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 *************************************************** The United Nations and the Internet: It's Complicated - A battle is brewing, but the black helicopters are not about to invade by Rebecca Mackinnon http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/08/08/the_united_nations_and_the_internet_it_s_complicated ICANN trademark tech summit confirmed for Brussels in just two weeks http://domainincite.com/10014-icann-trademark-tech-summit-confirmed-for-brussels-in-just-two-weeks Verisign demands 24/7 domain hijacking support http://domainincite.com/9950-verisign-demands-247-domain-hijacking-support Now harder to 'spoof' NZ internet addresses http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/now-harder-spoof-nz-internet-addresses-ck-125316 New Zealand registry deploys security protocol http://www.telecompaper.com/news/new-zealand-registry-deploys-security-protocol US Lawmakers Want Assurance New gTLDs Will Protect Trademarks And Not Break Internet http://www.domainpulse.com/2012/08/08/us-gtlds-protect-trademarks/ Congressmen say new gTLDs need more comments http://domainincite.com/10033-congressmen-say-new-gtlds-need-more-comments New gTLD timetable expected this week http://domainincite.com/9941-new-gtld-timetable-expected-this-week Could domain name .eco be a force for environmental change? http://www.guardian.co.uk/sustainable-business/blog/domain-name-eco-environmental-change us: Presidential campaigns buy up domain names for 'microsites' http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/story/2012-08-07/romney-microsites-domain-names/56863680/1 ********************** GOVERNANCE ********************** The United Nations and the Internet: It's Complicated - A battle is brewing, but the black helicopters are not about to invade by Rebecca Mackinnon On Aug. 2, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution urging the White House to stop an obscure U.N. agency from asserting greater control over the Internet. It is the "consistent and unequivocal policy of the United States," the lawmakers affirmed, "to promote a global Internet free from government control and preserve and advance the successful multistakeholder model that governs the Internet today." http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/08/08/the_united_nations_and_the_internet_it_s_complicated U.N. Internet Regulation a Conspiracy Theory? U.S. Officials Don't Think So Although some have dismissed fears that other countries will use international telecommunications negotiations later this year to hand the United Nations a greater role in governing the Internet, the United States government doesn?t seem to be taking any chances. http://nationaljournal.com/tech/u-n-internet-regulation-a-conspiracy-theory-u-s-officials-don-t-think-so-20120806 Fast Facts on United States Submitting Initial Proposals to World Telecom Conference On August 3, 2012, the United States will submit its first group of proposals to the World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT), which will be held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, December 3-14, 2012. http://www.state.gov/e/eb/rls/fs/2012/195921.htm ********************** DOMAIN NAMES ********************** ********************** - ICANN ********************** Letter from Stacy Burnette, Director, Contractual Compliance, ICANN to Andrei Taame, Name For Name Notice of Termination http://www.icann.org/en/news/correspondence/burnette-to-taame-07aug12-en Letter from Stacy Burnette, Director, Contractual Compliance, ICANN to Karun Jain, Visesh Infotecnics Ltd. d/b/a Signdomains.com Notice of Breach http://www.icann.org/en/news/correspondence/burnette-to-jain-07aug12-en ICANN trademark tech summit confirmed for Brussels in just two weeks ICANN has confirmed that it will hold a technical summit to discuss the forthcoming Trademark Clearinghouse in Brussels less than two weeks from now. http://domainincite.com/10014-icann-trademark-tech-summit-confirmed-for-brussels-in-just-two-weeks April?s ICANN Registry Reports Are Out & .XXX Adds 30,000 Registrations Since December The Registry reports are out for April 2012, and it looks like ICM registry the owner of .XXX extension is up to 134,884 registrations. http://www.thedomains.com/2012/08/08/aprils-icann-registry-reports-are-out-xxx-adds-30000-registrations-since-december/ Tiny Russian registrar gets canned Name For Name Inc, which was given a breach notice last month, is being shut down for basically failing to act as a registrar. http://domainincite.com/10010-tiny-russian-registrar-gets-canned ********************** - ccTLD & gTLD NEWS ********************** Malware security: Switzerland No. 1 worldwide In its fight against malware, SWITCH is demanding that the holders and operators of infected websites remove the malicious code within 24 hours. Thanks to this measure, a total of 1052 Swiss websites have already