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 *************************************************** US official seeks industry support to protect Web http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/06/15/internet-governance-industry-idINL1E8HFDHL20120615 EU calls on UN body to leave internet open http://www.euractiv.com/infosociety/eu-wants-un-leave-internet-open-news-513309 ICANN and top level domains: Businesses see opportunity in the opening up of internet domain names http://www.economist.com/node/21556994 Businesses will have to wait to evaluate full risks of new domains, says expert http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2012/june/businesses-will-have-to-wait-to-evaluate-full-risks-of-new-domains-says-expert/ .Rip .Off: Highlights From The Top-Level Domain Scrum http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120613/12491719310/rip-off-highlights-top-level-domain-scrum.shtml ICANN admits to data breach in publishing 'postal addresses' of new domain applicant contacts http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2012/june/icann-admits-to-data-breach-in-publishing-postal-addresses-of-new-domain-applicant-contacts/ Lower your bow, ICANN: How digital archery threatens to become the organization's Battle of Hastings http://news.dot-nxt.com/2012/06/13/lower-your-bow-icann ARI Registry Services provides insight and analysis into the new Top-Level Domain application list http://www.ariservices.com/news-new_tld_reveal_day_analysis_by_ari.php Aussie brands snub ICANN's expansion of internet address suffix names http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/aussie-brands-snub-icanns-expansion-of-internet-address-suffix-names/story-e6frgakx-1226396163223 ICANN hands Australia key internet suffixes http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/icann-hands-australia-key-internet-suffixes/story-e6frgakx-1226395055594 '.afl, .cba, .auspost': Australian organisations apply for generic top level domain names http://www.smh.com.au/it-pro/business-it/afl-cba-auspost-australian-organisations-apply-for-generic-top-level-domain-names-20120614-20bo5.html New net name to end the dotcom http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/sydney-news/new-net-name-to-end-the-dotcom/story-e6freuzi-1226396016582 Twitter and Facebook shun internet names http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/twitter-and-facebook-shun-internet-names/story-e6frgakx-1226395945420 Rush is on to snap up domain names http://www.theage.com.au/business/rush-is-on-to-snap-up-domain-names-20120614-20cz2.html Google bids millions for next-gen internet addresses http://afr.com/p/technology/google_bids_millions_for_next_gen_GtLALx7jheGDZVxWty1AQO au: DNSChanger deadline looms - ACMA urges affected users to fix their computer before 9 July http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/427705/dnschanger_deadline_looms/ au: IIA plans amendments to iCode by late September http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/427605/iia_plans_amendments_icode_by_late_september/ au: iCode review tackles public wifi malware http://www.itnews.com.au/News/304700,icode-review-tackles-public-wifi-malware.aspx ********************** GOVERNANCE ********************** US official seeks industry support to protect Web Executives were urged to join the fight to keep the Internet free from centralized control, ahead of a conference later this year where U.S. government officials fear countries will vote to give the United Nations more power over the Web. http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/06/15/internet-governance-industry-idINL1E8HFDHL20120615 EU calls on UN body to leave internet open The European Commission said it will seek ?a conservative approach? to proposed changes to international telecommunications regulations (ITRs) later this year, which some warn could end up imposing tighter security and pricing regimes on the internet. http://www.euractiv.com/infosociety/eu-wants-un-leave-internet-open-news-513309 'Multi-stakeholder' management of Internet should stay Given that the contract to oversee the global domain name system will be up for renewal this September, and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) will be organizing a global conference to review existing policies to include Internet management aspects into ongoing treaties, there is a lot of uncertainty regarding the future of the World Wide Web. http://www.zdnetasia.com/multi-stakeholder-management-of-internet-should-stay-62305133.htm Speech by Mr Thorbj?rn Jagland, Secretary General of the Council of Europe European Dialogue on Internet Governance Conference Ladies and Gentlemen, It is a pleasure for me to be here in Stockholm today and to be able to address the Fifth edition of the European Dialogue on Internet Governance. We have with us today over 600 representatives from civil society, business, governments, parliaments and international organisations. All here, to openly discuss the most pressing issues on Internet public policy. http://www.coe.int/20120614-eurodig ********************** DOMAIN NAMES ********************** ********************** - ICANN ********************** Updated Final Implementation Plan for IDN ccTLD Fast Track Processes Available Following the completion of the second annual review of the IDN ccTLD Fast Track Process, ICANN is providing this notice of publication for the updated Final Implementation Plan for the IDN ccTLD Fast Track Process. http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-14jun12-en.htm ********************** - ccTLD & gTLD NEWS ********************** be: New WHOIS and DAS service Jun 11, 2012 On Tuesday 12 June oldwhois.dns.be and olddas.dns.be will be removed, everyone should use the new WHOIS and DAS service. http://dns.be/en//new_whois_and_das_service3 .ee domains with diacritics introduced one year ago today Precisely one year ago today the Estonian Internet Foundation introduced domains with names containing diacritical marks (letters ?, ?, ?, ?, ? and ?), thus ensuring that the whole Estonian alphabet is now available for .ee domain names. Over this period of 12 months, a total of 1223 domain names with diacritics have been registered. http://www.internet.ee/eng/news/ee-domains-with-diacritics-introduced-one-year-ago-today fr: Afnic reports a dynamic 2011 with good results At its Annual General Assembly on 15 June 2012, Afnic announced the highlights for the past year through its annual report. http://www.afnic.fr/en/about-afnic/news/general-news/6061/show/afnic-reports-a-dynamic-2011-with-good-results.html Translation of "JP Domain Name Registry Report 2011" Posted JPRS posted English translation of "JP Domain Name Registry Report 2011." This is the annual report for 2011, briefing that year's activities performed by JPRS, in relation to its management and administration of .JP TLD. http://jprs.co.jp/en/topics/2012/120611.html Norwegian Court to rule on .CO.NO compliance with Norid Policy The Court case filed by the .CO.NO Operator against Uninett Norid A.S. to obtain a ruling that will secure the .CO.NO initiative, was held on May 24th and 25th, 2012, before the South-Tr?ndelag District Court in Trondheim. http://domain.co.no/gb/news/index.php DNCL Second Level Consultation and Submissions The Domain Name Commission is proposing to extend the .nz domain name space by allowing anybody to register domain names at the ?second level?. This has the potential to significantly alter New Zealand?s domain name space so it?s important we get your views. http://dnc.org.nz/second_level_proposal_c1 New Zealand domain names: second level domains proposed The Domain Name Commission is calling for submissions to its proposal to extend the .nz domain name space by allowing anybody to register domain names at the "second level". http://www.mondaq.com/NewZealand/x/181790/ ********************** - NEW TLDS ********************** ICANN and top level domains: Businesses see opportunity in the opening up of internet domain names ?THE internet is about to change for ever? is an assertion often made by tech firms and their gushing flacks. But this week it came from Rod Beckstrom, the boss of ICANN, a deeply unsexy non-profit entity that controls the web?s naming system. For better or for worse, he is probably right. http://www.economist.com/node/21556994 Companies ignore web?s Big Bang Wednesday was, according to Rod Beckstrom, head of the body that regulates internet domain names, ?an historic day for the internet?. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6968d7d8-b6f7-11e1-8a95-00144feabdc0.html Businesses will have to wait to evaluate full risks of new domains, says expert Businesses face extra costs and risks because of new internet domains, but the publication of a list of newly applied-for domains will not allow them to calculate those risks precisely, an expert has said. http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2012/june/businesses-will-have-to-wait-to-evaluate-full-risks-of-new-domains-says-expert/ .Rip .Off: Highlights From The Top-Level Domain Scrum The whole ICANN process for creating gTLDs has clearly been designed to allow certain groups to make a ton of money by basically pressuring individuals and companies to snap up more domains they don't need. The whole thing has appeared impossibly corrupt from the very beginning. However, with ICANN finally releasing the full list of gTLDs that have been applied for (using the obnoxious title "reveal day" -- as if the world was really waiting impatiently for this crap), there are at least some bizarre or interesting factoids as we skim through the list. http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120613/12491719310/rip-off-highlights-top-level-domain-scrum.shtml FairWinds Partners Sees New gTLDs Inspiring New Internet Business Model Today ICANN published the list of the 1,930 applications it received for new gTLD extensions ? applications for everything from .CITY to .BRAND to .PHRASE. FairWinds Partners, the leading domain name strategy consulting firm, co-founded and run by Managing Partners Josh Bourne and Phil Lodico, said, "Today is an exciting day for the Internet: the Internet business model as we know it is gone and a new era begins. Businesses will have to innovate to stay on the cutting edge of the Internet frontier." http://www.fairwindspartners.com/en/newsroom/press-release/FairWinds-Partners-Sees-New-gTLDs-Inspiring-New-Internet-Business-Model FairWinds Takes on New Internet Business Model with New gTLD Strategy Services FairWinds Partners, the leading global domain name strategy consultancy and the largest provider of new gTLD application services to strategic brands, announced a comprehensive suite of New gTLD Strategy services today. http://www.fairwindspartners.com/en/newsroom/press-release/FairWinds-Takes-on-New-Internet-Business-Model-with-New-gTLD-Strategy-Services The Aftermath: Reveal Day and FairWinds? New gTLD Workshop If you?re anything like us here at FairWinds, you?re visiting this blog while taking a break from parsing through the lengthy list of new gTLD applications that ICANN published yesterday on Reveal Day. And if you?re anything like the clients we work with, you know that the biggest takeaway from all the data is this: the way all brands do business online is about to change. http://www.gtldstrategy.com/brand-protection-strategies/the-aftermath-reveal-day-and-fairwinds?-new-gtld-workshop Yogurt: An Odyssey Despite months of troubling news from financially wrought Greece, ICANN?s gTLD Reveal last Wednesday shed light on one Greek company who seems willing to gamble on an uncertain future. In a move that signifies a tradition of innovation, Fage Dairy Industry S.A., makers of the popular Fage Greek yogurt, applied for .FAGE. http://www.domainnamestrategy.com/2012/06/15/yogurt-odyssey .Brand Applications Account for One Third of All New gTLD Applications ICANN announced today that they received a total of 1930 New gTLD applications from 60 countries for 1408 unique strings. Of the 1930 applications received, .Brands accounted for 664 of them. https://www.markmonitor.com/mmblog/brand-applications-account-for-one-third-of-all-new-gtld-applications/ DI launches new gTLD application tracker with built-in string similarity checker I?m excited to announce the launch of a comprehensive new gTLD application tracking service, featuring a unique built-in string similarity checker, right here on DI. http://domainincite.com/9402-di-launches-new-gtld-application-tracker-with-built-in-string-similarity-checker New TLDs include at least four contested .brand applications I?ve identified at least four cases of contested .brand TLD applications, defined here as a case where two different brand holders are going after the same TLD. http://domainnamewire.com/2012/06/14/new-tlds-include-at-least-four-contested-brand-applications/ Big Brands Trying To Corner Generic Namespaces? Trying to make sense of the nearly 2000 new TLD applications is not something that anyone can do quickly. Sure, you can look at the list and see who has applied for what, but it?s only when you actually read the ?public? part of their submission that you can get an insight into their plans. http://www.internetnews.me/2012/06/14/big-brands-trying-to-corner-generic-namespaces/ Glitches Galore Maybe we shouldn?t be surprised at this point. But this morning, when we woke up and checked our email to find there had been yet another technical glitch with ICANN, we couldn?t help but groan. http://www.gtldstrategy.com/policy-updates/glitches-galore ICANN admits to data breach in publishing 'postal addresses' of new domain applicant contacts ICANN accidentally posted some personal details of applicants for new gTLDs on its website, the organisation has admitted. http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2012/june/icann-admits-to-data-breach-in-publishing-postal-addresses-of-new-domain-applicant-contacts/ ICANN takes down gTLD apps after revealing applicants? home addresses ICANN has temporarily blocked access to its newly revealed new gTLD applications after accidentally publishing the home addresses of many applicants. http://domainincite.com/9396-icann-takes-down-gtld-apps-after-revealing-applicants-home-addresses ICANN Data Breach Sees Some Applicant Address Details Revealed In an embarrassing snafu, ICANN has suffered another glitch with their new gTLD applications that saw postal addresses for some applicants revealed on their website. http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=17975 http://www.domainpulse.com/2012/06/15/icann-data-breach/ About 100 ANA members apply for new top level domains Around 20% of Association of National Advertisers members applied for new TLDs, but many may have been defensive. One of the most outspoken ? and tardy ? groups to lobby against ICANN?s expansion of the internet namespace was Association of National Advertisers (ANA). http://domainnamewire.com/2012/06/15/about-100-ana-members-apply-for-new-top-level-domains/ The stupidest gTLD applications I?ve seen so far Mitek USA, a maker of prefabricated building components (hinges, brackets, etc), has applied for four new gTLDs with the shoddiest applications I?ve seen so far. http://domainincite.com/9460-the-stupidest-gtld-applications-ive-seen-so-far The registry back-end market numbers are in The top five registry back-end providers account for almost 72% of all new gTLD applications, according to DI?s preliminary numbers. http://domainincite.com/9442-the-registry-back-end-market-numbers-are-in Go Daddy eyes one month registrations for .home and .casa domains Go Daddy is proposing a couple twists in its plan to offer .home and .casa domain names to the public. A big one: registrations as short as one month. ?Why pay for a year if the domain name will not be needed for a year??, the company asks in its application. http://domainnamewire.com/2012/06/15/go-daddy-eyes-one-month-registrations-for-home-and-casa-domains/ Honey, I screwed up on my $185,000 new TLD application I?ve found three instances of typo?s or errors in new TLD applicants? strings. I?ve reached out to ICANN to find out if the applicants will be afforded an opportunity to fix these errors as I can?t find anything in the guidebook about it. Logic would say yes in the case of an uncontested string. http://domainnamewire.com/2012/06/15/honey-i-screwed-up-my-185000-new-tld-application/ JPRS files a New gTLD Program