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 *************************************************** ICANN and Qatar Celebrate Launch of Arabic Top-Level Domain: Use of Non-Latin Domain Names Continues to Grow http://icann.org/en/news/releases/release-02mar11-en.pdf No support for U.S. proposal for domain name veto http://news.cnet.com/8301-31921_3-20037090-281.html Obama administration joins critics of U.S. nonprofit that oversees Internet http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/28/AR2011022803719.html ICANN: No government veto over controversial top-level domains http://arstechnica.com/web/news/2011/02/icann-no-government-veto-over-controversial-top-level-domains.ars ICANN Warns .JOBS To Get House in Order http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=13869 9 Million.ORG Domain Name Registrations http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=13887 Hitachi Joins Canon As Candidates for gTLD http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=13886 Spammers exploiting internationalised domain names http://www.v3.co.uk/v3/news/2275007/idn-symantec-cloud-idn-spam What?s Wrong With .XXX? ? Part One: Part one of a five-part series meant to help educate the adult industry about the dangers of .XXX sTLD by Diane Duke, Free Speech Coalition Executive Director http://news.avn.com/articles/What-s-Wrong-With-XXX-427850.html au: National Interest Analysis on international Cybercrime Convention [news release] http://www.attorneygeneral.gov.au/www/ministers/mcclelland.nsf/Page/MediaReleases_2011_FirstQuarter_1March2011-NationalInterestAnalysisonInternationalCybercrimeConvention Global Domain Name Registrations Grow 1.7% in Q4 2010 To 205m: VeriSign http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=13873 ********************** - ICANN ********************** ICANN and Qatar Celebrate Launch of Arabic Top-Level Domain: Use of Non-Latin Domain Names Continues to Grow Dignitaries in the Arabian Gulf state of Qatar today joined leaders of ICANN in celebrating the launch of the lnternet?s latest Arabic script TLD name. http://icann.org/en/news/releases/release-02mar11-en.pdf Updated: ICANN Meeting 41 Fellowship Application Round Extended One Week - Program Ensures Global Representation at ICANN's Public Meetings ICANN is extending the deadline for accepting applications to the June ICANN 41 meeting until 6 March 00:00 UTC due to a venue location change. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-14jan11-en.htm Letter from Ieuan Wyn Jones, Welsh Assembly Government, re .cymru to Peter Dengate Thrush http://icann.org/en/correspondence/wyn-jones-dengate-thrush-01mar11-en.pdf IDN ccTLD Request From Ukraine Successfully Passes String Evaluation ICANN is pleased to announce the successful completion of String Evaluation on proposed IDN ccTLD string for Ukraine. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-01mar11-en.htm No support for U.S. proposal for domain name veto The Obama administration has failed in its bid to allow it and other governments to veto future top-level domain names, a proposal before ICANN that raised questions about balancing national sovereignty with the venerable Internet tradition of free expression. http://news.cnet.com/8301-31921_3-20037090-281.html http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501465_162-20037195-501465.html http://www.zdnetasia.com/us-domain-name-veto-dumped-62207186.htm http://www.zdnet.com.au/us-domain-name-veto-dumped-339310476.htm Obama administration joins critics of U.S. nonprofit that oversees Internet The California nonprofit organization that operates the Internet's levers has always been a target for global heavies like Russia and China that prefer the United Nations in charge of the Web. But these days, ICANN is fending off attacks from a seemingly unlikely opposition: the Obama administration. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/28/AR2011022803719.html ICANN: No government veto over controversial top-level domains Less than two weeks away from ICANN's conference in San Francisco, representatives from the organization's Government Advisory Committee have rejected a US Department of Commerce proposal that would give GAC members veto power over new domain endings. http://arstechnica.com/web/news/2011/02/icann-no-government-veto-over-controversial-top-level-domains.ars Making IDN gTLDs Attractive and Safe by Tina Dam The primary focus of this article is to illustrate that the Applicant Guidebook is not supplying sufficient protection mechanisms, and creates too high financial barrier for those who are interested in applying for multiple Top-Level Domains (TLDs) that are translations/transliterations of each other and/or of an existing generic Top-Level Domains (tt-gTLDs). http://www.circleid.com/posts/making_idn_gtlds_attractive_and_safe/ US Government Reviews IANA And Flags Issues For Possible Change The US government is seeking public comment to enhance the performance of the IANA functions in the development and award of a new IANA functions contract. http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=13860 http://www.domainpulse.com/2011/02/28/us-government-reviews-iana-and-flags-issues-for-possible-change/ http://domainnews.com/en/us-government-reviews-iana-and-flags-issues-for-possible-change.html ********************** - ccTLD & gTLD NEWS ********************** Is Ireland?s .ie to change hands? The Irish country-code domain, .ie, may be up for redelegation, according to Ireland?s largest domain name registrar. http://domainincite.com/is-irelands-ie-to-change-hands/ ICANN Says .Jobs Operation Violates Rules The Internet?s addressing authority has ordered the manager of the .Jobs domains to fix problems with how it issues addresses within 30 days or face the cancellation of its contract. http://www.ere.net/2011/02/28/icann-says-jobs-operation-violates-rules/ ICANN Warns .JOBS To Get House in Order ICANN has sent a stern letter to Employ Media, operators of the .JOBS gTLD, saying they are in breach of their