Don't forget to check out http://www.auda.org.au/domain-news/ for the archive of the last 3 months of the news. And see my website - http://GoldsteinReport.com/ - for daily updates in between postings. *************************************************** The domain name news is supported by auDA *************************************************** Global Policy Proposal for the Allocation of IPv4 by IANA Post Exhaustion - Background Report, 4 April 2011 (Second proposal for handling recovered IPv4 address space) http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-11feb11-en.htm Cylab at Carnegie Mellon University Selected to Conduct Study of Whois Misuse http://blog.icann.org/2011/04/cylab-at-carnegie-mellon-university-selected-to-conduct-study-of-whois-misuse/ Still Missing in Action by Michael D. Palage http://www.circleid.com/posts/still_missing_in_action/ .EU Celebrates 5th Birthday - 3.4m Registrations and New Identity Magazine http://www.domainpulse.com/2011/04/06/eu-celebrates-5th-birthday-34m-registrations-and-new-identity-magazine/ 3.4 Million .eu Domain Names Registered In Five Years ? I Call Dismal Failure http://techcrunch.com/2011/04/06/3-4-million-eu-domain-names-registered-in-five-years-i-call-dismal-failure/ Letter.ly Abrupt.ly Loses Domain Name As A Result Of The War In Libya http://techcrunch.com/2011/04/04/letter-ly-abrupt-ly-loses-domain-name-as-a-result-of-the-war-in-libya/ Russian IDN .?? Rockets Past 800,000 http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=14208 How much will you pay to block your trademark from ?.xxx?? http://www.worldtrademarkreview.com/daily/Detail.aspx?g=21af6cdb-e43a-4d9e-a9e7-a3783098704e Generic domain names pose cyber squatter risk http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/382180/generic_domain_names_pose_cyber_squatter_risk/ Lizamoon: Clean up begins after massive website attack http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12956919 The Dangers of Building a Brand on a Tenuous Country Code by John Yunker http://www.circleid.com/posts/20110404_dangers_of_building_a_brand_on_a_tenuous_country_code/ ********************** DOMAIN NAMES ********************** ********************** - ICANN ********************** Global Policy Proposal for the Allocation of IPv4 by IANA Post Exhaustion - Background Report, 4 April 2011 (Second proposal for handling recovered IPv4 address space) Introduction: Global Internet Number Resource Policies are defined by the ASO MOU - between ICANN and the NRO - as "Internet number resource policies that have the agreement of all RIRs according to their policy development processes and ICANN, and require specific actions or outcomes on the part of IANA or any other external ICANN-related body in order to be implemented". Attachment A of this MOU describes the Development Process of Global Internet Number Resource Policies, including the adoption by every RIR of a global policy to be forwarded to the ICANN Board by the ASO, as well as its ratification by the ICANN Board. In this context, the ICANN Board adopted its own Procedures for the Review of Internet Number Resource Policies Forwarded by the ASO for Ratification. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-11feb11-en.htm Cylab at Carnegie Mellon University Selected to Conduct Study of Whois Misuse I am delighted to report that ICANN has engaged the Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) of Pittsburgh, PA, USA, CyLab to conduct a set of Whois Misuse Studies. http://blog.icann.org/2011/04/cylab-at-carnegie-mellon-university-selected-to-conduct-study-of-whois-misuse/ ICANN Nominating Committee Candidate Recruitment Period Ends Today, 4 April 2011 The 2011 Nominating Committee application period closes today, Monday, April 4 at 23:59 UTC. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-04apr11-en.htm Bulk Transfer of Domain Names from Blue Gravity Communications and Moozooy Media to NamesBeyond.com ICANN has authorized the bulk transfers of Blue Gravity Communications, Inc.'s and Moozooy Media Inc's gTLD domain names to 2030138 Ontario Inc. dba NamesBeyond.com ("NamesBeyond"), due to a compliance action taken by ICANN that resulted in the de-accreditation of registrars Blue Gravity Communications and Moozooy Media Inc. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-05apr11-en.htm Still Missing in Action by Michael D. Palage After wading through the various IANA Notice of Inquiry (NOI) submissions I thought I would take a break and do a secondary review of the recently concluded ICANN regional meeting in San Francisco. In doing this review there were three things that kind of jumped out at me as still missing in action. http://www.circleid.com/posts/still_missing_in_action/ Relinquishing IANA Would Be a Mistake for NTIA by R. Shawn Gunnarson In comments to the U.S. Government, ICANN sought to convince the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to relinquish its oversight of the Internet Address and Number Authority ("IANA") functions. At its heart, ICANN's presentation is a plea for NTIA to declare the privatization of DNS management finished. For several reasons, ICANN's plea should be