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.


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The domain name news is supported by auDA

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UN's ITU Could Become Next Internet Freedom Threat, Edward J. Black, President and CEO, Computer and Communications Industry Association
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/edward-j-black/uns-itu-could-become-next_b_1332768.html

ICANN Seeks Expressions of Interest for Review of Accountability Mechanisms
http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-11mar12-en.htm

Thought Paper on Domain Seizures and Takedowns
http://blog.icann.org/2012/03/thought-paper-on-domain-seizures-and-takedowns/

Notice ? Extension of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) Functions Contract
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/other-publication/2012/notice-extension-internet-assigned-numbers-authority-iana-functions-contract

NTIA says ICANN ?does not meet the requirements? for IANA renewal
http://domainincite.com/ntia-says-icann-does-not-meet-the-requirements-for-iana-renewal/

ICANN Publishes Details on Domain Seizure Process
http://www.thewhir.com/web-hosting-news/icann-publishes-details-on-domain-seizure-process

Here?s how new gTLD batching will work
http://domainincite.com/heres-how-new-gtld-batching-will-work/

Australian ISP iinet To Apply For Own TLD
http://www.domainpulse.com/?p=7877 

What's in a domain name? It's a bargain at $200,000
http://www.businessday.com.au/business/whats-in-a-domain-name-its-a-bargain-at-200000-20120308-1un5x.html

au: Domain game
http://www.afr.com/p/sections/the_business_end/domain_game_gOpmMcnenIlWMmOqx0olKM

nz: IPv6 demand on the rise: SolarWinds
http://www.techday.co.nz/itbrief/news/ipv6-demand-on-the-rise-solarwinds/22174/7/

Domain Registrations Grow 10% in 2011 To Over 225 Million Around The World: Verisign
http://www.domainpulse.com/?p=7881

Woolworths muscles in to purchase Masters.com.au domain name
http://www.current.com.au/2012/03/08/article/Woolworths-muscles-in-to-purchase-Masters-com-au-domain-name/MFMJYFYOBE.html


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GOVERNANCE
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UN's ITU Could Become Next Internet Freedom Threat, Edward J. Black, President and CEO, Computer and Communications Industry Association
Internet freedom is again under fire for ostensibly noble reasons. After a narrow escape from Congress's SOPA legislation, Internet freedom is in the international crosshairs of a large group of nations, including many of the world's most undemocratic governments, seeking to give themselves control over Internet policy. Their target is the creation of new international legal rules that would allow them to legitimately impose censorship and monitor users' online activities.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/edward-j-black/uns-itu-could-become-next_b_1332768.html

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DOMAIN NAMES
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?- ICANN
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Costa Rica President Laura Chinchilla to Address ICANN Public Meeting [news release]
Costa Rica's 49th President, Laura Chinchilla, will address the opening session of ICANN's public meeting when it convenes in San Jose on Monday, 12 March.
http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=17172
http://www.domainpulse.com/?p=7884
http://www.domainnews.com/en/costa-rica-president-laura-chinchilla-to-address-icann-public-meeting.html

ICANN Seeks Expressions of Interest for Review of Accountability Mechanisms
ICANN is seeking expressions of interest to serve on a committee of independent experts to review ICANN's Accountability Mechanisms.
http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-11mar12-en.htm

Contractual Compliance Update
In advance of the Costa Rica meeting, the Contractual Compliance team has posted its March 2012 Newsletter with updates on recent activities, including the addition of new staff and the issue of a suspension notice to a registrar. Also included is more information on the 2011 WHOIS Data Reminder Policy Audit and the self-assessment questionnaire pilots.
http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-08mar12-en.htm

Thought Paper on Domain Seizures and Takedowns
Recent legal actions (Rustock, Coreflood and Kelihos, among others) resulting in disrupting or dismantling major criminal networks have involved seizures of domain names, DNS name server reconfiguration and transfers of domain name registrations as part of the takedown actions.
http://blog.icann.org/2012/03/thought-paper-on-domain-seizures-and-takedowns/

Letter from Rod Beckstrom, President and CEO, to the Legal Counsel of Public International Intergovernmental Organizations
Response to Open Letter from Intergovernmental Organizations on the Expansion of Generic Top Level Domains
http://www.icann.org/en/news/correspondence/beckstrom-to-igo-counsels-11mar12-en.pdf

Letter from Steve Crocker and Rod Beckstrom to Heather Dryden and Stephane van Gelder
IGO Request Regarding Registration and Use of IGO Names in DNS
http://www.icann.org/en/news/correspondence/crocker-beckstrom-to-dryden-van-gelder-11mar12-en.pdf

