And here is the non-domain name news for those who are interested... Cheers David ********************** INTERNET USE ********************** If Your Kids Are Awake, They?re Probably Online The average young American now spends practically every waking minute ? except for the time in school ? using a smart phone, computer, television or other electronic device, according to a new study from the Kaiser Family Foundation. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/20/education/20wired.html DAILY MEDIA USE AMONG CHILDREN AND TEENS UP DRAMATICALLY FROM FIVE YEARS AGO [news release] With technology allowing nearly 24-hour media access as children and teens go about their daily lives, the amount of time young people spend with entertainment media has risen dramatically, especially among minority youth, according to a study released today by the Kaiser Family Foundation. Today, 8-18 year-olds devote an average of 7 hours and 38 minutes (7:38) to using entertainment media across a typical day (more than 53 hours a week). And because they spend so much of that time ?media multitasking? (using more than one medium at a time), they actually manage to pack a total of 10 hours and 45 minutes (10:45) worth of media content into those 7? hours. http://www.kff.org/entmedia/entmedia012010nr.cfm http://www.kff.org/entmedia/mh012010pkg.cfm Kids pack in nearly 11 hours of media use daily A new study from the Kaiser Family Foundation shows a "dramatic" rise in the amount of time children and teens spend using entertainment media, "especially among minority youth." The study, "Generation M2: Media in the Lives of 8- to 18-year-olds," only focused on recreational use of media, not homework, school-related online research, or reading books for school. http://news.cnet.com/8301-19518_3-10438088-238.html New York Times to charge readers for online content America's most popular newspaper website today announced that the era of free online journalism is drawing to a close. The New York Times, the so-called grey lady of US media, has become the biggest publisher yet to set out plans for a paywall around its digital offering, abandoning the once unshakeable orthodoxy that internet users will not pay for news. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/jan/20/new-york-times-charging-content-online The Times to Charge for Frequent Access to Its Web Site Taking a step that has tempted and terrified much of the newspaper industry, The New York Times announced on Wednesday that it would charge some frequent readers for access to its Web site ? news that drew ample reaction from media analysts and consumers, ranging from enthusiastic to withering. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/21/business/media/21times.html The New York Times announces a plan to charge readers for online content starting in 2011 The New York Times Co., following the lead of rival Rupert Murdoch, said Wednesday that the newspaper will start charging visitors to its popular Web site at the beginning of 2011. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/20/AR2010012004568.html The War Between Apple and Google Has Just Begun Consumers are witnessing the beginning of a new war between computer companies. Instead of the Apple-Microsoft conflict of the early 1980s, this fight is taking place between Apple and Google. http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/20/the-war-between-apple-and-google-has-just-begun/ Google teaching computers to talk, understand the nuances of synonyms [Relax News] Google has been busy at the drawing board, figuring out how to teach computers to more thoroughly understand language and how synonyms can help computers return improved search results. http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/google-teaching-computers-to-talk-understand-the-nuances-of-synonyms-1874368.html Helping computers understand language An irony of computer science is that tasks humans struggle with can be performed easily by computer programs, but tasks humans can perform effortlessly remain difficult for computers. We can write a computer program to beat the very best human chess players, but we can't write a program to identify objects in a photo or understand a sentence with anywhere near the precision of even a child. http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/helping-computers-understand-language.html Tim Berners-Lee unveils government data project Web founder Sir Tim Berners-Lee has unveiled his latest venture for the UK government, which offers the public better access to official data. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8470797.stm Our manifesto for government data: The inventor of the world wide web and his fellow government advisor on how they created data.gov.uk Data underpins our economy and our society - data about how much is being spent and where, data about how schools, hospitals and police are performing, data about where things are and data about the weather. http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2010/jan/21/timbernerslee-government-data Web inventor Tim-Berners Lee launches government data site Tim Berners-Lee, the British inventor of the web, has launched a major new government website today, offering the public unprecedented access to official data. http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article6996474.ece Firefox, Opera downloads soar after IE warnings Mozilla yesterday reported a "huge increase" in downloads of Firefox in Germany after that country's computer security agency urged users of Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE) to dump the browser and run a rival instead. