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general internet news - 8 March
Don't forget to check out http://auda.org.au/domain-news/ for a more recent edition of the complete domain news, including an RSS feed - already online!
And see my website - http://technewsreview.com.au/ - for regular updates.
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Sponsored by the Singapore Internet Research Centre
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
http://www.ntu.edu.sg/sci/sirc/
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China ban on new internet cafes
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6422555.stm
Microsoft predicts VoIP call charges will plummet
http://www.itnews.com.au/newsstory.aspx?CIaNID=47144
ps: Hamas crusades again Western music, Internet porn
http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/07/front2454167.325.html
au: YouTube bans don't work: Vint Cerf
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2007/03/08/1173166844770.html
US Report Faults China's Curbs on Internet
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/06/AR2007030601795.html
Microsoft: Google 'cavalier' on copyright
http://business.guardian.co.uk/story/0,,2027720,00.html
Microsoft vs. Google: More at Stake Than Books
http://ecommercetimes.com/story/56161.html
French to limit violent net clips
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6426235.stm
au: Fairfax boss denounces fraudband
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2007/03/07/1173166799046.html
Study: Violent video games don't make killer kids (Reuters)
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/gaming/2007-03-02-killer-games_N.htm
nz: Broadband up 30pc, dial-up dips
http://stuff.co.nz/3985278a13.html
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CENSORSHIP
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China ban on new internet cafes
China says it will not allow any more cybercafes to open this year, to cut down on "internet addiction".
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6422555.stm
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2007/03/06/1173166700779.html
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9588_22-6164579.html
China Blocks LiveJournal
The Chinese government began blocking access to the popular blogging site LiveJournal on Friday, cutting off its citizens from the roughly 1.8 million blogs the service hosts.
http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,72872-0.html
Turkish court bans YouTube access
A Turkish court blocks access to the video-sharing website YouTube amid a row over clips insulting Ataturk.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6427355.stm
http://www.guardian.co.uk/turkey/story/0,,2028543,00.html
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2007/03/08/1173166819861.html
ps: Hamas crusades again Western music, Internet porn
The ruling Hamas movement has launched an offensive against Western influences in the Gaza Strip. Palestinian security sources said Islamic operatives linked to Hamas have struck Internet cafes as well as stores that sell Western music. The sources said owners of such businesses have been attacked or abducted, Middle East Newsline reported.
http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/07/front2454167.325.html
Palestinian Internet Cafes Being Attacked (AP)
A note stuck to the door of Mohammed al-Shaer's tiny music shop warned him several months ago that selling tapes and CDs of popular Arabic music was "haram," or forbidden by Islam.
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=2930198
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CHILD PROTECTION, FILTERING & CONTENT REGULATION
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au: YouTube bans don't work: Vint Cerf
Vint Cerf has cast doubt on the efficacy of recent attempts to curb cyber bullying by blocking student access to video-sharing sites such as YouTube. ... Instead, he said, students should be taught about social responsibility.
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2007/03/08/1173166844770.html
Report Faults China's Curbs on Internet
China is at the top of a list of countries blocking Internet access, and Russia and Venezuela have shown serious regression in several areas, mainly in centralizing power in the executive branch, according to State Department officials who released the department's annual human rights report yesterday.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/06/AR2007030601795.html
uk: Web is blamed for 20 per cent leap in sex attacks by children
Internet pornography was blamed yesterday for a dramatic rise in the number of sex offences committed by children. Experts said the behaviour of youngsters was being changed by ready access to sexual imagery.
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23387540-details/Web%20is%20blamed%20for%2020%20per%20cent%20leap%20in%20sex%20attacks%20by%20children/article.do
au: Police fear outsiders started YouTube fights
Police are investigating whether intruders instigated three attacks at two Sydney high schools - one of which featured on YouTube with a rap soundtrack.