Letter from IGO Counsel, Legal Counsels of Public International Intergovernmental Organizations, to Rod Beckstrom, Steve Crocker and Kurt Pritz
Open Letter from Intergovernmental Organizations on the Expansion of Generic Top Level Domains
http://www.icann.org/en/news/correspondence/igo-counsels-to-beckstrom-et-al-13dec11-en.pdf

Notice ? Extension of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) Functions Contract
The Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration reached an agreement with ICANN to continue performing the IANA functions until September 30, 2012. The IANA functions are the key technical functions supporting the Internet Domain Name System.
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/other-publication/2012/notice-extension-internet-assigned-numbers-authority-iana-functions-contract

NTIA says ICANN ?does not meet the requirements? for IANA renewal
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration has dealt a stunning blow to ICANN in its bid to carry on running the internet?s critical IANA functions.
http://domainincite.com/ntia-says-icann-does-not-meet-the-requirements-for-iana-renewal/

NTIA throws a bomb, cancels IANA contract RFP
Just hours before ICANN?s Costa Rica meeting kicks off, the US National Telecommunications and Information Administration has cast uncertainty over the new gTLD program by throwing another of its now-traditional last-minute bombs.
http://domainincite.com/ntia-throws-a-bomb-cancels-iana-contract-rfp/

ICANN Publishes Details on Domain Seizure Process
ICANN announced on Friday that its security team has released a new paper that explains the factors of consideration and groups involved with domain seizures.
http://www.thewhir.com/web-hosting-news/icann-publishes-details-on-domain-seizure-process

ICANN releases checklist for domain seizures
Citing increased domain seizures and take downs due to criminal activity, the ICANN Security Team has released a paper explaining the process and considerations for complainants when trying to take down a domain name.
http://domainnamewire.com/2012/03/08/icann-releases-checklist-for-domain-seizures/

Guide to ICANN43 available
The CENTR Guide to ICANN43 is now available. The guide contains key topics in the ccNSO, GAC and gNSO spheres as well as relevant sessions to attend.
http://centr.org/news/icann/03-08-2012/1788/guide-icann43-available

EC celebrates Women's Day with call for digital inclusion
The European Commission celebrated International Women's Day on 8 March by calling for the inclusion of women in the digital revolution. The EC said it tweeted the message, asking women and men to add their name by using the tag #digitalheroines in their tweets. The statement was signed by a number of companies including Coca Cola, Random House, ICANN, and Google, as well as telecom industry groups in Europe such as ETNO, ECTA and Cable Europe.
http://www.telecompaper.com/news/ec-celebrates-womens-day-with-call-for-digital-inclusion

ICANN granted stay of execution over IANA contract [subscription]
ICANN has been granted a six-month extension to run the IANA contract but in an extraordinary statement put out by the NTIA this morning has been told its proposal to run the contract long-term was sub-standard.
http://news.dot-nxt.com/2012/03/10/ntia-iana-update

US government scraps IANA bidding process [subscription]
The US government has cancelled the rebid process for the crucial IANA contract, effective immediately. The unexpected decision, just days before an announcement was expected, was made through an amendment posted to the RFP process. It leaves the way open for ICANN to announce this week that it has retained the contract, due to end on 31 March.
http://news.dot-nxt.com/2012/03/10/iana-rfp-cancelled

EBA asks ICANN to scrap dot-bank [subscription]
The European Banking Authority (EBA) has written to ICANN to object to the potential new Internet extensions dot-bank and dot-fin, advising that the TLDs be scrapped.
http://news.dot-nxt.com/2012/03/08/eba-dot-bank-warning

Show me the money: gTLD consultants talk finances [subscription]
A financial report released by Top Level Domain (TLD) Holdings has shed light on the challenges facing gTLD consultants in a fiercely competitive market.
http://news.dot-nxt.com/2012/03/07/minds-machine-architelos-finances

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?- ccTLD & gTLD NEWS
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Changes to CIRA?s WHOIS look-up directory
Recently, the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) made changes to the .CA WHOIS look-up directory.
http://www.cira.ca/news/announcements/whois-functionality/

EURid Reports Shows Growth And Renewal Rates Remain Strong
Registrations of .EU domain names increase increased by 100,802, or three per cent, to 3.51 million during the quarter to end December 2011, EURid reported in their Quarterly Progress Report for the fourth quarter 2011.
http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=17173
http://www.domainpulse.com/?p=7886