Registry Agreement. http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=13869 http://www.domainpulse.com/2011/02/28/icann-warns-jobs/ http://domainnews.com/en/icann-warns-.jobs-to-get-house-in-order.html Employ Media Public Response to ICANN Notice Employ Media LLC, the licensed operator of the .jobs Top Level Domain, is in receipt of a Notice of Breach from ICANN staff regarding the allocation of domain names in .jobs. We view the substance of this notice to be a surprising reversal of position and contradictory to prior decisions issued by its Board of Directors. Further, we find the claims contained in the Notice to be utterly without merit. http://goto.jobs/Employ Media Public Response to ICANN.pdf Employ Media Rejects ICANN Decision Of .JOBS Breach of Registry Agreement The announcement this week from ICANN that Employ Media, operators of the .JOBS gTLD, are in breach of their Registry Agreement has been quickly rebuked by the registry. http://www.domainpulse.com/2011/03/02/employ-media-rejects-icann-decision-of-jobs-breach-of-registry-agreement/ http://domainnews.com/en/employ-media-rejects-icann-decision-of-.jobs-breach-of-registry-agreement.html CADNA Applauds ICANN .JOBS Charter Notice of Breach The Coalition Against Domain Name Abuse (CADNA) applauds ICANN's efforts to enforce the existing .JOBS Registry Agreement with Employ Media, LLC. http://www.cadna.org/en/newsroom/press-release/cadna-applauds-icann-jobs-charter-notice-of-breach ICANN threatens to shut down .jobs In an unprecedented move, ICANN has threatened to cancel a top-level domain registry operator?s contract. http://domainincite.com/icann-threatens-to-shut-down-jobs/ ICANN May Shut Down .Jobs Registry ICANN threatens to shut down .jobs, even after approving its ?registry service?. http://domainnamewire.com/2011/02/28/icann-may-shut-down-jobs-registry/ 9 Million.ORG Domain Name Registrations There are now more than 9 million .ORG domain names the Public Interest Registry (PIR) announced on 2 March following a growth of 10.3 per cent in 2010. http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=13887 http://www.domainpulse.com/2011/03/02/9-millionorg-domain-registrations/ http://domainnews.com/en/org-passes-9-million-domain-registrations.html .ORG, PIR Celebrates 9 Million Registrations .ORG, The Public Interest Registry (PIR) is pleased to announce that .ORG is now home to over 9 million domain name registrations. With a growth of 10.3 percent in 2010 ? the domain continues to be trusted and embraced, making it the world?s third largest gTLD. http://pir.org/news/pr/2011/9million ********************** - NEW TLDS ********************** GMO Registry Inc. Partners with Hitachi Ltd. to Apply for and Operate new gTLD .hitachi [news release] GMO Internet Group Company, GMO Registry has formed a partnership agreement with Hitachi Ltd. to apply for and operate new gTLD .hitachi. http://ir.gmo.jp/en/pdf/irlibrary/disclose_info20110302_e.pdf Hitachi Joins Canon As Candidates for gTLD Hitachi has announced through a partnership with the Japanese GMO Registry that they will be applying for the generic Top Level Domain .HITACHI when ICANN begins accepting applications, possibly later this year. http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=13886 http://www.domainpulse.com/2011/03/02/hitachi-joins-canon-as-candidates-for-own-gtld/ http://domainnews.com/en/hitachi-joins-canon-as-candidates-for-gtld.html Hitachi to apply for .hitachi Japanese electronics giant Hitachi has emerged as the second big consumer brand to officially announce it will apply for a ?.brand? top-level domain. http://domainincite.com/hitachi-to-apply-for-hitachi/ Spammers exploiting internationalised domain names Security experts are warning that spammers are taking advantage of internationalised domain names (IDNs) owing to their increasing availability and low cost. http://www.v3.co.uk/v3/news/2275007/idn-symantec-cloud-idn-spam Spammers exploit Internationalized Domain Names to punt penis pills Spammers have begun taking advantage of Internationalized Domain Names as a home for penis pill portals and other spamvertised sites. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/03/01/idn_spam/ Trademark issues written off by ICANN board in Brussels Citizens of Brussels are getting used to making their own decisions ? today is Belgium?s 260th day without a government. Meeting here in Brussels for an unprecedented consultation on trademark protection and new gTLDs, ICANN and its Government Advisory Committee (GAC) today showed even less decisiveness than the Belgian politicians: both sides said that not only could they not come to an agreement, but that they couldn?t even have a discussion. http://www.worldtrademarkreview.com/daily/Detail.aspx?g=39d0c542-5201-4aed-8998-baf8133f6e01 New gTLDs and Children by Michael D. Palage At first blush most are unlikely to see the relationship between new generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs) and children. However, as a father and someone that has worked with approximately 50% of all new gTLDs approved by ICANN over the last decade, I have a unique perspective that may shed some light on this analogy. Hopefully, as the ICANN community begins to seek closure in connection with the new gTLD implement process, this article may offer one perspective as to what lies ahead. more? http://www.circleid.com/posts/new_gtlds_and_children/ ICANN's New gTLD Double Standard? by Michael D. Palage Over the last two days I have sat in a room and watched a rather interesting dynamic unfold between the ICANN Board and its Government Advisory Committee (GAC). While I remain optimistic of there being a responsible closure to the new gTLD implementation process within the next six months, an apparent double standard being used by the ICANN Board could be a potential stumbling block. http://www.circleid.com/posts/icann_new_gtld_double_standard/ ICANN Board: You Got It Right. Then You Got It Wrong. Now, Get It Right Again by Paul McGrady The ICANN Board has