Hi all, There is an extraordinary amount of coverage of ICANN's approval of IDNs last week. In WordPad the file size is about half a megabyte in all languages. So if anyone is keen to see it ALL, send me an email and I'll forward it on. As usual, 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. Cheers David *************************************************** The domain name news is supported by auDA *************************************************** Celebrating 40 years of the net http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8331253.stm ICANN Bringing the Languages of the World to the Global Internet http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-30oct09-en.htm Internet addresses set for change http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8333194.stm Net Addresses Can Use New Scripts http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/31/technology/31net.html Web addresses to get non-Latin characters http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/oct/30/internet-non-latin-characters au: NetAlliance - acqusition of domain names by registrars and their related entities http://www.auda.org.au/news-archive/auda-30102009/ au: Latest update on Bottle Domains http://www.auda.org.au/news-archive/auda-29102009/ AusRegistry International to provide Domain Name Registry Services for .nr http://ausregistry.com/news-nr.php AusRegistry Adds .NR ccTLD to its Stable http://www.domainpulse.com/2009/10/23/ausregistry-dotnr/ nz: Consultation on Second Level Domains Policy Review http://dnc.org.nz/2LD-review09 UK police smooth over rift with Internet registry [IDG] http://www.computerworlduk.com/management/online/isp/news/index.cfm?newsid=17363 Reports: Cyberattacks traced to NKorea http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/reports-cyberattacks-traced-to-nkorea-20091030-hoxp.html Europe moving slow on IPv6 deployment [IDG] http://www.arnnet.com.au/article/324240/ ********************** GOVERNANCE ********************** Celebrating 40 years of the net It has often been said that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. For the internet, that first step was more of a stumble. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8331253.stm ********************** DOMAIN NAMES ********************** ********************** - ICANN ********************** ICANN Bringing the Languages of the World to the Global Internet The first Internet addresses containing non-Latin characters from start to finish will soon be online thanks to today's approval of the new Internationalized Domain Name Fast Track Process by the ICANN board. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-30oct09-en.htm Internet addresses set for change The internet regulator has approved plans to allow non-Latin-script web addresses, in a move that is set to transform the online world. The board of Icann voted at its annual meeting in Seoul to allow domain names in Arabic, Chinese and other scripts. More than half of the 1.6 billion people who use the internet speak languages with non-Latin scripts. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8333194.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8333194.stm Massive change set for internet Internet chiefs have given the go-ahead to web addresses written in languages which use different characters, like Arabic and Chinese. http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_8330000/newsid_8333200/8333257.stm Web to be truly worldwide at last For the first time in its history, users will be allowed to create full web and e-mail-addresses using non-Latin characters. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8333209.stm An internet that speaks to you Progress towards making the net more multi-lingual is welcome says Bill Thompson. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8334233.stm http://www.heralddeparis.com/language-lab/61539 Net Addresses Can Use New Scripts By the middle of next year, Internet surfers will be allowed to use Web addresses written completely in Chinese, Arabic, Korean and other non-Latin alphabets, the organization overseeing Internet domain names announced on Friday in a decision that could make the Web more accessible. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/31/technology/31net.html Web addresses to get non-Latin characters The internet is on the verge of its biggest shake up in 40 years, and the most significant one since it crossed from academia to commerce in 1993. Icann, the organisation that oversees internet domain names, has approved the use of non-Latin characters such as Mandarin, Hindi, Cyrillic and Arabic in web addresses. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/oct/30/internet-non-latin-characters Internet regulator Icann approves web addresses in multiple languages The internet regulator Icann has approved plans to let web addresses be written in non-Latin characters ? such as Mandarin, Arabic, Hindu or Russian Cyrillic script ? that it says represents the "biggest change" to how it works since its invention 40 years ago. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/oct/30/icann-approves-idn-web-addresses-language Pact widens web's world appeal The world body controlling internet addresses agreed yesterday to allow countries to mark their territory with their own abbreviations, as in .uk or .fr, as well as their own alphabets. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/f1abdca4-c5bd-11de-9b3b-00144feab49a.html International Alphabets for Some Domains Approved The private body that oversees the basic design of the Internet voted Friday to allow Web addresses be expressed in characters other than those of the Roman alphabet, though the change will initially be limited to domains controlled by national governments. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125688380931818169.html Web address changes set to lift internet usage Latin script?s monopoly in internet domain names will end next month, a development that could usher in a fresh wave of internet usage from Bulgaria to China. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d3a11296-c555-11de-8193-00144feab49a.html At last, the web goes truly worldwide Considering it is known as the "World Wide Web", the internet's reliance on the English language has long been maligned as a hangover from the web's beginnings as a communications tool for the US military. http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/world-web-gets-a-little-wider-1812140.html Leading article: A more connected and equal world In the wake of a recession that has gripped much of the world and threatened to turn national economies in on themselves, it is cheering to find that in one area globalisation is alive and flourishing. http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/leading-articles/leading-article-a-more-connected-and-equal-world-1812291.html Civil Society reps, ICANN Board bridge differences at Seoul meeting by Milton Mueller The all-important direct meeting between the ICANN Board and the Noncommercial Users Constituency (NCUC), which represents civil society in GNSO, took place today. It cleared up a number of misunderstandings, providing a sobering reminder of how badly things can go awry when bureaucracy mediates between the Board and ICANN participants. http://blog.internetgovernance.org/blog/_archives/2009/10/25/4361022.html Fresh start, or another week on the treadmill? by Milton Mueller The Seoul ICANN meeting is over and my reaction to it is complex. On the one hand, the meeting felt like a fresh start: it was a showcase for the optimistic, likeable and accessible new President, Rod Beckstrom; it marked the end of the Commerce Department JPA; and it put into place a new domain name policy making structure with a revitalized and somewhat more empowered civil society segment (the NCSG). http://blog.internetgovernance.org/blog/_archives/2009/10/29/4365692.html Grumbling about the Affirmation by Milton Mueller The new "Affirmation of Commitments" was, naturally, a major topic at the Seoul ICANN meeting. In the short meeting held to discuss it, ICANN seemed more interested in discussing methodology than in talking about the purpose and scope of the reviews. The audience, however, wanted to talk about accountability. The following comments, circulated afterwards by Becky Burr, reflect the tone of much of the discussion: http://blog.internetgovernance.org/blog/_archives/2009/10/29/4365318.html Domain name market structure debate intensifies by Milton Mueller At the Seoul meeting the Registrar Stakeholder Group has adopted a position paper supporting the removal of rules that prohibit them from selling names in TLD registries they own or control. Prior to this, many observers of the controversy assumed that it was only Demand Media (ENom) and a few other large registrars who supported the removal of this restriction from new TLDs. Now we see more of an industry-wide cleavage between registrars and registries. http://blog.internetgovernance.org/blog/_archives/2009/10/27/4363364.html ICANN Gives Green Light To .??, .??, .?????? , But No Timeline For New Top-Level Domains The board of directors of ICANN this week opened up the root zone for non-Latin country-code top level domains (internationalised or IDN ccTLDs). Starting 16 November, ICANN will accept applications for ccTLDs in Chinese, Cyrillic. http://www.ip-watch.org/weblog/2009/11/01/icann-gives-green-light-to-??-??-??????-but-no-timeline-for-new-top-level-domains/ ICANN-Seoul Gets Very Mixed Messages on Pace and Particulars of New gTLD Process Slow down or speed up? It depends on who you ask. ICANN?s ongoing meeting in Seoul has heard very different opinions on whether new gTLDs are ready for prime time. But the real world bottom line seems to be that the application window will not be opening until fall 2010 at the earliest, and that no new gTLDs will be up and running until 2011. http://www.internetcommerce.org/ICANN-Seoul_Mixed_Messages_on_New_gTLD GNSO Grapples with ICANN Board?s Charge on Trademark Protections Has ICANN's Board assigned its policy-making GNSO Council an impossible task in directing it to attempt to reach consensus on alternatives to the staff ?assimilation? of the IRT recommendations regarding the Uniform Rapid Suspension (URS) and Trademark Clearinghouse proposals? http://www.internetcommerce.org/GNSO_ICANN_Board%E2%80%99s_Charge_Trademark_Protections CADNA Asserts That The ICANN Affirmation of Commitments Falls Short The Coalition Against Domain Name Abuse (CADNA) regards the new Affirmation of Commitments (AOC) agreement between the United States Department of Commerce (DOC) and ICANN as gravely falling short on the fundamental issue of ICANN accountability. http://www.cadna.org/en/newsroom/press-releases/iccan-affirmation-of-commitments-falls-short Latin to lose domain over web addresses [Reuters] The body in charge of assigning the world's internet users their online addresses said it had agreed to allow the use of any of the world's scripts, no longer just the Latin alphabet. http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE59T0Z120091030 http://www.reuters.com/article/mediaNews/idUSSEO7455920091030 Multilingual web address system approved [AFP] A global regulatory body Friday approved a new multilingual address system which it said would open up the Internet to millions more people worldwide. http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-technology/multilingual-web-address-system-approved-20091030-hpo2.html http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/multilingual-web-address-system-approved-20091030-hpo2.html Hebrew, Hindi, other scripts get Web address nod [AP] The nonprofit body that oversees Internet addresses approved Friday the use of Hebrew, Hindi, Korean and other scripts not based on the Latin alphabet in a decision that could make the Web dramatically more inclusive. http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=8954107 http://www.abcnews.go.com/Technology/AheadoftheCurve/wireStory?id=8953791 http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/10/30/tech/main5455977.shtml http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-world/web-addresses-to-become-multilingual-20091030-hpaf.html