.eu consumer interest underscored by strong annual renewals and Q4 growth
On average, 81.6% of registered .eu domain names were renewed in 2011, according to the latest quarterly progress report from the .eu TLD registry, EURid. .eu has maintained a renewal rate of over 80% for the past five years.
http://www.eurid.eu/en/content/eu-consumer-interest-underscored-strong-annual-renewals-and-q4-growth

.eu registrations see record growth in Q4 2011
?On average, 81.6% of registered .eu domain names were renewed in 2011, according to a report by.eu registry, EURid.
http://www.telecompaper.com/news/eu-registrations-see-record-growth-in-q4-2011

AFNIC to allow registration of IDNs
?AFNIC, the registry for '.fr' domain names, has announced that it will soon allow the registration of IDNs.
http://www.worldtrademarkreview.com/daily/detail.aspx?g=f9c07d79-c199-42ac-961a-c9861cc12bec

Irish Country Code High Risk For Business
If you?re going to choose a country code for your business you might want to think long and hard about choosing the .ie ccTLD. Why? Because if you reorganise your business you might end up losing your domain. In several recent cases the IEDR have flatly refused to update the registrant details on domain names.
http://www.internetnews.me/2012/03/06/irish-country-code-high-risk-for-business/

A new domain name .??? has been launched
The new TLD name using the national character (IDN) began to work on the Internet. The first address in the new domain became ????.??? for extensive testing and preparation for the registration of domain names.
http://www.nic.kz/lang?set=EN

The period of removal of vacated domains is over in domain .??
February 2012 marked the end of the period of removal of vacated domains in zone .??, which were registered in November-December 2010 and not extended by their administrators after a year upon registration. The fall in the overall number of registered domains accounted for 18%, which proved significantly less than experts had predicted.
http://cctld.ru/en/news/news_detail.php?ID=3497

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?- NEW TLDS
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Here?s how new gTLD batching will work
ICANN has revealed the unusual process new TLD applicants will have to use to compete for premium gTLD evaluation batch slots.
http://domainincite.com/heres-how-new-gtld-batching-will-work/

Six hot topics for new gTLD applicants at ICANN 43
Hundreds of stakeholders are gathering in San Jose, Costa Rica today for the first official day of ICANN?s 43rd public meeting.
http://domainincite.com/six-hot-topics-for-new-gtld-applicants-at-icann-43/

Australian ISP iinet To Apply For Own TLD
The Australian ISP iiNet has announced it is applying to ICANN for its own TLD. The ISP is Australia's second largest DSL Internet provider and third largest ISP, and is using the announcement to position itself as a leading brand in Australia's telecommunications market.
http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=17170
http://www.domainpulse.com/?p=7877 
http://www.domainnews.com/en/australian-isp-iinet-to-apply-for-own-tld.html

What's in a domain name? It's a bargain at $200,000
PERTH-based iiNet will be the first telco in Australia to announce plans to buy its own domain name today.
http://www.businessday.com.au/business/whats-in-a-domain-name-its-a-bargain-at-200000-20120308-1un5x.html
http://www.watoday.com.au/business/whats-in-a-domain-name-its-a-bargain-at-200000-20120308-1un5x.html
http://www.theage.com.au/business/whats-in-a-domain-name-its-a-bargain-at-200000-20120308-1un5x.html
http://www.smh.com.au/business/whats-in-a-domain-name-its-a-bargain-at-200000-20120308-1un5x.html

au: Domain game
There is just one month to go before the window to apply for a new TLD closes and if you?re having to pause and wonder what a TLD actually is, you may already have missed the boat.
http://www.afr.com/p/sections/the_business_end/domain_game_gOpmMcnenIlWMmOqx0olKM
http://brw.com.au/p/sections/the_business_end/domain_game_gOpmMcnenIlWMmOqx0olKM

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?- DNS SECURITY
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Report: Minor Incident on RIPE NCC Web Server
On Monday, 27 February, we discovered that a RIPE NCC web server was abused and used as an HTTP proxy to distribute malicious code to other websites using an IP address 193.0.6.136 allocated to the RIPE NCC.
http://www.ripe.net/internet-coordination/news/about-ripe-ncc-and-ripe/report-minor-incident-on-ripe-ncc-web-server

Google Search Domains Go HTTPS by Default
The steady roll-out of SSL for the world's most popular websites continues with the news Google's global search domains (including google.co.uk) are finally to get HTTPS encryption by default over the coming weeks.
http://news.techworld.com/security/3342728/google-search-domains-get-https-by-default/
http://www.pcworld.com/article/251540/google_search_domains_go_https_by_default.html