application with ICANN to establish ".jprs" for the purpose of research for the Internet Japan Registry Services Co., Ltd. today announces that it has applied for ".jprs" as ICANN (*1) opened the application window for the new gTLD program. http://jprs.co.jp/en/press/2012/120614.html Uniregistry to offer single trademark block across all its top level domains Frank Schilling is definitely trying to shake things up with his new TLD play Uniregistry. Here are some interesting sections of his applications: http://domainnamewire.com/2012/06/13/uniregistry-to-offer-single-trademark-block-across-all-its-top-level-domains/ Amazon.com won?t offer domain names to the public Amazon.com has applied for 76 TLDs. But don?t expect to be able to register any second level domains underneath them. http://domainnamewire.com/2012/06/14/amazon-com-wont-offer-domain-names-to-the-public/ Should Domain Proposals for .Porn, .Sex Be Rejected? An anti-porn group is opposing a series of porn-related suffixes that could potentially be added to the Internet?s TLDs, including .porn, .sex and .adult. http://mashable.com/2012/06/14/domain-porn/ Lower your bow, ICANN: How digital archery threatens to become the organization's Battle of Hastings Harold Godwin's army was already tired. The same day word arrived that Duke William II had landed on the English coast seeking the throne, the king's men had fought at the Battle of Stamford Bridge. http://news.dot-nxt.com/2012/06/13/lower-your-bow-icann 'Digital archery' to settle which domain submissions ICANN considers first Some of the next steps as .com makes room for a flurry of new generic domains such as .baby, .Lexus, .AARP will make you scratch your head. http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-icann-gtlds-domain-names-20120615,0,1871749.story New top-level domains unlikely to be a panacea for phishing A number of financial institutions have jumped on ICANN opening up of a round of application for 'dot word' domains. http://www.techworld.com.au/article/427614/new_top-level_domains_unlikely_panacea_phishing/ http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/427614/new_top-level_domains_unlikely_panacea_phishing/ Internet Companies Go for Top-Level Domains Like '.Law' Nine companies, but just one in the legal field, are competing to buy new web domains such as ".law," ".lawyer," and ".legal," officials at the internet's domain registration body said Wednesday. http://www.law.com/jsp/lawtechnologynews/PubArticleLTN.jsp?id=1202559357661 Majority of British businesses with a website unaware of impending changes to the domain name landscape Online research commissioned by Nominet, the not-for-profit organisation responsible for the smooth and secure running of the .uk infrastructure, today reveals that the majority of senior decision makers in British businesses who have a website are unaware of the changes to the domain name landscape presented by the forthcoming arrival of all-new gTLDs. http://www.nominet.org.uk/news/releases/?contentId=9362 Some New GTLDs Will Fail as Businesses, Experts Say [IDG] Several questions remain after ICANN unveiled 1,930 applications for new gTLDs this week, long-time ICANN observers said. http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/257732/some_new_gtlds_will_fail_as_businesses_experts_say.html http://www.networkworld.com/news/2012/061512-some-new-gtlds-will-fail-260247.html Africa, Latin America take advantage of new gTLD process [Computerworld Kenya] Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean are big beneficiaries in the new GTLD selection process after the introduction of the controversial "batching" methodology by ICANN. http://news.idg.no/cw/art.cfm?id=736A99FF-0937-0DE7-C72E7147814078F9 Former ICANN Chairman Peter Dengate Thrush Talks New gTLDs, Marketing Strategies Most people in the Internet realm regard Wednesday, June 13, as one of the biggest days in Internet history. On that day, ICANN held its official reveal day for the new gTLD applicants, where it saw participation from almost 2,000 organizations around the world. http://www.thewhir.com/web-hosting-news/former-icann-chairman-peter-dengate-thrush-talks-new-gtlds-marketing-strategies Swiss want new 'Swiss' web address The Swiss government has applied for a new domain name for Switzerland, with the international administrator of domain names ICANN. http://worldradio.ch/wrs/news/wrsnews/swiss-want-new-swiss-web-address.shtml Nominet to support applications for new generic top level domains Following the reveal of all applications for new gTLDs by ICANN, we can confirm that we will be providing registry services for .bentley, .bbc .comcast, .xfinity and .telecity. This is in addition to the .wales and .cymru applications submitted directly by Nominet. http://www.nominet.org.uk/news/latest/?contentId=9367 ARI Registry Services provides insight and analysis into the new Top-Level Domain application list Following six years of development, the global governing body for the Internet (ICANN) yesterday unveiled details of the 1930 applications it received as part of the global program to expand the Internet's address system. http://www.ariservices.com/news-new_tld_reveal_day_analysis_by_ari.php Aussie brands snub ICANN's expansion of internet address suffix names SOME of Australia's most iconic corporations including Qantas, Telstra and Westpac have chosen not to include their brands in a massive expansion of the internet's addressing system. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/aussie-brands-snub-icanns-expansion-of-internet-address-suffix-names/story-e6frgakx-1226396163223 ICANN hands Australia key internet suffixes AUSTRALIA'S banks, cancer research and distance learning were among the winners snaring new Internet name suffixes announced in London last night. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/icann-hands-australia-key-internet-suffixes/story-e6frgakx-1226395055594 '.afl, .cba, .auspost': Australian organisations apply for generic top level domain names Australian banks, universities and sporting organisations are among 40 Australian organisations and thousands of global organisations that have applied for gTLDs. http://www.theage.com.au/it-pro/business-it/afl-cba-auspost-australian-organisations-apply-for-generic-top-level-domain-names-20120614-20bo5.html http://www.smh.com.au/it-pro/business-it/afl-cba-auspost-australian-organisations-apply-for-generic-top-level-domain-names-20120614-20bo5.html New net name to end the dotcom THE NSW government, the AFL and three of Australia's big banks are among more than 30 organisations joining the rush to revolutionise the way internet addresses work. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/sydney-news/new-net-name-to-end-the-dotcom/story-e6freuzi-1226396016582 Twitter and Facebook shun internet names SOCIAL networking giants Twitter and Facebook are among major online companies that have shunned the opportunity to create internet name suffixes based on their brands. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/twitter-and-facebook-shun-internet-names/story-e6frgakx-1226395945420 Rush is on to snap up domain names BANKS, sports codes, universities and a handful of opportunists are among the first 40 Australian applications to go after a generic domain name. http://www.theage.com.au/business/rush-is-on-to-snap-up-domain-names-20120614-20cz2.html Google bids millions for next-gen internet addresses Google has poured tens of millions of dollars into owning the single biggest slice of next-generation internet addresses, bidding for a wide range of generic address names from ?.baby? and ?.dad? to ?.dog? and ?.book?. http://afr.com/p/technology/google_bids_millions_for_next_gen_GtLALx7jheGDZVxWty1AQO Kiwi firms bid for new domain names A New Zealand-registered company which has applied for the domain name .rip risks losing its $236,000 evaluation fee as two other groups also want it. http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/7109389/Kiwi-firms-bid-for-new-domain-names http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/7109389/Kiwi-firms-bid-for-new-domain-names http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/technology/7109389/Kiwi-firms-bid-for-new-domain-names