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The domain name news is supported by auDA

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ICANN Whois Privacy/Proxy Abuse Study Findings Webinar Invitation
<http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-27sep13-en.htm>

Final Community Priority Evaluation Guidelines Published
<http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/announcements-and-media/announcement-27sep13-en>

Recalibrating Strategies
<http://www.gtldstrategy.com/ongoing-strategies/recalibrating-strategies>

New gTLD Registration Strategies: Preparing for the Inevitable
<https://www.markmonitor.com/mmblog/new-gtld-registration-strategies-preparing-for-the-inevitable/>


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GOVERNANCE
**********************
At UN, Estonian President stresses Internet governance in development
In his speech to the United Nations General Assembly today, the President of Estonia highlighted the use of modern information and communication technologies (ICT) to drive development and the importance of international law to preserve Internet freedom while protecting citizens from cyber crime.
<http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=46000>

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DOMAIN NAMES
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**********************
 - REPORTS & RESEARCH PAPERS
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Domain Name Dispute Regulation: Comparative Analysis by Anoop Kumar, National Academy of Legal Studies and Research
Abstract: The 21st century is being nourished in the shadow of a borderless system, known as internet. It has been beneficial to all in every walk of their lives. If we have to send a letter, we do not move to the nearby post-office, rather switch on our computer and log into our email to send the mail. We do not bother to rush to the railway or airport agents to book our tickets; rather we get it booked through internet. In a nutshell, internet has revolutionised the system of our day-to-day lives and communications world like nothing before. It has acquired a significant place in our lives.
<http://ssrn.com/abstract=2311163>

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 - ICANN
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ICANN Whois Privacy/Proxy Abuse Study Findings Webinar Invitation
You are invited to participate in a webinar about the recently released Whois Privacy/Proxy Abuse Study, conducted for ICANN by the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) in the United Kingdom. This study has now been published for public comment, and community feedback is being invited in order to assist ICANN with evaluating potential changes to Whois policy and the use of privacy/proxy services.
<http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-27sep13-en.htm>

Final Community Priority Evaluation Guidelines Published
In advance of Community Priority Evaluation (CPE) commencing, ICANN has published final CPE Evaluation Guidelines to ensure quality, consistency and transparency in the evaluation process.
<http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/announcements-and-media/announcement-27sep13-en>

Craig Schwartz, Coordinator | Community TLD Applicant Group, to Christine Willett
Community Applications
<http://www.icann.org/en/news/correspondence/schwartz-to-willett-25sep13-en>

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 - ccTLD & gTLD NEWS
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.CO to launch eight European languages as IDN in October
The .CO Registry is delighted to reveal the global launch of the European Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs) for the .CO namespace.
<http://www.go.co/blog/2013/09/26/co-to-launch-eight-european-languages-as-idn-in-october/>

.eu for residents in Norway
EURid is waiting on an official communication from the European Commission regarding the eligibility of residents, companies and organisations based in the European Economic Area (EEA) countries of Iceland, Lichtenstein and Norway to register .eu domain names.
<http://www.eurid.eu/en/news/sep-2013/eu-residents-norway>

.eu to be opened for Norwegian holders
As part of the EEA Agreement, Norwegian companies, organizations and individuals will be allowed to register domain names within .eu without having to register a company or having an address in an EU member country.
<http://www.norid.no/nytt/eu-apnes.en.html>

.nz Reviews - Authorisation of Registrars; Privacy; Registering, Managing and Cancelling Domain Names Policies
As part of the ongoing review of .nz policies, two policies are now being reviewed. Along with these reviews, an amendment is also being proposed to clarify a clause in a third policy.
<http://dnc.org.nz/reviews_AOR_PRI_RMC>

sx: Evolution of the Internet Seminar Celebration
To celebrate the Evolution of the Internet Seminar, SX Registry is honored to offer its participating Registrars a 50% discount on first year registrations of all new .SX domain names registered.
<http://www.registry.sx/news>