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?- DOMAIN DISPUTES
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WIPO Advanced Workshop on Domain Name Dispute Resolution: Overview of Precedent and Practice
The WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center plans to hold its annual Advanced Workshop on Domain Name Dispute Resolution in Geneva (Switzerland) on Tuesday, October 23 and Wednesday, October 24, 2012. Further information on the program and registration modalities will be posted in the near future.
http://wipo.int/amc/en/events/workshops/2012/domainname/

Domain name hijacking a serious but manageable threat
Nearly six million domain names were added to the Internet in the fourth quarter of 2011, bringing the total number of registered domain names to more than 225 million worldwide across all domains, according to the latest Domain Name Industry Brief, published by VeriSign, Inc. (NASDAQ: VRSN), a provider of Internet infrastructure services for the networked world.
http://www.techjournalsouth.com/2012/03/domain-name-hijacking-a-serious-but-manageable-threat/

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?- IPv4/IPv6
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Increase in IPv6-Enabled Networks
The percentage of IPv6-enabled networks has increased in all regions over the last year, a new article on RIPE Labs has found.
http://www.ripe.net/internet-coordination/news/industry-developments/increase-in-ipv6-enabled-networks

Ramp Up On IPv6 at a 2012 IPv6 Event Near You
17 years after the Internet visionaries at the IETF first developed IPv6, there are still a vast majority of IT people who do not know about IPv6. There is still a significant lack of educational resources for people to learn about this "new" protocol. This has created an "IPv6 brain drain" in many organizations.
http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/80006

nz: IPv6 demand on the rise: SolarWinds
IT management software provider SolarWinds has added support for IPv6 with the latest release of its flagship monitoring product, in a move that reflects the growing importance of the new protocol.
http://www.techday.co.nz/itbrief/news/ipv6-demand-on-the-rise-solarwinds/22174/7/

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?- MISCELLANEOUS
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Domain Registrations Grow 10% in 2011 To Over 225 Million Around The World: Verisign
The total number of registered domain names grew by almost six million to more than 225 million worldwide across all domains, according to the latest Domain Name Industry Brief, published by VeriSign.
http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=17171
http://www.domainpulse.com/?p=7881
http://www.domainnews.com/en/domain-registrations-grow-10-in-2011-to-over-225-million-around-the-world-verisign.html

VeriSign Domain Report Highlights Hijacking Security Threat
Nearly six million domains were registered in the fourth quarter of 2011, according to VeriSign?s domain name industry brief released on Thursday. The report also shed some light on the trend of domain name hijacking where domain names are fraudulently transferred via password theft or social engineering.
http://www.thewhir.com/web-hosting-news/verisign-domain-report-highlights-hijacking-security-threat

Internet Grows to More Than 225 Million Domain Names in the Fourth Quarter of 2011
Nearly six million domain names were added to the Internet in the fourth quarter of 2011, bringing the total number of registered domain names to more than 225 million worldwide across all domains, according to the latest Domain Name Industry Brief, published by VeriSign.
http://www.verisigninc.com/en_US/news-events/press-room/articles/index.xhtml?artLink=aHR0cHM6Ly9wcmVzcy52ZXJpc2lnbi5jb20vZWFzeWlyL2N1c3RvbXJlbC5kbz9lYXN5aXJpZD1BRkMwRkYwREI1QzU2MEQzJnZlcnNpb249bGl2ZSZwcmlkPTg1ODE3MiZyZWxlYXNlanNwPWN1c3RvbV85Nw%3D%3D

Two cheers for APNIC, one cheer for ARIN, none for RIPE by Milton Mueller
Efficient markets require transparency. That applies to IP address blocks as much as to real estate or securities transactions. But the regional address registries think differently.
http://blog.internetgovernance.org/blog/_archives/2012/3/5/5010728.html

How Anonymous plans to use DNS as a weapon
After engaging in a recent rash of attacks in retaliation for the takedown of file-sharing site Megaupload, the Anonymous denial of service "cannons" have been firing considerably fewer shells of late.
http://arstechnica.com/business/news/2012/03/how-anonymous-plans-to-use-dns-as-a-weapon.ars

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?- WEBHOSTING
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Most Reliable Hosting Company Sites in February 2012
Codero was this month's most reliable hosting provider, and has been placed in the top 25 most reliable hosting companies for 10 of the last 12 months. Codero is a Kansas-based company which provides dedicated, managed and cloud servers, as well as eCommerce and small business hosting.
http://news.netcraft.com/archives/2012/03/05/most-reliable-hosting-company-sites-in-february-2012.html