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2007/03/06/1173166697753.html
http://theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21338568-2702,00.html
au: Strategy to keep kids safe from net nasties
The rise of social networking websites and user-generated content is expected to lead to a boom in the internet safety industry as mainstream publishers hire human net nannies and establish safety rules to protect children and other users of their products.
http://theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21342697-7582,00.html
au: States still hold out on YouTube
Tasmania is set to be the last state to officially ban access to Google's video-sharing website YouTube.com in schools, as state and territory authorities continue to battle internet bullies.
http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,21330109%5e16123%5e%5enbv%5e,00.html
uk: Weapon-wielding Brits arrested for YouTube video (Reuters)
Four fake "gangstas" have been arrested after posting footage of themselves brandishing weapons on the Internet, police in northwest England said on Tuesday.
http://news.com.com/2100-1026_3-6164885.html
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CYBERCRIME, CYBERSECURITY AND PRIVACY
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Harsh Words Die Hard On the Web
In a new form of reputation-maligning, online postings with offensive content can be stored forever and are easily accessible through a Google search.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/06/AR2007030602705.html
Microsoft: Google 'cavalier' on copyright
Microsoft will today launch a blistering attack on Google, accusing the Silicon Valley giant of a "cavalier" attitude to copyright. In a prepared speech to the American Association of Publishers, senior Microsoft lawyer Tom Rubin is expected to hit out at Google for profiting from other people's work.
http://business.guardian.co.uk/story/0,,2027720,00.html
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2007/03/06/1173156497757.html
Microsoft vs. Google: More at Stake Than Books
When Microsoft attorney Thomas Rubin on Tuesday accused Google of taking a "cavalier approach to copyright" and of using its Book Search project to make money off other people's copyrighted creations, he ignited a fiery debate over the ethics of information access, the meaning of copyright and the rules of free-market competition. Rubin's comments were directed at the Association of American Publishers, and referred to Google's ambitious Book Search project to digitize and make available electronically the contents of all the world's books, whether still under copyright or not.
http://ecommercetimes.com/story/56161.html
Internet Voting becomes a Reality in Estonia; Global Experts Question Online Security and Inclusiveness
Despite global warnings on e-voting systems, some 18,000 registered Estonians dared to vote online last Sunday, during the first national Internet election in the world, held in this Eastern European nation infatuated with technology. Estonia test drove the Internet voting process during local elections two years ago and after close to 10,000 Estonians voted online, decided to add the system to its list of e-services. Voters, meanwhile, seemed enthusiastic with reforms and chose to maintain the incumbent coalition government in power during the March 4th parliamentary elections.
http://www.ibls.com/internet_law_news_portal_view.aspx?s=latestnews&id=1699
Website Vandalism and Legal Issues to Address: Copyrights, Cyber-crime, Jurisdiction and much more!
The spectrum of internet law is getting wild. Traditional copyright infringements, neighborhood vandalism crimes, and jurisdictional questions are now being transferred to the internet all in one package: website vandalism. This phenomenon brings legal and enforcement challenges for governments, courts, and attorneys because in most cases the wrongful conduct is somehow atypical and involved parties may be in different jurisdictions. So, what is website vandalism, who are these criminals, and what law to apply?
http://www.ibls.com/internet_law_news_portal_view.aspx?s=latestnews&id=1700
California Courts could Assert Jurisdiction over interactive Websites Based on the Level of Interactivity of such Website and on the Nature of Information
The California Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of Court of Appeal and held that California courts could assert jurisdiction over interactive Web sites based on a determination of the level of interactivity of such Web site and on the nature of information exchanged via such Web site. The use of a website may be enough to qualify for jurisdiction under the applicable state statutes, which may not necessarily be the case in other states.
http://www.ibls.com/internet_law_news_portal_view.aspx?s=latestnews&id=1701
Study: Identity theft keeps climbing
The rate of identity theft-related fraud has risen sharply since 2003, a report from research firm Gartner suggests. Gartner's study, released Tuesday, shows that from mid-2005 until mid-2006, about 15 million Americans were victims of fraud that stemmed from identity theft, an increase of more than 50 percent from the estimated 9.9 million in 2003.
http://news.com.com/2100-1029_3-6164765.html
Court cases unite M'sian bloggers
Defamation suits slapped on two popular Malaysian bloggers by the government-linked New Straits Times Press (NSTP) have galvanized the country's bloggers into action. But, a legal expert warns that bloggers are just as accountable as print journalists for defamatory remarks.
http://www.zdnetindia.com/news/communication/stories/172825.html
us: Stopping Spyware at the Source
During the past few months, the Federal Trade Commission has filed deceptive- advertising cases against two distributors of what is called adware or spyware. The insidious form of software subjects consumers and their computers to unwanted advertising and surveillance.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/05/AR2007030501475.html
us: Police try YouTube to catch suspects; results mixed (AP)
Patrolman Brian Johnson of the Franklin, Mass., Police Department studied a surveillance video showing two men using allegedly stolen credit cards at a Home Depot.
http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/16837137.htm
us: Teen fugitive who posted 'Catch me' on MySpace caught (AP)
A 16-year-old fugitive believed to have posted a "Catch me if you can" message on his MySpace Web page was captured Friday, three days after his escape from a detention center, an official said.