http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/3016583/ ICANN approves internationalized domain names [IDG] Starting in mid-November, countries and territories will be able to apply to show domain names in their native language, a major technical tweak to the Internet designed to increase language accessibility. http://www.thestandard.com/news/2009/10/30/icann-approves-internationalized-domain-names http://www.pcworld.com/article/181052/.html Web Addresses Now Can Be All Greek to You, ICANN Rules Domain names can soon be registered using Chinese characters or Cyrillic script, ending the exclusivity of the Latin alphabet in top-level domain names, according to a Friday ICANN vote. http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2009/10/icann-international-scripts/ Tears and cheers greet ICANN'sapproval of internationalised domain names There were tears and cheers as the ICANN board unanimously voted to introduce internationalised domain names (IDNs) at the conclusion of their meeting in Seoul on Friday. http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=9489 http://www.domainpulse.com/2009/10/31/icann-internationalised-domain-names/ ICANN: New TLDs debate to drag on The debate has become heated at the ICANN meeting in Seoul this week over whether new generic Top-Level Domains should be approved and whether some applicants should be allowed into the fast-track process. http://computerworld.co.ke/articles/2009/10/27/icann-new-tlds-debate-drag ICANN's Economic Reports: Finding the Missing Pieces to the Puzzle The global business community and a number of national governments have expressed significant concerns about ICANN's proposal for processing large numbers of applications for new Top Level Domains (gTLDs) such as .BLOG, .NYC or .WEB. http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1494671 ********************** - ccTLD & gTLD NEWS ********************** au: NetAlliance - acqusition of domain names by registrars and their related entities auDA?s Clarification of Permissible Own Use by Registrars (2008-11) states that ?[c]lause 14.2.3 of the Registrar Agreement and clauses 4.2 and 4.4 of the Code of Practice prohibit a registrar, and its related entities, from registering domain names on their own behalf for any purpose other than the provision of registrar services.? http://www.auda.org.au/news-archive/auda-30102009/ au: Latest update on Bottle Domains On 25 September 2009, the Supreme Court of Victoria handed down its decision in the legal proceedings between auDA and Australian Style Pty Ltd trading as Bottle Domains. http://www.auda.org.au/news-archive/auda-29102009/ CZ.NIC is preparing the introduction of OpenID Today, CZ.NIC Association, the administrator of the top-level domain .CZ, published in its blog a document describing the introduction of the OpenID system into the register of .CZ domains. http://www.nic.cz/page/685/cz.nic-is-preparing-the-introduction-of-openid/ Fi-domain name campaign begins FICORA will launch a three-week fi-domain name campaign on Monday 26 October. The aim of the campaign is to enhance the interest of private persons in fi-domain names. In addition to the general public, among the target groups are bloggers and those active in various sports and hobby clubs. http://www.ficora.fi/en/index/viestintavirasto/uutiset/2009/P_42.html AusRegistry International to provide Domain Name Registry Services for .nr AusRegistry International, a leading provider of Domain Name Registry Solutions for Top Level Domains (TLDs), has reached agreement with the Government of Nauru to provide Domain Name Registry Services for the .nr country code Top Level Domain (ccTLD). http://ausregistry.com/news-nr.php AusRegistry Adds .NR ccTLD to its Stable AusRegistry International logoAusRegistry International has added the .NR ccTLD to its stable following an agreement with the Government of Nauru to provide domain name registry services for the .NR country code Top Level Domain (ccTLD). http://www.domainpulse.com/2009/10/23/ausregistry-dotnr/ http://www.domainnews.com/en/ausregistry-adds-.nr-to-its-stable.html nz: Consultation on Second Level Domains Policy Review InternetNZ, through Domain Name Commission Limited (DNC), is currently reviewing the existing Second Level Domains (2LD) policy. http://dnc.org.nz/2LD-review09 SGNIC Signs Exchange of Letters with ICANN The Singapore Network Information Centre (SGNIC) and ICANN have signed an Exchange of Letters (EoL).The signing was held on 28th October 2009 in Seoul, in conjunction with the 36th ICANN Public Meeting held there. http://nic.net.sg/newsroom/20091028235327.html SGNIC and KISA Sign MOU for Secondary Server Hosting The Singapore Network Information Centre (SGNIC) and the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the mutual hosting of each organisation's secondary DNS servers. http://nic.net.sg/newsroom/20091026233640.html za: Africa suffers 'web colonialism' African country domain names are not growing into a strong force because of a lack of government support that has resulted in a sort of "Internet Colonialism" being practised. http://www.news24.com/Content/SciTech/News/1132/e7c02ccaf3084b09b5a804410c46a428/29-10-2009-02-17/Africa_suffers_web_colonialism ********************** - DNS SECURITY ********************** UK police smooth over rift with Internet registry [IDG] UK police have apologised over a recent public presentation that linked a nonprofit Internet registry with money laundering by a notorious group of Russian cybercriminal gangsters. http://www.computerworlduk.com/management/online/isp/news/index.cfm?newsid=17363 http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/102909-uk-police-smooth-over-rift.html http://www.pcworld.com/article/174651/.html http://www.macworld.co.uk/digitallifestyle/news/index.cfm?newsid=27592 http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2009/10/29/urnidgns852573C4006938800025765E00351CA1.DTL In Congress, a call to review internal cybersecurity policies House leaders on Friday called for an "immediate and comprehensive assessment" of congressional cybersecurity policies, a day after an embarrassing data breach that led to the disclosure of details of confidential ethics investigations. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/30/AR2009103003749.html U.S. cyber war policy needs new focus, experts say [IDG] U.S. policies toward defending against cyber warfare need to take a different approach than the government has against other forms of attack, three cybersecurity experts said today. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9140131/U.S._cyber_war_policy_needs_new_focus_experts_say http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/scrt/B6E5A684CAC7728BCC25765E00739B5F Reports: Cyberattacks that triggered Web outages in July traced to North Korea [AP] ... "Many different parties could pull this off. This was not a particularly complex ... attack to launch," Rod Beckstrom, former head of the National Cybersecurity Center in the U.S., said Friday during a visit to Seoul. http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/reports-cyberattacks-traced-to-nkorea-20091030-hoxp.html http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-technology/reports-cyberattacks-traced-to-nkorea-20091030-hoxp.html http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10606824 http://www.kauz.com/news/local/68149942.html http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=8954134 http://www.kdvr.com/business/sns-ap-as-koreas-cyberattack,0,1948020.story http://www.theolympian.com/businesswire/story/1019592.html http://www.fox59.com/business/sns-ap-as-koreas-cyberattack,0,4415398.story SKorean spy chief blames NKorea for cyber attacks [AFP] South Korea's spy chief has blamed North Korea's telecommunications ministry for cyber attacks that briefly crippled US and South Korean government and commercial websites in July, reports said Friday. http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/skorean-spy-chief-blames-nkorea-for-cyber-attacks-20091030-hp9n.html http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-technology/skorean-spy-chief-blames-nkorea-for-cyber-attacks-20091030-hp9n.html ********************** - IPv4/IPv6 ********************** Will Smart Grid power IPv6? Could Smart Grid, the Obama Administration's effort to modernize the nation's electric grid, be the killer app for IPv6? http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/102909-smart-grid-ipv6.html Q&A: Why IP is the right choice for Smart Grid The biggest network upgrade in the United States today is Smart Grid, a multibillion dollar modernization of the electricity grid that involves supporting real-time, two-way digital communications between electric utilities and their increasingly energy-conscious customers. http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/102909-smart-grid-ipv6-qa.html Europe moving slow on IPv6 deployment [IDG] Few organizations across Europe have upgraded to IPv6, the new version of the Internet's addressing protocol, according to a survey commissioned by the European Commission. http://www.arnnet.com.au/article/324240/ http://www.pcworld.com/article/174655/.html http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/324240/ http://www.cso.com.au/article/324240/ http://news.techworld.com/networking/3205199/europe-moving-slow-on-ipv6-adoption/ http://www.techworld.com.au/article/324240/ ARIN CEO reminds: be prepared for Internet numbering expansion The impending changeover from IP version 4 to IP version 6 won?t really be a big deal, and most people won?t even notice it as it happens. But the Internet will be running on both protocols for a while, and the head of the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN) cautions that some online applications may run slow as a result. Online content providers need to start preparing as well. http://blogs.zdnet.com/service-oriented/?p=3235 Is IPv6 Wrestling Within an Unpredictable Telecommunications Industry? by Yves Poppe The theme of the 40th International Institute of Communications (IIC) conference in Montreal this week was "Wrestling with unpredictability in Global Communications". The panel I had the pleasure to be part of was under the motto : "Broadband futures". One of the questions addressed to me : Should we be concerned about a shortage of IP addresses as more people use broadband networks for more things? http://www.circleid.com/posts/20091101_ipv6_wrestling_within_unpredictable_telecom_industry/ ********************** - MISCELLANEOUS ********************** On The Internet, Nobody Knows You're Not In The USA A large number of web services are geographically restricted, such as Hulu, Pandora and Spotify. The reasons are usually to do with content licensing restrictions, or because US visitors (or visitors from other advanced economies) are of a higher value from a monetization perspective. A web application can only guess at the location of a visitor based on an IP address and other information, such as browser language and regional settings. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/05/AR2009100500411.html A Case for Dot-Outlet TLD by Alex Tajirian This post outlines the correct use of an outlet strategy, points out the value of such a strategy, and the advantages of executing the strategy through a new ICANN top-level domain (TLD) instead of a second-level domain name. http://www.circleid.com/posts/a_case_for_dot_outlet_tld/ Domain Name Registration Pioneer Network Solutions Participates in Webinar Focused on New Generic Top Level Domains (gTLDs) Jon Nevett, Senior VP of Network Solutions and Chairman of the Board of Central Registry Solutions, will participate in a panel discussion focused on the impact of gTLDs on company brands. He will be joined by experts from Yahoo!, Time Warner, and Steptoe & Johnson. http://about.networksolutions.com/site/domain-name-registration-pioneer-network-solutions-participates-in-webinar-focused-on-new-generic-top-level-domains-gtlds/ ********************** - DOMAINING & AFTERMARKET ********************** Looking Back on Geodomain Names I saw a thread that was rekindled on DomainState that I hadn?t