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?- DOMAINING & AFTERMARKET
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Year's 1st Reported 7-Figure Domain Sale Headlines a Banner Week as DomainNameSales.com Breaks the Ice
It took two months to break the ice, but the year's first reported 7-figure domain sale is now in the books. Frank Schilling's DomainNameSales.com did the honors with PersonalLoans.com at an even $1,000,000.
http://dnjournal.com/archive/domainsales/2012/20120307.htm

Woolworths muscles in to purchase Masters.com.au domain name
Sometimes Goliath does prove too strong for David. Before this morning, UnderCurrent had never heard of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) - that's what Masters Medical, a small firm in Blacktown, Sydney - specialises in.
http://www.current.com.au/2012/03/08/article/Woolworths-muscles-in-to-purchase-Masters-com-au-domain-name/MFMJYFYOBE.html

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INTERNET USE
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Search engine users disapprove of data collection - survey
Search engines users disapprove of personal data being collected for search results or for targeted advertising, according to a Pew survey released on Friday that underscored the public's growing concern with web privacy.
http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/03/09/usa-internet-privacy-idINDEE8280GR20120309

Survey: Google?s search engine becomes more popular despite perceived intrusions into privacy [AP]
Google is almost everyone?s favorite search engine, despite misgivings about data-collection and advertising practices that are widely seen as intrusive.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/survey-googles-search-engine-becomes-more-popular-despite-perceived-intrusions-into-privacy/2012/03/09/gIQAPzCE1R_story.html

Search Engine Use 2012: Pew survey
Overview: Search engines remain popular?and users are more satisfied than ever with the quality of search results?but many are anxious about the collection of personal information by search engines and other websites and say they do not like the idea of personalized search results or targeted advertising.
http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2012/Search-Engine-Use-2012.aspx

Afghanistan opens first women-only internet cafe
Afghanistan opened its first female-only internet cafe on Thursday, hoping to give women a chance to connect to the world without verbal and sexual harassment and free from the unwanted gazes of their countrymen.
http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/03/08/afghanistan-women-internet-idINDEE8270B820120308

Leaders from Arab nations convene for UN technology summit [news release]
More than 600 government and technology leaders from the Arab region convened today at a United Nations summit in Doha, Qatar, to discuss issues such as cybersecurity, access to broadband and youth employment.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=41474

ITU Releases Report on ICT Adoption in Arab World ITU Releases Report on ICT Adoption in Arab World [news release]
New figures released today at ITU?s Connect Arab Summit in Doha, Qatar show that information and communication technology (ICT) uptake continues to accelerate across the Arab region, but underline the need for more effort to be put into rolling out broadband infrastructure to meet burgeoning demand from a young, tech-savvy population.
http://www.ictqatar.qa/en/news-events/news/itu-releases-report-ict-adoption-arab-world-itu-releases-report-ict-adoption-arab-w

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SOCIAL NETWORKING
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Lady Gaga?s internet strategy: Can Lady Gaga help Exxon Mobil crack social media?
Lady Gaga's business manager, Troy Carter, will judge an eight-hour hackathon at the SXSW festival in Austin, Texas, on March 11th. Geeks will vie to create new ideas to do with digital music distribution. The event will be hosted by Backplane, a tech start-up co-founded by Mr Carter, which has just launched its first product, a web community for Lady Gaga called LittleMonsters.com (after the pop star?s pet name for her fans).
http://www.economist.com/node/21549979

Social media has the power to misinform but it can also provide tools to save lives
Katrina Chambers, one-time contestant on reality TV show The Block, had plans for her anniversary this year. Her sister was coming to town to look after the kids while she and her hubby had a night out.
http://www.theage.com.au/digital-life/digital-life-news/social-media-has-the-power-to-misinform-but-it-can-also-provide-tools-to-save-lives-20120309-1upwu.html