had the dangerous drive-by code removed from them in 2012. http://www.switch.ch/about/news/2012/malware-080812.html http://www.domainpulse.com/2012/08/09/malware-security-switzerland-no-1-worldwide/ Verisign demands 24/7 domain hijacking support Verisign is causing a bit of a commotion among its registrar channel by demanding 24/7 support for customers whose .com domains have been hijacked. http://domainincite.com/9950-verisign-demands-247-domain-hijacking-support Abstract of the 29th Statistical Report on Internet Development in China I. Basic data: As of the end of December 2011, the scale of Chinese internet users is more than 5 hundred million, to 5.13 hundred million. The newly added internet users over a year are 5,580 ten thousands. The Internet penetration rate stepped up to 38.3% compared with those at the end of last year, increased by 4%. http://www1.cnnic.cn/html/Dir/2012/06/19/6047.htm More Chinese firms turn to Internet amid downturn [Xinhua] An increasing number of Chinese enterprises have taken to the Internet to do business more effectively and efficiently in light of the current economic downturn, according to data from the country's Internet regulator. http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/725495.shtml http://en.ce.cn/Industries/Retailing/201208/08/t20120808_23566119.shtml http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/business/2012-08/07/content_15650318.htm .nl has more DNSSEC domain names than any other TLD SIDN, the company behind .nl, announced today that the Dutch country-code domain now has more DNSSEC-signed domain names than any other domain on the internet. https://www.sidn.nl/en/news/news/article/nl-heeft-wereldwijd-hoogste-aantal-dnssec-domeinnamen/ Now harder to 'spoof' NZ internet addresses An InternetNZ-directed security upgrade has made it harder to 'spoof' a .nz web address ? the popular hacker term for redirecting people from a legitimate address to a fake site. http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/now-harder-spoof-nz-internet-addresses-ck-125316 New Zealand Internet benefits from major technical security deployment New Zealanders will be able to better secure their web presence from today, thanks to a major technical security deployment by InternetNZ subsidiaries .nz Registry Services (NZRS) and the Domain Name Commission (DNCL). http://internetnz.net.nz/news/media-releases/2012/New-Zealand-Internet-benefits-major-technical-security-deployment http://www.domainpulse.com/2012/08/08/new-zealand-dnssec/ New Zealand registry deploys security protocol InternetNZ subsidiaries .nz Registry Services and the Domain Name Commission have deployed a security protocol. http://www.telecompaper.com/news/new-zealand-registry-deploys-security-protocol ********************** - NEW TLDS ********************** US Lawmakers Want Assurance New gTLDs Will Protect Trademarks And Not Break Internet Key members of the US Congress are still raising concerns about ICANN's plan to new gTLDs, writing to the organisation outlining concerns that any new strings introduced will not harm trademark holders and requesting assurance the public will have adequate opportunity to comment. http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=18386 http://www.domainpulse.com/2012/08/08/us-gtlds-protect-trademarks/ http://www.domainnews.com/en/us-lawmakers-want-assurance-new-gtlds-will-protect-trademarks-and-not-break-internet.html Lawmakers Raise New Concerns About New Domain Name Program Nearly six months after the program was launched, key members of Congress are still raising concerns about a plan to introduce hundreds of new Internet addresses into the domain name systems, saying they want fresh assurances that the new strings will not harm trademark holders and that the public has adequate opportunity to comment. http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2012/08/lawmakers-raise-new-concerns-a.php Congressmen say new gTLDs need more comments Senior members of the US Congress have asked ICANN to prove that it?s giving the internet community enough opportunity to comment on its 1,930 new gTLD applications. http://domainincite.com/10033-congressmen-say-new-gtlds-need-more-comments New gTLD timetable expected this week ICANN plans to publish a new timetable for its new gTLD program later this week, according to its latest update. http://domainincite.com/9941-new-gtld-timetable-expected-this-week UN writes to GAC and GNSO on IGO names protection by St?phane Van Gelder As GNSO Chair, I am in receipt today of a letter from the United Nations. The letter, dated 26 July, is also addressed to Heather Dryden, Chair of ICANN?s Governmental Advisory Committee. An excerpt from the letter reads as follows: http://www.netnames.com/blog/2012/08/un-writes-to-gac-and-gnso-on-igo-names-protection/ ICANN expects earliest new gTLDs in Q4 2013 by St?phane Van Gelder ICANN has begun evaluating new gTLD applications