-sparks-retail-inquiry-20101218-1913f.html http://www.smh.com.au/national/online-buying-sparks-retail-inquiry-20101218-1913f.html ********************************* MISCELLANEOUS ********************************* InternetNZ is already planning NetHui 2011 NetHui 2011 will be a conference that brings together everyone involved with Internet issues in New Zealand. NetHui is based on the format of multi-stakeholder collaboration successfully introduced by the global Internet Governance Forum (IGF). http://www.geekzone.co.nz/content.asp?ContentId=9067 InternetNZ to launch NetHui 2011 conference New Zealand-based internet advocacy group InternetNZ's planning is underway for NetHui 2011, a conference that brings together everyone involved with internet issues in New Zealand. http://www.telecompaper.com/news/internetnz-to-launch-nethui-2011-conference ********************** TELECOMMUNICATIONS ********************** Telecom NZ welcomes broadband deregulation Telecom NZ has welcomed a New Zealand regulator's decision to remove some of its pricing obligations for wholesale services. http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/371807/telecom_nz_welcomes_broadband_deregulation/ NZ's broadband services getting better [BusinessDay.co.nz] Broadband services in New Zealand continue to improve, with web speeds becoming more consistent across peak and non-peak times, according to the Commerce Commission. http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/4476450/NZs-broadband-services-getting-better ********************************** ARRESTS/COURT CASES FOR ONLINE CHILD PROTECTION ********************************** Austrian police smash child pornography ring A huge child porn ring involving more than 100 men has been smashed, according to Austrian police. Pornographic material was seized from raids of 107 homes after a tip-off from Luxembourg. http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,6358056,00.html Austria child porn suspects held after nationwide raids More than 100 people have been charged with child pornography offences in Austria after police seized material from computers across the country. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12033773 Over 100 charged in Austrian child porn sting Police in Austria have charged more than 100 men who are suspected of downloading child pornography. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/12/20/3097346.htm 100 arrested in Austria porn probe [Press Association] Austrian authorities have seized child pornography from 107 men, including five teachers, officials said. http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/world-news/100-arrested-in-austria-porn-probe-2466958.html Austrian police smash huge child porn ring [AFP] A huge child porn ring involving more than 100 men, including four teachers and a kindergarten worker, has been smashed in Austria, police said Sunday. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/world/view/20101220-309986/Austrian-police-smash-huge-child-porn-ring Child porn ring smashed in Austria A huge child porn ring involving more than 100 men, including four teachers and a kindergarten worker, has been smashed in Austria. http://tvnz.co.nz/world-news/huge-child-porn-ring-smashed-in-austria-3979840 107 ?sterreicher sahen Kinderpornos an 107 Verd?chtige aus allen neun Bundesl?ndern und allen sozialen Schichten, durchwegs M?nner von 18 bis 70 Jahre, die meisten davon (32) leben in Wien. F?nf M?nner haben direkt mit Kindern zu tun, vier davon als Lehrer, einer als Kinderg?rtner. http://derstandard.at/1292462182479/Operation-Charly-107-Oesterreicher-sahen-Kinderpornos-an nz: Child porn man fights to conceal identity [Manawatu Standard] A Rangitikei man who downloaded child pornography, including pack rape, sadism and defecation, is fighting to keep his identity secret to protect his family. http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/4473349/Child-porn-man-fights-to-conceal-identity New Zealand caught up in child porn sting An internet child porn sting operation has caught out a man from New Zealand http://home.nzcity.co.nz/news/article.aspx?id=123832 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (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 19 2010 - 18:22:25 UTC
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.3.0 : Sat Sep 09 2017 - 22:00:10 UTC