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9146619/Firefox_Opera_downloads_soar_after_IE_warnings ********************** SOCIAL NETWORKING ********************** uk: Twitter joke led to Terror Act arrest and airport life ban When heavy snowfall threatened to scupper Paul Chambers's travel plans, he decided to vent his frustrations on Twitter by tapping out a comment to amuse his friends. "Robin Hood airport is closed," he wrote. "You've got a week and a bit to get your shit together, otherwise I'm blowing the airport sky high!!" http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/twitter-joke-led-to-terror-act-arrest-and-airport-life-ban-1870913.html Twitter's growth starts losing steam, study finds Twitter Inc. may be having a great week, since both President Barack Obama and Microsoft founder Bill Gates have started Twittering, but a report released this week by HubSpot Inc. says the site's rate of growth in signing up new users started dropping dramatically last fall. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9146558/Twitter_s_growth_starts_losing_steam_study_finds ********************** NEW TECHNOLOGIES ********************** PC market grows in the Asia Pacific [MIS Asia] The Asia Pacific (excluding Japan) PC market grew 32 per cent year-on-year in the fourth quarter of 2009 according to IDC, a global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. http://www.networkworld.com/news/2010/012010-pc-market-grows-in-the.html ************************************************ CHILD PROTECTION, FILTERING & CONTENT REGULATION ************************************************ au: Conroy's internet filtering plan 'may lead to painful deaths' Thousands of elderly Australians who want the "basic human right" to have control over how they will die will suffer if the Rudd Government's proposed internet filtering law is passed later this year, says leading euthanasia advocate Dr Philip Nitschke. http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,26611665-911,00.html au: Internet censorship protesters set to fade to black Australia Day won't just be celebrated with the usual barbecues, pool parties and the Triple J Hottest 100 this year. A throng of Australian websites will mark the event by fading to black as part of a week-long, national protest against the Federal Government's proposed internet filter. http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,20797,26608155-8362,00.html http://www.news.com.au/technology/internet-filter-protesters-set-to-fade-websites-to-black-on-australia-day/story-e6frfro0-1225821477370 au: EFA claims 100 signatures an hour in filter petition Supporters are claiming one hundred people an hour are signing onto a petition aiming to stop the roll out of the Federal Government?s ISP-level Internet content filter. http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/332977/ nz: Keeping safe online: Big threats for 2010 Online evil is getting harder to fight, so Lloyd Borrett from leading security software maker AVG has shared the biggest threats that computer users will face this year. Plus, nzherald.co.nz readers can win the Ultimate Guide to Staying Safe Online. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10621236 mt: Editorial: Standing up to bullying behaviour in schools Bullying is a fact of life in schools. But a recent, unusually serious incident in a Gozo secondary school, over which two girls are being charged with defiling a fellow student, put an uncomfortable spotlight on the phenomenon. The case was being probed by the education authorities and the victim has received counselling. http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100120/opinion/editorial ********************** ONLINE TV & MUSIC ********************** Google enters fight for sports broadcast rights Internet search giant Google has signalled it will compete against broadcasters and other media companies for the rights to sports and entertainment events after confirming it will show live cricket matches on its YouTube video website. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/google-enters-fight-for-sports-broadcast-rights/story-e6frg996-1225822070487 YouTube turns to movie rental business Video-sharing site YouTube is taking its first steps into the online movie rental business. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8471635.stm YouTube to stream IPL cricket live: Google [AFP] Internet giant Google said Wednesday it would stream all the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket matches live via its YouTube videosharing website. http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/youtube-to-stream-ipl-cricket-live-google-20100121-mm2f.html http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-technology/youtube-to-stream-ipl-cricket-live-google-20100121-mm2f.html Chinese sexters could have phones cancelled Chinese mobile users caught sending dirty messages, photos or videos by phone could have their numbers cancelled as part of the country's crackdown on pornography, state media reported. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/01/18/2795073.htm uk: Virgin Media to trial piracy-detection software For Alan Ellis, last week was a good one: he was acquitted of conspiracy to commit fraud. The prosecution had argued that the 26-year-old received at least ?190,000 in donations to Oink, his filesharing website. Until Oink was shut down in 2007, it had, the crown claimed, helped 200,000 users illegally to download 21m copyrighted music tracks. http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/the_web/article6989510.ece File-sharing network operator acquitted of fraud charges The operator of a file sharing network that was raided by police in 2007 on suspicion of enabling copyright-infringement has been acquitted by a jury. Alan Ellis ran OiNK and was found not guilty of conspiracy to defraud by a Middlesborough court. http://out-law.com/page-10668 Digital Music Gains, but Can't Offset Low CD Sales Sales of digital music rose 12 percent worldwide last year, but that growth was insufficient to compensate for plunging revenue from compact discs, the music industry?s international trade organization said Thursday. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/22/business/global/22music.html ********************** MOBILE/WIRELESS ********************** Why Apple May Dump Google: to cut Google off from valuable data about smartphone users? The rift between Apple and Google looks like it could get a whole lot wider. Apple is considering replacing Google as the default search engine on its iPhone with Microsoft's Bing, according to two people familiar with the matter. Discussions between Apple and Microsoft have been going on for weeks, say the sources, who caution that a deal with Microsoft is not imminent and may never be reached. http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_05/b4165000347696.htm Apple, Microsoft Discuss Giving Bing Top iPhone Billing In 2003, when Apple said its iTunes music software would work on PCs using the Windows software of its age-old rival, Microsoft, Apple made up posters that read "Hell Froze Over." Hell may be getting frosty again. http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/jan2010/tc20100119_759795.htm Google puts off launch of mobile phone in China Google today postponed the launch in China of a mobile phone incorporating its email and web services, after the row with the government in Beijing over censorship and hacking of its internal network. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/jan/19/google-nexus-one-phone-china Google Delays Release of Cellphones in China Google said Tuesday that it and a Chinese cellphone service company had postponed the release this week of two mobile phones that would use Google?s Android software. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/20/technology/companies/20phone.html Will Android Pay for Google's Moves in China? British scribe Paul Carr is not one to mince words. For him, Google's newfound morality around censorship and China is too little, too late. Four years too late, to be precise. And I agree with him?up to a point. Morality has to be absolute; it cannot be used as a tool of convenience. But despite being a born cynic, I'm actually unable to view Google's decision through the same lens. http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/jan2010/tc20100118_760688.htm Commercial fallout for Google over battle with China will be substantial The two phones just shelved were to have been the first in China that would have offered Google?s services such as Gmail and mobile search as an integral part of its Android operating system software. http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/the_web/article6994393.ece International Phone Traffic Growth Slows, while Skype Accelerates New data from TeleGeography show that the growth of international telephone traffic has slowed, while Skype?s growth has accelerated. Over the past 25 years, international call volume from telephones has grown at a compounded annual rate of 15 percent. In the past two years, however, international telephone traffic annual growth has slowed to only 8 percent, growing from 376 billion minutes in 2008 to an estimated 406 billion minutes in 2009. http://www.telegeography.com/cu/article.php?article_id=31718 Less calling, more Skpying People calling home from abroad are increasingly turning to Skype's internet phone service instead of traditional landlines, new data showed. http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE60I4UK20100119 http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/3244407/ Skype takes bigger bite of global call market Skype has increased its share of the global voice market despite a recession that almost halved growth, according to TeleGeography. http://www.telecomasia.net/content/skype-takes-bigger-bite-global-call-market Nokia launches Ovi maps to challenge to sat-navs Phone giant Nokia has launched a free map and navigation service for its handsets that analysts believe could challenge stand-alone sat-nav devices. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8472165.stm Nokia Responds to Google Challenge on Navigation Software Nokia on Thursday began giving away professional GPS navigation software on 10 of its smartphones, matching a competitive move by Google and dealing a blow to the leaders in the market for specialized devices, Garmin and TomTom. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/22/technology/companies/22nokia.html Nokia to give away satnav software Nokia is taking the dramatic step of making its satellite navigation software free to all current and future owners of its smartphones as the world's largest mobile phone manufacturer intensifies its fight against Apple's iPhone and handsets using Google's Android platform. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/jan/21/nokia-satnav-software Nokia maps out new front in mobile phone wars Nokia today announced that it would make full GPS navigation available to all users of its current mobile handsets worldwide, with a new version of its Ovi Maps application. http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article6996954.ece Nokia takes on Google with free navigation app Nokia is making its navigation service free to all GPS-enabled Nokia devices in a move that will help the company better compete in the smartphone market against the likes of Apple and Google. http://news.cnet.com/8301-30686_3-10438524-266.html Asians adopt Skype?s voice tools International calls can be very expensive and people search for alternative communication solutions to cut their phone bills in Asia and elsewhere. This theory has been proven by new data from TeleGeography that indicates accelerated adoption of Skype?s voice tools and a slowdown in the growth of international telephone traffic. http://www.mis-asia.com/news/articles/asians-adopt-skypes-voice-tools ********************** SPAM ********************** Spam Survey 2009: status report of the fight against spam in Europe [news release] The EU ?cyber security? Agency - ENISA (the European Network and Information Security Agency) presents its new, 3rd ?spam report?, i.e. anti-spam measures implemented by European Internet service providers (ISPs). The report looks at spam budgets, impact of spam and spam management. No significant progress is reported in the fight against spam. http://www.enisa.europa.eu/media/press-releases/spam-survey-2009-the-fight-against-spam EU urges ISPs to take action on spam European internet service providers need to be more proactive in filtering spam from their networks, given that little has changed to alter spam levels in the past two years, according to a new report released today by the European Network and Information Security Agency (Enisa). http://www.v3.co.uk/v3/news/2256538/european-isps-treading-water ISPs could cut spam easily, says expert - try port 25 blocking, says Trend Two simple techniques could be used to strangle botnets, a security expert has claimed. First, block email port 25 by default. Second, tell users when they are spewing spam from compromised PCs. http://news.techworld.com/security/3210489/isps-could-cut-spam-easily-says-expert/ http://www.networkworld.com/news/2010/011910-isps-could-cut-spam-easily.html ************************** ONLINE CRIME, SECURITY & LEGAL ************************** If Your Password Is 123456, Just Make It HackMe Back at the dawn of the Web, the most popular account password was ?12345.? Today, it?s one digit longer but hardly safer: ?123456.? http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/21/technology/21password.html Top ten internet passwords to be avoided The ten most commonly used passwords on the web have been revealed as part of an analysis of tens of millions of internet accounts. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/7042205/Top-ten-internet-passwords-to-be-avoided.html US analysis of Google attack code finds Chinese fingerprints A US security researcher has provided more evidence that he says links the attacks against Google and other companies back to China. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/blog/2010/jan/20/google-china China Paints Google Issue as Not Political The Chinese government is taking a cautious approach to the dispute with Google, treating the conflict as a business dispute that requires commercial negotiations and not a political matter that could affect relations with the United States. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/21/world/asia/21china.html China Says Google Case Not Linked to Ties With US [AP] China says the dispute it is having with Internet giant Google should not be linked to its bilateral ties with the United States. http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/01/21/world/AP-AS-China-Google.html Fearing Hackers Who Leave No Trace The crown jewels of Google, Cisco Systems or any other technology company are the millions of lines of programming instructions, known as source code, that make its products run. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/20/technology/20code.html Companies Fight Endless War Against Computer Attacks The recent computer attacks on the mighty Google left every corporate network in the world looking a little less safe. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/18/technology/internet/18defend.html In War Against the Internet, China Is Just a Skirmish In the beginning, there was one Internet, born from American research and embraced by academics around the world. It was in English and homogeneous, operating according to Western standards of openness. It's no surprise that China polices sites like Google.cn, but now nations like France are also cracking down on Internet users. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/18/technology/internet/18global.html China tried to hack our computers, says India?s security chief M.K. Narayanan Chinese hackers are believed to have attempted to penetrate India?s most sensitive government office in the latest sign of rising tensions between the two rival Asian powers, The Times has learnt. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6991789.ece Beijing denies China hackers attacked Indian govt [AFP] China on Tuesday rejected reports that Indian government computers had been attacked by Chinese hackers as "groundless", one week after US Internet giant Google made a similar accusation. http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-technology/beijing-denies-china-hackers-attacked-indian-govt-20100120-mjfd.html http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/beijing-denies-china-hackers-attacked-indian-govt-20100120-mjfd.html Evidence Found for Chinese Attack on Google An American computer security researcher has found what he says he believes is strong evidence of the digital fingerprints of Chinese authors in the software programs used in attacks against Google. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/20/technology/20cyber.html http://news.cnet.com/Evidence-found-of-Chinese-attack-on-Google/2100-7349_3-6250413.html In America's new cyberwar Google is on the front line The conflict between Google and China is no run-of-the-mill business dispute. The corporate leviathan and national behemoth have come to blows in a serious skirmish whose outcome remains unpredictable. While mere mortals should be concerned if not afraid when rivals like these clash, the conflict does shine a light on what is going on in the hidden world of cybersecurity. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/jan/18/america-cyberwar-google-china-computer Hillary Clinton launches attack on China over Google cyber attacks Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of State, dramatically raised the stakes with China over internet freedom today, insisting that that those who carried out cyber attacks should face ?international condemnation?. http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article6996738.ece Clinton: World should condemn cyber attackers U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Thursday called for global condemnation for those who carry out cyber attacks as China sought to contain tension with the United States over online censorship and hacking. http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTOE60K02Y20100121 http://in.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idINIndia-45570520100121 Hackers create opportunity for military firms Attacks on Google boost the market for cyber-security just as government weapons spending is expected to slow. Military firms are retooling for rising demand by corporations as well as government. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-security19-2010jan19,0,7858556.story Chinese search engine Baidu sues US company over hacking attack China's largest search engine, Baidu.com, is seeking damages against its US-based service provider after hackers from the "Iranian Cyber Army" hijacked the company's homepage in China last week. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/7033319/Chinese-search-engine-Baidu-sues-US-company-over-hacking-attack.html Google investigates China staff over cyber attack Google is investigating whether one or more of its employees in China helped launch the cyber attack against it last month, according to reports. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/jan/18/china-google-cyber-attack Google China insiders may have helped with attack Google is looking into whether employees in its China office were involved in the attacks on its network that led to theft of intellectual property, according to CNET sources. http://news.cnet.com/8301-27080_3-10436618-245.html Google suspects traitor in China cyber attack [Reuters] Google is reportedly investigating whether one or more employees may have helped facilitate a cyber attack that the US internet giant said it was a victim of in mid-December. http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE60H1JJ20100118 http://in.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idINIndia-45475720100118 http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/01/18/2795341.htm http://www.theage.com.au/technology/enterprise/google-probes-for-enemies-within-20100118-mgx7.html http://www.smh.com.au/technology/enterprise/google-probes-for-enemies-within-20100118-mgx7.html UK ignores fears over Internet Explorer despite French and German warnings The British government and armed forces are to continue their widespread use of the version of Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser that was attacked by Chinese hackers who broke into Google's corporate network ? even though both the French and German governments have advised people to stop using it. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/jan/18/uk-internet-explorer-china-google Microsoft to patch hole in Internet Explorer Microsoft will patch a hole in its Internet Explorer browser that may have allowed Chinese hackers access to human rights activists' e-mail accounts. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8469632.stm France joins Germany warning against Internet Explorer France has echoed calls by the German government for web users to find an alternative to Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE) to protect security. Certa, a government agency that oversees cyber threats, warned against using all versions of the web browser. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8465038.stm No reports of Internet Explorer hack problems, says Microsoft NZ Microsoft will issue a security patch for Internet Explorer after it was revealed that a vulnerability in the web browser was to blame for last week's hacks on Gmail accounts. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10621427 Australian Govt issues IE security warning The Federal Government has ramped up warnings about Microsoft's web browser, urging people to find an alternative to Internet Explorer or risk having their computers infiltrated and passwords stolen. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/01/19/2795684.htm The Recent Cyber Attacks Unfortunately cyber crime and cyber attacks are daily occurrences in the online world. We condemn these attacks and the recent attacks against Google and other companies. http://blogs.technet.com/microsoft_blog/archive/2010/01/14/the-recent-cyber-attacks.aspx European governments warn against Internet Explorer The French government has become the second in days to warn its citizens to steer clear of Internet all versions of Explorer (IE) until a serious security flaw is fixed in the browser. http://news.techworld.com/security/3210474/european-governments-warn-against-internet-explorer/ http://www.networkworld.com/news/2010/011810-european-governments-warn-against-internet.html News Corp is foolish to block linking Linking is more than merely a function and feature of the internet. Linking is a right. The link enables fair comment. It powers the link economy that will sustain media. It is a tool for accountability. It is the keystone to free speech online. But News Corporation has made good on its threat to fight the link, preventing the UK aggregator NewsNow from linking to several of its newspaper sites. ... In the end, this fight is over control. News Corp is desperately trying to maintain its control over access to and packaging and pricing of information that now flows freely from many sources. Thanks to the internet, it is losing it ? in more than one sense. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/pda/2010/jan/18/news-corp-blocks-linking Internet scammers hit Kiwis [NZPA] An international internet scam has caught several New Zealanders and cost them money. The fraudsters offer fake accommodation and trick victims into sending bond and rent money after targeting flat-finder websites worldwide. http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/3235088/ Study: Click fraud rate relatively low in 2009's Q4 Click fraud, a practice that dilutes the efficacy of pay-per-click (PPC) advertising campaigns run in search engines like Google, stayed relatively low in the fourth quarter, according to a study. http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/333046/ China's leading websites promise to fend off piracy A total of 101 websites signed a declaration yesterday promising to facilitate the protection of Internet-related intellectual property rights amid the country's stepped-up efforts to curb widespread piracy. http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90776/90882/6875541.html nz: No love on dating site [The Press] A Christchurch woman says she feels "violated" after being targeted by an online love rat. The fraudster, purporting to be a Swedish-born engineer by the name of Donald Andrews, corresponded daily with mother-of-three Michelle Summers, 46, for three weeks before he asked her for money. http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch/3252172/ http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/news/latest-news/3252216/ http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/national-news/3252216/ http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/national-news/3252216/ http://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/news/national-news/3252216/ US Air Force issues second call for network attack capabilities The Air Force Electronic Systems Center on Tuesday asked for industry's help for the second time in three years in attacking and destroying enemies' computer networks. http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20100120_9002.php ************************** PRIVACY ************************** FBI Broke Privacy Laws, Says US Justice Department Probe The FBI repeatedly broke the law between April 2003 and November 2006 in its efforts to monitor telecommunications in line with counterterrorism objectives, a Justice Department investigation has found. http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1955421,00.html DOJ: Operators helped FBI illegally obtain phone records [IDG] The FBI was so cavalier -- and telecom companies so eager to help -- that a verbal request or even one written on a Post-it note was enough for operators to hand over customer phone records, according to a damning report released on Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9146679/DOJ_Operators_helped_FBI_illegally_obtain_phone_records Microsoft to delete Bing users' IP addresses after 6 months Microsoft will eliminate all data collected on Bing users after six months. The software giant said it sent a letter to the Article 29 Data Protection Working Party, a collection of the EU's top minds on data protection and privacy issues, today notifying it that the company would reduce the amount of time it stores IP addresses from searchers from 18 months to six months before deleting them. http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2010/01/bing-beats-google-but-not-yahoo-in-keeping-search-records.ars Microsoft cuts IP address storage to 6 months [AP] Microsoft Corp. said Tuesday it would shorten the time it stores Internet users' addresses from Web search queries from 18 months to six months following a request from a European Union data privacy panel. http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-technology/microsoft-cuts-ip-address-storage-to-6-months-20100120-mjex.html http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/microsoft-cuts-ip-address-storage-to-6-months-20100120-mjex.html ********************** CENSORSHIP ********************** Even a censored Internet has opened up a world for Chinese users One of China's most popular bloggers, Han Han, posted a satirical essay this week in which he imagined headlines about China's censored Internet in a post-Google era: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/20/AR2010012003552.html Clinton to challenge Internet censorship in policy address U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will raise the issue of Google's ongoing battles in China in a broad policy address on Internet freedom she plans to make Thursday in Washington, D.C. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9146659/Clinton_to_challenge_Internet_censorship_in_policy_address Clinton plans to stump for global Net freedom Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is preparing to deliver a major speech on Thursday elevating the importance of Internet freedom and placing the influence of the United States' diplomacy behind efforts to protect it, according to multiple people who have been briefed on the speech's contents. http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10438324-38.html Clinton blasts China, others for internet blocks [AP] Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is criticizing China and other nations for restricting Internet access and erecting other electronic barriers to the free flow of information. http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/clinton-blasts-china-others-for-internet-blocks-20100122-mojd.html http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-technology/clinton-blasts-china-others-for-internet-blocks-20100122-mojd.html Chinese partner warns Yahoo in Google censorship row The row over internet censorship in China intensified at the weekend when Yahoo's Chinese partner called the US internet giant "reckless" for supporting Google in its standoff with Beijing over alleged cyber attacks. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/jan/17/china-alibaba-yahoo-google China to offer more money to report online smut The Chinese government will offer greater cash rewards to people reporting online smut after handing out 224,000 yuan ($32,810) as of late last week, state media said on Monday. http://in.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idINIndia-45484620100118 China to Scan Text Messages to Spot ?Unhealthy Content? As the Chinese government expands what it calls a campaign against pornography, cellular companies in Beijing and Shanghai have been told to suspend text services to cellphone users who are found to have sent messages with ?illegal or unhealthy content,? state-run news media reported Tuesday. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/20/world/20text.html Turkey should 'reform or abolish' Internet law: OSCE [AFP] Turkey should "reform or abolish" its Internet law, which "limits freedom of expression ... (and) severely restricts people's right to access information," the European security body OSCE said Monday. http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-technology/turkey-should-reform-or-abolish-internet-law-osce-20100119-mh11.html http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/turkey-should-reform-or-abolish-internet-law-osce-20100119-mh11.html Turkey urged to stop blocking 1,000s of Web sites [AP] An official of a 56-nation security and human rights organization says Turkey should abolish or reform a law allowing it to block around 3,700 Internet sites. http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-technology/turkey-urged-to-stop-blocking-1000s-of-web-sites-20100119-mh0c.html http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/turkey-urged-to-stop-blocking-1000s-of-web-sites-20100119-mh0c.html Turkey blocking 3,700 websites, reform needed: OSCE [Reuters] Europe's main security and human rights watchdog said on Monday that Turkey was blocking some 3,700 Internet sites for "arbitrary and political reasons" and urged reforms to show its commitment to freedom of expression. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/18/AR2010011801590.html ************************** GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY ************************** Push for Google to develop racism policy An Aboriginal man has demanded Google develop a policy to deal with links to racist websites. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/01/18/2795016.htm German News Media Challenge Google Search engine giant Google could be facing an investigation over allegedly anti-competitive practices in Germany following complaints from newspaper and magazine publishers who accuse the company of unfair search results and profiting from journalism that is expensive to produce. Google executives, however, say they believe the company complies with German and European laws. http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/0,1518,672580,00.html German Publishers File Complaint Against Google Google said Monday that it faced antitrust complaints in Germany from newspaper and magazine publishers who want the company to pay them for using article snippets in its Web news service and search results. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/19/technology/19antitrust.html ********************************* MISCELLANEOUS ********************************* Open source under threat from 'grey' IP laws Incomplete laws and intense lobbying from the software industry are contrary to the values of free software and continue to pose a threat to its existence says an independent technology consultant and writer from New Zealand. http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/333278/open_source_under_threat_from_grey_ip_laws/ ********************** TELECOMMUNICATIONS ********************** France to Give ?2 Billion to Improve Internet Speed The French government will provide ?2 billion ($2.88 billion) to improve the country's high-speed Internet networks, as part of a national loan program to boost the economy through investment in infrastructure. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704541004575011113378158220.html --------- David Goldstein email: goldstein_david§yahoo.com.au web: http://davidgoldstein.tel/ http://goldsteinreport.com/ phone: +61 418 228 605 - mobile; +61 2 9665 5773 - office/home "Every time you use fossil fuels, you're adding to the problem. Every time you forgo fossil fuels, you're being part of the solution" - Dr Tim Flannery __________________________________________________________________________________ See what's on at the movies in your area. Find out now: http://au.movies.yahoo.com/session-times/Received on Thu Jan 21 2010 - 12:03:30 UTC
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