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 - NEW TLDS
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As Trademark Protection in New gTLDs Becomes Increasingly Critical to Brand Owners, Trademark Clearinghouse Agent FairWinds Educates Brands on TMCH Services
FairWinds Partners, a domain name consulting firm, is working to help legal, IT and marketing professionals better understand and use the Trademark Clearinghouse (TMCH) as the first new gTLDs get ready to launch over the next couple of months.
<http://www.fairwindspartners.com/Our-Resources/Press-Releases/TMCH-Agent-Services/>

CALL TO ACTION: Prepare for New gTLDs
You know how your mother doesn?t understand this business about new TLDs? Now is the time to explain it to her carefully because the web is about to get a major upgrade.
<http://www.gtldstrategy.com/ongoing-strategies/call-to-action-prepare-for-new-gtlds>

Recalibrating Strategies
Brands that were expecting International Domain Name (IDN) gTLDs to launch first, giving brands some extra time to make decisions about their Internet strategies, should sit up and take notice: it looks like English-language gTLDs may be the first to hit the Internet later this year.
<http://www.gtldstrategy.com/ongoing-strategies/recalibrating-strategies>

New gTLD Registration Strategies: Preparing for the Inevitable
As we draw closer to the first new gTLD registry launch, many companies are beginning the arduous task of developing their new gTLD registration and blocking strategies. And after speaking with dozens of clients, I can tell you that the planned approaches are ranging from very minimal registration and blocking strategies for one or two core brands, all the way through to registrations of multiple brands in every single new gTLD registry.
<https://www.markmonitor.com/mmblog/new-gtld-registration-strategies-preparing-for-the-inevitable/>

Is the Risk Real With the New gTLD Program? by St?phane Van Gelder
It's late in the new gTLD day and the program looks to be inching ever closer to the finish line. Yet last minute hiccups seem to be a recurring theme for this ambitious project to expand the Internet namespace far beyond the 300 odd active TLDs in existence today (counting generics and country codes). A drive for growth which is already underway, with 63 gTLD contracts now signed as of mid September... But will those users find themselves at greater risk because of this namespace expansion? That's what several parties have been asking in recent months. more?
<http://www.circleid.com/posts/20130926_is_the_risk_real_with_new_gtld_program/>

The Maturing Domain Industry by St?phane Van Gelder
Day one of the Digital Marketing and gTLD Strategy congress is happening in London today. As we inch ever closer to new gTLDs actually launching on the Internet, business models and marketing approaches are becoming clearer and better defined. This was evident in today's presentations and workshops, with applicants and current TLD operators alike showing much greater depth of thought into how these namespaces might actually be of use to Internet users.
<http://www.circleid.com/posts/20130926_the_maturing_domain_industry/>

Interbrand gives tips on building gTLDs
?Inviting customers in? was one of several practical tips given to applicants for .brand gTLDs at an industry event in London.
<http://www.worldipreview.com/news/interbrand-gives-tips-on-building-gtlds>

New gTLDs can jump hurdles to succeed ? survey
New gTLDs will face several hurdles when they launch but will eventually succeed, a survey has found.
<http://www.worldipreview.com/news/new-gtlds-can-jump-hurdles-to-succeed-survey>

Google to "aggressively" launch .brand gTLDs
Google plans to market its branded gTLDs "as quickly as we can", company representative Hal Bailey told an industry event in London.
<http://www.worldipreview.com/news/google-to-aggressively-launch-brand-gtlds>

Donuts launches domain blocking tool
The leading applicant for new gTLDs, Donuts Inc, has launched a new mechanism for protecting trademark rights.
<http://www.worldipreview.com/news/donuts-launches-domain-blocking-tool>

NetNames conference: how to make the most of a new gTLD
Attendees at a conference on the new gTLD system have been encouraged to take full advantage, with experts claiming the impending launch signified a ?re-setting? of the internet.
<http://www.worldipreview.com/news/netnames-conference-how-to-make-the-most-of-a-new-gtld>