and is no longer looking at batching the 1,930 submissions it received as part of the inaugural new gTLD application window which closed on Wednesday 30 May 2012. http://www.netnames.com/blog/2012/08/icann-expects-earliest-new-gtlds-in-q4-2013/ Could domain name .eco be a force for environmental change? Ranked as a top new domain name, will .eco improve corporate sustainability performance or become the digital version of corporate greenwash? http://www.guardian.co.uk/sustainable-business/blog/domain-name-eco-environmental-change ICANN director withdrew gTLD application ICANN director Judith Vasquez applied for a new gTLD but then withdrew the bid at the last minute. http://domainincite.com/9959-icann-director-withdrew-gtld-application Protect your company?s rights in the race to register new gTLDs The eagerly anticipated unveiling of the list of gTLD names (the letters to the right of the dot) was revealed in June by ICANN. http://www.techworld.com.au/article/432875/protect_your_company_rights_race_register_new_gtlds/ Tonight a new gTLD went live Just as people are starting to get seriously stressed about the imminent introduction of new gTLDs, a timely reminder that this is actually the third time ICANN has run a new gTLD program. http://domainincite.com/10005-tonight-a-new-gtld-went-live ********************** - DNS SECURITY ********************** APWG Cybercrime Fighters, University Researchers and ICANN Unite to Set Global Cybercrime Fighting Agenda [news release] APWG?s Fall conference week in Puerto Rico this October will unite industrial and police cybercrime investigators, university researchers and security experts with ICANN in an unprecedented alignment of global thought-leaders and cybercrime responders. http://www.domainpulse.com/2012/08/07/apwg-cybercrime-icann-cybercrime/ http://www.domainnews.com/en/apwg-cybercrime-fighters-university-researchers-and-icann-unite-to-set-global-cybercrime-fighting-agenda.html APWG: eCrime 2012, October 22 - 25, Puerto Rico, US eCrime 2012 is made up of two disctinct programs, the annual General Members Meeting and the eCrime Researchers Summit VII. http://www.antiphishing.org/events/2012_ecrime.html http://ecrimeresearch.org/2012/cfp.html U.S. infrastructure vulnerable to attack If it is left to the politicians, the door to the nation's utilities might be left open. Almost telling terrorists, like in those motel commercials, "We'll leave the light on for you." http://www.networkworld.com/news/2012/080712-insider-infrastructure-261453.html http://www.cio.com/article/713058/U.S._Infrastructure_Vulnerable_to_Attack http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9230047/U.S._infrastructure_vulnerable_to_attack Obama Considering Executive-Branch Action on Cybersecurity President Barack Obama is considering executive-branch action on U.S. cybersecurity after Congress failed to pass legislation to protect national security assets, a White House aide said. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-08-08/obama-considering-executive-branch-action-on-cybersecurity-plan.html White House lobbies for cybersecurity bill amid worries it may stall The Obama administration prodded Congress on Wednesday to pass cybersecurity legislation, but the bill looked increasingly likely to languish until next year as opposition from business and privacy concerns bogged down Senate debate. http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/08/01/usa-security-cyber-idUKL2E8J1JAN20120801 Traffic, mobiles and cyber attacks test Web content delivery: Akamai co-founder Increasing Internet congestion, the proliferation mobile devices and heightened security risks are today?s biggest challenges to delivering Web content, according to Akamai Technologies co-founder Tom Leighton. http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/432856/traffic_mobiles_cyber_attacks_test_web_content_delivery_akamai_co-founder/ http://www.cio.com.au/article/432856/traffic_mobiles_cyber_attacks_test_web_content_delivery_akamai_co-founder/ Editorial: Defenseless against cyberattacks IN THE FINAL WEEKS before Congress left for its August break, Sens. Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), took a gamble. They watered down their own cybersecurity legislation in hopes of winning passage. But last week on the Senate floor, their compromise died. The sponsors could muster only 52 votes, short of the 60 needed. http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/defenseless-against-cyberattacks/2012/08/06/cff868d2-dffc-11e1-a421-8bf0f0e5aa11_story.html CYBER SABOTAGE: Basic Aussie services under threat AUSTRALIA'S gas, electricity, water and transport computer systems are 20 years out of date and falling victim to cyber attacks daily, IT security experts say. http://www.news.com.au/technology/cyber-sabotage-basic-aussie-services-under-threat/story-e6frfro0-1226445039138 ********************** - DOMAIN DISPUTES ********************** A One Person UDRP Panel Comes To A Spilt Decision On 106 Domains Brought By Match.com Match.com just won a UDRP on 104 of 106 domain names owned by one party, by a ?split decision?. http://www.thedomains.com/2012/08/06/a-one-person-udrp-panelist-comes-to-a-spilt-decision-on-106-domains-brought-by-match-com/ Mrsupplement Australia Pty Limited and Mrsupplement.com.au Pty Limited v. Tony Hatzeandreou - Case No. DAU2012-0018 1. The Parties: The Complainants are Mrsupplement Australia Pty Limited and Mrsupplement.com.au Pty Limited of Seven Hills, New South Wales, Australia represented by Banki Haddock Fiora, Australia. The Respondent is Tony Hatzeandreou of Lakemba, New South Wales, Australia represented by Axis Legal Pty Limited, Australia. 2. The Domain Name and Registrar: The disputed domain name <mrsupps.com.au> (the ?Disputed Domain Name?) is registered with PlanetDomain Pty Ltd (the ?Registrar?). ... 7. Decision: For all the foregoing reasons, the Complaint is denied. http://www.wipo.int/amc/en/domains/search/text.jsp?case=DAU2012-0018 Freelife International Holdings, LLC and Freelife International Australia Pty Ltd. v. Nick Nastevski dba Health Doctor - Case No. DAU2012-0017 1. The Parties: The Complainants are Freelife International Holdings, LLC (the ?First Complainant?) and Freelife International Australia Pty Ltd. (the ?Second Complainant?) of Phoenix, Arizona, United States of America and Cannon Hill, Australia, respectively, represented by Christopher A. Reid, United States of America. The Respondent is Nick Nastevski dba Health Doctor of Templestowe, Victoria, Australia. 2. The Domain Names and Registrar: The disputed domain names <chi3.com.au>, et al. ... 7. Decision: For all the foregoing reasons, in accordance with Paragraphs 4(i) of the Policy and 15 of the Rules, the Panel orders that the Domain Names <chi3.com.au>, <gochiaustralia.com.au>, <go-chi.com.au>, <gochi.com.au>, <gochi-juice.com.au>, <gochijuice.com.au>, <gochi.net.au>, <gochishop.com.au>, <gojikids.com.au>, <himalayangojijuice.com.au>, <tai-slim.com.au>, <taislimskinnys.com.au> be transferred to the Complainant. http://www.wipo.int/amc/en/domains/search/text.jsp?case=DAU2012-0017 ********************** - MISCELLANEOUS ********************** us: Presidential campaigns buy up domain names for 'microsites' There is no website at theapologistinchief.com or agingrockstar2012.com yet, but these are two of dozens of Web addresses Mitt Romney's presidential campaign has purchased and could use to tweak President Obama. http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/story/2012-08-07/romney-microsites-domain-names/56863680/1 Industry Veteran Victor Pitts Joins Above.com as Director of Domain Services Victor Pitts, one of the most widely-known and well-liked veterans in the domain industry, has joined fast-growing domain registrar Above.com as Director of Domain Services. http://www.dnjournal.com/archive/lowdown/2012/dailyposts/20120807-2.htm Go Daddy opens Indian call center ? a portent? When newly installed CEO Warren Adelman abruptly quit and took a back-seat advisory role at the company last week, my gut reaction was that all is not well at Go Daddy. http://domainincite.com/10025-go-daddy-opens-indian-call-center-a-portent Go Daddy India Now Supports 120,000 Customers, Up 52 Percent Since January Web hosting provider Go Daddy announced on Wednesday that it has grown its customer base in India by 52 percent since January. http://www.thewhir.com/web-hosting-news/go-daddy-india-now-supports-120000-customers-up-52-percent-since-january ********************** - WEBHOSTING ********************** Why domain parking companies get named on ?bad host? lists Last October Oversee.net was named the ?#1 Bad Host? by HostExploit, a group that compiles data about malware and other nefarious things on the web. http://domainnamewire.com/2012/08/07/why-domain-parking-companies-get-named-on-bad-host-lists/ ********************** - DOMAINING & AFTERMARKET ********************** NameMedia launches discounted domain marketplace DirectDomains.com DirectDomainsNameMedia has launched a new domain name marketplace dedicated solely to lower cost domains. http://domainnamewire.com/2012/08/06/namemedia-launches-discounted-domain-marketplace-directdomains-com/ ********************** INTERNET USE ********************** Kindle ebook sales have overtaken print, says Amazon Amazon.co.uk has said that sales of its Kindle ebooks are now outstripping those of printed books. http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/aug/06/amazon-kindle-ebook-sales-overtake-print Abstract of the 29th Statistical Report on Internet Development in China I. Basic data: As of the end of December 2011, the scale of Chinese internet users is more than 5 hundred million, to 5.13 hundred million. The newly added internet users over a year are 5,580 ten thousands. The Internet penetration rate stepped up to 38.3% compared with those at the end of last year, increased by 4%. http://www1.cnnic.cn/html/Dir/2012/06/19/6047.htm Google to include personal email in web search results Google on Wednesday started to try a new search feature which would enable its web search engine results to integrate information from users' personal email accounts such as Gmail. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/sci/2012-08/09/c_131771453.htm ********************** SOCIAL NETWORKING ********************** ACLU and Facebook Defend the Right to 'Like' The right to "like" something on Facebook is protected under the First Amendment, say the American Civil Liberties Union and Facebook. http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2012/08/aclu-and-facebook-defend-the-r.php uk: Young people need guidance to cope with the threats posed by social media Professionals must be trained to deal with the social problems young people can come up against when using today's technology http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/aug/07/young-people-guidance-threats-social-media au: Contents removed from racist Facebook page The creators of a racist Aboriginal Memes Facebook page - described as a potential breach of Australia?s Racial Discrimination Act - have removed all of the controversial images. http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/contents-removed-from-racist-facebook--page-20120808-23tr1.html http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/contents-removed-from-racist-facebook--page-20120808-23tr1.html ********************************* CHILD PROTECTION & ONLINE SAFETY ********************************* Mobile pornography concerns among Pacific youth The United Nations has warned there's growing evidence teenagers in the Pacific are making and accessing mobile phone pornography. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-08-08/an-mobile-pornography-concerns-among-pacific-youth/4184304 ********************** ONLINE TV & MUSIC ********************** French illegal downloads agency Hadopi may be abolished The French Government is set to shut down its police service into illegal downloads, after the new government described the service as "expensive", "disproportionate" and failing to achieve its aims. http://www.cnet.com.au/french-illegal-downloads-agency-hadopi-may-be-abolished-339341011.htm ********************** MOBILE/WIRELESS ********************** Apple's Secrets Revealed at Trial Apple Inc., one of the world's most secretive companies, is finding there's a price in pushing its grievances against rival Samsung Electronics Co. in federal court: disclosure. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443687504577567421840745452.html At Its Trial, Apple Spills Some Secrets Back in the early 1930s, a magician by the name of Horace Goldin went to court to defend his signature illusion: sawing a woman in half. ... I thought about Mr. Goldin last week as I sat in a federal courtroom here in the capital city of Silicon Valley. I listened to evidence presented in a patent lawsuit that Apple has brought against Samsung Electronics. Apple claims that Samsung copied its designs for the iPhone and the iPad. http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/05/apple-patent-fight-with-samsung-spills-some-iphone-and-ipad-secrets-disruptions/ us: Democrats Urge FCC to Update Cell Phone Radiation Standards Top Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Tuesday called on the Federal Communications Commission to update its cell phone testing and radiation-emission standards to better reflect the latest research. http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2012/08/democrats-urge-fcc-to-update-c.php us: Kucinich Calls For Cellphone Radiation Warning Labels Links between cellphone use and cancer are still a subject of debate, but Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, wants phones to sport labels warning of potential danger. http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2012/08/kucinich-calls-for-cellphone-r.php IDC: Android continues to rule the smartphone world in Q2 2012 Last week Zack wrote about the IDC figures for mobile phone vendors and today IDC issued their report on smartphone mobile operating systems. The IDC figures closely match those from Canalys reported last week with Android clearly dominating the smartphone market while Apple remains solidly in second place. http://www.zdnet.com/idc-android-continues-to-rule-the-smartphone-world-in-q2-2012-7000002340/ Android extends smartphone dominance over iPhone [AP] Got an iPhone? You're in the minority. There were four Android phones for every iPhone shipped in the second quarter, research firm IDC said today. That's up from a ratio of 2.5 to 1 in the same period last year. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10825688 http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-technology/android-extends-dominance-in-smartphones-worldwide-20120809-23v2j.html http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/android-extends-dominance-in-smartphones-worldwide-20120809-23v2j.html Aussies online on phone - even at home [AAP] Australians are increasingly reaching for mobile devices to access the internet, even when they're at home. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/technology/aussies-online-by-phone-even-at-home/story-fn7celvh-1226444437055 ********************** ONLINE CRIME & LEGAL ********************** au: Federal Privacy Commissioner investigating AAPT data breach ISP AAPT, which was the target of a data breach by hacktivist group, Anonymous, is now under the spotlight of Federal Privacy Commissioner, Timothy Pilgrim. http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/432845/federal_privacy_commissioner_investigating_aapt_data_breach/ ********************** SECURITY ********************** U.S. infrastructure vulnerable to attack If it is left to the politicians, the door to the nation's utilities might be left open. Almost telling terrorists, like in those motel commercials, "We'll leave the light on for you." http://www.networkworld.com/news/2012/080712-insider-infrastructure-261453.html http://www.cio.com/article/713058/U.S._Infrastructure_Vulnerable_to_Attack http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9230047/U.S._infrastructure_vulnerable_to_attack Obama Considering Executive-Branch Action on Cybersecurity President Barack Obama is considering executive-branch action on U.S. cybersecurity after Congress failed to pass legislation to protect national security assets, a White House aide said. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-08-08/obama-considering-executive-branch-action-on-cybersecurity-plan.html White House lobbies for cybersecurity bill amid worries it may stall The Obama administration prodded Congress on Wednesday to pass cybersecurity legislation, but the bill looked increasingly likely to languish until next year as opposition from business and privacy concerns bogged down Senate debate. http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/08/01/usa-security-cyber-idUKL2E8J1JAN20120801 Traffic, mobiles and cyber attacks test Web content delivery: Akamai co-founder Increasing Internet congestion, the proliferation mobile devices and heightened security risks are today?s biggest challenges to delivering Web content, according to Akamai Technologies co-founder Tom Leighton. http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/432856/traffic_mobiles_cyber_attacks_test_web_content_delivery_akamai_co-founder/ http://www.cio.com.au/article/432856/traffic_mobiles_cyber_attacks_test_web_content_delivery_akamai_co-founder/ Editorial: Defenseless against cyberattacks IN THE FINAL WEEKS before Congress left for its August break, Sens. Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), took a gamble. They watered down their own cybersecurity legislation in hopes of winning passage. But last week on the Senate floor, their compromise died. The sponsors could muster only 52 votes, short of the 60 needed. http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/defenseless-against-cyberattacks/2012/08/06/cff868d2-dffc-11e1-a421-8bf0f0e5aa11_story.html CYBER SABOTAGE: Basic Aussie services under threat AUSTRALIA'S gas, electricity, water and transport computer systems are 20 years out of date and falling victim to cyber attacks daily, IT security experts say. http://www.news.com.au/technology/cyber-sabotage-basic-aussie-services-under-threat/story-e6frfro0-1226445039138 ********************** PRIVACY ********************** Google failed to delete Australians' private info Google did not destroy the personal information it hoovered up from Australian wi-fi networks while collecting images for its Street View service, despite promising over a year ago that it had been deleted. http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/google-failed-to-delete-australians-private-info-20120808-23t6p.html http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/google-failed-to-delete-australians-private-info-20120808-23t6p.html Privacy Commissioner asks Google to delete Street View data The Commissioner has asked Google to immediately destroy the data it had inadvertently collected via its Street View cars up until 2010. It also wants Google to engage an independent third party to verify the data's destruction and to conduct a further audit to ensure that no other data remains in the company's possession. http://www.zdnet.com/au/privacy-commissioner-asks-google-to-delete-street-view-data-7000002301/ ********************** CENSORSHIP ********************** Communications Data Bill: Technology is making dystopia not just possible, but cheap Wide-eyed internet visionaries told us technology would free its users from the iron grip of states, with the internet blind to borders and not respecting the dictats of