refused. http://www.circleid.com/posts/relinquishing_iana_would_be_a_mistake_for_ntia/ AFNIC replies to the US government's Request For Comments on the management of the IANA function The Registry for .fr and .re domain names is taking part in the discussions initiated by the U.S. Department of Commerce on how best to manage the IANA function. http://www.afnic.fr/actu/nouvelles/279/afnic-replies-to-the-us-government-s-request-for-comments-on-the-management-of-the-iana-function ********************** - ccTLD & gTLD NEWS ********************** 38,000 Estonian domain names become available Estonian Internet Foundation will release for use at noon on Wednesday nearly .ee 38,000 domain names, the owners of which have not shown enough interest towards them to reregister them in the new registry during the allocated 8 month period, LETA/National Broadcasting reports. http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/Technology/?doc=39432 38,000 Domain Names Freed Up in Dot-ee Reform On April 6 the Estonian Internet Foundation is releasing the names of over 38,000 internet domains that are now up for grabs after their former owners missed all deadlines for re-registration http://news.err.ee/economy/e1fce14d-9dfc-4c34-bd65-86e1eedf309b Unused domain names to be released at 12:00 on 6 April At 12:00 on 6 April 2011, in the course of the register overhaul, those domain names will be released for which their registrants have displayed no interest, having failed to re-register them during the eight-month transitional period. http://www.eestiinternet.ee/eng/news/unused-domain-names-to-be-released-at-1200-on-6-april .EU Celebrates 5th Birthday - 3.4m Registrations and New Identity Magazine As .EU approaches 3.4 million active domain names, EURid is celebrating its 5th birthday and has released a special birthday edition of their Identity magazine. http://www.domainpulse.com/2011/04/06/eu-celebrates-5th-birthday-34m-registrations-and-new-identity-magazine/ http://domainnews.com/en/eu-celebrates-5th-birthday-3.4m-registrations-and-new-identity-magazine.html 3.4 Million .eu Domain Names Registered In Five Years ? I Call Dismal Failure .eu, the country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for the European Union, originally launched 7 December 2005, but full public registration started on 7 April 2006. One day early, EURid, the non-profit that operates the .eu TLD, issued a press release celebrating its fifth birthday. http://techcrunch.com/2011/04/06/3-4-million-eu-domain-names-registered-in-five-years-i-call-dismal-failure/ 5th birthday issue .eu Identity now available The special 5th birthday edition of EURid?s .eu Identity magazine is now available. In the issue, EURid celebrates turning five by offering SMEs a practical, low-cost high-return idea to keep customers focused on their businesses. The registry also takes a statistical look at which EU countries support .eu the most and why. http://www.eurid.eu/en/content/5th-birthday-issue-eu-identity-now-available TechCrunch Gets to the Heart of New Top Level Domain Failure Is .eu a success or failure? The country code domain name representing a whole bunch of countries has 3.4 million registrations after five years. That?s pretty darn good compared to most recent domain name launches. http://domainnamewire.com/2011/04/06/techcrunch-gets-to-the-heart-of-new-top-level-domain-failure/ TechCrunch: ?3.4 Million .EU Domain Names Registered In Five Years I Call Dismal Failure? Shortly after EURid the .eu top-level domain (TLD) registry, sent out a glowing press release marking the domain?s fifth birthday, TechCrunch blasted the extension and the press release in a post entitled ?3.4 Million .EU Domain Names Registered In Five Years I Call Dismal Failure? http://www.thedomains.com/2011/04/06/techcrunch-3-4-million-eu-domain-names-registered-in-five-years-i-call-dismal-failure/ .eu registrations double in five years The registry for the .eu top-level domain (TLD) EURid announced on the occasion of .eu domain's fifth anniversary that .eu registrations have doubled to 3.4 million compared to 1.7 million registered within the launch month.\ http://www.telecompaper.com/news/eu-registrations-double-in-five-years Letter.ly Abrupt.ly Loses Domain Name As A Result Of The War In Libya There?s been a question as to what happens to .ly domains (i.e. the ones used by Bit.ly, Ad.ly and others) if these domain names are suddenly taken away by the Libyan government. As we wrote last Fall, vb.ly was seized by NIC.ly (the domain registry and controlling body for the Libyan domain space) because the content of the website was apparently in violation of Libyan Islamic/Sharia Law. http://techcrunch.com/2011/04/04/letter-ly-abrupt-ly-loses-domain-name-as-a-result-of-the-war-in-libya/ Domain names in zone .?? hit 800, 000 On 4 April 2011 at 10:46pm the 800, 000th domain name was registered in the national Cyrillic zone .??! http://cctld.ru/en/news/news_detail.php?ID=1356 Russian IDN .?? Rockets Past 800,000 The .?? internationalised top level domain, the Russian Cyrillic IDN, rocketed past 800,000 active registrations on 4 April 2011, less than five months after it became available for general registration. http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=14208 http://www.domainpulse.com/2011/04/06/russian-??