Marques 2013: why brands applied for gTLDs
Attendees at the Marques annual conference in Monte Carlo heard some of the reasons behind .brand gTLD applications and what the domains will be used for.
<http://www.worldipreview.com/news/marques-2013-why-brands-applied-for-gtlds>

With launches looming, gTLD applicants expand on their plans [registration]
For a long time, gTLD applicants have kept their cards close to their chest, with application documents providing the sole clue as to their intentions. Over the past week, applicants have been more forthcoming about their motivations for applying and how they will position their new online offerings.
<http://www.worldtrademarkreview.com/daily/detail.aspx?g=1d83f231-34bd-4319-9256-3cb2623c94a5>

Be one of the First Domain Names to Use the .paris gTLD
Paris City Hall has launched two calls for proposals to select the first 100 domain names to use the .paris gTLD
<http://www.afnic.fr/en/about-afnic/news/general-news/7260/show/be-one-of-the-first-domain-names-to-use-the-paris-gtld.html>

Samsung signs the first dot-brand gTLD contract
Samsung has become the first company to sign a Registry Agreement for a dot-brand gTLD.
<http://domainincite.com/14565-samsung-signs-the-first-dot-brand-gtld-contract>

Kiwi domain is almost ready to join the dots
Tim Johnson was living in Canada when he got a taste for bobsledding. Fast and frightening, his choice of sport may have prepared him well for the business world. But the company Johnson heads up and has a significant shareholding in, Dot Kiwi, has been on a slow burn since Johnson first had the idea for a .kiwi domain name about two-and-half years ago.
<http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/small-business/9220370/Kiwi-domain-is-almost-ready-to-join-the-dots>

Call For Innovative Proposals To Be First .PARIS Domains
The applicant for the .paris TLD has asked for ideas from those wanting to be the first registrants of .paris domains.
<http://www.domainpulse.com/2013/09/28/innovative-proposals-first-paris-domains/>

Calculators at the ready? Donuts' gTLDs DPML launches, likely costs emerge
Last week WTR reported on Donuts? plans to operate a Domain Protected Marks List (DPML) in the new gTLD strings it runs. The largest investor applicant in new gTLDs, having initially bid for 307 strings, the company has now officially launched its offering, which is designed to enable mark owners to block trademarks across multiple strings for one fee.
<http://www.worldtrademarkreview.com/daily/detail.aspx?g=a027239e-252e-4d6c-b999-37b6a9bdb131>

Can gTLD / nTLD Pre Registration Lists Help You Find Good Domain Names?
With the new TLDs coming soon(ish), domain registrars like 101 Domain, 1&1, Name.com, and others have been taking pre-reservations. While these are non-binding, it gives the registrars and TLD applicants some decent data about what the demand will be like when these TLDs come on the market. I wonder if this data would be helpful to domain investors today who want to find domain names that will be in demand in the future.
<http://www.elliotsblog.com/can-gtld-pre-registration-lists-help-you-find-good-domain-names-8166>

Crocker to speak at second gTLD collisions summit
ICANN chair Steve Crocker is among a packed line-up of speakers for an event on Tuesday that will address the potential security risks of name collisions in the new gTLD program.
<http://domainincite.com/14569-crocker-to-speak-at-second-gtld-collisions-summit>

Authentic Web Partners With Tucows To Serve The .Brand Registry Market [news release]
Authentic Web Inc., a platform and services company serving the new .brand registry market, announced today it has selected leading wholesale domain name registrar Tucows Inc. as its back-end registrar systems partner.
<http://www.domainnews.com/authentic-web-partners-with-tucows-to-serve-the-brand-registry-market.html>
<http://www.domainpulse.com/2013/09/27/authentic-web-partners-with-tucows-to-serve-the-brand-registry-market/>

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 - DNS SECURITY
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Keep Your Pants On: Governments Want Suspenders for Secure Routing by Brenden Kuerbis
The difficulty of applying a hierarchically organized PKI to the decentralized world of Internet routing is being fully exposed in a new Internet-draft. The document represents a rational response to an RPKI that closely ties address resources to a handful of Internet governance institutions, nicely illustrates how governments and national security policy are influencing Internet security, and portends substantial costs for network operators and beyond if adopted widely more?
<http://www.internetgovernance.org/2013/09/24/keep-your-pants-on-governments-want-suspenders-for-secure-routing/>