Dot Kiwi named as sole contender for .kiwi domain Dot Kiwi Ltd has been announced as the only contending applicant in a bid to secure the .kiwi domain name. http://www.voxy.co.nz/business/dot-kiwi-named-sole-contender-kiwi-domain/5/126441 http://www.geekzone.co.nz/content.asp?contentid=9688 ********************** - DNS SECURITY ********************** How Flame virus has changed everything for online security firms The Flame virus went undetected for two years by every online security firm. Now they need to find a new way to protect the world's PCs from malware http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/jun/17/flame-virus-online-security Disaster awaits U.S. power grid as cybersecurity lags Digital signatures that protect access to power-plant control systems are highly insecure, an industry leader warns -- and some companies want to make the problem worse. http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-57452863-83/disaster-awaits-u.s-power-grid-as-cybersecurity-lags/ au: DNSChanger deadline looms - ACMA urges affected users to fix their computer before 9 July There is less than a month to go until computers that have been infected with the DNSChanger malware will have trouble accessing websites and other internet services. http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/427705/dnschanger_deadline_looms/ au: IIA plans amendments to iCode by late September The Internet industry seeks to update its voluntary cybersecurity best practices, iCode, to better reflect technological trends and also improve education and messaging to Internet users, industry officials said at an Internet Industry Association (IIA) event in Sydney. http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/427605/iia_plans_amendments_icode_by_late_september/ au: iCode review tackles public wifi malware Telco and government representatives will meet in Sydney today to discuss improvements how the industry-led, anti-malware iCode may be improved. http://www.itnews.com.au/News/304700,icode-review-tackles-public-wifi-malware.aspx New partnership between the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (.CA Registry) and Swedish company OpenDNSSEC AB (svb) The Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) and the Swedish company OpenDNSSEC AB (svb) are pleased to announce they are partnering on an initiative to make the Internet more safe and secure. https://www.iis.se/en/pressmeddelanden/new-partnership-between-the-canadian-internet-registration-authority-ca-registry-and-swedish-company-opendnssec-ab-svb ********************** - DOMAIN DISPUTES ********************** Survival of the Fittest Gym chain Planet Fitness? UDRP complaint against competitor Blast Fitness Group, filed with the National Arbitration Forum (NAF) over the domain name blastfitness.com, appeared to be a clear case of Reverse Domain Name Hijacking (RDNH), but the case was not that simple. http://www.domainnamestrategy.com/2012/06/11/survival-fittest The Brief Case - June 2012 (sponsored by ICA) - A Failed Claim Under The UDRP Is Not Automatic Evidence of Reverse Hijacking On May 21, 2012 the National Arbitration Forum, (NAF), determined that unless a trademark licensee owns a registered or common law trademark that is confusingly similar to the disputed domain name, it cannot demand the transfer of that domain name under the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy, (UDRP). https://sedo.com/us/news/3062/The-Brief-Case---June-2012-(sponsored-by-ICA)/ Tales from a Cybersquatting Law Lawsuit Now the first thing you need to know is that the ACPA, the Anti-cybersquatting Consumer Protection Act, has a very limited number of cases that have been decided under it. The language of the statute is fairly clear, but, as with any law, there's room for disagreement about what the statute really means. http://tcattorney.typepad.com/anticybersquatting_consum/2012/06/tales-from-a-cybersquatting-law-lawsuit.html NAF Denies Claim to Domain Name Registered Before Trademark In Blue Ox Technologies Ltd. v. Asians, Inc./Richard L. Young, Esq., No: FA1441706 (June 10, 2012), A single member panel of the National Arbitration Forum found that the domain name 7LittleWords.com was not registered or used in bad faith because the owner of the domain name registered it before the complaining trademark owner had acquired trademark rights. http://www.domainersmagazine.com/Legal-News/NAF-Denies-Claim-to-Domain-Name-Registered-Before-Trademark.html ********************** - IPv4/IPv6 ********************** FBI, DEA warn IPv6 could shield criminals from police The FBI, DEA, and Royal Canadian Mounted Police say IPv6 may erode their ability to trace Internet addresses -- and warn new laws may be necessary if industry doesn't do more. http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-57453738-83/fbi-dea-warn-ipv6-could-shield-criminals-from-police/ ARIN Returns Some IPv4 Address Space to IANA Given the recent ICANN Board adoption of Global Policy Proposal - IPv4?2011, the ARIN Board of Trustees at its 6 June meeting directed ARIN staff to return to the IANA the IPv4 address blocks that have been voluntarily returned to ARIN in recent years. https://www.arin.net/announcements/2012/20120611.html Start Transitioning to IPv6 Now The Web has run out of IP addresses at the highest level of distribution. Every device that requires a unique identifier when connected to the Internet needs its own IP address. http://midsizeinsider.com/en-us/article/start-transitioning-to-ipv6-now ********************** - MISCELLANEOUS ********************** RIPE: Reverse DNS Issues Resolved Final update on the RIPE NCC rDNS event starting Wednesday 14 June 2012. As of Friday, 15 June 2012 at 7:30 UTC, we are fully back to normal reverse DNS operations. http://www.ripe.net/internet-coordination/news/announcements/reverse-dns-issues-resolved Internet Society Announces Reappointment of Maarten Botterman to PIR Board of Directors The Internet Society today announced that Maarten Botterman has been reappointed to the Public Interest Registry (PIR) Board of Directors for a three-year term, beginning June 6, 2012. Maarten Botterman has previously served as Chair of the PIR Board of Directors. http://www.internetsociety.org/news/internet-society-announces-reappointment-maarten-botterman-pir-board-directors ********************** - WEBHOSTING ********************** ZNet Receives ICANN Accreditation ZNet Technologies, a web hosting and IT infrastructure company, today announced that it is now an ICANN accredited domain name Registrar. http://www.webhosting.info/news/1/znet-receives-icann-accreditation_0614129640.htm ********************** - DOMAINING & AFTERMARKET ********************** IDNX Shows Stable Domain Market in Spite of Slight Decline Domain Price Trends Continue to Align with Major Economic Indices IDNX numbers for May are in, and although there was a minor decline in domain prices during May, the market was overall a stable one. A decrease of only 0.2%, the dip in the market was also a comparatively small decline when considering other indices such as the NASDAQ 100. https://sedo.com/us/news/3060/IDNX-Shows-Stable-Domain-Market-in-Spite-of-Slight-Decline/ Two ccTLD Sales That Rank Among the Year's Ten Biggest in That Category Stand Out on This Week's Chart It was a good week for the ccTLDs as three country code domains landed on the upper half of this week's all extension Top 20 Sales Chart. Two of those also rank among the ten biggest ccTLD sales reported so far this year. Online-Casino.de (a German country code domain) was the week's biggest sale in any extension, changing hands for $144,900 at Sedo. That is also the second biggest ccTLD sale reported this year, trailing only Saturn.pl, a domain that sold in February for $189,930. http://www.dnjournal.com/archive/domainsales/2012/20120620.htm Sedo?s Launches Improved Search with Faster & Better Results Sedo today announced the launch of an improved domain search tool. With better functionality and usability, the revamped tool provides more exact matches, smarter and faster advanced searches, and more relevant results. https://sedo.com/presse/presse.php?tracked=&partnerid=&language=us&id=468 ********************** INTERNET USE ********************** How Depressives Surf the Web In what way do you spend your time online? Do you check your e-mail compulsively? Watch lots of videos? Switch frequently among multiple Internet applications ? from games to file downloads to chat rooms? http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/17/opinion/sunday/how-depressed-people-use-the-internet.html Internet usage patterns may signal depression, study finds The amount and type of online activity Internet users exhibit may be indicators of depression, findings a group of researchers hopes will lead to software tools to help identify depressive behavior. http://news.cnet.com/8301-11386_3-57454853-76/internet-usage-patterns-may-signal-depression-study-finds/ Online Activity Can Signal Depression, Study Says Online activity -- the amount and type -- can reflect whether or not you are depressed, according to a new study by researchers from the Missouri University of Science and Technology. http://www.pcworld.com/article/257780/online_activity_can_signal_depression_study_says.html au: Who will survive in the digital future? A report into Australia's digital future has predicted the demise of traditional media as the digital economy expands. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-06-14/who-will-survive-in-the-digital-future/4071028 au: $1 trillion ICT economy boost by 2050 The advances of digital technology and high-speed broadband services will help grow the national economy by more than $1 trillion by 2050 according to a new report commissioned by technology giant IBM. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/ict-to-reach-1-trillion-by-2050/story-e6frgakx-1226395739593 Aussie broadband to make a trillion in 2050 By 2050, ubiquitous high-speed broadband will generate around $1 trillion in revenue and reverse Australia's productivity decline, according to a new report commissioned by IBM Australia. http://www.zdnet.com.au/aussie-broadband-to-make-a-trillion-in-2050-339339712.htm A Snapshot of Australia?s Digital Future to 2050 Thank you for your interest in A Snapshot of Australia?s Digital Future to 2050 report. A world-first, the report reveals information and communications technology (ICT) enhanced with ubiquitous high-speed broadband is becoming Australia?s new utility ? as historic and game changing as electricity or telephony. http://www-07.ibm.com/ibm/au/digitalfuture/index.html Australian company introduces world's first tax on Microsoft 'Internet Explorer 7' browser In a world first an Australian online retailer has introduced a 'tax' on customers using the Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 (IE7) browser. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/australian-company-introduces-worlds-first-tax-on-microsoft-internet-explorer-7-browser-7851497.html World's first 'tax' on Microsoft's Internet Explorer 7 The Australian online retailer Kogan.com has introduced the world's first "tax" on Microsoft's Internet Explorer 7 (IE7) browser. http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-18440979 ********************** SOCIAL NETWORKING ********************** What Facebook Knows The company's social scientists are hunting for insights about human behavior. What they find could give Facebook new ways to cash in on our data?and remake our view of society. http://www.technologyreview.com/featured-story/428150/what-facebook-knows/ In the Facebook Era, Reminders of Loss if Families Fracture Not long ago, estrangements between family members, for all the anguish they can cause, could mean a fairly clean break. People would cut off contact, never to be heard from again unless they reconciled. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/15/us/facebook-complicates-family-estrangements.html Facebook to pay $10 million to settle suit Facebook Inc has agreed to pay $10 million to charity to settle a lawsuit that accused the site of violating users' rights to control the use of their own names, photographs and likenesses, according to court documents made public over the weekend. http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/06/17/facebook-settlement-idINDEE85G01A20120617 http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/06/16/oukin-uk-facebook-settlement-idUKBRE85F0N320120616 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-06-17/facebook-offers-compensation-compromise/4075362 ********************************* CHILD PROTECTION & ONLINE SAFETY ********************************* uk: A Picture of Abuse UK national centre for child protection to publish new report on child abuse image possession offenders and the direct risk they pose to children http://ceop.police.uk/Media-Centre/Press-releases/2012/A-Picture-of-Abuse/ The internet's two-sided freedom: We can no longer ignore the many people who use the anonymity of the web to harass, bully, or insult others It hasn't been a great week for the internet: highly sexualised and violent imagery on Habbo Hotel, which is meant to be a hangout for children and young teens; Frank Zimmerman, the 60-year-old who threatened the children of MP Louise Mensch given a suspended jail sentence; and the news that Nicola Brookes, who was hounded on Facebook, has felt goaded enough to apply to the company for the details of those who were making her life unbearable. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jun/15/internet-freedom-anonymity-bullying Frank Zimmerman and me: The truth about the troll who tormented Louise Mensch Frank Zimmerman has been called everything from a 'sick saddo' to 'utterly disgusting' and 'evil'. But Terence Blacker, his former neighbour and one of his victims, says he was just a deluded man feeding his fantasies online http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/frank-zimmerman-and-me-the-truth-about-the-troll-who-tormented-louise-mensch-7855252.html NY's anti-child porn bill stalled [AP] State Sen. Martin Golden, a retired police officer, figured this would be one of his easiest bills to pass. In just 20 lines, all it does is make viewing all child pornography online illegal, a measure necessary after what he considered a shocking court ruling based on a technicality. http://online.wsj.com/article/AP05166f156fb542708e7feebf9479a291.html Cuomo: New York bill won't make cyber bullying a crime [AP] Although New York officials agree cyber bullying among youth is one of today?s biggest concerns, a political deal already struck by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders won?t make it a crime. http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2012/06/cuomo_new_york_bill_wont_make.html Habbo Hotel: NSPCC urges government and technology industry to act The technology industry and government should do more to protect young internet users from potential abuse, the NSPCC has warned in the wake of revelations about highly sexualised content on Habbo Hotel, a virtual world popular with children and teenagers. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/jun/14/habbo-hotel-private-equity-stake Second Habbo Hotel investor 3i checks out The biggest investor in Sulake, parent company of Habbo Hotel, has withdrawn its funding in the light of accusations that the network harboured paedophiles. http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-18445200 Habbo Hotel: Let?s not kid ourselves that ?the internet? is our biggest problem Let?s not kid ourselves that ?the internet? is our biggest problemMuch has been made of the righteous Channel Four News investigation into online game Habbo Hotel. A Channel Four producer signed up to the site describing herself as an eleven year old, and found that she was being inappropriately approached by people on the site. She was apparently asked if she would chat elsewhere, go on webcam, and ?how far? she would go. Naturally, this is disturbing and has provoked outrage ? to the extent that a Habbo Hotel investor has dropped its stake in Habbo?s owner, Sulake. http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/06/14/let?s-not-kid-ourselves-that-?the-internet?-is-our-biggest-problem/ uk: All child porn viewers at risk of becoming sex attackers, experts warn Anyone who views child pornography is at risk of going on to carry out sex attacks, experts have warned. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/9329451/All-child-porn-viewers-at-risk-of-becoming-sex-attackers-experts-warn.html Can social networks protect your kids? Here's a look at potential safeguards that companies may put in place in light of recent cases of alleged abuse and rape in youth-centric online communities. http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57453404-93/can-social-networks-protect-your-kids/ nz: School enforces cyber-safety pacts Timaru Boys' High School students could jeopardise their studies if caught breaking a strict cyber-safety agreement, deputy rector Rod Sparrow says. http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/7106898/School-enforces-cyber-safety-pacts nz: Schools 'hold their breath' on online bullies A coroner's warning about social media at an inquest into the death of a Tokoroa teenager is echoed by Waikato principals, who say cyber bullying is a growing problem in schools. http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/7106756/Schools-hold-their-breath-on-online-bullies http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/7106690/Schools-hold-their-breath-on-online-bullies au: Call for parents, schools to be liable for bullying A former chief judge of Australia's family court is calling for bullying to be made an offence and for parents and schools to be held accountable. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-06-15/call-to-make-bullying-a-legal-offence/4072370 uk: One in five children is bullied online One in five children aged eight to 11 is a victim of cyberbullying attacks, a new report from charity Beatbullying has found. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/9329601/One-in-five-children-is-bullied-online.html us: Students Report Cyberbullying Is Pervasive Think all the attention on cyberbullying is making a difference? Think again. The Daily News reported on Thursday that of the 10,000 students in New York State who responded to a survey by the State Senate?s Independent Democratic Caucus, nearly 70 percent said they were a victim of cyberbullying or knew someone who was a victim. http://www.nytimes.com/schoolbook/2012/06/14/students-report-cyberbullying-is-pervasive/ us: State law runs afoul of protections for Internet providers, EFF claims [IDG] The Electronic Frontier Foundation is challenging a Washington State law that criminalizes advertising for underage prostitution, claiming it runs afoul of federal protections for websites and ISPs for the actions of their users. http://www.networkworld.com/news/2012/061512-state-law-runs-afoul-of-260244.html http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/257733/state_law_runs_afoul_of_protections_for_internet_providers_eff_claims.html ********************** ONLINE TV & MUSIC ********************** 'Censorship creep': Pirate Bay block will affect one-third of U.K. Nearly 10 years ago, "Cleanfeed" was designed to protect the British public from child abuse imagery. A decade later, the same system is used to enforce ISP blocks on sites like The Pirate Bay. How did the U.K. fall into "censorship creep"? http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57454683-93/censorship-creep-pirate-bay-block-will-affect-one-third-of-u.k/ ********************** MOBILE/WIRELESS ********************** FCC may take up issue of cell phone radiation The head of the Federal Communications Commission is asking for a review of the agency's stance on radiofrequency energy emitted from cell phones amid lingering concerns that the devices may cause brain tumors. http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/06/17/cellphone-radiation-idINDEE85G03G20120617 Mobile marketing: After many false starts, QR codes are finally taking off Cereal boxes are, by and large, poor works of literature. Yet many people sit at breakfast reading them over and over again. Last year Kellogg?s realised it could make its packets more entertaining?and guessed that people also had their phones to hand (anything beats talking to the family). The cornflake-maker put 2D codes, better known as QR (for quick response) codes, on its Crunchy Nut boxes in America. When scanned, these took cereal-munchers to a video of dawn in, say, Washington state. The idea was to push cereal as an all-day snack: ?It?s morning somewhere.? http://www.economist.com/node/21556993 au: Local smartphone industry worth $15bn Australia?s love of smartphones has generated a $15 billion industry but presents challenges for business and government as consumers demand mobile access to services, a new report says. http://www.afr.com/p/technology/local_smartphone_industry_worth_FvPjXzsJBWmgyH5jr1RziI us: NTIA to address mobile privacy during July 12 meeting [IDG] The U.S. National Telecommunications and Information Administration will step up work on an effort to develop mobile privacy standards on July 12, when the agency meets with mobile carriers, app developers and other stakeholders in the first of a series of meetings on online privacy. http://www.networkworld.com/news/2012/061512-ntia-to-address-mobile-privacy-260234.html us: Putting the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights into Practice Earlier this year, the Obama Administration released a comprehensive blueprint to improve consumers? privacy protections in the information age and promote the continued growth of the digital economy. The White House requested that NTIA convene interested stakeholders -- including companies, privacy advocates, consumer groups, and technology experts -- to develop enforceable codes of conduct that specify how the principles in the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights apply in specific business contexts. NTIA then asked for your input on what issues should be addressed through the privacy multistakeholder process and how to structure these discussions so they are open, transparent, and consensus-based. http://www.ntia.doc.gov/blog/2012/putting-consumer-privacy-bill-rights-practice First Privacy Multistakeholder Meeting: July 12, 2012 NTIA will hold the first meeting of a privacy multistakeholder process on July 12, 2012. The goal of the first process is to develop a code of conduct to provide transparency in how companies providing applications and interactive services for mobile devices handle personal data. http://www.ntia.doc.gov/other-publication/2012/first-privacy-multistakeholder-meeting-july-12-2012 US Pushes Forward on Public-safety LTE Network [IDG] The body defining standards for a mobile LTE network serving police, fire departments and other public safety agencies across the U.S. has finished testing radio-access gear and will start interoperability testing of packet-core equipment on July 9. http://www.cio.com/article/708570/US_Pushes_Forward_on_Public_safety_LTE_Network http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/427835/us_pushes_forward_public-safety_lte_network/ ********************** SPAM ********************** us: Spammers swamp UK government's data.gov website Spammers have taken over several parts of a UK government's website that lays out its open data policy. http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-18457106 ********************** ONLINE CRIME & LEGAL ********************** us: Internet Companies Unite To Crack Down On Malicious Ads A handful of top Internet companies announced a joint effort on Thursday to crack down on ads that promote counterfeit goods or include malware. http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2012/06/internet-companies-unite-to-cr.php us/ca: Canadian Web Drug Pioneer Arrested In a sign of a stepped-up crackdown on the illegal pharmaceutical trade, U.S. authorities arrested Andrew Strempler, 38 years old, a pioneer of the Canadian Internet pharmacy industry, on charges related to the sale of foreign and counterfeit medicines, according to officials in Miami. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303410404577466923603914612.html us: Porn Troll Wants Wi-Fi Providers to Pay for Others' Illegal Downloads [news release] The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) urged a federal judge today to reject a porn troll's ploy to make a Wi-Fi provider responsible for the purported copyright infringement of another user. https://www.eff.org/press/releases/porn-troll-wants-wi-fi-providers-pay-others-illegal-downloads au: Sellers on eBay targeted for welfare fraud EBay has been forced to reveal the identities of about 15,000 people who sold more than $20,000 worth of goods on the trading site in one year, as part of a government crackdown on welfare fraud. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/treasury/sellers-on-ebay-targeted-for-welfare-fraud/story-fn59nsif-1226396080869 au/nz: It's suck cyber security eggs week In case you didn't know it, it's Cyber Security Awareness Week (CSAW) ? on both sides of the Tasman. http://www.zdnet.com.au/its-suck-cyber-security-eggs-week-339339706.htm Cybersafety Summit and National Cyber Security Awareness Week helping to protect Australians online [news release] The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today opened the 2012 Cybersafety Summit and launched National Cyber Security Awareness Week 2012. http://www.minister.dbcde.gov.au/media/media_releases/2012/088 Cyber crime costs Kiwis $625m/year, new security tips site launched Cyber crime costs New Zealand an estimated $625 million last year, according to a survey by security company Symantec, with more than 2000 Kiwis affected every day by computer viruses and malware, credit card fraud, online scams, phishing and identity theft. http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/netsafe-warns-cyber-crime-costs-kiwis-625myear-launches-new-security-tips-site-ck-120916 nz: Scammers target Queenstown woman A computer and phone scam, which a cyber security consultant says has a "malicious element", has been targeting a Lake Hayes Estate resident up to twice a day. http://www.odt.co.nz/news/queenstown-lakes/213253/scammers-target-queenstown-woman New Zealand Government Launches the Cyber Security Awareness Week Cyber crime is a type of crime that is becoming more and more deadly with each passing day. According to statistics, 2000 plus New Zealanders are said to be affected by this kind of crime and it includes not only viruses or malware but also various types of online scam, leak of private information, identity theft, credit card fraud and phishing. http://www.spamfighter.com/News-17772-New-Zealand-Government-Launches-the-Cyber-Security-Awareness-Week.htm nz: Blogger's affair revealed in court Prominent media commentator Whale Oil blogger Cameron Slater has been outed for an extra-marital affair by a court judgment this week. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10813552 nz: Security you can bank on Everyone wants financial security, but it seems we're pretty lax with the security of our finances. http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/business/7121135/Security-you-can-bank-on http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/money/7119252/Security-you-can-bank-on Cyber fraud cases continue to increase in Fiji: official Cyber fraud cases continue to increase in Fiji and technology-savvy criminals are believed to be behind these crimes. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-06/15/c_131654707.htm ********************** SECURITY ********************** How Flame virus has changed everything for online security firms The Flame virus went undetected for two years by every online security firm. Now they need to find a new way to protect the world's PCs from malware http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/jun/17/flame-virus-online-security Disaster awaits U.S. power grid as cybersecurity lags Digital signatures that protect access to power-plant control systems are highly insecure, an industry leader warns -- and some companies want to make the problem worse. http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-57452863-83/disaster-awaits-u.s-power-grid-as-cybersecurity-lags/ au: DNSChanger deadline looms - ACMA urges affected users to fix their computer before 9 July There is less than a month to go until computers that have been infected with the DNSChanger malware will have trouble accessing websites and other internet services. http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/427705/dnschanger_deadline_looms/ ********************** PRIVACY ********************** The Value of Privacy Internet advertising is the global $70 billion business that powers services like Google and Facebook. This business is built on data about you, and ads that track and target your behavior online are its technological cutting edge. But has tracking gone too far? Web innovations are coming under attack as regulators, courts, and even some competitors push for more consumer control. In this report we look at the business models, beliefs, and technologies that are determining the value of privacy. http://www.technologyreview.com/businessreport/the-value-of-privacy/ Trust Us, We're Google! The company that knows everything about you wants you to feel in control. Armed with a symbolic pair of red bolt cutters, Brian Fitzpatrick has the job of helping people quit Google. Fitzpatrick founded and leads a six-person team of Google engineers called the Data Liberation Front, which since 2007 has been developing ways to let users "unlock," or export, data such as photos, e-mails, and contact lists that they store on Google's servers. The team's website offers directions for retrieving data from 33 Google services, including Google Docs and Google Plus, and it created Google Takeout, a speedy link for downloading files from several popular services. http://www.technologyreview.com/news/428049/trust-us-were-google/ How Microsoft and Yahoo are selling politicians access to you Microsoft and Yahoo are selling political campaigns the ability to target voters online with tailored ads using names, ZIP codes, and other registration information that users provide when they sign up for free e-mail and other services. http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2012/06/how-microsoft-and-yahoo-are-selling-politicians-access-to-you/ ********************** CENSORSHIP ********************** Internet Unshackled, Burmese Aim Venom at Ethnic Minority Over the past year, Myanmar?s government has ended its heavy censorship, allowing citizens unfettered access to a wide variety of Web sites that had been banned during military rule. When the government first began dismantling its Internet controls in August, visits to sites like YouTube soared. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/16/world/asia/new-freedom-in-myanmar-lets-burmese-air-venom-toward-rohingya-muslim-group.html New Study Finds Revealing Patterns in Chinese Internet Censorship It is well established that China?s propaganda authorities employ a variety of techniques in attempting to control the spread of information on social networks, but a new study suggests the government?s last line of defense, an army of human censors who manually excise posts, is operating differently than previously thought. http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2012/06/14/new-study-finds-revealing-patterns-in-chinese-internet-censorship/ Is China's Twitter Selling Its Soul To Censorship? [China Times] Sina Weibo, one of China?s most popular microblogging websites, announced last week the launch of the Sina Microblogging Community Convention in order "to defend the order of microblogging." That was the claim, at least, the reality is that it was just a ploy for giving the administrator the right to delete posts that may otherwise be destined to be censored by Chinese authorities, reports the China Times. http://worldcrunch.com/chinas-twitter-selling-its-soul-censorship/5551 Ethiopia clamps down on Skype and other internet use on Tor Campaigners have warned of fresh efforts by the Ethiopian government to clamp down on certain types of internet use in the country. http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-18461292 Government steps up control of news and information Ethiopia?s only ISP, state-owned Ethio-Telecom, has just installed a system for blocking access to the Tor network, which lets users browse anonymously and access blocked websites. At the same time, the state-owned printing presses are demanding the right to censor the newspapers they print. Reporters