-rockets-past-800000/ New Russian TLD hits 800,000 domains mark Russia?s Cyrillic internationalized domain name, .??, received its 800,000th registration last night, according to the registry. http://domainincite.com/new-russian-tld-hits-800000-domains-mark/ Nominet Releases Reverse Whois System Nominet just released a full production version of what essentially amounts to a reverse whois tool for .uk domain names. http://domainnamewire.com/2011/04/05/nominet-releases-reverse-whois-system/ How much will you pay to block your trademark from ?.xxx?? Trademark owners who wish to block their rights from the new ?.xxx? top-level domain (TLD) will have to ask themselves how much they are willing to pay. Domain name management companies and registrars will be permitted to add their own mark-up to the blocking service. Mark owners, it seems, may have to shop around to get the best sunrise deal. http://www.worldtrademarkreview.com/daily/Detail.aspx?g=21af6cdb-e43a-4d9e-a9e7-a3783098704e ********************** - NEW TLDS ********************** VeriSign now front-runner for .bank VeriSign has signed a deal with two major banking industry organizations to become their exclusive provider of registry services for any new top-level domains designed for financial services companies. http://domainincite.com/verisign-now-front-runner-for-bank/ Everything You Should Know About a TLD Business Case, But Didn't Know to Ask by Alexa Raad Applying for a new Top-Level Domain (TLD) is an expensive and lengthy process, costing an estimated $500K for application and various legal and professional services. Central to the application is the business case. Even though ICANN requires an albeit simple version, most applicants must have a credible business case, especially if they need to secure internal approval, or more importantly attract and secure outside investment. Given the truth to the maxim "if you fail to plan, you plan to fail," some closer scrutiny of your business plan will pay dividends in the long-term. http://www.circleid.com/posts/everything_you_should_know_about_a_tld_business_case_but_didnt_know_to_ask/ ********************** - DNS SECURITY ********************** Generic domain names pose cyber squatter risk Melbourne IT has advised of an increase in domain name 'cyber squatting', with large Australian financial companies and government agencies falling victim to phishing attempts as a result of the lack of foresight. http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/382180/generic_domain_names_pose_cyber_squatter_risk/ http://www.cio.com.au/article/382180/generic_domain_names_pose_cyber_squatter_risk/ Targeted cyber attacks to rise further - Symantec Targeted cyber attacks will pose a growing threat to companies around the world this year after the Stuxnet worm hit Iran's nuclear program in 2010, security software maker Symantec Corp said on Tuesday. http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/04/05/oukin-uk-computer-security-research-idUKTRE7340QU20110405 Lizamoon: Clean up begins after massive website attack The Lizamoon website attack seems to have ensnared relatively few victims. The massive attack managed to inject the name of several rogue domains into hundreds of thousands of websites. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12956919 NetSol to alert cops over domain hijacking Network Solutions intends to ?notify the proper authorities? after a high-profile customer had his account hijacked over the weekend. http://domainincite.com/netsol-to-alert-cops-over-domain-hijacking/ Are You Ready for the Net?s Biggest Security Upgrade? Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC) were switched on for .com domain names late last week, in a final stage of one of the biggest security upgrades the Internet has seen. http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/224256/.html Aussie engineers get training at 'Stuxnet labs' The Federal Government's Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) Australia has sent more than 200 engineers to be trained in protecting critical infrastructure at the same lab that the New York Times alleged was used to create the Stuxnet worm. http://www.zdnet.com.au/aussie-engineers-get-training-at-stuxnet-labs-339312724.htm ********************** - IPv4/IPv6 ********************** Gearing up for IPv6 Happening on Jun. 8, the World IPv6 Day will see major Internet players serve content over IPv6 for 24 hours as a "test flight", according to the Internet Society (ISOC). What does being IPv6-ready mean for businesses and users? http://www.zdnetasia.com/gearing-up-for-ipv6-62208206.htm ********************** - MISCELLANEOUS ********************** The Dangers of Building a Brand on a Tenuous Country Code by John Yunker About two years ago I wrote with concern about Bit.ly's use of Libya's country code. I noted that It's always important to keep in mind that a company can't "own" a domain the way it owns real estate. Now it appears that companies that have built brand names on Libya's country code are facing difficult times. http://www.circleid.com/posts/20110404_dangers_of_building_a_brand_on_a_tenuous_country_code/ ********************** INTERNET USE ********************** FT: The Pink 'Un powers on The Financial Times's online subscription model is 10 years old and has just posted huge subscription figures. What's its secret? http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/online/ft-the-pink-un-powers-on-2261210.html Georgian woman cuts off web access to whole of Armenia An elderly Georgian woman was scavenging for copper to sell as scrap when she accidentally sliced through an underground cable and cut off internet services to all of neighbouring Armenia, it emerged on Wednesday. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/06/georgian-woman-cuts-web-access Scavenging pensioner 'cut off Georgia-Armenia Internet' [AFP] Georgian police arrested a 75-year-old woman who single-handedly cut off Internet connections in Georgia and neighbouring Armenia, the interior ministry in Tbilisi said on Wednesday. http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/scavenging-pensioner-cut-off-georgiaarmenia-internet-20110407-1d4ov.html http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-technology/scavenging-pensioner-cut-off-georgiaarmenia-internet-20110407-1d4ov.html More Pupils Are Learning Online, Fueling Debate on Quality Jack London was the subject in Daterrius Hamilton?s online English 3 course. In a high school classroom packed with computers, he read a brief biography of London with single-paragraph excerpts from the author?s works. But the curriculum did not require him, as it had generations of English students, to wade through a tattered copy of ?Call of the Wild? or ?To Build a Fire.? http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/06/education/06online.html Royal Wedding, Groundbreaking Coverage It may not be the first royal wedding of the digital era, but it is the first full-on British royal wedding of the digital era in which a potential future king of Britain will marry. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/04/business/media/04royals.html ********************** SOCIAL NETWORKING ********************** Reputation wrecking: social media alarm sounds In an age in which one negative online review can destroy brands, social media has become one of the top risks keeping C-level executives up at night, a survey of 446 major Australian corporations and public sector organisations has found. http://www.smh.com.au/technology/biz-tech/reputation-wrecking-social-media-alarm-sounds-20110405-1d17z.html http://www.theage.com.au/technology/biz-tech/reputation-wrecking-social-media-alarm-sounds-20110405-1d17z.html au: Social networking benefiting young people, new study finds Research released today reveals significant benefits to young people through social networking, which helps them to build relationships with the world around them and increases their sense of community and belonging. http://www.itwire.com/your-it-news/home-it/46315-social-networking-benefiting-young-people-new-study-finds ************************************************ CHILD PROTECTION, FILTERING & CONTENT REGULATION ************************************************ Deleting trumps blocking in fight against online child porn After a year of using mixed tactics to combat the spread of child pornography online, politicians from the governing coalition in Germany have agreed that deleting child porn sites works better than simply blocking them. http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,14968970,00.html au: Bullies could face 10 years in jail Bullies could face up to 10 years in jail under changes to stalking laws being introduced to the Victorian Parliament this week. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/04/05/3182346.htm Bullying to become a crime in Aust Bullying is set to become a crime for the first time in Australia as concern grows at the rise of abuse that has destroyed lives and driven workers and teenagers to suicide. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10717366 au: Cyber virtual island gives isolated students a second chance IN REAL life Mark Kent is a middle-aged, bespectacled teacher in a suit, holed up in an office in Thornbury. But like his virtual namesake Clark Kent, the assistant principal of Victoria's Distance Education Centre Victoria has an alter ego. http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/cyber-virtual-island-gives-isolated-students-a-second-chance-20110406-1d4h2.html us: Nevada bill cracks down on teens sexting [AP] The sponsor of a Nevada bill against sexting said teens taking explicit photos of themselves on a camera phone often don't understand the photos could come back to haunt them. http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/apr/06/nv-teen-sexting-1st-ld-writethru/ ********************** ONLINE TV & MUSIC ********************** Study: More TV viewers in U.S. 'cutting the cord' A growing number of people are willing to ditch their cable or satellite subscriptions in favor of online, over-the-air, and streaming television options, a new study from the Convergence Consulting Group has found. http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-20051202-17.html ********************** MOBILE/WIRELESS ********************** Mobile-App Makers Face U.S. Privacy Investigation Federal prosecutors in New Jersey are investigating whether numerous smartphone applications illegally obtained or transmitted information about their users without proper disclosures, according to a person familiar with the matter. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703806304576242923804770968.html Pandora Discloses Privacy-Related U.S. Inquiry Into Phone Apps [AP] The online radio service Pandora has received a subpoena from a federal grand jury investigating whether popular smartphone applications share information about their users with advertisers and other third parties. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/05/technology/05pandora.html Android's US Market Share Soars Ahead Of Apple iPhone's ComScore's recent U.S. smartphone market share evaluation pegs Google's Android platform as the clear winner against other popular platforms, such as Apple and RIM. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/04/apple-android-market-share_n_844421.html comScore Reports February 2011 U.S. Mobile Subscriber Market Share [news release] comScore, Inc., a leader in measuring the digital world, today released data from the comScore MobiLens service, reporting key trends in the U.S. mobile phone industry during the three month average period ending February 2011. The study surveyed more than 30,000 U.S. mobile subscribers and found Samsung to be the top handset manufacturer overall with 24.8 percent market share. Google Android led among smartphone platforms with 33.0 percent market share. http://www.comscore.com/Press_Events/Press_Releases/2011/4/comScore_Reports_February_2011_U.S._Mobile_Subscriber_Market_Share ************************** ONLINE CRIME, SECURITY & LEGAL ************************** Millions caught in e-mail breach Millions of live e-mail addresses are thought to have been stolen in an attack on US marketing firm Epsilon. It handles customer communications for many household names and sends more than 40 billion e-mails annually. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12958925 After Breach, Companies Warn of E-Mail Fraud Security experts said Monday that millions of people were at increased risk of e-mail swindles after a giant security breach at an online marketing firm. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/05/business/05hack.html Flood of phishing may follow Epsilon Data breach You might get more spam and more of it might greet you by name, thanks to a compromised database at a large and formerly obscure e-mail marketer. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/2011/04/04/AFxS8QfC_story.html Epsilon email hack: millions of customers' details stolen Computer hackers have stolen the names and email addresses of millions of people in one of the largest internet security breaches in US history. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/apr/04/epsilon-email-hack About 50 clients hit by Epsilon e-mail marketing breach [IDG] About 50 companies were affected by a major security breach at e-mail service provider Epsilon Interactive that caused many U.S. corporations to warn their customers of online attacks Monday. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9215488/About_50_clients_hit_by_Epsilon_e_mail_marketing_breach http://www.networkworld.com/news/2011/040511-about-50-clients-hit-by.html http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/224258/.html Attackers Steal Major Retailers', Financial Firms' Customer Email Data On the surface, the massive hack of email service provider Epsilon might seem relatively benign -- no credit card accounts, Social Security numbers, or source code were stolen, just millions of email addresses and, in some cases, full names. But security experts say the attack, which affects customers of major retailers and financial institutions, could reverberate for years to come with phishing, spamming, and targeted attacks against individuals and businesses. http://www.darkreading.com/database-security/167901020/security/attacks-breaches/229400828/attackers-steal-major-retailers-financial-firms-customer-email-data.html Criminals target mobile devices and social networks Smartphones and social networking sites are likely to become the next big target for cyber criminals, according to a security industry report. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12967254 Targeted cyber attacks to rise further - Symantec Targeted cyber attacks will pose a growing threat to companies around the world this year after the Stuxnet worm hit Iran's nuclear program in 2010, security software maker Symantec Corp said on Tuesday. http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/04/05/oukin-uk-computer-security-research-idUKTRE7340QU20110405 Lizamoon: Clean up begins after massive website attack The Lizamoon website attack seems to have ensnared relatively few victims. The massive attack managed to inject the name of several rogue domains into hundreds of thousands of websites. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12956919 Hackers hunt prey on smartphones, Facebook [AFP] Hackers are following prey onto smartphones and social networking hotspots, according to reports released this week by a pair of computer security firms. http://www.smh.com.au/technology/security/hackers-hunt-prey-on-smartphones-facebook-20110406-1d3zd.html http://www.theage.com.au/technology/security/hackers-hunt-prey-on-smartphones-facebook-20110406-1d3zd.html nz: Stay one step ahead of cyber criminals You'll not just consider updating your antivirus software, you might start asking questions about what your internet service provider is doing to protect you. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10717283 ************************** PRIVACY ************************** eu: Neelie Kroes: Smart tags - working together to protect privacy Privacy and Data Protection [speech] European Commission Vice President Neelie Kroes has signed a voluntary agreement with industry, civil society, ENISA and privacy and data protection watchdogs to establish guidelines for all companies in Europe to address the data protection implications of smart tags (Radio Frequency Identification Devices ? RFID) prior to placing them on the market. http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/11/236 eu: Digital Agenda: new guidelines to address privacy concerns over use of smart tags [news release] Today the European Commission has signed a voluntary agreement with industry, civil society, ENISA (European Network and Information Security Agency) and privacy and data protection watchdogs in Europe to establish guidelines for all companies in Europe to address the data protection implications of smart tags (Radio Frequency Identification Devices ? RFID) prior to placing them on the market. http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/11/418 EU Commission, firms sign privacy deal on smart tags The European Commission signed a voluntary agreement on Wednesday with companies that make or use smart tags, establishing privacy guidelines over the rapidly growing use of the identification chips. http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/04/06/oukin-uk-eu-smarttags-idUKTRE73556R20110406 Europe set for ?smart tag? privacy code Regulators and industry organisations will establish a set of tests to protect consumers? privacy when they buy or use products carrying the devices http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/5a7f1c4e-6033-11e0-abba-00144feab49a.html Google Street View breaches privacy - Swiss court A Swiss court has ruled that a Google online map application breaches local data protection laws and said the company must obscure faces and car number plates before publishing pictures on the internet. http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/04/04/idINIndia-56112020110404 Swiss: Google Street View Must Guarantee Anonymity [AP] A Swiss court has ruled that Google Inc. must guarantee anonymity before publishing faces and license plates captured in Switzerland for the popular street view service. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/04/swiss-google-street-view-anonymity_n_844538.html Protecting privacy -- and hindering competition? The Federal Trade Commission's action this week against Google and its Google Buzz social-networking initiative is largely a reminder that the FTC will crack down on companies that violate their own privacy policies. But the commission went an important step further: the consent order it tentatively adopted says that if Google changes its products or services, it must obtain its customers' permission first before disclosing personal information to third parties in ways not previously contemplated. http://opinion.latimes.com/opinionla/2011/03/protecting-privacy-and-reducing-competition.html Net giants challenge French data law Google and Facebook are among a group of net heavyweights taking the French government to court this week. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12983734 Internet companies fight French rules on user data A French industry association whose members include Google, Microsoft and Facebook wants to overturn French rules requiring them to collect and store personal data on their users. http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/04/05/idINIndia-56136220110405 Google, Facebook take France to court over privacy [AFP] Internet heavyweights including Google and Facebook are to file a complaint with France's highest judicial body against a decree obliging them to keep web users' personal data for a year. http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/google-facebook-take-france-to-court-over-privacy-20110405-1d2vs.html http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-technology/google-facebook-take-france-to-court-over-privacy-20110405-1d2vs.html ********************** CENSORSHIP ********************** Australian Tibetan activitists under cyber attack A VIRUS has attacked the internet connections and email accounts of dozens of Australian Tibetan activists as senior Chinese politician and Tibet negotiator Jia Qinglin arrived in Australia for talks. http://www.theage.com.au/national/tibetans-under-cyber-attack-20110406-1d4ia.html ************************** GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY ************************** uk: Digital Economy Act: filesharing code delayed by six months The government's code to clamp down on illegal filesharing will not come into force for another six months as the Digital Economy Act is held up by a high court challenge. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/apr/05/digital-economy-act-filesharing Google Said to Be Possible Target of U.S. FTC Antitrust Probe The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is considering a broad antitrust investigation of Google Inc.?s dominance of the Internet-search industry, two people familiar with the matter said. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-04-05/google-said-to-be-possible-target-of-antitrust-probe-after-ita-acquisition.html US court dismisses challenges to FCC Internet rules [AP] A federal appeals court has dismissed two legal challenges to new Federal Communications Commission regulations that prohibit phone and cable companies from interfering with Internet traffic on their broadband networks. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42418845 us: Democrats call for update to e-surveillance law [IDG] Congress needs to rewrite a law governing law enforcement access to mobile-phone data, e-mail messages and other electronic communications to reflect changes in technology, including a growing reliance on cloud computing, several senators said Wednesday. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9215552/Democrats_call_for_update_to_e_surveillance_law_ http://www.networkworld.com/news/2011/040611-senators-e-surveillance-law-needs-to.html nz: Watchdog probes UFB fibre barriers The Commerce Commission wants to look at potential barriers to end-user uptake of ultra-fast broadband, and is asking for input on the draft terms of reference of its investigation. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10717231 ********************************* MISCELLANEOUS ********************************* Google Bids $900 Million for Nortel Patent Assets Google has bid $900 million for the patent portfolio of Nortel Networks, the Canadian telecom equipment maker, as part of a strategy to defend itself against patent litigation. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/05/technology/05google.html Google $900m patent bid aims to shore up Android against incoming lawsuits Google is bidding $900m to buy a tranche of 600 patents from the bankrupt telecoms company Nortel in a defensive move to protect itself against lawsuits from other companies with larger patent portfolios. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/blog/2011/apr/05/google-nortel-patents-bid Google Offers $900 Million for Nortel's Wireless Patents as Lead Bidder Google Inc. offered $900 million in cash for the rights to Nortel Networks Corp. patents as the world?s biggest Internet-search company seeks to stave off lawsuits by bolstering its portfolio of intellectual property. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-04-04/google-enters-pact-to-buy-nortel-networks-patents-for-900-mln.html ********************** TELECOMMUNICATIONS ********************** White House to Host Spectrum Auction Summit In what looks to us like a not-so-subtle message to television broadcasters, the White House says it will host a Wednesday summit titled "Spectrum Auctions: Unlocking the Innovative Potential of Wireless Broadband." http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2011/04/white-house-to-host-spectrum-a.php Norway PM seeks to help Telenor in India telco row Norway's prime minister has lobbied his Indian counterpart to ensure that Norwegian mobile operator Telenor ASA receives "fair treatment" from Indian authorities in a telecoms graft scandal. http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/04/04/idINIndia-56099820110404 Kiwis urged to make fuss on slow internet Google's hi-tech Kiwi guru Craig Nevill-Manning says New Zealanders should complain more about the slow internet they get from internet service providers. http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/4856925/Kiwis-urged-to-make-fuss-on-slow-internet nz: Commission probes speed barriers for broadband The Commerce Commission is investigating issues that could stall the uptake of services on the Government's ultra-fast broadband network. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10717327 nz: ComCom launches study into demand side of UFB The Commerce Commission has launched a study into demand side issues that may impede the uptake of services that are offered as part of the government's $1.5 billion Ultra Fast Broadband network http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/comcom-launches-study-into-demand-side-of-ufb +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (c) David Goldstein 2011 ------ David Goldstein email: david§goldsteinreport.com web: http://goldsteinreport.com/ http://davidgoldstein.tel/ phone: +61 418 228 605 - mobile; +61 2 9665 5773 - office/home "Every time you use fossil fuels, you're adding to the problem. Every time you forgo fossil fuels, you're being part of the solution" - Dr Tim FlanneryReceived on Wed Apr 06 2011 - 14:17:30 UTC
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