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CHILD PROTECTION & ONLINE SAFETY
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au: Low reoffending risk found for child porn users
Reoffending rates by child pornography users are far below rates for assaults, drink-driving or property damage, with fewer than one in 10 people who download sexual images of minors later convicted of the crime again.
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/low-reoffending-risk-found-for-child-porn-users-20120310-1urgl.html

au: 1 in 2 Australian kids bullied, study finds
Nearly one in two Australian children report being bullied, a study has found. The Queensland University of Technology study of more than 3,000 students in grades 6 to 12 in nearly 30 schools across Australia found that 'traditional' or face-to-face bullying was twice as prevalent as cyberbullying, according to HealthCanal.com.
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/asia-pacific/120310/bully-bullying-cyberbullying-australia-shools-children-r-rated-films

ictQATAR Conference Promotes Online Safety and Cyber Ethics in the Middle East
The Middle East, including Qatar, is one of the youngest regions in the world, and has had exponential growth in the adoption of the Internet and new technologies.
http://www.ictqatar.qa/en/news-events/news/ictqatar-conference-promotes-online-safety-and-cyber-ethics-middle-east

Software soll Darstellung von Kinderpornografie verhindern
"Blockieren statt zensieren" ist eine h?ufig zu h?rende Devise, wenn es um die Bek?mpfung der Darstellung und Verbreitung von Kinderpornografie auf digitalen Wegen geht.
http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/Software-soll-Darstellung-von-Kinderpornografie-verhindern-1466336.html

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ONLINE TV & MUSIC
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Hotfile's digital locker service targeted by Hollywood
Hollywood is calling on the US courts to force Hotfile, the popular file-sharing site, offline following similar action against Megaupload.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17300225

More Canadian teens pay for music downloads: survey
More Canadian teens aged 12-17 years old are choosing to pay for music downloads, while fewer are downloading music for free, according to a survey released Tuesday.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-03/08/c_131454531.htm

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MOBILE/WIRELESS
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Data Security: Most Finders of Lost Smartphones Are Snoops
Symantec study shows that although half of lost phones are returned, many finders can?t resist poring over sensitive data.
http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-03-08/data-security-most-finders-of-lost-smartphones-are-snoops

Lost phone? There's an 89% chance somebody tried to access data
Losing a smartphone won't just cost you the price of a new phone. A recent study shows that there's a strong likelihood it will cost you your privacy as well.
http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-lost-phone-study-20120309,0,1160236.story

Samsung sues Apple over patents in South Korea [AP]
Samsung Electronics says it has filed a second patent lawsuit against Apple in South Korea, alleging infringement of tablet and smartphone technology.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/samsung-sues-apple-over-patents-in-south-korea/story-e6frgakx-1226294169325

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SPAM
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Stores Smarten Up Amid Spam Flood
Retailers have started to wear out their welcome in customers' email inboxes, forcing stores to rethink their spam strategies.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204571404577253102978140364.html

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ONLINE CRIME & LEGAL
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FBI's 'Sabu' Hacker Was a Model Informant
As soon as he was caught, an influential computer hacker agreed to become a government informant and "literally worked around the clock" to help federal agents nab an elusive collective of alleged cyber criminals who have launched online attacks against companies, governments and individuals.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204603004577269844134620160.html

Hacker, Informant and Party Boy of the Projects
In his Lower East Side apartment, the nights were racket-filled and without end. Neighbors lived with the pounding music and the sound of a pit bull being chased around the living room. The revelry sent scores of calls to the city?s complaint line.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/09/technology/hacker-informant-and-party-boy-of-the-projects.html

au: Online freedoms yet to be tested
The lawyer behind property developer Helen Liu?s case to force three journalists from The Age to reveal their sources says the internet is ?the big news story? in media law.
http://www.afr.com/p/national/legal_affairs/online_freedoms_yet_to_be_tested_9aH1oizX0hnSPGPZn37cDP

au: Issues converge in digital domain
Lawyers in Australia?s telecommunications sector have admitted the pace of technological change driven by the public?s rampant adoption of new devices such as smartphones and tablets is leaving them and regulators playing perpetual catch-up.
http://www.afr.com/p/national/legal_affairs/issues_converge_in_digital_domain_tAKhPYfbY7UNOT49v4cunJ

nz: Internet conman 'not sorry for crimes'
An internet conman dubbed the "modern Artful Dodger" is not sorry for his crimes, say two of his victims.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/6547285/Internet-conman-not-sorry-for-crimes

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SECURITY
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Unreported cyberattacks not just due to reputation concerns
Cybersecurity incidents that are not reported stem not just from wanting to protect a company's image, but also the fact that companies do not have the knowledge or internal policies to properly recognize or deal with cyberattacks, security observer notes.
http://www.zdnetasia.com/unreported-cyberattacks-not-just-due-to-reputation-concerns-62304140.htm

U.S. Report to Warn on Cyberattack Threat From China
China almost certainly would mount a cyberattack on the U.S. in the event of a conflict, and the U.S. has no clear policy to determine how to respond appropriately, a congressional advisory panel is set to warn on Thursday.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203961204577267923890777392.html