UK developing offensive cyber war capability
Defence secretary sees cyber-strikes as ?mainstream military activity?
<http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/9ac6ede6-28fd-11e3-ab62-00144feab7de.html>

Kaspersky: ?Hit and Run? Cyber-Espionage Hackers Emerge
Cyber-security researchers say they uncovered a small group of hackers most likely from China that has been launching precise ?hit and run? missions against targets ranging from the Japanese parliament to a Korean electronics maker.
<http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2013/09/26/kaspersky-hit-and-run-cyber-espionage-hackers-emerge/>

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 - DOMAIN DISPUTES
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uk: Paramount Pictures strips Great Chesterford businessman of domain name in legal battle
A businessman has had his internet domain name stripped from him by Hollywood giants Paramount Pictures free of charge.
<http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Cambridge/Paramount-Pictures-strips-Great-Chesterford-businesman-of-internet-domain-name-in-legal-battle-20130927121019.htm>

au: Beachbody, LLC v. Pan, Wei Hong - Case No. DAU2013-0020
1. The Parties: The Complainant is Beachbody, LLC of Santa Monica, California, United States of America represented by Cozen O'Connor, United States of America. The Respondent is Pan, Wei Hong of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. 2. The Domain Name and Registrar: The disputed domain name <beachbodyfitness.net.au> is registered with Crazy Domains FZ-LLC.
<http://www.wipo.int/amc/en/domains/search/text.jsp?case=DAU2013-0020>

au: EnergyAustralia Pty Ltd. v. Free Energy Australia Pty Ltd - Case No. DAU2013-0019
1. The Parties: The Complainant is EnergyAustralia Pty Ltd. of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, represented by Ashurst, Australia. The Respondent is Free Energy Australia Pty Ltd. of South Melbourne, Victoria, Australia and The Gap, Queensland, Australia. 2. The Domain Name and Registrar: The disputed domain name <freeenergyaustralia.net.au> (the ?Disputed Domain Name?) is registered with Crazy Domains Pty Ltd.
<http://www.wipo.int/amc/en/domains/search/text.jsp?case=DAU2013-0019>

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 - IPv4/IPv6
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IPv6 gathering momentum
We're continuing to use up the Internet's IPv4 addresses, but the next-generation IPv6 is finally beginning to pick up steam in no small part because of 4G smartphones.
<http://www.zdnet.com/ipv6-gathering-momentum-7000021240/>

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 - MISCELLANEOUS
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INTA, It?s An Honor by Philip Corwin
I generally write these posts in the third person because I am speaking for the ICA?s membership. But today I?m going to depart from that style and speak personally.
<http://internetcommerce.org/INTA_Internet_Committee>

6 TLDs for Honduras, East Timor And Multiple Islands Are Now Signed With DNSSEC
We were delighted to learn from Garth Miller, the administrative contact for the .CX TLD, that 6 more TLDs have been signed with DNSSEC and now have DS records in the root zone. This means that people and businesses with domains registered in these TLDs can now receive the higher level of security possible with DNSSEC:
<http://www.internetsociety.org/deploy360/blog/2013/09/6-tlds-for-honduras-east-timor-and-multiple-islands-are-now-signed-with-dnssec/>

Six More ccTLDs Signed With DNSSEC
They may only be some of the smaller ccTLDs around the world, but six more have been signed with DNSSEC and now have DS records in the root zone, according to a post on the ISOC website.
<http://www.domainpulse.com/2013/09/27/six-more-cctlds-signed-with-dnssec/>
<http://www.domainnews.com/six-more-cctlds-signed-with-dnssec.html>