bureaucrats. Instead technology is making dystopia not just possible, but cheap. Unthinkingly we?re sending our most private data across the internet thinking it a private space. Exploiting this weakness, Western technology companies have spotted a market for surveillance equipment that allows governments to hoover up data ? and use it to spy on their citizens. Much of this technology has been exported to authoritarian states, but as we are discovering, if you allow British firms to flout human rights abroad, the rot begins to set in at home. http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/08/07/communications-data-bill-technology-is-making-dystopia-not-just-possible-but-cheap/ Researchers fight censorship on China's Weibo Sina Weibo, a Chinese micro-blogging site that works as a substitute for Twitter, has made it easier for people to share information online. But the site is often the target of government censorship. http://www.aljazeera.com/video/asia-pacific/2012/08/20128712748216640.html Controlling the web: Are US authorities increasingly trying to limit user freedom on the internet in the name of national security? In January 2012, two controversial pieces of legislation were making their way through the US Congress. SOPA, the Stop Online Piracy Act, and PIPA, the Protect Intellectual Property Act, were meant to crack down on the illegal sharing of digital media. The bills were drafted on request of the content industry, Hollywood studios and major record labels. http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/faultlines/2012/08/20128674949935186.html ************************** GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY ************************** New data protection law should cover search engines and social networks says EU committee Search engines, social networks and certain cloud computing services should be brought within the scope of the forthcoming European data protection reforms, according to an EU consultative body. http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2012/august/new-data-protection-law-should-cover-search-engines-and-social-networks-says-eu-committee-/ ********************** MISCELLANEOUS ********************** Google's UK tax bill: ?6m for a year when it made ?395m Google's UK subsidiary will pay ?6m in tax on ?395m in revenue for last year ? a tally likely to revive criticism over how much the tech giant contributes to the UK's coffers. http://www.zdnet.com/uk/googles-uk-tax-bill-6m-for-a-year-when-it-made-395m-7000002319/ Singapore should 'accelerate' online citizen engagement Singapore "relatively advanced" in engaging citizens online which lays ground for it to push adoption of social business to wider group of citizens and communities. http://www.zdnet.com/sg/spore-should-accelerate-online-citizen-engagement-7000002170/ NZ crowd funding site goes global The designers of a new crowd-funding website say theirs is the first to allow New Zealanders to share their ideas with a global audience. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10825460 Agreeing to be bound by ICC Rules excludes right to appeal under domestic law, Singapore court rules Parties who have agreed to submit disputes to arbitration under the Rules of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC Rules) lose their right to appeal points of law to the Singapore court system, a judge has said. http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2012/august/agreeing-to-be-bound-by-icc-rules-excludes-right-to-appeal-under-domestic-law-singapore-court-rules/ ********************** TELECOMMUNICATIONS ********************** Telecoms tipped to take 10 percent of global energy Alcatel-Lucent is calling for urgent action to improve the energy efficiency of telecommunications networks amid predictions that, on current projections, the Internet could consume as much as 10 percent of global energy supply by 2020. http://www.itwire.com/it-industry-news/strategy/56094-telecoms-tipped-to-take-10-percent-of-global-energy au: $3b rise in bill to bring households up to speed The cost of the nation's biggest infrastructure project has blown out by $2.9 billion over the next 10 years and the deadline pushed back by six months. http://www.smh.com.au/it-pro/government-it/3b-rise-in-bill-to-bring-households-up-to-speed-20120808-23ulr.html nz: Telco commissioner cock-up There was some irony last month when newly appointed telecommunications commissioner Dr Stephen Gale performed his first regulatory act. Ironic because he was doing something not in his job description - at least not in the job description as it was advertised in March, which was five years out of date. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10825142 --------- David Goldstein email: david at goldsteinreport.com 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 Thu Aug 09 2012 - 00:40:39 UTC
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