Joint ventures by US tech firms with China pose cyberwar risk: report
Should conflict occur, China's cyberwar plans target the U.S., and today's Chinese joint ventures with U.S. manufacturers in hardware, software and telecommunications create a "potential vector" for the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to exploit and compromise, says a report from the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission sent to Capitol Hill today.
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2012/030812-china-cyberwar-risk-257093.html

Report: China's Developing Cyber Skills Pose Threat to U.S. [IDG]
China's strengthening cyber capabilities will complicate U.S. efforts to defend itself against industrial espionage and possible military confrontations in places such as Taiwan, according to a new congressional report released on Thursday.
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/251494/report_chinas_developing_cyber_skills_pose_threat_to_us.html

China cyber capability endangers U.S. forces - report
Chinese cyberwarfare would pose a genuine risk to the U.S. military in a conflict, for instance over Taiwan or disputes in the South China Sea, according to report for the U.S. Congress.
http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/03/08/china-usa-cyberwar-idINDEE8270D820120308

US senators to hear pitch for tougher cyber security
Top U.S. officials are set to push for tougher cyber-security measures to protect the nation's water, electrical and telecommunications grid at a closed-door meeting with senators on Wednesday evening, congressional and White House staffers said.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/03/07/usa-cybersecurity-congress-idUKL2E8E7EKL20120307

F.B.I. Director Warns Congress About Terrorist Hacking
A day after the authorities arrested several hackers from the Anonymous movement, the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Robert S. Mueller III, warned members of Congress that terrorist groups might use hackers to attack the United States.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/08/us/fbi-director-warns-about-terrorist-hacking.html

us: ISPs Object to Cybersecurity Rules [CIO]
House Republicans and senior executives in the telecom industry came out swinging on Wednesday against a forceful government role in overseeing cybersecurity in the private sector.
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/251486/isps_object_to_cybersecurity_rules.html

us: Commentary: The government needs to step up efforts to protect cyber infrastructure
Congress is moving swiftly on legislation aimed at beefing up the nation?s cybersecurity infrastructure ? but even that may not be fast enough.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/the-government-needs-to-step-up-efforts-to-protect-cyber-infrastructure/2012/02/29/gIQABmuL5R_story.html

PCEHR open to hacking, says AusCert 
INDEPENDENT computer emergency response team, AusCERT, has issued a blunt warning that the personally controlled e-health record system will be wide open to hacking.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/government/pcehr-open-to-hacking-says-auscert/story-fn4htb9o-1226294108297

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PRIVACY
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Web giants' consumer privacy strategy faces hard sell
Emboldened by their victory in quashing online piracy legislation, U.S. Internet companies are gearing up for a battle over whether consumers should be able to restrict efforts to gather personal data.
http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/03/10/internet-privacy-idINDEE82902S20120310
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/03/10/us-internet-privacy-idUKBRE82905K20120310

uk: Google's privacy policy 'too vague'
Google's privacy policy is too vague for users to control how their information is shared, according to Britain's data protection boss.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/mar/08/google-privacy-policy-too-vague

Brazil questions Google's new privacy policy
Brazil's Justice Ministry is pressing Google Inc for details about how it handles users' personal information under its new privacy policy, potentially opening a new legal front for the company, already under fire from European regulators.
http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/03/08/google-brazil-idINDEE8270F920120308

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CENSORSHIP
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China's social networks hit by censorship, says study
Chinese censors are actively targeting social media to quash discussion of banned topics, suggests research. The US study gives the most in-depth look at the extent of China's policing of discussions on microblogging sites.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17313793

Internet Freedom in Southeast Asia
Cyber political pundits, bloggers and Facebook activists in Thailand often feel deeply frustrated and annoyed with their lack of liberty to write at will. Yet netizen's frustration with seemingly increasing internet censorship is not unique to Thailand, but rather it's part of the global insurgence of state control over internet freedom.
http://advocacy.globalvoicesonline.org/2012/03/09/internet-freedom-in-southeast-asia/

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GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY
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UN's ITU Could Become Next Internet Freedom Threat, Edward J. Black, President and CEO, Computer and Communications Industry Association
Internet freedom is again under fire for ostensibly noble reasons. After a narrow escape from Congress's SOPA legislation, Internet freedom is in the international crosshairs of a large group of nations, including many of the world's most undemocratic governments, seeking to give themselves control over Internet policy. Their target is the creation of new international legal rules that would allow them to legitimately impose censorship and monitor users' online activities.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/edward-j-black/uns-itu-could-become-next_b_1332768.html

