Hi all, This is the last scheduled Domain Name News for 2010. As usual, I will continue to monitor news over the christmas and new year period and will recommence emailing the news in the week commencing 3 January with the usual news service. Should there be a significant amount of news I will send out a news in the week between christmas and new year. I am always open to suggestions on how to improve the news, so any suggestions are appreciated and can be sent directly to me, or to the list, or both. I hope you have a wonderful christmas and new year and I look forward to being in touch in 2011. Don't forget to check out my website - http://GoldsteinReport.com/ - for daily updates as well as http://www.DomainPulse.com. Kind regards, David Governments outline 12 points of gTLD contention with ICANN by Kieren McCarthy http://gibc.biz/2010/12/governments-outline-12-points-of-gtld-contention-with-icann/ ICANN CEO and Chairman answer new gTLD and dot-xxx questions by Kieren McCarthy http://gibc.biz/2010/12/icann-ceo-and-chairman-answer-new-gtld-and-dot-xxx-questions/ IDN Evolution Discussed at ICANN Cartagena by John Kane http://www.circleid.com/posts/20101220_idn_evolution_discussed_at_icann_cartagena/ 9 Million .UK Domain Names Registered http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=13201 Dutch firm bets on browser to free net of suffixes http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-53686920101220 us: Lawmakers say cybersecurity is a top priority in 2011 http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20101222_6163.php ICE Domain Seizures Relied on Twisted Evidence and MPAA Say So http://www.pcworld.com/article/214688/.html Music Web Sites Dispute Legality of Their Closing http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/20/business/media/20music.html Undue process: how Uncle Sam seized BitTorrent domain names http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2010/12/busting-bittorrent.ars Bank Of America Buys Up Nasty Domain Names In Defensive Move http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/22/bank-of-america-domain-names_n_800315.html au: Woolworths pays record price for domain name http://fastthinking.com.au/current-affairs/woolworths-pays-record-price-for-domain-name.aspx ********************** GOVERNANCE ********************** New UN committee could hand governments internet control The endgame in the long-running battle over who is to control the internet may be upon us, with the appointment of a little-reported but highly significant new UN committee to look into initiatives for policing the internet. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/12/20/un_committee_internet/ Is a UN Internet takeover looming? Not quite Perhaps you saw or heard the headlines last Friday or over the weekend: the United Nations could take over the Internet! (Or, as the Drudge Report put it, "UN PLANS INTERNET REGULATION.") This, you may not be surprised to learn, isn't quite accurate. A UN working group is currently talking about what, if anything, it could do to improve the operation of its Internet Governance Forum (IGF), a group devoted to dialogue but possessing no decision-making powers. But some are making plans to give the UN far more power. http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2010/12/is-a-un-internet-takeover-looming-not-quite.ars Barack Obama And The United Nations Will Be Watching The Internet For You All Internet users beware! An Internet free of the heavy hand of government regulation may become a thing of the past. First, we have the Obama administration seeking to place controls on the Internet. http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/31307 ********************** DOMAIN NAMES ********************** ********************** - ICANN ********************** Governments outline 12 points of gTLD contention with ICANN by Kieren McCarthy At the recent ICANN meeting in Cartagena, the decision was made to hold a subsequent special meeting between the Board and GAC some time in February 2011 in an effort to discuss and reach agreement on a raise of issues that governments have with the planned liberalisation of the top-level domain space. http://gibc.biz/2010/12/governments-outline-12-points-of-gtld-contention-with-icann/ ICANN CEO and Chairman answer new gTLD and dot-xxx questions by Kieren McCarthy In an in-house interview carried out on the last day of its recent conference in Cartagena, ICANN?s chairman and CEO have answered questions over the Board?s decisions on the new gTLD program and the application for a dot-xxx Internet extension. http://gibc.biz/2010/12/icann-ceo-and-chairman-answer-new-gtld-and-dot-xxx-questions/ IDN Evolution Discussed at ICANN Cartagena by John Kane Internationalized domain names (IDNs) have been available to Internet users for many years, but this year the first fully non-Latin IDN domains have become enabled by ICANN and ccTLD registries. The recent success of the launch of Russia's .?? (.rf) ccTLD shows that there is an enormous demand for domain names in Internet users' native languages. http://www.circleid.com/posts/20101220_idn_evolution_discussed_at_icann_cartagena/ ICANN to tackle Trojan TLDs When failing community-based top-level domain registries attempt to change their business models, ICANN may in future have a new way of dealing with them. http://domainincite.com/icann-to-tackle-trojan-tlds/ ********************** - ccTLD & gTLD NEWS ********************** Go Daddy offers Whois privacy for .co domains .CO Internet has started allowing registrars to offer Whois privacy services for .co domains, according to Go Daddy. http://domainincite.com/go-daddy-offers-whois-privacy-for-co-domains/ VeriSign takes over .gov VeriSign has taken over registry functions at .gov, the top-level domain for the US government. http://domainincite.com/verisign-takes-over-gov/ Hebrew IDNs General Registration Commences Sunday Hebrew IDNs will be available for general registration in the Israeli ccTLD as of this Sunday, the Israeli registry ISOC-IL has announced. http://www.domainpulse.com/2010/12/21/hebrew-idns-registration/ 9 Million .UK Domain Names Registered There are now nine million active .UK domain names registered, the registry, Nominet, announced Monday, confirming its position as the world's second largest ccTLD and fourth largest TLD overall. http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=13201 http://www.domainpulse.com/2010/12/21/9-million-uk-domain-names-registered/ http://domainnews.com/en/9-million-.uk-domain-names-registered.html 9 millionth .uk domain registered This week the .uk register passed another significant milestone when it reached nine million registrations. http://www.nominet.org.uk/news/latest/?contentId=8069 UK domain registry breaks 9 million The .uk has just broken nine million active domain names, Nominet announced today. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/12/20/nominet_nine_million/ 9 million domain names by Lesley Cowley It?s the time of year when we are all gearing up for Christmas and making our final preparations for celebrating the festive season. http://blog.nominet.org.uk/insight/2010/12/9-million-domain-names/ ********************** - NEW TLDS ********************** New Top Level Domain Delays Will Hurt Domainers A lot of domain name investors are against the wholesale introduction of new top level domain names, or at least some of the provisions attached to them. They worry that new intellectual property guidelines, a lack of pricing controls, etc. will be extended to existing top level domain names such as .com. http://domainnamewire.com/2010/12/20/new-top-level-domain-delays-will-hurt-domainers/ ICANN delays decision on new gTLDs program Last week, at its Board meeting in Cartegena, Columbia, ICANN was expected to approve the implementation of a process to increase the number of gTLDs (i.e. .com, .net, .org., etc.) that could be made available for registration of domain names. http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=07f74026-ef1d-409e-b1a8-645f85e9a406 Dutch firm bets on browser to free net of suffixes A Dutch technology company has emerged as a front-runner in a project to rid the Internet of limited number of suffixes such as .com, and offer single names which can be countries, company names or fantasy words. http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-53686920101220 http://www.leaderpost.com/technology/Dutch+firm+bets+browser+free+suffixes/4003586/story.html http://www.canada.com/technology/internet/Dutch+firm+bets+browser+free+suffixes/4003586/story.html OpenRegistry latest player in new TLD market OpenRegistry has become the domain name industry?s newest top-level domain registry operator. http://domainincite.com/openregistry-latest-player-in-new-tld-market/ Steve DelBianco of Net Choice on the Future of Domains Q: What is NetChoice and who are some of NetChoice?s constituents? A: NetChoice is a coalition of leading e-commerce and online companies, including AOL, Facebook, eBay, VeriSign and Yahoo. We also have nearly ten thousand small e-online retail members who leverage these leading e-commerce platforms to reach consumers around the world. http://idnblog.com/2010/12/21/steve-delbianco-net-choice-future/ ********************** - DNS SECURITY ********************** us: Lawmakers say cybersecurity is a top priority in 2011 Cybersecurity will be a top priority for the Republican-led House in 2011, but it is unknown when Congress will act on legislation to revamp an outdated federal cyber law, say aides to incoming GOP leaders. http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20101222_6163.php uk: SAS man to take charge of cyber-warfare defences A former chief of the SAS has been appointed to head the military's cyber-warfare operations amid rising concern about the risk of attacks on official websites endangering Britain's defences. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/online/sas-man-to-take-charge-of-cyberwarfare-defences-2164842.html ********************** - DOMAIN DISPUTES ********************** ICE Domain Seizures Relied on Twisted Evidence and MPAA Say So Jiminy Christmas! Don't know much about the law or the Internet or the facts? That's okay cause neither does Homeland Security in some cases, but that didn't stop ICE from seizing over 80 domains. Think to make your view more credible by linking to the source article? You better watch out, cause depending on the content of that article, that might be a crime. Oh yes, this should scare us all, because evidence is not needed, just the say-so of a corporate cash cow from the copyright cartel. http://www.pcworld.com/article/214688/.html Music Web Sites Dispute Legality of Their Closing When federal authorities shut down five Web sites last month on suspicion of copyright infringement, they gave no warning and offered no details of their investigation, and they have not filed any criminal charges since. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/20/business/media/20music.html Undue process: how Uncle Sam seized BitTorrent domain names Back in November, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Special Agent Andrew T. Reynolds signed an affidavit asking a judge to put five domain names under the control of the US government. All were accused of contributing to online piracy, and it was essential for the domain names to be seized without a trial and without giving the sites a chance to respond. Why? Such sites are destroying the US economy. Reynolds lays it out for the judge: http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2010/12/busting-bittorrent.ars Bank Of America Buys Up Nasty Domain Names In Defensive Move Corporate Executives often pursue multiple strategies when it comes to maximizing shareholder value. Sometimes they try to provide the public with products of real worth. Sometimes they deploy complicated accounting schemes to create fictitious value. And sometimes, they just try to keep people from calling them nasty names on the Internet. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/22/bank-of-america-domain-names_n_800315.html Hundreds of anti-BofA web sites registered Hundreds of website addresses that disparage Bank of America executives and board members were registered in recent days in an apparent effort to protect the bank and its senior leaders, according to internet companies who track the buying and selling of such domain names. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/3993f69e-0e2b-11e0-86e9-00144feabdc0.html http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/3993f69e-0e2b-11e0-86e9-00144feabdc0,dwp_uuid=9a36c1aa-3016-11da-ba9f-00000e2511c8.html Is Bank of America Buying Abusive Domain Names Ahead of Possible WikiLeaks Assault? It's emerged that Bank of America is buying-up domain names that could be used to abuse its senior execs if (or possibly, when) WikiLeaks comes good with its promise to leak controversial internal data on the bank's activities. http://www.fastcompany.com/1711674/pre-wikileaks-mitigation-bank-of-america-buys-abusive-domain-names Domain Registrant Not Responsible for Registrars? Parked Page UDRP complainants frequently point to the content of registrar holding pages as evidence that a domain name registrant registered the domain name in bad faith. It?s a convenient argument that takes advantage of most panelists? misunderstanding of parked domain names vs. holding pages. http://domainnamewire.com/2010/12/22/surprise-domain-registrant-not-responsible-for-registrars-parked-page/ ********************** - IPv4/IPv6 ********************** Internet Addresses Are Running Out The world is running out of Internet addresses ? possibly as soon as next summer there will be none left, and then we have a problem, says the head of the European authority that assigns them. http://blogs.wsj.com/tech-europe/2010/12/22/world-may-run-out-of-internet-addresses-next-year/ us: Some Agencies Lag in IPv6 Transition, Task Force Chair Says As the 2012 deadline for switching to a new version of the Internet protocol creeps up on federal agencies, some are simply not making adequate progress, the chairman of the IPv6 task force said last week. http://www.executivegov.com/2010/12/some-agencies-lag-in-ipv6-transition-task-force-chair-says/ ********************** - MISCELLANEOUS ********************** How Accurate is the Routing Registry? by Mirjam Kuehne The Internet Routing Registry (IRR) is a globally distributed routing information database that consists of several databases run by various organisations. Network operators use the IRR to publish their routing policies and routing announcements in a way that allows other network operators to make use of the data. In addition to making Internet topology visible, the IRR is used by network operators to look up peering agreements, determine optimal policies and to configure their routers. http://www.circleid.com/posts/how_accurate_is_the_routing_registry/ VeriSign Registry Changes Logo and Web Address The company that manages dot.com has a new dot.com. http://domainnamewire.com/2010/12/21/verisign-registry-changes-logo-and-web-address/ ********************** - DOMAINING & AFTERMARKET ********************** au: Woolworths pays record price for domain name 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, following a move by Woolworths to buy hardware.com.au for over $33,000. http://fastthinking.com.au/current-affairs/woolworths-pays-record-price-for-domain-name.aspx ********************** INTERNET USE ********************** Americans can't live without high-speed internet: poll High-speed internet has had the greatest technological impact on society over the past decade and is the technology most people say they cannot live without, according to a new poll. http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-53713520101221 http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE6BK4L620101221 Email's Big Demographic Split In an article in Tuesday?s Times, I wrote about the changing status of e-mail. Once it was cool to merely have an e-mail account (or several), but many young people now think of it as old school, and much prefer the zip of texting, instant messaging and social networks. http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/21/e-mails-big-demographic-split/ Email Gets an Instant Makeover Signs you?re an old fogey: You still watch movies on a VCR, listen to vinyl records and shoot photos on film. And you enjoy using e-mail. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/21/technology/21email.html Asia to propel online games growth Asia will be the major force in pushing global online games sales which will hit just over US$20 billion in 2012, according to a new study by ABI Research. http://www.zdnetasia.com/asia-to-propel-online-games-growth-62205308.htm Craigslist cuts off adult services worldwide Craigslist's adult services section is now out of business around the world. http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-20026379-93.html The Anatomy of Online Shopping dissected: new EU Agency white paper [news release] The EU?s ?cyber security? Agency ENISA, (the European Network and Information Security Agency) has issued a white paper today on Safe Online Shopping. The paper analyses the anatomy of ?Online Shopping?, and warns on the risks and threats. It provides different countermeasures and guidelines to consumers in the form of 5 ?golden rules? on how to shop safely online. The paper also provides a comprehensive checklist for the online seller on how to operate secure online business. As many citizens lack trust in online purchases, this report increases awareness of the real risks and how to tackle them. http://www.enisa.europa.eu/media/press-releases/the-anatomy-of-online-shopping-dissected-new-eu-agency-white-paper ********************** SOCIAL NETWORKING ********************** Facebook in China: Connecting with 1bn people - and the censors Mark Zuckerberg thinks that China is not just a place where it would be nice to do business; it's where the social network's future must inevitably be found. "How can you connect the whole world if you leave out a billion people?" he asked in October. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/dec/20/facebook-china-censors Is Facebook preparing to hurdle the Great Firewall? "It was just two nerds comparing notes," the spokesman said. "Keep the speculation in check." http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/dec/20/facebook-mark-zuckerberg-china-baidu ************************************************ CHILD PROTECTION, FILTERING & CONTENT REGULATION ************************************************ uk: Broadband firms urged to block sex websites to protect children Internet service providers are to be asked by the government to tighten up on website pornography to try to combat the early sexualisation of children. http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/dec/19/broadband-sex-safeguard-children-vaizey Web filtering: Why a Great British Firewall will be useless Ed Vaizey, the Communications Minister, said yesterday that he wants UK internet service providers to filter sexually explicit content. By default, your internet connection would be restricted to only allow appropriate sites ? unless you call your ISP and ask them to turn the filter off. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/dec/20/web-filtering-will-not-work uk: Internet porn block 'not possible' say ISPs Government plans to block pornography "at source" are unlikely to prove effective, say ISPs. The proposal to cut off access to pornographic material was floated by Culture Minister Ed Vaizey in an interview with the Sunday Times. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12041063 Blocking web porn 'very difficult' [audio] Should pornography be blocked from all computers to protect children? http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9303000/9303860.stm Government proposes porn-blocking at ISP level ISPs should block pornographic content at the network level, forcing people who want to look at it to opt in, communications minister Ed Vaizey has said. A digital rights activist group has labelled the proposal censorship. http://out-law.com/page-11680 Blocking internet pornography ... that's censorship, isn't it? I don't much care for pornography, but it might be surprising for fair-minded types to note that most Britons don't see it quite that way. Which ought to make politicians think twice about trying to regulate adult pornography, because if being grown up counts for anything, then it must involve some kind of interest in the serious business of sex. But never mind... Ed Vaizey is talking tough on the subject, suggesting that adult pornography should be blocked by internet providers unless hapless consumers "opt in" to see filth on their screens. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/organgrinder/2010/dec/20/ed-vaizey-pornography Porn filter plans are 'absolutely ridiculous' Plans to filter all internet pornography for UK internet users would be unrealistic and costly, according to an expert. http://www.zdnet.co.uk/blogs/tech-tech-boom-10017860/porn-filter-plans-are-absolutely-ridiculous-10021358/ Government to review access to internet porn The communications minister will be meeting with major UK ISPs in 2011 to discuss measures for restricting underage access to adult material, including the proposal that internet providers block all porn by default http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/security/2010/12/20/government-to-review-access-to-internet-porn-40091216/ Older teenagers 'unsafe' online The mother of a murdered teenager who was groomed online by a stranger, says not enough is being done to protect older teens on the web. http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/12020091 Review of media classification ordered to take account of technology changes [AAP] Australia is set for an overhaul of its national classification system covering films, DVDs, printed matter and computer games. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/review-of-media-classification-ordered-to-take-account-of-technology-changes/story-e6frg996-1225974431131 au: Review of the National Classification Scheme [news release] Attorney-General Robert McClelland and Minister for Home Affairs Brendan O?Connor will ask the Australian Law Reform Commission to conduct a review of classification in Australia in light of changes in technology, media convergence and the global availability of media content. http://www.attorneygeneral.gov.au/www/ministers/mcclelland.nsf/Page/MediaReleases_2010_FourthQuarter_21December2010-ReviewoftheNationalClassificationScheme Govt orders media classification review [AAP] The Federal Government has ordered a wide-ranging review of media classification as a row over access to violent video games continues. http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/371983/govt_orders_media_classification_review/ Tech prompts govt classification review Federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland and Minister for Home Affairs Brendan O'Connor today announced that they will ask the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) to conduct a review of classification in Australia in light of "changes in technology, media convergence and the global availability of media content". http://www.zdnet.com.au/tech-prompts-govt-classification-review-339308147.htm kr: A Sunshine Policy to Combat Cyberbullies Cyberbullying, or using the anonymity of online postings to hurt people, has been a growing social problem for South Korea, a country often called one of the most wired nations. But a ceremony on Tuesday morning offered a glimpse of hope for South Korea?s online culture. http://blogs.wsj.com/korearealtime/2010/12/21/a-sunshine-policy-to-combat-cyberbullies/ ********************** ONLINE TV & MUSIC ********************** Sony starts global launch of Music Unlimited Sony has begun a global rollout of its ?cloud-based? music streaming service, Music Unlimited with an initial launch in the UK and Ireland, in what it hopes will be a challenge to Apple and Google as digital music moves from hard drives to the internet. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/93bf1d76-0dd4-11e0-8b53-00144feabdc0.html Google TV Faces Delays Amid Poor Reviews Google TV has just enacted its first programming cancellation. The Consumer Electronics Show next month in Las Vegas was meant to be the great coming-out party for Google?s new software for televisions, which adds Web video and other computer smarts to TV sets. Although Google already has a deal with Sony for its Internet TVs, other television makers ? Toshiba, LG Electronics and Sharp ? were prepared to flaunt their versions of the systems. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/20/technology/20google.html Avatar most pirated film of 2010 Avatar was the most pirated film of the year, according to data released by file-sharing blog TorrentFreak. The biggest film in history was downloaded from torrent websites 16.6 million times. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/12/22/3099245.htm ********************** MOBILE/WIRELESS ********************** Fortifying Phones From Attackers: AT&T Hires Ph.Ds for Security Lab; Verizon Wireless Teams With Start-Up on Data-Security App As consumers and companies embrace smartphones to do more of their computing, the wireless industry is taking its first steps to beef up security on mobile devices. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704774604576035960449272404.html nz: Code proposed for international mobile roaming [NZPA] A proposed code for international mobile roaming services has been published for public consultation. http://tvnz.co.nz/technology-news/code-proposed-international-mobile-roaming-3980269 Nigerian Cyber Criminals Target Smartphones The world leader in mobile security, AdaptiveMobile, has said that year 2010 recorded the highest ever number of mobile malware infections aimed at Smartphone users, with the number of reports up 33 per cent on 2009 figures. http://allafrica.com/stories/201012220197.html ************************** ONLINE CRIME, SECURITY & LEGAL ************************** uk: Lord chief justice approves use of Twitter for court reporting The lord chief justice today opened the way for the reporting of some court proceedings by journalists using Twitter, texting and email, but made clear it was unlikely to happen where such use of social media could influence witnesses. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/dec/20/twitter-court-lord-chief-justice Landmark ruling allows tweeting from court ? for now The Lord Chief Justice has given the public the right to report from inside courtrooms using Twitter, texts and email. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/landmark-ruling-allows-tweeting-from-court-ndash-for-now-2165494.html us: Lawmakers say cybersecurity is a top priority in 2011 Cybersecurity will be a top priority for the Republican-led House in 2011, but it is unknown when Congress will act on legislation to revamp an outdated federal cyber law, say aides to incoming GOP leaders. http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20101222_6163.php uk: SAS man to take charge of cyber-warfare defences A former chief of the SAS has been appointed to head the military's cyber-warfare operations amid rising concern about the risk of attacks on official websites endangering Britain's defences. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/online/sas-man-to-take-charge-of-cyberwarfare-defences-2164842.html Kodaks' patent spat threatens photo web sites The fallout from a patent dispute between Kodak and web photo site Shutterfly could embroil many online image sites, says patent experts. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12050694 FTC Files Complaint Against Firm For Web Scam The Federal Trade Commission Tuesday filed a complaint against an Internet enterprise that allegedly lured consumers into signing up for "trial" memberships to obtain information about "bogus" government grants and other money-making schemes. http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2010/12/ftc-files-complaint-against-fi.php ************************** PRIVACY ************************** How One App Sees Location Without Asking One advertising company has found a way to estimate the location of iPhone app users without notifying them, a Wall Street Journal investigation revealed. http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2010/12/19/how-one-apps-sees-location-without-asking/ Google's UK Street View wi-fi data 'deleted' Personal data collected by Google's UK Street View cars has been deleted. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12040923 au: Probe into net phone directory for stalkers A website that allows stalkers to look up the names and addresses attached to landline and mobile numbers is being investigated by the nation's privacy and communications watchdogs. http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/probe-into-net-phone-directory-for-stalkers-20101223-1960y.html http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/probe-into-net-phone-directory-for-stalkers-20101223-1960y.html http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/technology/technology-news/probe-into-net-phone-directory-for-stalkers-20101223-1960y.html http://www.watoday.com.au/technology/technology-news/probe-into-net-phone-directory-for-stalkers-20101223-1960y.html ********************** CENSORSHIP ********************** Apple removes iPhone Wikileaks app from iTunes Apple has confirmed that it removed a Wikileaks iPhone app from its iTunes store. Wikileaks App was an unofficial, paid-for download that gave people access to the free Wikileaks Twitter feed and documents held on its website. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12059577 Apple drops WikiLeaks app, Google keeps it Apple Inc has joined a growing number of U.S. companies that have severed ties with WikiLeaks, removing an application from its online store that gave users access to the controversial website's content. http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE6BL31O20101222 http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-53736420101222 Apple Bans Lame WikiLeaks App Apple on Monday banned an iPhone and iPad app designed to facilitate access to WikiLeaks? unfolding cache of leaked U.S. diplomatic cables, putting the company on the growing list of U.S. corporations aligned against the secret-spilling site. http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/12/wikileaks-app/ Venezuela tightens Internet regulation Venezuela's parliament approved tighter regulation of the Internet on Monday in the latest of a package of laws to entrench President Hugo Chavez's socialist "revolution" before a new Assembly is sworn-in next month. http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-53694420101220 Venezuela extends media regulations to Internet [AP] Venezuelan lawmakers on Monday imposed broadcast-type regulations on the Internet, barring some types of online messages under measures that opponents say are a threat to freedom speech. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40757266 Venezuela passes media, Internet-muzzling law [AFP] The Venezuelan parliament passed a law banning for the first time Internet content that promotes social unrest, challenges authority or condones crime, fueling outrage by the opposition. http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/venezuela-passes-media-internetmuzzling-law-20101221-193ye.html http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-technology/venezuela-passes-media-internetmuzzling-law-20101221-193ye.html ************************** GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY ************************** Whose Internet Is It, Anyway? The FCC's new "net neutrality" rules only muddle the picture. The Federal Communications Commission has reinvigorated the "net neutrality" debate with its approval today of new rules governing Internet access. (The actual rules have yet to be released to the public.) Reportedly, the broadband companies that drop wires into your home to provide Internet service?like Comcast and Charter, for example?will be prohibited from blocking services and applications and from engaging in the "unreasonable discrimination" of data delivery. Wireless Internet providers will face less stringent rules. http://www.slate.com/id/2278626/ Net neutrality rules get go ahead from US regulators US regulators have approved new rules meant to prohibit broadband companies from interfering with internet traffic. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12046874 Internet Gets New Rules of the Road: Consumers Guaranteed Right to View Content; Service Providers Allowed to Sell Faster, Priority Speeds for Extra Money The FCC's rules could be less important to day-to-day Web surfing now than they will be to shaping how Americans access and use the Internet years from now. In the future, the Internet industry will be increasingly centered around online video, gaming and mobile services, analysts say. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703581204576033513990668654.html US FCC fumbles ball on net neutrality: yes for fixed, not really for mobile The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) which has the power to set the rules for use and, more importantly, charging for internet use in the US, has passed "limited" net neutrality rules by a 3-2 vote which split along Democratic (yes) and Republican (no) party lines. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/blog/2010/dec/22/net-neutrality-internet FCC passes first net neutrality rules The Federal Communications Commission voted Tuesday to approve its first ever Internet access regulation, which ensures unimpeded access to any legal Web content for home Internet users. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/posttech/2010/12/fcc.html F.C.C. Approves Net Rules and Braces for Fight The Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday approved a new set of rules that are intended to preserve open access to the Internet. http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/21/f-c-c-approves-net-rules-and-braces-for-fight/ Obama Praises Net Neutrality Order President Obama weighed in Tuesday in support of the FCC's approval of network neutrality rules, describing the move as an important part of his administration's efforts to advance "American innovation, economic growth, and job creation." http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2010/12/obama-praises-net-neutrality-o.php FCC Backs Net Neutrality Order The Federal Communications Commission approved network neutrality rules Tuesday, with Chairman Julius Genachowski's two Democratic colleagues providing tepid support for his plan aimed at ensuring the Internet remains an open platform. http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2010/12/breaking-fcc-backs-net-neutral.php http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20101221_6737.php Divided U.S. FCC adopts Internet traffic rules A divided U.S. Federal Communications Commission adopted Internet traffic rules on Tuesday, provoking warnings they would be rejected in the courts and threats from Republican lawmakers to overturn them. http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-53714620101221 http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE6BL02320101222 InternetNZ To Hold Name Suppression Workshop InternetNZ (Internet New Zealand Inc) is convening a free public workshop in February 2011 to examine the vexed issue of name suppression in the digital age. http://www.voxy.co.nz/technology/internetnz-hold-name-suppression-workshop/5/76603 Cyprus delays online poker ban Cyprus has put off legislation to ban online gambling because of a three-month delay in feedback on its plans from its European Union partners, the finance ministry said Tuesday. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6BK2OE20101221 ********************** TELECOMMUNICATIONS ********************** Undersea Cables: The Achilles Heel of our Economies In December 2008 within milliseconds, Egypt lost 70 percent of its connection to the outside Internet. In far away India, 50 to 60 percent of online connectivity similarly was lost. In Pakistan, 12 million people were knocked offline suddenly, and in Saudi Arabia, 4.7 million were unable to connect to the Internet. The economic costs of this 24-hour outage: approximately 64 million dollars. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/franzstefan-gady/undersea-cables-the-achil_b_799808.html S'pore tweaks telecom policies to 'safeguard' consumers Country's ICT regulator amends Telecom Competition Code to disallow telcos from "cross-terminating" service agreement and automatically charging consumers after end of free service trials. http://www.zdnetasia.com/s-pore-tweaks-telecom-policies-to-safeguard-consumers-62205312.htm Free-to-air, pay-TV face NBN assault Australia's free-to-air and pay-television networks face an assault from internet competitors, as the NBN gets up and running over the next five years. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/free-to-air-pay-tv-face-nbn-assault/story-fn59niix-1225974169098 Shortage of skills may blow out wages Skills shortages threaten to slow the rollout of the National Broadband Network. And a construction cost blowout could slash already modest expected returns from the project. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/shortage-of-skills-may-blow-out-wages/story-e6frg6nf-1225974136881 au: NBN to repay taxpayers 'with interest', says Julia Gillard, citing business plan The National Broadband Network business case proves taxpayers' $27.5 billion investment in the plan will be repaid with interest, Julia Gillard has declared. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/in-depth/nbn-return-to-be-lower-than-in-commercial-plan-business-plan-shows/story-e6frgaif-1225973839279 au: Nearly a decade to wait for superfast broadband The release of the Federal Government's business plan for the National Broadband Network reveals it will take nine-and-a-half years to connect more than 10 million Australian homes. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/12/20/3097537.htm --------- 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 Wed Dec 22 2010 - 20:07:21 UTC
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