Putting an Estate Value on the Assets Unique to You
MICHAEL JACKSON and J. D. Salinger would seem to have had little in common beyond being famous, reclusive (to different degrees) and the subject of much speculation about their personal lives. But in death the King of Pop and the author of ?The Catcher in the Rye? have become sources of fascination and speculation among estate lawyers and the people charged with putting a price on hard-to-value assets, like royalties that continue paying after they are gone. ... Property like a privately held small business, a big art collection, a share in rental properties or intellectual property like television or movie credits, patents or even Web site domain names are not as easy to value as, say, a stock portfolio.
<http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/28/your-money/putting-an-estate-value-on-the-assets-unique-to-you.html>

Registrar InterNetX Lures New Resellers With Free Professional Domain Management Software
One of the first issues people run into when they get into the domain business is keeping track of and managing the growing number of domains in their portfolios.
<http://www.dnjournal.com/archive/lowdown/2013/dailyposts/20130927.htm>

Web.com Finally Completes Acquisition Of NetworkSolutions.com
According to an email we received tonight it looks like Web.com (WWWW) has finally completed the acquisition of NetworkSolutions.com
<http://www.thedomains.com/2013/09/27/web-com-finally-completes-acquisition-of-networksolutions-com/>

Never Ending Parade of Scammers & Domain Name Hijackers Prompts Rick Schwartz to Expand HallOfShame.com
A couple of weeks ago I told you about Rick Schwartz's new HallOfShame.com website that is shining a light on would be domain thieves who have been found guilty of reverse domain hijacking attempts.
<http://www.dnjournal.com/archive/lowdown/2013/dailyposts/20130926.htm>

CentralNic buys Mex.com. Yourname.Mex.com coming soon?
Mex.comLast month I wrote about an auction at Sedo for Mex.com. The auction closed for 29,111 EUR.
<http://domainnamewire.com/2013/09/26/centralnic-buys-mex-com-yourname-mex-com-coming-soon/>

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 - DOMAINING & AFTERMARKET
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Y.CO Becomes First Luxury Brand to Acquire a Single Letter Domain Name
Y.CO announces its new single letter web address - y.co - today, as the 2013 Monaco Yacht Show gets underway. The purchase of y.co from .CO Internet S.A.S sees the superyacht brokerage and management company become the first luxury brand to migrate to a single letter domain.
<http://press.go.co/60294-y-co-becomes-first-luxury-brand-to-acquire-a-single-letter-domain-name>

ANA Sounds The Alarm: US Tax Proposals Could Kill The Ad Industry & Domain Monetization
Under US tax law, advertisers are allowed to deduct 100% of the amount they spend on advertising on their tax returns.
<http://www.thedomains.com/2013/09/27/ana-sounds-the-alarm-us-tax-proposals-could-kill-the-ad-industry-domain-monetization/>

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REPORTS & RESEARCH PAPERS
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The Internet Economy on the Rise: Progress since the Seoul Declaration
This publication reviews progress made since the 2008 OECD Seoul Declaration for the Future of the Internet Economy and identifies areas for future work. Seven themes are addressed:
<http://www.oecd.org/internet/internet-economy-on-the-rise.htm>

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SOCIAL MEDIA
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Facebook Will Pay More Attention to Feedback on Ads
Facebook is trying to make its ads more relevant ? or at least less annoying.
<http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2013/09/27/facebook-will-pay-more-attention-to-feedback-on-ads/>

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MOBILE/WIRELESS
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Green? ITU wants to standardize eco-ratings for mobile phones
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) wants to introduce a common rating system to help buyers chose phones that are less damaging to the environment
<http://www.zdnet.com/green-itu-wants-to-standardize-eco-ratings-for-mobile-phones-7000021279/>

Industry drives new eco-rating scheme for mobile devices - Experts to propose global scheme to empower consumers [news release]
Experts attending last week?s ITU Green Standards Week have called for a new, globally aligned eco-rating scheme for mobile devices. 
<http://www.itu.int/net/pressoffice/press_releases/2013/40.aspx>

