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 *************************************************** Internet Governance Outlook 2012: Cold War or Constructive Dialogue? by Wolfgang Kleinw?chter http://news.dot-nxt.com/2012/01/10/ig-outlook-2012-part-one The Wired Q&A: ICANN President Rod Beckstrom on ?the Biggest Change in DNS Since Dot-Com? http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2012/01/icaan-president-beckstrom/ The case study that could kill ICANN http://news.dot-nxt.com/2012/01/11/dot-jobs-could-kill-icann US gov't official: ICANN gTLD plan should move forward [IDG] http://www.networkworld.com/news/2012/011112-us-govt-official-icann-gtld-254807.html ICANN CEO defends new gTLD plan [IDG] http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/412042/icann_ceo_defends_new_gtld_plan/ ICANN maintains security stance on website suffix expansion plan http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20120111_4015.php Web-Name Expansion Should Have ?Do Not Sell? List, Advertising Group Says http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-09/web-name-expansion-should-have-do-not-sell-list-ad-group-says.html Brands Owners Expected To Defy US-Based Trade Associations And Apply For TLDs http://www.domainpulse.com/2012/01/11/brands-owners-expected-to-defy-us-based-trade-associations-and-apply-for-tlds/ Domain registrar not liable for cybersquatting, US court rules http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2012/january-/domain-registrar-not-liable-for-cybersquatting-us-court-rules/ One Month Until 2012 Domain Pulse Conference Comes To Hamburg http://www.domainpulse.com/2012/01/12/one-month-until-2012-domain-pulse-conference-comes-to-hamburg/ ********************** GOVERNANCE ********************** Internet Governance Outlook 2012: Cold War or Constructive Dialogue? by Wolfgang Kleinw?chter In this first half of a two-part essay, professor for Internet Policy and Regulation at the University of Aarhus, Wolfgang Kleinw?chter reviews the extraordinary year that faces the Internet and its governance, and asks: will 2012 see a cold war in cyberspace? Or will we see another spring of Internet freedom? http://news.dot-nxt.com/2012/01/10/ig-outlook-2012-part-one us: Officials See Limited Government Role in Internet Governance Increasing the role of governments in cyberspace could spell disaster for the free nature of the Internet, top American officials and analysts said on Wednesday. http://www.nationaljournal.com/tech/officials-see-limited-government-role-in-internet-governance-20120111 ********************** DOMAIN NAMES ********************** ********************** - ICANN ********************** New gTLDs Update: Applications Accepted Today; New Guidebook Posted; Financial Assistance for Qualifying Applicants After more than seven years of planning, ICANN has initiated a process that could trigger a dramatic expansion of the Internet. http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-11jan12-en.htm Letter from Rod Beckstrom to Assistant Secretary Lawrence E. Strickling New gTLDs http://www.icann.org/en/correspondence/beckstrom-to-strickling-11jan12-en.pdf Letter from Rod Beckstrom to FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz and Commissioners Rosch, Ramirez and Brill New gTLDs http://www.icann.org/en/correspondence/beckstrom-to-leibowitz-10jan12-en.pdf Letter from Robert Liodice, The Association of National Advertisers, to ICANN and Members of the ICANN Board New gTLDs http://www.icann.org/en/correspondence/liodice-to-icann-09jan12-en.pdf The Wired Q&A: ICANN President Rod Beckstrom on ?the Biggest Change in DNS Since Dot-Com? Beginning Wednesday, Jan. 12 ? midnight UTC, to be exact ? ICANN starts accepting applications for new, bespoke TLDs. This will be the first time website owners (at least governments and businesses) will be able to request their own replacement for .com, .net and .org. Think .facebook, .losangeles and .lolcats. http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2012/01/icaan-president-beckstrom/ The case study that could kill ICANN Tomorrow, the new gTLD program will launch. And not before time. Amid the celebrations from an industry that has waited years for this moment, and a Board and management team congratulating itself on having resisted fierce pressure to scale back its flagship program, it is likely that a two-page letter will go unnoticed. http://news.dot-nxt.com/2012/01/11/dot-jobs-could-kill-icann Whois verification rules coming this year Registrars could be obliged to verify their customers? identities when they sell domain names under new rules proposed for later this year, according to ICANN president Rod Beckstrom. http://domainincite.com/whois-verification-rules-coming-this-year/ ********************** - ccTLD & gTLD NEWS ********************** nl: How to Make DNS Green by Bill St. Arnaud The Dutch Internet registry SIDN has launched a unique program in partnership with CleanBits to identify what proportion of .nl domain names were hosted on a green or CO2-neutral basis. The results show a strong trend towards the 'greening' of the .nl internet zone. Nearly 30 per cent of .nl names were found to have green