New Resource ? ACTA Facts
In an effort to dispel some of the myths and hyperbole in Europe about ACTA following the outcry against SOPA, several intellectual property rights organizations have teamed up to create ACTAfacts.com. It?s a great resource for factual information and talking points about ACTA.
https://www.markmonitor.com/mmblog/new-resource-acta-facts/

U.S. Warns Apple, Publishers: Justice Department Threatens Lawsuits, Alleging Collusion Over E-Book Pricing
Apple persuaded publishers to change how they price their e-books before the late Steve Jobs introduced the iPad in 2010.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203961204577267831767489216.html

Publishers warned on ebook prices
Five US publishers are being threatened with legal action over the way they set prices for electronic books, reports the Wall Street Journal. The US Department of Justice (DoJ) said the five had conspired to raise the prices of ebooks.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17300074

us: Government Pressuring Publishers to Adjust Pricing Policy on E-Books
The Justice Department, after months of investigation of pricing collusion between Apple and electronic book publishers, is talking with publishing companies about potential settlements and has been threatening a lawsuit, people close to the investigation said on Thursday.
http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/08/government-pressuring-publishers-to-adjust-pricing-policy-on-e-books/

U.S. Justice Department may sue Apple
The U.S. Justice Department has warned Apple and five major U.S. publishers that it plans to sue them, accusing them of colluding to raise the prices of electronic books, a person familiar with the probe said on Thursday.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/03/08/uk-apple-e-books-idUKBRE8270BJ20120308

us: Companies, Activists Debate Future Of Tech Lobbying After Anti-Piracy Fight
Nearly two months after they helped defeat controversial anti-piracy legislation, the tech activists, companies, and media gathered in Texas for the annual South by Southwest conference continued to debate the role they play in Internet policy.
http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2012/03/mozilla-ceo-dont-understand-th.php

nz: Free speech in digital era under spotlight
How well does the law protect citizens from harmful speech in the digital era? The Law Commission has been looking at the issue and is inviting submissions as part of its review of media regulation.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/opinion/perspective/6541789/Free-speech-in-digital-era-under-spotlight

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MISCELLANEOUS
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Dividends Emerge in Pressing Apple Over Working Conditions in China
The American sweatshop opposition movement was born the day we discovered how our Nikes were stitched together. Two decades later, we are discovering how our cherished iPhones are made, giving Apple a ?Nike moment? of its own.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/07/business/dividends-emerge-in-pressing-apple-over-working-conditions-in-china.html

'Turn Off All Electronic Devices:' And What Happens if You Don't
It happens on just about every flight now, say flight attendants. The plane's door closes and it's time to turn off personal electronic devices.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204781804577267304080904804.html
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/wall-street-journal/airlines-face-headache-as-passengers-refuse-to-turn-off-electronic-devices/story-fnay3ubk-1226294637778

Internet Hall of Fame to Recognize Landmark Achievements of Internet Pioneers, Innovators, and Global Leaders [news release]
The Internet Society today announced that in conjunction with its 20th anniversary celebration, it is establishing an annual Internet Hall of Fame program to honor leaders and luminaries who have made significant contributions to the development and advancement of the global Internet.
http://www.internetsociety.org/news/internet-hall-fame-recognize-landmark-achievements-internet-pioneers-innovators-and-global

au: CSIRO in European cloud push
CSIRO has signed up for a European project to design a platform to help the masses of sensor networks communicate through the net.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/cloud-computing/csiro-in-european-cloud-push/story-fn8lu7wm-1226294746089

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TELECOMMUNICATIONS
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NZ slow to substitute mobile use for landlines: 2degrees owner
While US-based investment company Trilogy Partners is encouraged by 2degrees? achievement of a claimed 16 percent mobile market share, it sees the New Zealand market as relatively slow in the substitution of mobile use for landlines.
http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/nz-slow-to-substitute-mobile-use-for-landlines-2degrees-owner

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ARRESTS/COURT CASES FOR ONLINE CHILD PROTECTION
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Global Pedophile Network Broken Up By Italian Police
Italian police have broken up a pedophile network spanning at least 28 countries that used social media websites to swap pornographic images and videos of child abuse.
http://in.reuters.com/article/idINDEE82708P20120308
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/08/global-pedophile-network_n_1331005.html

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(c) David Goldstein 2012



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David Goldstein

email: goldstein_david at 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 Flannery
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