itself in a pretty pickle. The Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) Consultancy with the Board in Brussels was an apparent non-starter. After hundreds of man-hours' worth of comments provided by the Intellectual Property Constituency (IPC), the Board continues to claim that it lacks sufficient information on trademark issues in order to respond to concerns. http://www.circleid.com/posts/20110301_icann_board_you_got_it_right_then_got_it_wrong_now_get_it_right/ What?s Wrong With .XXX? ? Part One: Part one of a five-part series meant to help educate the adult industry about the dangers of .XXX sTLD by Diane Duke, Free Speech Coalition Executive Director Throughout this month, the ICANN Board will discuss some final issues with its Government Advisory Committee (GAC) before determining the next step in .XXX?s destiny. It is imperative that adult industry professionals understand the serious ramifications of this complex issue. In this five-part series, FSC Executive Director Diane Duke points out some of the atrocities in ICM?s proposed .XXX TLD and explains why owning a .XXX TLD may be far more dangerous and detrimental to your business than not. http://news.avn.com/articles/What-s-Wrong-With-XXX-427850.html ICANN director has .xxx job offer Sebastien Bachollet, recently installed on the ICANN board as its first elected ?At Large? director, has been offered a job working for the .xxx top-level domain, it has emerged. http://domainincite.com/icann-director-has-xxx-job-offer/ CADNA Applauds ICANN Chair Dengate Thrush for Delay in New gTLD Roll Out The Coalition Against Domain Name Abuse (CADNA) applauds ICANN Chairman Peter Dengate Thrush's statement indicating further delay of the roll out of the new gTLD program. In an interview with World Trademark Review, as well as in remarks made at the McCarthy Institute Symposium, Dengate Thrush said that the final version of the New gTLD Applicant Guidebook would not be approved at the upcoming March 2011 ICANN meeting in San Francisco. http://www.cadna.org/en/newsroom/press-release/cadna-applauds-icann-chair-dengate-thrush .Sport Trademark Application Games Continue I guess trademarks are just like any other sport ? a big game. dotSport LLC, which wants to run a .sport top level domain name, has been aggressive in its hunt for .sport related trademarks. http://domainnamewire.com/2011/03/02/sport-trademark-application-games-continue/ ********************** - DNS SECURITY ********************** Opinion: NATO Builds Its Cyberdefenses by General St?phane Abrial of France, the commander of NATO?s Allied Command Transformation based in Norfolk, Virginia Last November?s NATO summit in Lisbon agreed to a new security concept that frames the way the alliance will address the full range of emerging threats to our collective peace and security. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/28/opinion/28iht-edabrial28.html Opinion: Cyberspace Wars by Joseph S. Nye Jr., a professor at Harvard and the author, most recently, of ?The Future of Power? This year, the 47th Munich Security Conference included for the first time a special session on cybersecurity. ?This may be the first time,? the president of a small European noted to the high-powered assembly, more accustomed to dealing with armies and alliances than with worms and denial-of-service attacks, ?but it will not be the last.? http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/28/opinion/28iht-ednye28.html au: National Interest Analysis on international Cybercrime Convention [news release] Authorities will better positioned to prevent, detect and prosecute cyber crime offences if Australia accedes to the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime, according to a key report tabled in the Senate today. http://www.attorneygeneral.gov.au/www/ministers/mcclelland.nsf/Page/MediaReleases_2011_FirstQuarter_1March2011-NationalInterestAnalysisonInternationalCybercrimeConvention If Stuxnet was act of cyberwar, is US ready for a response? The complex Stuxnet worm proved attacks on SCADA and other industrial control systems were possible. Are we ready if one comes our way? http://www.networkworld.com/news/2011/030211-if-stuxnet-was-act-of.html http://www.pcworld.com/article/221204/.html ********************** - DOMAIN DISPUTES ********************** U.S. defends Web site seizures The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency says government seizures of Web sites is about protecting U.S. industry, not regulating the Internet. http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2011/03/01/US-defends-Web-site-seizures/UPI-99471299011857/ ********************** - IPv4/IPv6 ********************** IPv6 knowledge is 'all over the map,' CIRA says After wrapping up its first ever Canadian Internet Forum in Ottawa last week, CIRA head Byron Holland gives his thoughts on the state of IPv6 readiness among Canadian IT shops. Why he compares the entire process to a big supply chain http://www.itworldcanada.com/news/ipv6-knowledge-is-all-over-the-map-cira-says/142616 ********************** - MISCELLANEOUS ********************** Global Domain Name Registrations Grow 1.7% in Q4 2010 To 205m: VeriSign The total number of domain names registered grew by 1.7 per cent in the quarter ending December 2010, or 3.5 million, to 205.3 million according to the latest VeriSign Domain Name Industry Brief. Registrations grew by 12.1 million, or 6.3 per cent over the past year. http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=13873 http://www.domainpulse.com/2011/03/01/global-domain-name-registrations-grow-17-in-q4-2010-to-205m-verisign/ Internet Grows to More Than 205 Million Domain Names in Fourth Quarter of 2010 [news release] The global base of Internet domain names grew by nearly 3.