looked at in a number of months. Recent comments seem to indicate that some people believe geodomain values are significantly diminished. For the purposes of this article, I am going to refer strictly to city/state/country/region .com domain names only. http://www.elliotsblog.com/looking-back-on-geodomain-names-24691 ********************** RESEARCH PAPERS ********************** The impact of the crisis on ICT and ICT-related employment This paper provides an overview of short-term and long-term developments in ICT employment trends. Preliminary analysis of available indicators shows that employment is dropping in the ICT sector - notably in ICT goods sectors and mostly remaining flat in ICT services. The paper also highlights some niche ICT activities where ICT employment is increasing despite the crisis. http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/47/22/43969700.pdf The Politics of Internet Control and Delegated Censorship by Wendy Seltzer [American Society of International Law] Abstract: Against the myth that the Internet breaks traditional political boundaries, we find that the Internet itself looks different depending on our vantage point. The "politics of the Internet" includes that of Internet control, identifying chokepoints and the power that can be exerted upon and through them. For notwithstanding the distributed nature of the Internet, traffic to any given point passes through numerous bottlenecks where communications can be blocked. Moreover, major search engines operate as de facto points of centralization. Pressure at these points can change the local nature or view of the Internet, so one state's "Internet" does not look the same as another's. A state that wishes to suppress speech can do so, even online. http://ssrn.com/abstract=1496056 Internet Use and Depression Among the Elderly by George S. Ford & Sherry G. Ford [Phoenix Center for Advanced Legal and Economic Public Policy Paper] Abstract: The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 directs over $7 billion to expand broadband Internet availability and adoption in the United States. One target of such funding is the elderly population, a group of Americans for which broadband adoption is relatively low. An interesting question is what benefits do such efforts afford? http://ssrn.com/abstract=1494430 Is There a Relationship Between Online Safety Concerns and Broadband Uptake? by Adam D. Thierer [The Progress & Freedom Foundation] Abstract: Child safety concerns are probably not a factor in broadband adoption. In my research, I have never unearthed any substantive empirical evidence suggesting a correlation between parental concerns about online activity and overall household broadband uptake. http://ssrn.com/abstract=1493398 ********************** INTERNET USE ********************** IE6: the browser that won't die Internet Explorer 6 is the most popular web browser, according to Net Applications' Market Share website, and it's also the most hated. Its use has been raised in parliamentary questions, and even Microsoft would dearly love to be rid of it. The browser is "insecure", lacking in features, and just too old to observe almost a decade of new web standards. Yet despite internet campaigns against it, such as IE6 No More, the browser launched with Windows XP in 2001 seems likely to continue for a few years yet. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/oct/28/upgrading-internet-explorer-6 Murdoch's attack dog snarls at the 'parasites' threatening his master If you go by the numbers, a slim Australian with a sharp tongue and a penchant for ultra-skinny ties has become the most powerful newspaper editor in America. The Wall Street Journal has claimed top spot in circulation rankings and its boss seems intent on marshalling a print industry war against online "thievery". http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/nov/01/wall-street-journal-robert-thomson-digital-content 36 Million German Internet Users Viewed More Than 6 Billion Videos Online in August 2009 comScore, Inc. released data from the comScore Video Metrix service, indicating that 35.7 million German Internet users viewed at least one video online in August 2009, up 38 percent versus the previous year. http://www.comscore.com/Press_Events/Press_Releases/2009/10/36_Million_German_Internet_Users_Viewed_More_Than_6_Billion_Videos_Online_in_August_2009 Google's Eric Schmidt on What the Web Will Look Like in 5 Years Google CEO Eric Schmidt envisions a radically changed internet five years from now: dominated by Chinese-language and social media content, delivered over super-fast bandwidth in real time. http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/google_web_in_five_years.php ********************** SOCIAL NETWORKING ********************** Facebook project gives world peace a chance For many of its 300 million enthusiasts, Facebook is a convenient way to keep in touch with friends, track down old sweethearts and share drunken photographs with the world. But the global power of the social networking site is now being harnessed for a rather more laudable aim: the pursuit of world peace. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/oct/28/facebook-world-peace-online-project Facebook calls for feedback on new privacy policy [AFP] Facebook has outlined changes to its privacy policy and asked for feedback from the social network's more than 300 million users. http://www.theage.com.au/technology/biz-tech/facebook-calls-for-feedback-on-new-privacy-policy-20091030-hoce.html http://www.smh.com.au/technology/biz-tech/facebook-calls-for-feedback-on-new-privacy-policy-20091030-hoce.html Stephen Fry in a flutter at horrid tweeters on Twitter Stephen Fry has said he is going to quit Twitter after a fellow user of the popular internet site described him as ?boring?. http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/the_web/article6898191.ece Fry ends row with Twitter critic Stephen Fry has made online peace with another user of the micro-blogging site Twitter who called his posts "boring". http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8336425.stm Stephen Fry's fans lobby actor not to give up Twitter Stephen Fry was tonight inundated with messages from fans begging him to reconsider a threat to quit the social networking site Twitter, of which he has become Britain's best known exponent. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/oct/31/stephen-fry-leave-twitter-fans The power of tweets What have Jan Moir, AA Gill and Jimmy Carr got in common? They have all provoked storms of protest on microblogging website Twitter. But is this a new age of democracy, or a danger to free speech? http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2009/oct/31/the-power-of-twitter ********************** NEW TECHNOLOGIES ********************** How laptops took over the world The rise of portable computing has forced companies to rethink how they let staff work ? and is shifting the balance of power in the IT industry http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/oct/28/laptops-sales-desktop-computers Business software heads for the clouds as Google beats Microsoft to LA deal Google has won its highest-profile customer in its battle with Microsoft to provide e-mail and other internet services to businesses. http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/telecoms/article6894607.ece ************************************************ CHILD PROTECTION, FILTERING & CONTENT REGULATION ************************************************ Molly is a teenage girl who likes Hannah Montana, Lily Allen and Pink (or so the covert investigator who plays her would like internet paedophiles to think) For a middle-aged man, Jonathan Taylor's music and television tastes could be described as peculiar. He spends his spare time watching Hannah Montana and listening to Lily Allen and Pink. For this sacrifice, his three young daughters think him a wonderful father. But, rather like Montana, Mr Taylor is living a double life. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/molly-is-a-teenage-girl-who-likes-hannah-montana-lily-allen-and-pink-or-so-the-covert-investigator-who-plays-her-would-like-internet-paedophiles-to-think-1811716.html Parental vigilance urged on cyber bullying Police say parents need to monitor their children's internet activities as a Gold Coast high school investigates a number of derogatory comments made against a teacher on a group website. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/10/30/2728574.htm Boy's suicide is lesson for bullies: mum [AAP] The mother of a NSW high school student who took his life after merciless bullying and beatings at school has made a heartfelt appeal for the inquest into his death to "make a difference". http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/6411297/boys-suicide-is-lesson-for-bullies-mum/ http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,20797,26281659-5003402,00.html The ugly side of the internet Kate Figes and her teenage daughter debate the dangers and benefits of social-networking sites like Facebook. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/social-media/6455335/The-ugly-side-of-the-internet.html nz: Seventy watch attack on girl A 13-year-old girl has claimed she was lured to a Wellington park, badly beaten by an older girl and left semi-conscious as up to 70 children watched the attack ? filming it on mobile phones. http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/local/3017225/ us: Internet child porn is a pervasive problem At the Highlands County Sheriff's Office, an investigator occasionally goes into Internet chat rooms and poses as a teenage girl. http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/nov/01/la-internet-child-porn-is-a-pervasive-problem/ Europe's amazing Internet-safety work Last week I had the great good fortune of participating in Safer Internet Forum 2009 in Luxembourg. What a fantastic experience, connecting with online-safety experts representing the 27 EU member countries plus Malaysia, Brazil, and New Zealand. I spoke on "Online Safety 3.0" and felt right at home (imagine how confirming it is to have colleagues from Bulgaria and Slovenia come up afterwards and say how much they could relate!). The Forum included teen panelists (aged 14-18) from 26 of the 27 countries. http://www.netfamilynews.org/2009/10/europes-amazing-internet-safety-work.html ********************** ONLINE TV & MUSIC ********************** Illegal downloaders 'spend the most on music', says British poll People who illegally download music from the internet also spend more money on music than anyone else, according to a new study. The survey, published today, found that those who admit illegally downloading music spent an average of ?77 a year on music ? ?33 more than those who claim that they never download music dishonestly. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/illegal-downloaders-spend-the-most-on-music-says-poll-1812776.html http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10606781 AFACT v iiNet decision months away The legal stoush between the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft and ISP, iiNet, resumes on Monday, but the judge's decision is unlikely to come until next year. http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/324227/ British ISP TalkTalk threatens legal action over Mandelson's filesharing plan TalkTalk, the second largest internet service provider in the UK, has threatened to launch legal action if business secretary Peter Mandelson follows through with his plan to cut off persistent illegal filesharers' internet connections. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/oct/29/talktalk-threatens-legal-action-mandelson ISP vows legal challenge to net disconnection plan A major ISP has promised a court challenge to Government plans to allow the cutting off of internet connections used by people accused of illegal file sharing. Talk Talk said it will challenge the plans in the courts. http://out-law.com/page-10488 Google seeks to turn a profit from YouTube copyright clashes Google is seeking to drag YouTube into profit by convincing music and film footage rights owners to make advertising revenue from their content rather than remove it from the video-sharing site for breach of copyright. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/nov/01/google-youtube-monetise-content ********************** MOBILE/WIRELESS ********************** Egypt seeks ethical mobile users A code of ethics for the use of mobile phones has been launched by Egypt's official telecoms regulatory body. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8331614.stm Google's Android may be about to overturn Apple's cart If you want to understand what's going on in the mobile phone business just now, think of it as a hen coop into which two foxes have recently arrived. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/nov/01/naughton-technology-mobile-internet ********************** SPAM ********************** Facebook wins $711m in spam lawsuit Facebook has been awarded $711.2m (?429.m) in damages after winning a case against Sanford Wallace, known as "Spamford", who sent mail and made posts without the permission of the social networking website's users. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/oct/30/facebook-spam-lawsuit-spamford Facebook awarded $711 million in spam lawsuit Facebook was awarded $711 million in a judgment Thursday against self-described "spam king" Sanford Wallace. http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10387021-93.html ********************** DIGITAL DIVIDE ********************** Opening a window of education: One Laptop per Child for Aboriginal Australia It is Rangan Srikhanta's favourite party trick and it never fails to arouse gasps of astonishment from wide-eyed schoolchildren. Holding a green and white laptop computer in his hands, the Australian executive director of the charity One Laptop per Child flings the small machine across a room. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,,26283228-13881,00.html ************************** ONLINE CRIME, SECURITY & LEGAL ************************** Warning over fake 2012 websites Fake websites have been set up claiming to sell tickets for London's 2012 Olympics despite none being available until 2011, a consumer group has found. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/8331204.stm Editorial: Microchips and Monopolies - Intel and anti-trust complaints Following a 16-month-long formal investigation, and years of dithering during the Bush administration, the Federal Trade Commission is reportedly within weeks of filing an antitrust complaint against Intel for abusing its dominant position in the microchip market to shut out a smaller rival, Advanced Micro Devices. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/28/opinion/28wed2.html In Congress, a call to review internal cybersecurity policies House leaders on Friday called for an "immediate and comprehensive assessment" of congressional cybersecurity policies, a day after an embarrassing data breach that led to the disclosure of details of confidential ethics investigations. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/30/AR2009103003749.html British man uses defence of 'corrupted by internet porn' An attempt to increase the sentence of a man who admitted making indecent photographs of children has been turned down by the Court of Appeal. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/8333783.stm au: Twitter, YouTube added to police arsenal POLICE are using Twitter and YouTube to track criminals, directly contacting wanted people as well as posting their photographs online. http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,26292421-15306,00.html In Congress, a call to review internal cybersecurity policies House leaders on Friday called for an "immediate and comprehensive assessment" of congressional cybersecurity policies, a day after an embarrassing data breach that led to the disclosure of details of confidential ethics investigations. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/30/AR2009103003749.html U.S. cyber war policy needs new focus, experts say [IDG] U.S. policies toward defending against cyber warfare need to take a different approach than the government has against other forms of attack, three cybersecurity experts said today. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9140131/U.S._cyber_war_policy_needs_new_focus_experts_say http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/scrt/B6E5A684CAC7728BCC25765E00739B5F SKorean spy chief blames NKorea for cyber attacks [AFP] South Korea's spy chief has blamed North Korea's telecommunications ministry for cyber attacks that briefly crippled US and South Korean government and commercial websites in July, reports said Friday. http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/skorean-spy-chief-blames-nkorea-for-cyber-attacks-20091030-hp9n.html http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-technology/skorean-spy-chief-blames-nkorea-for-cyber-attacks-20091030-hp9n.html Reports: Cyberattacks traced to NKorea The North Korean government was the source of high-profile cyberattacks in July that caused Web outages in South Korea and the United States, news reports said Friday. http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/reports-cyberattacks-traced-to-nkorea-20091030-hoxp.html http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-technology/reports-cyberattacks-traced-to-nkorea-20091030-hoxp.html http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10606824 http://www.kauz.com/news/local/68149942.html http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=8954134 ************************** PRIVACY ************************** On The Internet, Nobody Knows You're Not In The USA A large number of web services are geographically restricted, such as Hulu, Pandora and Spotify. The reasons are usually to do with content licensing restrictions, or because US visitors (or visitors from other advanced economies) are of a higher value from a monetization perspective. A web application can only guess at the location of a visitor based on an IP address and other information, such as browser language and regional settings. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/05/AR2009100500411.html UK data protection laws inadequate - EU The European Commission on Thursday moved a step closer to taking Britain to court for failing to provide its citizens with adequate privacy and personal data protection when using electronic communications. http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE59S43J20091029 UK failed to protect privacy over Phorm, says EC The UK government has failed to implement adequate communications privacy legislation and must take steps to strengthen privacy safeguards, the European Commission has found. http://news.zdnet.co.uk/security/0,1000000189,39846695,00.htm European Commission steps up UK legal action over privacy and personal data protection The Commission today moved to the second phase of an infringement proceeding over the UK to provide its citizens with the full protection of EU rules on privacy and personal data protection when using electronic communications. European laws state that EU countries must ensure the confidentiality of people's electronic communications like email or internet browsing by prohibiting their unlawful interception and surveillance without the user's consent. As these rules have not been fully put in place in the national law of the UK, the Commission today said that it will send the UK a reasoned opinion. http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/09/1626 ************************** GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY ************************** Network engineers question need for Net neutrality rules [IDG] New Net neutrality regulations, as proposed by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, don't make sense because some Internet traffic is already prioritized and needs to continue to be, two networking engineers said Thursday. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9140113/Network_engineers_question_need_for_Net_neutrality_rules au: Free TV, ABC call for sport web bans The ABC and commercial free-to-air broadcasters have called on the federal government to extend the sports broadcast anti-siphoning scheme -- which governs how sporting codes are televised in Australia -- to cover new media proliferating on the internet. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26290333-7582,00.html au: Internet bookmakers in NT welcome tax change Internet bookmakers based in the Northern Territory have cheered a Government move to cut the amount of tax they are liable to pay. http://www.theage.com.au/business/internet-bookmakers-in-nt-welcome-tax-change-20091101-hrnk.html ********************************* MISCELLANEOUS ********************************* In China, Objections to Google's Book Scans A long-running dispute over Google?s efforts to digitize books has spread this month to China, where authors have banded together to demand that their works be protected from what they call unauthorized copying. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/31/technology/internet/31google.html ********************** TELECOMMUNICATIONS ********************** France T?l?com to invest ?1bn to prevent suicides France T?l?com is preparing to set aside ?1 billion as part of a plan to end a spate of suicides amongst staff by offering older workers the chance to go part time. http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/telecoms/article6895790.ece France Telecom sets aside ?1bn for staff?stress France Telecom is to set aside up to ?1bn to help ease tension among its French workforce after the suicides of 25 of its employees since the beginning of last year. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/3db5dbc2-c479-11de-912e-00144feab49a.html ********************************** ARRESTS/COURT CASES FOR ONLINE CHILD PROTECTION ********************************** uk: Two ringleaders of child abuse network jailed for life Two men have been jailed for life for masterminding a child abuse conspiracy that included an "utterly appalling" attack on an infant boy and the assault of a three-month-old baby. http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/oct/29/courts-abuse-paedophile-ring-scotland uk: Abuse network ringleaders jailed The two men at the centre of Scotland's largest known child abuse network have been jailed for life. Neil Strachan, 41, attempted to rape an 18-month-old boy while 38-year-old James Rennie sexually assaulted a three-month-old. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/8331388.stm MP facing three child porn charges Tasmanian Upper House MP Terry Martin is facing child pornography charges. The independent member for Elwick in Hobart is facing one charge of producing child exploitation material and two of downloading pictures of children under the age of 18 engaged in sexual acts. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/10/30/2729050.htm State MP Terry Martin on child porn charges ELWICK MLC Terry Martin appeared in the Hobart Magistrates Court this afternoon to face child pornography charges. http://www.examiner.com.au/news/local/news/crime-law-justice/state-mp-terry-martin-on-child-porn-charges/1664088.aspx Offender learnt about child porn on Stop programme [NZPA] A man sentenced to 20 months' jail for possessing child abuse pornography says he learned how to access the material from someone he met on a Stop course for sex offenders. http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/3016409/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (c) David Goldstein 2009 --------- David Goldstein email: goldstein_david§yahoo.com.au web: http://davidgoldstein.tel/ http://goldsteinreport.com/ phone: +61 418 228 605 - mobile; +61 2 9665 5773 - office/home "Every time you use fossil fuels, you're adding to the problem. Every time you forgo fossil fuels, you're being part of the solution" - Dr Tim Flannery __________________________________________________________________________________ Get more done like never before with Yahoo!7 Mail. Learn more: http://au.overview.mail.yahoo.com/Received on Sun Nov 01 2009 - 19:02:07 UTC
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