http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/news/editorial/16819672.htm
sg: Singapore cites net militia threat (Reuters)
A breed of "self-radicalised individuals" who absorbed militant ideas through the internet have emerged as a new security threat to the city-state, Singapore's interior minister said.
http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,21325287%5e16123%5e%5enbv%5e,00.html
us: Bomb suspect sues Microsoft over undeleted porn records
A man awaiting trial for selling illegally modified firearms and for possessing bomb making equipment is suing Microsoft because its software did not delete his pornography browsing history.
http://out-law.com/page-7838
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GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY
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us: Justice Department takes aim at image-sharing sites
The Bush administration has accelerated its Internet surveillance push by proposing that Web sites must keep records of who uploads photographs or videos in case police determine the content is illegal and choose to investigate, CNET News.com has learned.
http://news.com.com/2100-1028_3-6163679.html
French to limit violent net clips
French people could be prevented from posting images or videos of violent acts online under new laws.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6426235.stm
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techpolicy/2007-03-07-happy-slapping-law_N.htm
ICT, ACCESSIBILITY AND SELF-REGULATION
Citizens of modern societies lead highly regulated lives. Whether as individuals we agree or disagree with the degree to which governments control our existence, we nevertheless benefit from a myriad of laws and regulations that seek to ensure our safety and welfare. The range of regulation is breath taking, encompassing the purity of air and water, the quality of food, the sanitation of towns and cities, the safety of transportation systems, and the delivery of utilities and other essential services, to name just a few.
http://www.consortiuminfo.org/bulletins/feb07.php#editorial
us: D?Amato Never Folds
Alfonse M. D?Amato, the former Republican senator from New York, last week signed a lobbying deal with the Poker Players Alliance, a nascent group that hopes that Mr. D?Amato will help them become players in Washington politics. Most immediately, the group is hoping that Mr. D?Amato, long known for his connections to Washington insiders and his ability to deliver perks to his constituents and interest groups, can help them overturn a new federal ban on Internet gambling ? or at least exempt poker from its provisions.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/05/technology/05poker.html
au: ACCC gives Telstra certainty on ADSL2+ rollouts
The Australian competition regulator today challenged Telstra to switch on ADSL2+ broadband services nation-wide, saying the telco could easily gain regulatory certainty on rival access.
http://zdnet.com.au/news/communications/soa/ACCC_gives_Telstra_certainty_on_ADSL2_rollouts/0,130061791,339274087,00.htm
us: New Net radio rules draw fire on Capitol Hill
A key Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday slammed new federal rules that would require many Internet radio services to pay higher fees to record companies.
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9588_22-6165336.html
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SPAM
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'Adult' spam hits all-time low
Security There is still plenty of spam going around, but "adult" spam has been on a steady decline and hit an all-time low in February, according to a new Symantec report.
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1009_22-6164992.html
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INTERNET & NEW TECHNOLOGY USE
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au: Fairfax boss denounces fraudband
David Kirk The Fairfax Media chief executive, David Kirk, has labelled broadband in Australia "fraudband" because it is too expensive and slow.
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2007/03/07/1173166799046.html
Study: Violent video games don't make killer kids (Reuters)
Do video games kill? The jury is still out on whether violent video games lead to violent behavior in children, but a new study asserts that killer games do not make killer kids.
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/gaming/2007-03-02-killer-games_N.htm
nz: Broadband up 30pc, dial-up dips
The pace at which New Zealanders took up broadband did not budge an inch last year, even as debate raged over unbundling and Government moves to split up Telecom.
http://stuff.co.nz/3985278a13.html
http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411415/1014865
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10427648
Internet porn: a lot like scoring drugs, says Anthony Kiedis
Anthony Kiedis, singer with mega-popular funk-rockers Red Hot Chili Peppers, has compared the world of internet porn to the evil world of evil drugs.
http://www.drownedinsound.com/articles/1710755
Internet Audience up 10 Percent Worldwide
The Internet reaches 747 million people worldwide, 1.3 million of whom reside in the top 15 countries ranked by Internet population. The data are according to numbers released by comScore Networks's World Metrix service.
http://clickz.com/showPage.html?page=3625168
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DIGITAL DIVIDE
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ca: The Digital Divide: Is There A Solution?