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2010, according to the latest Domain Name Industry Brief, published by VeriSign, Inc. (NASDAQ: VRSN), the trusted provider of Internet infrastructure services for the networked world. http://www.verisigninc.com/en_US/news-events/press-room/articles/index.xhtml?artLink=aHR0cHM6Ly9wcmVzcy52ZXJpc2lnbi5jb20vZWFzeWlyL2N1c3RvbXJlbC5kbz9lYXN5aXJpZD1BRkMwRkYwREI1QzU2MEQzJnZlcnNpb249bGl2ZSZwcmlkPTcyNjA0NSZyZWxlYXNlanNwPWN1c3RvbV85Nw== Peruvian Internet Policy Expert Seeks Political Ambitions Peruvian domain name expert and general manager of Latin American and Caribbean TLD Association (LACTLD), Erick Iriarte Ah?n, is seeking election to parliament. http://www.domainpulse.com/2011/02/28/peruvian-internet-policy-expert-seeks-political-ambitions/ http://domainnews.com/en/peruvian-internet-policy-expert-seeks-political-ambitions.html ********************** - DOMAINING & AFTERMARKET ********************** Best Ways to Find Five Letter Domains I know a lot of you are looking for short brand names for your startup or personal web presence. These types of domains are some of the most sought after. Most entrepreneurs would be thrilled to have a pronounceable, memorable and relevant brand identity for their websites, apps and products. http://www.dotsauce.com/2011/03/02/find-five-letter-domains/ ********************** - NON-ENGLISH NEWS ********************** ********************** - German News ********************** ICANN lehnt Einspruchsrecht f?r Top-Level-Domains ab Die US-Regierung ist mit ihrem Vorsto? gescheitert, ein Vetorecht f?r die Vergabe von TLDs einzuf?hren. Der Regierungsbeirat (Governmental Advisory Committee, GAC) der Netzverwaltungsorganisation ICANN hat diesen Teil eines Antrags der USA abgelehnt. Daf?r erhalten Regierungen das Recht, Empfehlungen zu kontrovers diskutierten Domainendungen auszusprechen, die aber nicht bindend sind. http://www.zdnet.de/news/digitale_wirtschaft_internet_ebusiness_icann_lehnt_einspruchsrecht_fuer_top_level_domains_ab_story-39002364-41549557-1.htm Regierungen f?r "Fr?hwarnsystem" gegen missliebige Domains Vertreter der Regierungen fordern von der Netzverwaltung ICANN ein "Fr?hwarnsystem" f?r m?glicherweise unliebsame neue TLDs. http://www.heise.de/ct/meldung/Regierungen-fuer-Fruehwarnsystem-gegen-missliebige-Domains-1200298.html http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/Regierungen-fuer-Fruehwarnsystem-gegen-missliebige-Domains-1200298.html TLDs ? Neues von .africa, .org und .reise Europa und Asien haben schon eine, jetzt will auch Afrika die eigene Endung: einer der Bewerber um das K?rzel .africa sucht bereits eine Registry. In Deutschland will sich .reise auf die Spuren von .travel begeben, w?hrend .org mit Halbjahreszahlen gl?nzt ? hier die Kurznews. http://www.domain-recht.de/magazin/domain-news-2011/tlds-neues-von-africa-org-und-reise-id667914.html nTLDs ? ICANN best?tigt weitere Verz?gerung Die Internet-Verwaltung ICANN hat offiziell best?tigt, die Entscheidung ?ber die Einf?hrung neuer Top Level Domains erst nach dem f?r M?rz 2011 anberaumten Meeting in San Francisco zu treffen. Unterdessen droht durch die Unruhen im Nahen und Mittleren Osten weitere Verz?gerung. http://www.domain-recht.de/magazin/domain-news-2011/ntlds-icann-bestaetigt-weitere-verzoegerung-id667912.html Denic f?hrt DNSSEC ein Die Denic wird die DNS-Erweiterung DNSSEC ? bei der die DNS-Eintr?ge mittels kryptographischer Verfahren auf ihre G?ltigkeit gepr?ft werden ? am 31. Mai vom Test- in den Produktivbetrieb ?berf?hren. Das teilte das Bundesamt f?r Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik (BSI) mit. http://www.silicon.de/technologie/sicherheit/0,39044013,41549502,00/denic_fuehrt_dnssec_ein.htm Traffic ? Domainer verspotten SEO-Newbie Der SEO-Spezialist Stephen Chapman wundert sich. Er registrierte einen Domain-Namen und leitete dessen Traffic auf eine andere Domain um, deren Traffic daraufhin massiv anstieg. Und Domainer spotten dar?ber. Es scheint so, als w?ren SEO (Search Engine Optimization) und Domaining zwei sich fremde Welten. http://www.domain-recht.de/magazin/domain-news-2011/traffic-domainer-verspotten-seo-newbie-id667913.html ********************** - French News ********************** Les soucis du ma?tre d'Internet: L'Icann, qui g?re l'ensemble des noms de domaine sur Internet, s'inqui?te de l'avenir du Web. St?phane Van Gelder pr?side le GNSO, l'un des deux organes de d?cision de l'Icann*. Premier Fran?ais ? acc?der ? ce poste, il d?fend le projet d'ajout de nouvelles extensions sur le Web, telles que le .paris pour la capitale fran?aise. http://www.lepoint.fr/high-tech-internet/les-soucis-du-maitre-d-internet-28-02-2011-1300712_47.php Libye : quel risque pour les noms de domaine en .LY? Qu?elle soit d?ordre gouvernemental, politique, technique? une interruption inopin?e peut menacer la p?rennit? d?un site. A fortiori un blocage total d?Internet comme celui dont la Libye, apr?s la Tunisie et l??gypte, a fait l?objet pendant quelques heures dans la nuit du 18 au 19 f?vrier. Quels sont donc les risques pour les noms de domaine en .LY? http://domainesinfo.fr/extension/2301/.php .SE : une proc?dure acc?l?r?e pour r?soudre les litiges Le registre su?dois teste pendant six mois une nouvelle proc?dure de r?glement des litiges applicable lorsque le d?fendeur ne r?pond pas aux all?gations du demandeur. http://domainesinfo.fr/extension/2304/.php Nouvelles extensions : les gouvernements n?auront pas droit de veto Les membres du GAC, l?organisation repr?sentative des gouvernements au sein de l?ICANN, viennent de rejeter la proposition du secr?tariat d??tat am?ricain au Commerce visant ? leur accorder un droit de veto sur la cr?ation de nouvelles extensions. http://domainesinfo.fr/actualite/2303/.php ********************** - Italian News ********************** ICANN, no al potere di veto voluto dagli USA Non passa la proposta del governo statunitense di istituire il diritto di veto sui domini di primo livello "scomodi". Alla governance dei domini verr? al massimo recapitato un "consiglio non vincolante" http://punto-informatico.it/3099753/PI/News/icann-no-al-potere-veto-voluto-dagli-usa.aspx ********************** - Hungarian News ********************** .at domain regisztr?ci? ingyenesen Minden, legal?bb 2 ?ves .hu domain regisztr?ci?hoz 1 osztr?k domain nevet adunk aj?nd?kba. http://www.domainabc.hu/hazunk-taja/at-domain-regisztracio/1727/ ********************** INTERNET USE ********************** No social media revolution for Cuba A strange thing happened to me the other week. While the so called Facebook revolution was sweeping through Egypt I found myself in an almost completely net free zone, a rare black hole on the Facebook map: Cuba. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/03/01/3151782.htm WikiLeaks, Internet in record Nobel Peace field Anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks, the Internet and a Russian human rights activist are among a record 241 nominations for the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize. ... Some pundits have said the Internet or social media such as Facebook and Twitter, which have been used to help organise dissent in countries with oppressive governments, could be rewarded. http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/03/01/uk-norway-nobel-idUKTRE72030820110301 PlagiPedia shows the web is passionate about correcting its own follies by Jimmy Wales In recent weeks the world has watched popular protests topple dictators across the Middle East. These revolutions have been called "Twitter revolutions" or "Facebook revolutions", and although these claims are somewhat exaggerated, they are also not entirely fanciful. The truth is always more complex and more interesting than simple bromides can capture. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/mar/01/plagiarism-education-web-wiki-follies Jacqui Smith: My view of pornography: former Home Secretary Jacqui Smith on her personal experience Eyeing my fellow passengers on the Tube heading for the Erotica show at Olympia last November, I wondered just what I was letting myself in for. BBC Radio 5 Live had asked me to make a documentary about the UK porn industry, so where better to start than its trade fair? http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/love-sex/jacqui-smith-my-view-of-pornography-2229430.html ********************** SOCIAL NETWORKING ********************** App spies on Facebook relationship status A new Facebook app that immediately alerts users when someone they have a crush on changes their relationship status is causing a stir. http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/creepy-app-spies-on-your-facebook-relationship-status-20110301-1bcg3.html http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/creepy-app-spies-on-your-facebook-relationship-status-20110301-1bcg3.html Bosses switch on antisocial network AN ANGRY red dot flashes at the top of your computer screen. As your mouse creeps over it, a message appears: ''Twitter use has exceeded the department average of 58.6 minutes per day - please self-regulate.'' http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/bosses-switch-on-antisocial-network-20110301-1bd6t.html ********************** NEW TECHNOLOGIES ********************** Inside Microsoft: Innovation still on the menu If you spent $9bn a year on research and development and employed 900 of the world's top computer scientists to come up with new ideas, what would you expect in return? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12570045 E-readers growing in popularity as publishers predict the 'year of the e-book' The growth of electronic books is closing the technology age gap as more over-55s turn to Apple iPads and Amazon Kindles instead of the familiar paperback. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/8353305/E-readers-growing-in-popularity-as-publishers-predict-the-year-of-the-e-book.html ************************************************ CHILD PROTECTION, FILTERING & CONTENT REGULATION ************************************************ us: No Protection Found for Sex Photos Altered to Include Minors [New York Law Journal] Sexually explicit photos of adults that have been digitally altered to display the faces of children are not protected expressive speech under the First Amendment, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has ruled. http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202483899894 uk: 'I slit my wrists because I was cyber-bullied' "You should go and kill yourself because you don't mean anything to anyone." When 14-year-old Carney Bonner read this Facebook message he was so distressed that he began to self-harm. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-12619440 us: South Carolina bill would punish teens for sexting Debate on a bill to punish teens for sexting in South Carolina has been delayed. http://www.thetandd.com/news/local/state-and-regional/article_d4d0eedc-44ea-11e0-9f85-001cc4c002e0.html http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110302/APN/1103020609 Norton Reports: Justin Bieber and John Lennon Top the Celebrity Charts for Kids Worldwide Kids around the world have one really big thing in common when they?re searching for entertainment on the internet, and that?s music. Norton Online Family Kids? Top Entertainment Searches, based on more than 20 million anonymous search-engine queries from kids in 20 countries, found that the majority of entertainment searches kids conducted online (more than 75 percent) were for songs or musicians. http://www.symantec.com/en/au/about/news/release/article.jsp?prid=20110210_01 ********************** ONLINE TV & MUSIC ********************** Opinion: Listen to internet users before setting rules on piracy by HelenYoung, school of communication arts, University of Western Sydney One in three adults in Australia has participated in movie piracy, according to a recent report by the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft. But if we are a nation of digital thieves then we are not alone: an international report released this year said that stolen copyright material accounts for between one-fifth and one-quarter of all internet traffic worldwide. http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/listen-to-internet-users-before-setting-rules-on-piracy-20110228-1bbmj.html Investors Are Drawn Anew to Digital Music Since it emerged in the 1990s, digital music has been hugely popular with fans, but for online music companies and their investors it has almost never been profitable. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/01/business/media/01music.html Music labels making millions from YouTube, says Google Universal Music will be confident about the success of Jessie J's debut album Who You Are which is released today, as she is one of the most viewed artists on YouTube this year with almost 40 million hits on just two of her music videos. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/music-labels-making-millions-from-youtube-2227693.html http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10709293 ********************** MOBILE/WIRELESS ********************** Japanese Phone Makers Look to Ride Android?s Surge Japanese mobile phones are a gadget lover?s dream. They double as credit cards. They can display digital TV broadcasts. Some are even fitted with solar cells. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/03/business/global/03android.html Apple's subscription model: some new reasons to be nervous Digital music services like MOG, Rdio and Rhapsody have been vocal about their fear that Apple?s subscription policy will ruin innovative companies already shouldering start-up losses, and the industry?s concern was again on display at the FT Digital Media and Broadcasting conference on Wednesday. http://blogs.ft.com/fttechhub/2011/03/apple?s-subscription-model-some-new-reasons-to-be-nervous/ Resist the Pull of Smartphones, Nintendo President Urges Developers The president of Nintendo told video game developers Wednesday that smartphones were driving a trend toward lower quality, and economically unsustainable, video games. http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/02/resist-the-pull-of-smartphones-nintendo-president-urges-developers/ ********************** SPAM ********************** Spam on the rise again in Australia after lull: MessageLabs Following the dip in January by the removal of some botnet providers, spam is on the rise again in Australia, according to security experts. http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/378527/spam_rise_again_australia_after_lull_messagelabs/ ************************** ONLINE CRIME, SECURITY & LEGAL ************************** au: National Interest Analysis on international Cybercrime Convention [news release] Authorities will better positioned to prevent, detect and prosecute cyber crime offences if Australia accedes to the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime, according to a key report tabled in the Senate today. http://www.attorneygeneral.gov.au/www/ministers/mcclelland.nsf/Page/MediaReleases_2011_FirstQuarter_1March2011-NationalInterestAnalysisonInternationalCybercrimeConvention nz: Ministry Cautions About Quake-Themed Phishing E-mail The Ministry of Consumer Affairs in Christchurch (New Zealand) is urging people to watch out for a phishing scam that's capitalizing on the Christchurch earthquake to exploit unsuspecting New Zealanders, so published Voxy.co.nz in news on February 23, 2011. http://www.spamfighter.com/Ministry-Cautions-About-Quake-Themed-Phishing-E-mail-15843-News.htm US says China's Baidu is notorious pirated goods market The US has put China's top search engine Baidu on a list of "notorious markets" for counterfeit and pirated goods. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12605067 U.S. calls China's Baidu 'notorious market' The United States on Monday again put China's top search engine, Baidu Inc, on its annual list of "notorious markets" for counterfeit and pirated goods, fueling U.S. business community hopes for action in Congress against "rogue websites." http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/03/01/idINIndia-55231820110301 China tops list for online, offline piracy U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk released a report Monday reaffirming China's role as the world's leading source of counterfeit goods - both online and offline. http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20110301_1775.php us: Sen. Schumer calls for increased public WiFi security Sen. Charles Schumer on Sunday called on major U.S. web site operators such as Amazon and Twitter to switch to a more secure protocol to prevent identify theft and other security breaches in places like coffee shops. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/28/us-schumer-wifi-idUSTRE71Q2N420110228 Senator Schumer Calls on Sites to Step Up Consumer Protection "As the operator of one of the world's most popular websites, you provide a valuable service to Internet users across America. With the privilege of serving millions of U.S. citizens, however, comes the responsibility to protect them while they are on your site." http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/220869/.html 'Microsoft support centre' scam continues, and takes turn for worse The scam whereby people in Indian call centres ring up and insist that they are calling from "Microsoft Windows Support" and that they have been alerted - by Microsoft, or your ISP - that "your computer is running slowly because of viruses" - is still going on. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/blog/2011/mar/01/microsoft-virus-scam-continues German regulators move on transmission of IP addresses to third parties A German data protection agency has ruled that a company passing along IP addresses to a third party is illegal without the explicit consent of the individual IP address 'owners' involved. http://www.telecomtv.com/comspace_newsDetail.aspx?n=47324&id=e9381817-0593-417a-8639-c4c53e2a2a10# Britons caught out by booby-trapped web ads Tens of thousands of people could have been caught out by cyber criminals who put booby-trapped adverts on popular webpages. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12608651 ch: Parliament cracks down on cybercrime The House of Representative has agreed to step up international cooperation against computer hackers, data theft and online child pornography. http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/politics/Parliament_cracks_down_on_cybercrime.html?cid=29629848 ************************** PRIVACY ************************** Facebook Facelifts Its Privacy Policy On Friday, Facebook offered its users a sneak peak at a major overhaul in how the site intends to present its privacy policy, and asked whether they like the idea. http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/01/facebook-facelifts-its-privacy-policy/ Facebook takes fresh step to open up users' personal details Facebook is planning to make users' addresses and mobile phone numbers available to apps that people use on the site, although it says it would require users to give explicit permission for it to happen. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/mar/02/facebook-personal-details-privacy Facebook debating contact information request for minors Facebook has told lawmakers it is debating whether to allow third-party applications to request contact information about minors. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/posttech/2011/02/facebook_told_lawmakers_it_is.html Web's Hot New Commodity: Privacy As the surreptitious tracking of Internet users becomes more aggressive and widespread, tiny start-ups and technology giants alike are pushing a new product: privacy. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703529004576160764037920274.html Europe's highest court to rule on Google privacy battle in Spain Europe's highest court looks set to decide whether Google should remove links to articles in newspapers, including El Pa?s, from its search engine following a Spanish demand about invasion of privacy. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/mar/01/google-spain-privacy-court-case ********************** CENSORSHIP ********************** Telling Libya's story over the Internet An ad hoc network of information smugglers uses social media, accessed from across the border in Egypt, to share videos and firsthand accounts of the violence. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-libya-information-20110227,0,5176350.story Malaysia media laws raise concern The Malaysian government is planning to tighten media regulations. And that's unnerving many in the country. The government will put limits on the internet, raising concerns of a crackdown on free speech. http://english.aljazeera.net/video/asia-pacific/2011/02/201122842520764101.html YouTube urged to delete radical cleric's sermons Sermons from Anwar al-Awlaki, the radical cleric said to be linked to multiple terrorist plots against Britain and the United States, remain on YouTube despite calls for them to be taken down. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/feb/28/youtube-urged-to-delete-sermons China Tightens Leash on Journalists China appeared to reinstate some restrictions on foreign journalists that were lifted ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, as the government tried to stifle online activists' calls for a "Jasmine Revolution." http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704506004576174012314242204.html ************************** GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY ************************** au: Comms review set to start soon: Conroy [AAP] A committee to advise on regulating new and old media will be finalised within a few days, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has said. http://www.zdnet.com.au/comms-review-set-to-start-soon-conroy-339310574.htm uk: Ad regulator oversees social networking and companies' own sites from today From today, companies' communication on social networking sites and their own websites will be subject to regulation by the UK advertising industry watchdog, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). http://out-law.com/page-11802 Net Neutrality Debate in Europe Is ?Over? Is throwing net neutrality under the bus the price of a modern European telecom network? While the debate over a free and open Internet has raged in the U.S., it appears in Europe that the argument is largely over; net neutrality lost. What we are now arguing about is where to draw the line, not should we draw one at all. http://blogs.wsj.com/tech-europe/2011/02/28/net-neutrality-debate-in-europe-is-over/ Defining Internet "freedom": Ars interviews Senator Al Franken Since winning election to the US Senate in 2008, Al Franken (D-MN) has become one of that chamber's top net neutrality defenders. With the House uninterested in compromise on the issue, the real push to gut the FCC's existing net neutrality order will take place this year in the Senate. http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2011/02/ars-interviews-sen-al-franken.ars California legislation would tighten rules on Internet sales tax California lawmakers are pushing measures that would require online merchants to collect sales tax on more transactions in a move to help shore up the state's sagging finances and level the playing field for bricks-and-mortar retailers. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-cover-internet-tax-20110227,0,7636764.story us: States Make Play for Web Gambling Efforts to legalize online gambling in the U.S. are moving to the states as lawmakers roll the dice on bills that aim to steer around federal laws effectively prohibiting Internet wagering. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703409904576174730883294102.html us: Campbell To Re-Introduce Online Gambling Bill With Frank House Financial Services Committee ranking member Barney Frank, D-Mass., has found a new partner in his quest to legalize Internet gambling and to reverse a 2006 law that outlawed it. http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2011/03/campbell-to-reintroduce-online.php Singapore issues ISP code of practice The government has issued several mandatory security measures that designated Internet service providers (ISPs) must comply with as part of efforts to safeguard the country's Internet infrastructure. http://www.zdnetasia.com/singapore-issues-isp-code-of-practice-62207139.htm ********************************* MISCELLANEOUS ********************************* Google Investing in Latin America After Region's Sales Rose 80% Last Year Google Inc., the world?s biggest Internet-search company, is opening new offices in Latin America and boosting staffing levels by 50 percent to capitalize on its fastest-growing region. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-01/google-investing-in-latin-america-after-region-s-sales-rose-80-last-year.html nz: NetHui to gather internet stakeholders InternetNZ is hoping a three-day conference will attract representatives of various sectors that are ?stakeholders? in the internet, to discuss a broad range of internet-associated topics. http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/nethui-to-gather-internet-stakeholders ********************** TELECOMMUNICATIONS ********************** Ofcom wants to ban misleading broadband speed ads Ofcom is seeking to stop internet service providers from advertising unrealistic broadband speeds. Currently most ISPs advertise services as 'up to' a certain speed - for instance, 20Mbps (megabits per second). http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12611315 ISPs must advertise average broadband speeds, not 'up to' speeds, says Ofcom ISPs should be forced to advertise the typical speeds available on internet access packages and not the theoretical maximum currently advertised, telecoms regulator Ofcom has said. They should also not be allowed to cap 'unlimited' services. http://out-law.com/page-11803 Average broadband speed is still less than half advertised speed [Ofcom news release] Average download speeds remain less than half of ?up to? speeds advertised by some Internet Service Providers (ISPs), particularly for current generation copper-based ADSL services, new Ofcom research reveals. http://media.ofcom.org.uk/2011/03/02/average-broadband-speed-is-still-less-than-half-advertised-speed/ nz: Telco networks under pressure following earthquake The 6.3 magnitude earthquake that struck Christchurch at 12.51pm on Tuesday February 22 caused widespread disruption to telecommunication networks. http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/telco-networks-under-pressure-in-earthquake nz: Ultra Fast Broadband on hold? InternetNZ CEO Vikram Kumar says its organisation has heard that the government may call a halt the Ultra Fast Broadband initiative following last week?s earthquake in Christchurch. http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/ultra-fast-broadband-on-hold nz: Fibre Watch: UFB on shaky ground Will the government?s $1.5 billion ultra-fast broadband initiative survive the economic fallout from the deadly earthquake that has destroyed central Christchurch? http://www.techday.co.nz/telecommunicationsreview/news/fibre-watch-ufb-on-shaky-ground/19493/6/ nz: Govt considering UFB delay? InternetNZ and the New Zealand Council for Infrastructure Development today released a joint statement about rebuilding a new vibrant Christchurch underpinned by world class broadband infrastructure. http://www.techday.co.nz/telecommunicationsreview/news/govt-considering-ufb-delay/19481/6/ InternetNZ calls for fibre roll out in Christchurch New Zealand internet industry group InternetNZ and NZCID (New Zealand Council for Infrastructure Development) have jointly called for rolling out fibre broadband infrastructure when the city council begins rebuilding Christchurch. http://www.telecompaper.com/news/internetnz-calls-for-fibre-roll-out-in-christchurch InternetNZ And NZCID Call For Leadership In Christchurch Rebuild InternetNZ (Internet New Zealand Inc) and NZCID (New Zealand Council for Infrastructure Development) have today jointly called for leadership in building a new vibrant Christchurch, underpinned by world class broadband infrastructure. http://www.voxy.co.nz/technology/internetnz-and-nzcid-call-leadership-christchurch-rebuild/5/84314 au: Railway safety under siege as carriers scramble for spectrum Australia's peak rail authority is battling to protect billions of dollars worth of investment in the safety of national rail networks, which is under siege as the carriers scramble for scarce Long Term Evolution spectrum resources. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/railway-safety-under-siege-as-carriers-scramble-for-spectrum/story-e6frgakx-1226013777397 Boehner rips FCC bid to regulate Internet House Speaker John A. Boehner lashed out against efforts to regulate Internet traffic before an audience of evangelical Christian media leaders and pointedly responded to President Obama by comparing the challenge of the burgeoning national debt to the Sputnik-era space race. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/feb/28/boehner-rips-bid-to-regulate-internet/ uk: Vodafone scrambles to recover as burglary disconnects thousands Hundreds of thousands of Vodafone customers were left unable to use their phones yesterday after important communications equipment was stolen during a break-in at one of the company's technical facilities near Basingstoke in Hampshire. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/vodafone-scrambles-to-recover-as-burglary-disconnects-thousands-2228532.html ********************************** ARRESTS/COURT CASES FOR ONLINE CHILD PROTECTION ********************************** au: Vic man used chat room to groom children [AAP] 25-year-old man pretended to be a teenage boy to talk about sex acts with children in MSN Messenger. http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/378114/vic_man_used_chat_room_groom_children/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (c) David Goldstein 2011 --------- 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 FlanneryReceived on Wed Mar 02 2011 - 17:06:38 UTC
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