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DIGITAL DIVIDE
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Developing Countries Surge in Mobile Broadband, U.N. Finds
Why are smartphone makers paying so much attention to developing countries? That is where the growth, and the potential for more of it, is concentrated. A new report from the United Nations Broadband Commission demonstrates this in considerable detail.
<http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/09/26/developing-countries-surge-in-mobile-broadband-u-n-finds/>

UN Broadband Commission releases first global report on ?broadband and gender?: 200 million fewer women online - Most promising ?emerging market? could turn out to be women [news release]
A new report released today by the Broadband Commission Working Group on Broadband and Gender reveals a ?significant and pervasive? ?tech gap? in access to information and communication technologies (ICTs). Globally, the report estimates that there are currently 200 million fewer women online than men, and warns that the gap could grow to 350 million within the next three years if action is not taken.
<http://www.itu.int/net/pressoffice/press_releases/2013/37.aspx>

Visually Impaired Turn to Smartphones to See Their World
Luis Perez loves taking photographs. He shoots mostly on an iPhone, snapping gorgeous pictures of sunsets, vintage cars, old buildings and cute puppies. But when he arrives at a photo shoot, people are often startled when he pulls out a long white cane.
<http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/09/29/disruptions-guided-by-touch-screens-blind-turn-to-smartphones-for-sight/>

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ONLINE CRIME & LEGAL
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U.S. judge allows lawsuit against Google over email ads
A federal judge on Thursday refused to dismiss most of a lawsuit against Google Inc over allegations the company improperly scanned the content of customers' emails in order to place ads.
<http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/09/26/uk-google-wiretap-ruling-idUKBRE98P1AU20130926>

au: Is hacking in self-defence legal?
In sport, sometimes the best defence is a good offence, but since hacking is considered illegal, organisations under a cyber attack only have defensive options. Or do they? A legal expert says retaliatory hacking might not be illegal in Australia.
<http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/9225991/Is-hacking-in-self-defence-legal>

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PRIVACY & SURVEILLANCE
**********************
N.S.A. Gathers Data on Social Connections of U.S. Citizens
Since 2010, the National Security Agency has been exploiting its huge collections of data to create sophisticated graphs of some Americans? social connections that can identify their associates, their locations at certain times, their traveling companions and other personal information, according to newly disclosed documents and interviews with officials.
<http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/29/us/nsa-examines-social-networks-of-us-citizens.html>

NSA maps some Americans' social connections, says report
Facebook, Google, and other tech firms apparently aren't the only ones who've been fascinated by the potential of "social graphs" -- maps of people's social connections. The NSA has reportedly been tapping its giant repositories of phone and e-mail data to create complex diagrams of some Americans' interactions, including lists of associates and travel companions; location info; and other personal data.
<http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-57605131-38/nsa-maps-some-americans-social-connections-says-report/>

UK's surveillance laws need overhaul, says former defence secretary
Laws used by Britain's spy agencies to justify mass surveillance and interception techniques must be reviewed to ensure they have kept pace with "incredible changes" in communications, one of the country's foremost intelligence experts has said.
<http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/sep/26/uk-surveillance-laws-need-overhaul>

US intelligence chiefs urge Congress to preserve surveillance programs
US intelligence chiefs used an appearance before Congress on Thursday to urge lawmakers not to allow public anger over the extent of government surveillance to result in changes to the law that would impede them from preventing terrorist attacks.
<http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/26/nsa-surveillance-senate-committee>

U.S. intelligence chiefs open to new surveillance controls
U.S. lawmakers and intelligence chiefs, facing an outcry over the government's collection of personal communications data, said on Thursday they were open to measures tightening oversight of the government's sweeping electronic eavesdropping programs.
<http://in.reuters.com/article/2013/09/26/usa-surveillance-idINDEE98P0F320130926>

us: Senators Push to Preserve N.S.A. Phone Surveillance
The Senate Intelligence Committee appears to be moving toward swift passage of a bill that would ?change but preserve? the once-secret National Security Agency program that is keeping logs of every American?s phone calls, Senator Dianne Feinstein, the California Democrat who leads the panel, said Thursday.
<http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/27/us/politics/senators-push-to-preserve-nsa-phone-surveillance.html>