Projects like CLIC (Computers for Low Income Calgarians) operated by the Calgary Drop-In Centre have helped to bridge the gap by giving people free computers. This was a good start, but there were still some important building blocks missing. The computers available through the CLIC program are generally not of the latest generation. Many are in the 750mz range, whereas most new systems are in the 3000-4000mz range, making them considerably faster and more capable of running programs.
http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/03/04/064418.php
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FILE SHARING
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Yahoo China sued for alleged copyright breach (Reuters)
Music industry giants including Warner Music Group are suing Yahoo China for alleged copyright infringement by providing links to unlicensed music, trade organization IFPI said on Wednesday.
http://news.com.com/2100-1030_3-6165056.html
News Corp looks at MySpace video deal
News Corp is in ?very active negotiations? with other big media companies to license copyrighted video content and distribute it on the internet through its MySpace social networking site.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0c938d30-cd02-11db-a938-000b5df10621.html
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COMMENT, MICROSOFT & DEVELOPMENTS
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UN outlines global e-waste goals
The UN launches a global initiative to tackle the growing mountain of electrical and electronic waste.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6420397.stm
uk: Guardian moves towards digital future
Guardian executives told staff today to prepare for a "24/7 news operation", but warned that there may be some job losses as the company readies itself for next year's move to new offices. Employees of Guardian News & Media, which owns The Guardian, The Observer and the Guardian Unlimited network of websites, were briefed on the changes ahead as the company puts digital technology at the heart of its journalism.
http://media.guardian.co.uk/presspublishing/story/0,,2027784,00.html
Google CEO: Old and new media remain divided over online video (Dow Jones/AP)
Google Inc. Chief Executive Eric Schmidt said the Internet giant continues to pursue deals that will let it show copyrighted videos on YouTube, but suggested old and new media remain far apart in how they view the emerging business of online video.
http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/news/editorial/16845327.htm
Google CEO: Old media should 'prove' its products have value
Google Chief Executive Eric Schmidt said the Internet giant continues to pursue deals that will let it show copyrighted videos on YouTube, but suggested old and new media remain far apart in how they view the emerging business of online video.
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/techinvestor/industry/2007-03-07-google-media_N.htm
Wikipedia chief promises change after fraud scandal
ID system proposed after editor understood to be a tenured professor of religion was in fact a 24-year-old from Kentucky
http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article1480012.ece
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2007/03/08/1173166838468.html
India to be second largest mobile market by 2010: Nokia
India is all set to become the second largest market of mobile handsets by 2010, according to an official of Nokia.
http://www.zdnetindia.com/news/communication/stories/172792.html
US government dept bans Vista
The United States Department of Transportation has banned its users from installing Microsoft's new Windows Vista, Office 2007 and Internet Explorer 7 software packages, saying there was no business or technical justification for the upgrades.
http://zdnet.com.au/news/software/soa/US_government_dept_bans_Vista/0,130061733,339274095,00.htm
au: CSIRO builds IT foundation
The nation's peak research body will spend between AU$12 million and AU$15 million annually over the next three years on key building blocks of ICT infrastructure, chief information officer Rozanne Frost said.
http://zdnet.com.au/news/hardware/soa/CSIRO_builds_IT_foundation/0,130061702,339273702,00.htm
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VoIP
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us: FCC Grants Internet Phone Access
Rural telephone companies must allow carriers such as Verizon Communications to use local lines to connect Internet-based calls, U.S. regulators said yesterday.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/01/AR2007030101695.html
China embracing 'illegal' VoIP calls
Almost 13 million people in China will be paying to use unlicensed local internet phone services within four years, new research predicts. This greater than tenfold increase will come despite the services being illegal, according to analysts at In-Stat who believe that China's high phone charges are driving users to VoIP services.
http://www.computeractive.co.uk/vnunet/news/2184786/china-embraces-voip
Microsoft predicts VoIP call charges will plummet
The average cost of a VoIP service for business will fall by 50 per cent in three years, a senior Microsoft executive predicted today.
http://www.itnews.com.au/newsstory.aspx?CIaNID=47144
http://www.iii.co.uk/news/?type=reutersnews&articleid=MTFH77928_2007-03-07_10-58-20_N06376688&feed=Bus&action=article
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ARRESTS/COURT CASES FOR CHILD PORN
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Spain targets Internet child pornography (AP)
Spanish police said Wednesday they had arrested 12 people for possession and distribution of child pornography via the Internet in three separate raids.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2007-03-07-child-porn-spain_N.htm
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(c) David Goldstein 2007
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David Goldstein
address: 4/3 Abbott Street
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