Without Borders is very worried by these attempts to reinforce government control of news and information. http://en.rsf.org/ethiopia-government-steps-up-control-of-07-06-2012,42735.html Indonesia 'internet atheist' given jail term An Indonesian man has been sentenced to two and a half years in jail and fined $10,598 for professing his atheism on the internet. http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia-pacific/2012/06/20126146135415374.html Et cetera: Steven Poole's non-fiction choice - review - Consent of the Networked by Rebecca MacKinnon (Basic Books, ?17.99) It's not just China, Syria and other authoritarian regimes that censor and spy on their citizens' internet activity; the greatest increase in such operations is occurring in western countries. This timely, scholarly survey of global offences against "freedom" on the internet also points out that Facebook, Google and the like supply "corporate" rather than "public" spaces, whose users are subject to the unsophisticated moral diktats of their owners. http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/jun/15/et-cetera-steven-poole-non-fiction-review ************************** GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY ************************** uk: May setting out plans to monitor internet use in the UK Details of internet use in the UK will have to be stored for a year to allow police and intelligence services to access it, under government plans. Records will include people's activity on social network sites, webmail, internet phone calls and online gaming. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18434112 Online privacy: UK Home Office to write blank cheque for 'snoopers' charter' The government is to offer a blank cheque to internet and phone firms that will be required to track everyone's email, Twitter, Facebook and other internet use under legislation to be published on Thursday. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jun/13/online-privacy-legislation-internet-phone-data 'Online snooping' scheme will rely on voluntary help of foreign firms Home Office security officials will rely on overseas-based social media companies such as Facebook and Twitter to comply voluntarily with requests from British police and security services to collect and store personal data tracking web, email and mobile text use. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jun/14/snoopers-charter-voluntary-collaboration uk: Opinion: This snooping bill is worthy of a surveillance state In my time, I have shared a platform with Theresa May at a Liberty event and Nick Clegg at the Lib Dem conference and on both occasions I remember being heartened by their criticism of the authoritarian policies of the Blair government. Here were politicians who knew the limits of state intrusion and seemed to understand the basis of British liberal democracy. ... The draft bill proposes to give the intelligence services and police total access to the nation's communications data, including text messages, phone calls, emails and internet connections. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jun/17/henry-porter-government-invading-our-privacy au: iCode review tackles public wifi malware Telco and government representatives will meet in Sydney today to discuss improvements how the industry-led, anti-malware iCode may be improved. http://www.itnews.com.au/News/304700,icode-review-tackles-public-wifi-malware.aspx au: IIA plans amendments to iCode by late September The Internet industry seeks to update its voluntary cybersecurity best practices, iCode, to better reflect technological trends and also improve education and messaging to Internet users, industry officials said at an Internet Industry Association (IIA) event in Sydney. http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/427605/iia_plans_amendments_icode_by_late_september/ As Singapore Loosens Its Grip, Residents Lose Fear to Challenge Authority Those accustomed to thinking of this booming city-state as a bastion of apolitical strivers and shopaholics might be stunned by the burst of civic activism sweeping this crowded flyspeck of an island. ... Not surprisingly, social media have helped propel the newfound audacity. Facebook and a number of homegrown Web sites are giving voice to the sort of government criticism and no-holds-barred debate that almost never appear in the straitjacketed mainstream news media. The country?s leaders, eager to lure foreign talent and investment by softening Singapore?s reputation as a gum-banning, rules-obsessed nation, have given wide berth to the online free-for-all. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/17/world/asia/activism-grows-as-singapore-loosens-restrictions.html Singapore's MAS sets out IT security standards for financial institutions The Singapore financial services regulator has published the IT security standards that financial services companies operating there must adhere to. http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2012/june/singapores-mas-sets-out-it-security-standards-for-financial-institutions/ ********************** MISCELLANEOUS ********************** Europe lags US in cloud adoption by two years New analysis suggests that cloud adoption in Europe will trail the US by at least two years. http://www.telecomtv.com/comspace_newsDetail.aspx?n=48789&id=f6518dac-5240-4f26-b46b-277875988af6 ********************** TELECOMMUNICATIONS ********************** Broadband Commission Open Letter to G20: Bring broadband to the world - Governments urged to prioritize roll-out of high-speed infrastructure, services and applications [news release] The Broadband Commission for Digital Development today issued an Open Letter to G20 leaders urging them to do all they can to promote the development of the broadband networks, applications and services that will serve as the catalyst for future socio-economic growth. http://www.itu.int/net/pressoffice/press_releases/2012/39.aspx NBN stats: Australia's broadband future and why the Coalition's alternative 'won't work' The world's foremost internet traffic study and growth forecast, which historically has been proven very accurate, describes a further explosion of internet traffic around the world and in Australia. The findings illustrate a requirement for fibre optic cable "deep deep into the infrastructure" both for wired and wireless broadband connections. http://www.abc.net.au/technology/articles/2012/06/14/3524848.htm uk: BT gambles that Premier League deal will pay off faster than broadband And now over to the football results read by James Alexander Gordon: Premier League footballers 1: BT and BSkyB shareholders 0. The ?3bn carve-up of the Premier League broadcast rights was a shock result that had footie fans cheering, but investors weeping into their cups of Bovril. http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/jun/17/bt-sacrifices-broadband-advances-to-get-a-foot-in-the-game ********************************** ONLINE CHILD ABUSE ARRESTS/COURT CASES ********************************** uk: Police raid suspected internet paedophiles Almost every UK police force has staged raids on suspected internet paedophiles leading to 99 arrests, with 24 children found whom investigators fear were at risk of abuse. http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/jun/14/police-raid-suspected-internet-paedophiles Alleged Ukrainian child porn pusher in custody in New Jersey After following a cyber trail stemming from an ongoing investigation into possession of child pornography, federal officials in New Jersey said Thursday they now have custody of a Ukrainian man they believe is behind one of the largest international child porn distribution rings. http://edition.cnn.com/2012/06/14/justice/new-jersey-child-porn-arrest/index.html --------- David Goldstein email: david at goldsteinreport.com web: http://davidgoldstein.tel/ http://goldsteinreport.com/ phone: +61 418 228 605 - mobile; +61 2 9665 5773 - office/home "Every time you use fossil fuels, you're adding to the problem. Every time you forgo fossil fuels, you're being part of the solution" - Dr Tim FlanneryReceived on Sun Jun 17 2012 - 22:38:54 UTC
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