hosts. http://www.circleid.com/posts/20120109_how_to_make_dns_green/ ********************** - NEW TLDS ********************** US gov't official: ICANN gTLD plan should move forward [IDG] Calls for the U.S. government to halt a plan by ICANN to offer new gTLDs are shortsighted because they could lead to other countries attempting to exert control over ICANN, a U.S. government official said Wednesday. http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/412165/us_gov_t_official_icann_gtld_plan_should_move_forward/ http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9223373/U.S._gov_t_official_ICANN_plan_should_move_forward http://www.networkworld.com/news/2012/011112-us-govt-official-icann-gtld-254807.html ICANN CEO defends new gTLD plan [IDG] ICANN will open up applications for new gTLDs this week, even with continued objections to the plan, the group's CEO said. http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/412042/icann_ceo_defends_new_gtld_plan/ http://www.networkworld.com/news/2012/011012-icann-ceo-defends-new-gtld-254762.html http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/247780/icann_ceo_defends_new_gtld_plan.html Ready to launch? Who are you kidding? Let?s forget for a second about the unpleasant tactics used by some to get their way in the long, drawn-out process to open up the top-level of the Internet. http://news.dot-nxt.com/2012/01/09/icann-ready-who-you-kidding We?re ready says ICANN, with six gTLD papers ICANN?s management has announced it is prepared for the launch next week of its program to open up the top level of the Internet. http://news.dot-nxt.com/2012/01/09/icann-ready-gtld-papers Are more domain names better for the Internet? by By Nao Matsukata and Josh Bourne ? Special to CNN What?s in a domain name? What?s in it for the everyday user of the Internet? On January 12, 2012, ICANN will implement a policy that will infinitely expand Internet real estate, making it more confusing and creating more opportunities for fraud and threats to national security. http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2012/01/09/are-more-domain-names-better-for-the-internet/ What's in a gTLD? IT IS going to be a great opportunity?but whether an opportunity for business innovators or for rent-seekers and scam-merchants depends on whom you ask. On January 12th ICANN, the body that regulates the naming system of computers connected to the internet, starts accepting applications for new gTLDs. http://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/2012/01/internet-domain-names ICANN maintains security stance on website suffix expansion plan On Tuesday, amid objections from lawmakers and federal officials, the head of the global nonprofit organization that governs website names defended security protections in place for Thursday's planned kickoff of a program to sell infinite address suffixes, such as dot-jobs. http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20120111_4015.php Personalised domain suffixes up for grabs New domain name suffixes are being auctioned off this week in an attempt to widen the spectrum of website domains available to be hosted across the web. http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/personalized-domain-suffixes-bidding-rm-107614 Internet body says name expansion won't hurt United Nations Internet domain name regulators on Monday played down fears by the United Nations and other international bodies that a planned expansion of possible Website addresses could cause them problems, saying safeguards were in place. http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/01/09/internet-names-un-idINDEE8080JB20120109 ANA proposes ?Do Not Sell? list to ICANN The Association of National Advertisers (ANA) has proposed that ICANN adopt a ?Do Not Sell? list for the new TLD application period that opens up later this week. http://domainnamewire.com/2012/01/09/ana-proposes-do-not-sell-list-to-icann/ ANA?s modest proposal: let us take over the new gTLD program or we?ll sue The Association of National Advertisers has offered ICANN a risible last-minute ?solution? to the outrage it has created over the new gTLDs program. http://domainincite.com/anas-modest-proposal-let-us-take-over-the-new-gtld-program-or-well-sue/ ANA Offers Olive Branch to Icann The Association of National Advertisers offered a small olive branch to ICANN, just three days before the organization is set to begin accepting applications for new TLDs. http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/ana-offers-olive-branch-icann-137412 Web-Name Expansion Should Have ?Do Not Sell? List, Advertising Group Says A Web-expansion program that may add hundreds of TLDs such as .apple and .nyc to the Internet needs a ?Do Not Sell? list to protect brand names, an advertising group said. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-09/web-name-expansion-should-have-do-not-sell-list-ad-group-says.html Brands Owners Expected To Defy US-Based Trade Associations And Apply For TLDs ICANN is to begin accepting applications for new gTLDs from tomorrow (12 January) with indications being that there will be somewhere between 1000 and 1500 applications during the three month application window. http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=16684 http://www.domainpulse.com/2012/01/11/brands-owners-expected-to-defy-us-based-trade-associations-and-apply-for-tlds/ http://www.domainnews.com/en/brands-owners-expected-to-defy-us-based-trade-associations-and-apply-for-tlds.html Technology and finance industries to dominate new domain applications A third of all applicants participating in ICANN's new TLD program will come from the IT and financial services industries, according to figures released by ARI Registry Services today as the application window opens tomorrow. http://ausregistry.com/news-12th_jan.php Big Brands Ready to Apply for their '.brand' Internet Domains - Multi-billion dollar companies and household brand names among those preparing applications Hundreds of the world's largest brands are expected to begin lodging their applications for a new ?.brand' TLDs when the three month application window opens on Thursday, January 12th. http://www.melbourneit.info/news-centre/Releases/Big-Brands-Ready-To-Apply-For-Their-dotBrand-Internet-Domains Melbourne IT involved in 100+ gTLD applications Melbourne IT says it has prepared applications for over 100 new gTLDs on behalf of clients including members of the Association of National Advertisers. http://domainincite.com/melbourne-it-involved-in-100-gtld-applications/ What Rod Beckstrom would do differently with the new TLD program? This afternoon Rod Beckstrom held a briefing call with bloggers about the new TLD program. http://domainnamewire.com/2012/01/10/what-rod-beckstrom-would-do-differently-with-the-new-tld-program/ Wild West Domains is the TLD frontrunner?s favorite tool A lot of companies have tried to ?frontrun? the new TLD process by filing trademark applications for .whatever. http://domainnamewire.com/2012/01/10/wild-west-domains-is-the-tld-frontrunners-favorite-tool/ Perhaps trademark holders should no longer defensively register domains With potentially hundreds of new TLDs heading to the internet as early as 2013, brand owners are crying foul. They?re upset about having to defensively register hundreds or even thousands of domain names across the extensions. http://domainnamewire.com/2012/01/09/defensive-domain-registration/ ANA Urges NTIA to Support ?DO NOT SELL? List for Brands as Part of ICANN?S Top Level Domain Expansion Program The Association of National Advertisers has urged the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to support ANA's proposal to address specific concerns about ICANN's TLD expansion program. http://www.ana.net/content/show/id/22806 ANA Proposes Constructive Way to Resolve Concerns About ICANN's Top-Level Domain Expansion Program The Association of National Advertisers today proposed to the ICANN Board a constructive way to address critical concerns associated with ICANN's TLD expansion program. http://www.ana.net/content/show/id/22757 ICANN snubs critics, opens domain extension floodgates The process has recently come under fierce criticism, largely in the United States, as a result of a campaign orchestrated by the Association of National Advertisers, which has been fighting the new gTLD programme almost since it was finalised by ICANN last June. ANA's new Coalition for Responsible Internet Domain Oversight spin-off has some 102 trade associations and 59 individual companies among its membership. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/01/11/icann_gtld/page2.html Businesses stick to their dotcoms, reluctant to enter new domains Tomorrow marks the beginning of a dramatic change to the world wide web when domain names are opened up to generic names and company brands. http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/businesses-stick-to-their-dotcoms-reluctant-to-enter-new-domains-20120110-1pthi.html Internet address expansion begins despite concerns On Thursday, ICANN will start accepting applications for new internet address suffixes that could come to represent industry sectors, hobbies, ethnic groups, corporate brand names and more. http://www.smh.com.au/it-pro/business-it/internet-address-expansion-begins-despite-concerns-20120111-1pu8n.html http://www.theage.com.au/it-pro/business-it/internet-address-expansion-begins-despite-concerns-20120111-1pu8n.html .SPORT Selects CORE As Registry Operator They might have been among organisations to complain about aspects of ICANN?s plan to introduce new TLDs, but the International Olympic Committee is part of a group that is applying for the .sport TLD utilising services of the CORE Internet Council of Registrars. http://www.domainpulse.com/2012/01/11/sport-selects-core-as-registry-operator/ http://www.domainnews.com/en/sport-selects-core-as-registry-operator.html SportAccord picks CORE for .sport gTLD bid SportAccord, an international association of sporting federations, has picked CORE as its registry services provider for its .sport gTLD application. http://domainincite.com/sportaccord-picks-core-for-sport-gtld-bid/ SportAccord to apply for the .sport new generic top-level domain As part of the ICANN proposed expansion of the new gTLD space, SportAccord, on behalf of the global sport community is proud to announce its decision to apply for the .sport TLD with CORE Internet Council of Registrars (?CORE?) serving as the primary provider. http://corenic.net/dotSport-announcement-2012-01-10 ********************** - DNS SECURITY ********************** Pentagon Tries to Counter Cheap, Potent Weapons President Obama?s new military strategy has focused fresh attention on an increasingly important threat: the use of inexpensive weapons like mines and cyberattacks that aim not to defeat the American military in battle but to keep it at a distance. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/10/world/pentagon-tries-to-counter-low-cost-but-potent-weapons.html Hackers expose defence and intelligence officials in US and UK Thousands of British email addresses and encrypted passwords, including those of defence, intelligence and police officials as well as politicians and Nato advisers, have been revealed on the internet following a security breach by hackers. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/jan/08/hackers-expose-defence-intelligence-officials us: Feds Seek Stronger Security For Power Grid Departments of Energy and Defense will create a cybersecurity model to test and apply across the utility industry, as they work to protect the U.S. electricity grid. http://www.informationweek.com/news/government/security/232400080 ********************** - DOMAIN DISPUTES ********************** Domain registrar not liable for cybersquatting, US court rules A domain name registrar was not liable for a form of trade mark infringement when a system it operates was used to redirect visitors from allegedly 'cybersquatting' web domain names to a pornographic website, a US court has ruled. http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2012/january-/domain-registrar-not-liable-for-cybersquatting-us-court-rules/ Google Rolls the Domain Recovery Dice Back in September, we published a Perspectives paper about a survey scam that targeted social networks: when Internet users mistyped the domain names of popular social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and others into their browsers? address bars, they were led to a website that was formatted similarly to the target homepage, but displayed a survey in place of the expected content. The surveys promised prizes for answering questions and ? surprise, surprise ? never delivered on those prizes. Instead, they stole users? valuable personal information. http://www.domainnamestrategy.com/2012/01/09/google-rolls-domain-recovery-dice Receiver asks for typo domains to be confiscated from Apple and others Remember that court case where the receiver, in charge of a number of domain names, said ICANN had the power to stay a UDRP decision? http://domainnamewire.com/2012/01/10/receiver-apple-typ/ ********************** - IPv4/IPv6 ********************** Deploy360 Provides Resources to Speed the Deployment of IPv6, DNSSEC The Internet Society today announced the launch of Deploy360, an online resource to support the deployment of IPv6, Domain Name System Security (DNSSEC), and other key Internet technologies. http://www.internetsociety.org/news/deploy360-provides-resources-speed-deployment-ipv6-dnssec ********************** - MISCELLANEOUS ********************** One Month Until 2012 Domain Pulse Conference Comes To Hamburg It's only a month to go until the 2012 Domain Pulse, this year to be held in the German city of Hamburg. The annual conference, rotated between Switzerland, Austria and Germany and hosted by the registries in each country, is one of the highlights of the domain name calendar. http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=16685 http://www.domainpulse.com/2012/01/12/one-month-until-2012-domain-pulse-conference-comes-to-hamburg/ http://www.domainnews.com/en/one-month-until-2012-domain-pulse-conference-comes-to-hamburg.html Key-Systems sued over brand protection trademark Israeli domain name registrar Domain The Net Technologies has filed a preemptive lawsuit against German competitor Key-Systems over their respective brand management trademarks. http://domainincite.com/key-systems-sued-over-brand-protection-trademark/ Go Daddy gripe site relaunches with .co domain Erstwhile Go Daddy gripe site No Daddy, formerly found at nodaddy.com, has been relaunched under new ownership at nodaddy.co. http://domainincite.com/go-daddy-gripe-site-relaunches-with-co-domain/ Introducing DomainIncite PRO As you know, today is a Big Day in the domain name industry. That?s right, today?s the day that I?m excited to announce the launch of DomainIncite PRO, the industry?s newest research and analysis service. http://domainincite.com/introducing-domainincite-pro/ ********************** - DOMAINING & AFTERMARKET ********************** DOMAINfest Global Pre-Bidding Opens As Conference Only Four Weeks Away The weather is warm and sunny at the Fairmont Miramar and Moniker and SnapNames want you to know that the DOMAINfest Global Conference is only four weeks away. And for the premium auction at the event, pre-bidding is now open. Moniker and SnapNames have released the preliminary live auction catalogue. There are some great names available with significant branding opportunities. http://www.domainpulse.com/2012/01/09/domainfest-global-pre-bidding-opens-as-conference-only-four-weeks-away/ $18k for Aussie domain sets new record The domain name creditcard.net.au has set a new sales record in the Australian market for a .net.au domain name, selling for $AU18,200 in a private trade. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/01/10/new_record_for_aus_domain/ ********************** INTERNET USE ********************** Addicted! Scientists show how internet dependency alters the human brain Internet addiction has for the first time been linked with changes in the brain similar to those seen in people addicted to alcohol, cocaine and cannabis. In a groundbreaking study, researchers used MRI scanners to reveal abnormalities in the brains of adolescents who spent many hours on the internet, to the detriment of their social and personal lives. The finding could throw light on other behavioural problems and lead to the development of new approaches to treatment, researchers said. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/addicted-scientists-show-how-internet-dependency-alters-the-human-brain-6288344.html Google Hopes to Make Friends with a More Social Search: New features add personalized results to its searches, and could lure users to Google+. Appearing atop Google's search results used to be the exclusive right of Web celebrities and Fortune 500 companies. Starting this week, your mom is just as likely to show up at the top of those results?providing she uses Google's still fledgling social network, Google+. http://www.technologyreview.com/computing/39444/ Google search changes are bad for the internet, says Twitter Google has angered Twitter and faces accusations of "warping" its search results and breaking antitrust rules by boosting posts from its Google+ social network in its standard search results. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/jan/11/google-search-changes-internet-twitter Google catches heat over social search Google announced Tuesday that it was making some radical changes to search by incorporating Google+ information into its search results. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/google-catches-heat-over-social-search/2012/01/10/gIQAdAhxoP_story.html If Only Search and Social Could Just Get Along Yesterday, Google and Twitter aired some dirty laundry that had been stagnating after a deal to include tweets in Google search died this past summer. It all came to a head after Google started featuring private social networking content in search ? but only content from its own Google+ and Picasa. http://allthingsd.com/20120111/if-only-search-and-social-could-just-get-along/ China's Internet users breach half billion mark The number of Internet users in China have crossed the half billion mark, reaching 505 million users at the end of November last year, the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) reported. http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/01/11/china-internet-idINDEE80A08H20120111 China Internet users top half a billion, many more to go China's Internet user tally is growing by tens of millions of people every year, the China Internet Network Information Center has revealed. http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-57357044-17/china-internet-users-top-half-a-billion-many-more-to-go/ Stimulating growth and employment: an action plan for doubling the volume of e-commerce in Europe by 2015 [news release] The development of electronic commerce and online services offers enormous potential for beneficial economic, social and societal change. The Internet economy creates 2.6 jobs for every "off-line" job lost, and offers a better choice to consumers, including those in rural and isolated areas. The gains brought by lower online prices and a wider choice of available products and services are estimated at ?11.7 billion, equivalent to 0.12% of European GDP. http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/12/10 Bad reviews improve conversion by 67% Social commerce company Reevoo has released research that suggests bad reviews are good for business. http://econsultancy.com/uk/blog/8638-bad-reviews-improve-conversion-by-67 ********************** SOCIAL NETWORKING ********************** Facebook apologises for deleting photos of girls pretending to breastfeed Facebook has apologised after it deleted a page showing two little girls pretending to breastfeed their dolls. http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2012/jan/09/facebook-photos-girls-pretending-breastfeed ********************** NEW TECHNOLOGIES ********************** How the BBC Micro started a computing revolution Dan Frydman remembers clearly how the computer he used at school in the 1980s changed his life. Now 38, he was one of the generation who grew up with classroom computers that almost anyone could use to write self-contained programs ? the equivalent of today's smartphone apps. http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2012/jan/10/bbc-micro-school-computer-revolution ********************************* CHILD PROTECTION & ONLINE SAFETY ********************************* Twitter 'failing' on child abuse, Ceop watchdog warns Twitter's child protection policies are lagging behind other social networking websites, a watchdog has warned. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16508481 Cyberbullying a problem around the globe: poll More than 10 percent of parents around the world say their child has been cyberbullied and nearly one-fourth know a youngster who has been a victim, according to a new Ipsos/Reuters poll. http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/01/11/uk-cyberbullying-poll-idUKTRE80A1EH20120111 ********************** ONLINE TV & MUSIC ********************** Myspace ? Yes, Myspace ? Says It?s Going to Sell You Web TV Lots of folks are waiting for Google, or Apple, or Verizon or someone to offer a Web video subscription service that would rival cable TV. http://allthingsd.com/20120109/myspace-yes-myspace-say-its-going-to-sell-you-web-tv/ Fighting for Control Of New 'Smart' TVs The boob tube has come a long way. TV watching is more complex these days as a flood of new Internet content and mobile devices reaches the living room. One of the hottest topics at this week's Consumer Electronics Show is how to make sense of the entertainment chaos. The old methods?channel surfing and on-screen guides?no longer seem to cut it. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203436904577151050705649664.html Samsung's 'future-proof' voice-controlled television A "smart" internet-connected television that has the ability to have its hardware upgraded every year has been unveiled by Samsung. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16480712 Samsung plans smart TVs with face recognition, voice and gesture control [IDG] Samsung Electronics announced a host of new gadgets at the International Consumer Electronics Show on Monday, including smart TVs with face recognition, plus voice and gesture control, and a super-thin ultrabook laptop with a DVD drive. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9223293/Samsung_plans_smart_TVs_with_face_recognition_voice_and_gesture_control nz: Orcon?s copyright infringement notice under scrutiny A detection notice sent to an Orcon customer claiming a breach of the Copyright (Infringing File Sharing) Act may be legally non-compliant. http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/orcons-copyright-infringement-notice-under-scrutiny ********************** MOBILE/WIRELESS ********************** Android overtakes iOs for web browsing in America, but still lags in world New data from Chitika Analytics says that Android browsing, including Amazon devices, overtook Apple's iOS in the US and Canada in December, though other figures show Apple holding on to world share http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/jan/09/android-ios-overtake-web-browsing Public should be informed whenever phone-tracking technology is used, says expert The public should be informed when a building or facility operator uses systems to track the location and movements of mobile phones, a data privacy expert has said. http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2012/january-/public-should-be-informed-whenever-phone-tracking-technology-is-used-says-expert/ Angry Birds, Facebook most downloaded apps in 2011 Angry Birds and Facebook were the most downloaded iPhone apps of 2011, according to Apple, but some less predictable apps also made their lists. http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/01/09/apps-idINDEE8080GH20120109 http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/01/09/uk-apps-idUKTRE8081M220120109 Philippines disconnects mobile phone signals during Black Nazarene feast Philippine telecommunication companies cut off the signal of mobile phones in parts of Manila where millions of people are expected to converge for the feast of the Black Nazarene on Monday. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/sci/2012-01/09/c_131350353.htm A Low-Priced Rival Pushes to Take Over France's Mobile Phone Market After popularizing the idea of low-cost broadband Internet service in France, upsetting a few vested interests in the process, the telecommunications entrepreneur Xavier Niel wants to do something similar for mobile phones. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/11/technology/iliad-takes-aim-at-top-mobile-operators-in-france.html ********************** ONLINE CRIME & LEGAL ********************** Google admits profiting from illegal Olympic ticket ads Google is profiting from ads for illegal products generated by its flagship automated advertising system, the BBC has found. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16468846 French court fines Google over search suggestion Google has been fined $65,000 by a French court after its search engine suggested the French word for 'crook' when users typed-in the name of an insurance company, according to reports. http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2012/january-/french-court-fines-google-over-search-suggestion/ Finnish ISP ordered to block link to campaigner website in Pirate Bay crackdown ruling A Finnish internet service provider (ISP) has been ordered to block access to a web address which points to the website of a digital rights campaign group. http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2012/january-/finnish-isp-ordered-to-block-link-to-campaigner-website-in-pirate-bay-crackdown-ruling/ Finnish anti-piracy group says it got bomb threat A Finnish anti-Internet piracy group said it received a bomb threat from hacking group Anonymous after it successfully forced a telecoms provider to block access to The Pirate Bay, a popular website for illegal downloading. http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/01/10/finland-hacking-idINDEE8090H820120110 Dutch court orders block on Pirate Bay website Two Dutch cable companies were ordered by a court on Wednesday to block access to the website The Pirate Bay to prevent the illegal downloading of free music, films and games in case brought on behalf of the entertainment industry. http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/01/11/dutch-internet-ban-idINDEE80A0E220120111 ********************** SECURITY ********************** Pentagon Tries to Counter Cheap, Potent Weapons President Obama?s new military strategy has focused fresh attention on an increasingly important threat: the use of inexpensive weapons like mines and cyberattacks that aim not to defeat the American military in battle but to keep it at a distance. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/10/world/pentagon-tries-to-counter-low-cost-but-potent-weapons.html Hackers expose defence and intelligence officials in US and UK Thousands of British email addresses and encrypted passwords, including those of defence, intelligence and police officials as well as politicians and Nato advisers, have been revealed on the internet following a security breach by hackers. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/jan/08/hackers-expose-defence-intelligence-officials us: Feds Seek Stronger Security For Power Grid Departments of Energy and Defense will create a cybersecurity model to test and apply across the utility industry, as they work to protect the U.S. electricity grid. http://www.informationweek.com/news/government/security/232400080 ********************** PRIVACY ********************** Privacy rights activists worry about potential abuse of high-tech devices featured at CES event The thousands of devices debuting Tuesday at the Consumer Electronics Show here demonstrate how tech companies are poised to gather unprecedented insights into consumers? lives ? how much they eat, whether they exercise, when they are home and who they count as friends. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/privacy-rights-activists-worry-about-potential-abuse-of-high-tech-devices-featured-at-ces-event/2012/01/10/gIQAX3kJpP_story.html ************************** GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY ************************** Spain's SOPA Law: How It Works And Why It Won't Last week?less than two months after winning control over the Spanish parliament?the right-leaning Partido Popular passed a controversial new anti-internet piracy law that will impose strict penalties on website owners who fail to remove copyrighted material from their sites. Sound familiar? http://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/telecom/internet/spains-sopa-law-how-it-works-and-why-it-wont-work us: Administration decision on Internet gambling may force Congress's hand A Justice Department memo last month that cleared the way for states to legalize online poker and lotteries makes it more important than ever for Congress to clear up the issue on a federal level, supporters of legislation say. http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20120109_4538.php ********************** TELECOMMUNICATIONS ********************** Microsoft Reinvents Wi-Fi for White Spaces Microsoft has developed a new kind of Wi-Fi network that performs at its top speed even in the face of interference. It takes advantage of a new Wi-Fi standard that uses more of the electromagnetic spectrum, but also hops between the narrow bands of unused spectrum within television broadcast frequencies. http://www.technologyreview.com/communications/39429/ uk: Virgin Media to double broadband speeds British cable operator Virgin Media has embarked on an 18-month programme to upgrade for free the speeds of all its broadband customers at a cost of around ?110 million, it said on Wednesday. http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/01/11/virginmedia-idUKL6E8CB3FX20120111 ********************************** ARRESTS/COURT CASES FOR ONLINE CHILD PROTECTION ********************************** Child porn man's hoard 'worst in UK' A civil servant had more of the worst type of child sex abuse images in his possession than in any other case ever investigated in the UK, a court was told yesterday. http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/child-porn-mans-hoard-worst-in-uk-16101923.html +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (c) David Goldstein 2012 ------ David Goldstein email: david at goldsteinreport.com web: http://goldsteinreport.com/ http://davidgoldstein.tel/ 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 Thu Jan 12 2012 - 04:03:57 UTC
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