NSA: Surveillance court says no upper limit on phone records collection [IDG]
A U.S. surveillance court has given the National Security Agency no limit on the number of U.S. telephone records it collects in the name of fighting terrorism, the NSA director said Thursday.
<http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9242728/NSA_Surveillance_court_says_no_upper_limit_on_phone_records_collection>

Sen. Feinstein unveils her own bill to reform the NSA?s spying practices
The movement to change the rules governing the National Security Agency's surveillance activity is picking up steam.
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2013/09/26/sen-feinstein-unveils-her-own-bill-to-reform-the-nsas-spying-practices/>

NSA Trying to Change the Surveillance Narrative
When things go badly in Washington, D.C., when a scandal breaks or damaging leaks begin to surface, there is an established and well-worn playbook that politicians and executives can turn to for solace. There?s a page for every conceivable situation, and it?s that playbook that the National Security Agency and its director, Gen. Keith Alexander, are relying on now as they struggle to win back a bit of the public and political support they?ve lost and keep their tenuous grasp on the collection tools they?ve been employing for more than a decade.
<http://threatpost.com/nsa-trying-to-change-the-surveillance-narrative/102439>

Microsoft gets 37,000 requests for user data in first half of year [IDG]
Judges and police investigators are on track to submit about the same number of requests to Microsoft for end user data this year as they did in 2012, according to figures released Friday.
<http://www.networkworld.com/news/2013/092713-microsoft-received-37000-end-user-data-274304.html>
<http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9242783/Microsoft_gets_37_000_requests_for_user_data_in_first_half_of_year>
<http://www.pcworld.com/article/2050540/microsoft-received-37000-enduser-data-requests-in-first-half-of-year.html>

Australian cops still rank highly for seeking user data from Microsoft
Australia is still one of the top countries when it comes seeking data from Microsoft about the users of its services.
<http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/527782/australian_cops_still_rank_highly_seeking_user_data_from_microsoft/>

When Google Brainstorms, Online World Shudders - Considering Using a 'Super Cookie' to Track Browsing Habits
... Google is considering using anonymous identifiers to track consumers' browsing habits online. This technology could eventually take the place of the controversial "cookies" that marketing outfits now plant on our computers to track where we go on the Web and then pitch us related products.
<http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304795804579099463542805166.html>

Internet security: 10 ways to keep your personal data safe from online snoopers
The internet has changed our lives in countless positive ways, but it has a dark side. Personal privacy has been lost, leaving you at risk from shady individuals, companies and security agencies. But there are steps you can take to limit your exposure
<http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/sep/16/10-ways-keep-personal-data-safe>

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GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY
**************************
French watchdog barks at Google over missed deadline on privacy policy
France's data-protection watchdog warned on Friday that it will impose sanctions against Google, after the company missed a three-month deadline to adjust its privacy policy.
<http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/sep/27/google-privacy-policy-france-watchdog-cnil>

F.T.C. Votes for Inquiry Into Patent Businesses
Stepping into a volatile debate in the technology sector, the Federal Trade Commission on Friday said it would use its subpoena power to begin an investigation of so-called patent trolls, businesses whose primary purpose is to stockpile patents and use them to sue other companies.
<http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/28/business/ftc-targets-patent-companies.html>

Troll-Killing Patent Reform One Step Closer
Patent reform is heating up in Congress. Today House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte released a second discussion draft aimed at preventing abusive patent troll litigation. Chairman Goodlatte has suggested he will move quickly to hold a hearing and committee vote on this legislation.
<https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2013/09/troll-killing-patent-reform-one-step-closer>

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uk: Broadband from the bell tower: the church that became an internet hub
St Andrew's church in Paull, East Yorkshire, which has a new community broadband provision. Fed up with inadequate broadband, an enterprising father and son installed a transmitter on St Andrew's church in Paull
<http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/sep/29/broadband-bell-tower-st-andrews-church-paull>