[DNS] auDA domain name news - 24 June

[DNS] auDA domain name news - 24 June

From: David Goldstein <david>
Date: Mon, 24 Jun 2013 14:53:50 +1000
***************************************************

The domain name news is supported by auDA

***************************************************


U.S. IP Strategic Plan Cites ICANN Role ? Contemplates URS ?Course Corrections? and Monitoring of New RAA Compliance by Philip Corwin
<http://internetcommerce.org/IPECandICANN>

New registrar contract could be approved next week
<http://domainincite.com/13483-new-registrar-contract-could-be-approved-next-week>

Nominet Terminates Chief Commercial Officer Due To ?Increasing Public Scrutiny?
<http://www.domainpulse.com/2013/06/21/nominet-terminates-cco/>

au: Kosciuszko Thredbo in legal battle over name
<http://www.canberratimes.com.au/nsw/kosciuszko-thredbo-in-legal-battle-over-name-20130621-2onc4.html>


**********************
GOVERNANCE
**********************
Has the USA run out of ideas about Internet governance? (Part 2) by Milton Mueller
Last week we began a review of the Council on Foreign Relations? recent report on ?Defending an Open, Global, Secure and Resilient Internet.? Judging from our web statistics, neither the CFR report nor our review of it is setting the world on fire. But we doggedly adhere to our plan to review the rest of the report in some detail. Whatever one?s opinion of its content or significance, the CFR report and similar activities show that Internet governance is moving inexorably into the mainstream of foreign policy discourse in the U.S. and Europe. Yet the world of foreign policy, international relations and political science is still not well integrated with the world of Internet policy, governance and technology. Also, as we suggested last week, US policy is ripe for a comprehensive overview.
<http://www.internetgovernance.org/2013/06/18/has-the-usa-run-out-of-ideas-about-internet-governance-part-2/>

**********************
DOMAIN NAMES
**********************
**********************
 - ICANN
**********************
2013 RAA Submitted to ICANN Board
The comment period for the proposed 2013 Registrar Accreditation Agreement (RAA) closed on 4 June 2013.
<http://blog.icann.org/2013/06/2013-raa-submitted-to-icann-board/>

Next Set of Initial Evaluation Results Released
Total Number of Passing Applications Now 819. View Them Here.
<http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/announcements-and-media/announcement-21jun13-en>

Community-wide Working Group Completes Recommendations for Continued Use of ICANN Geographic Regions Framework
The Geographic Regions Review Working Group, a community-wide working group established by the Board, has nearly completed its work developing recommendations to the ICANN Board for the continued use of the ICANN Geographic Regions Framework. The Working Group has produced those recommendations in a Final Report document that is being shared today with the community.
<http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-22jun13-en.htm>

Proposed Renewal of .ORG gTLD Registry Agreement
Purpose (Brief): ICANN is posting today for public comment the proposed renewal of the 2008 .ORG Registry Agreement. The proposal is a result of discussions between ICANN and Public Interest Registry, and will be considered by ICANN after public comment.
<http://www.icann.org/en/news/public-comment/org-renewal-21jun13-en.htm>

Thick Whois Initial Report ? GNSO Policy Development Process
Purpose (Brief): The Generic Names Supporting Organization ("GNSO") Thick Whois Policy Development Process Working Group tasked with providing the GNSO Council with a policy recommendation regarding the use of 'thick' Whois by all gTLD Registries has published its Initial Report for public comment.
<http://www.icann.org/en/news/public-comment/thick-whois-initial-21jun13-en.htm>

GNSO Structures Charter Amendment Process
Purpose (Brief): To solicit community feedback concerning a formalized process, proposed by the Board's Structural Improvements Committee (SIC), for amending GNSO Stakeholder Group and Constituency Charters.
<http://www.icann.org/en/news/public-comment/structures-charter-22jun13-en.htm>

Guidance for Applicants: Contracting Information Request
ICANN is planning to send a Contracting Information Request (CIR) to applicants, in priority order, as they become eligible for contracting. The CIR is the first step in the Contracting process and it's important to make sure that the form is completed and submitted correctly in order to avoid potential delays. We've created a guidance document, as well as samples of letters that may be required, to help applicants provide all of the information necessary to enter Contracting.
<http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/announcements-and-media/announcement-2-21jun13-en>

Letter from Richard H. Goshorn, VeriSign, Inc. to John Jeffrey
Issue: Transfer of Risks Under New gTLD Program and ICANN's Risk Reserve Fund
<http://www.icann.org/en/news/correspondence/goshorn-to-jeffrey-14jun13-en>

ICANN?s New Washington D.C. Office is Now Open
Fadi Chehad? and Steve Crocker officially opened the new Washington DC office located at 801 17th Street Northwest during a ribbon cutting ceremony on June 13. This office serves as ICANN?s North American Engagement Center. 
<http://blog.icann.org/2013/06/icanns-new-washington-dc-office-is-now-open/>

U.S. IP Strategic Plan Cites ICANN Role ? Contemplates URS ?Course Corrections? and Monitoring of New RAA Compliance by Philip Corwin
The White House has just released the ?2013 JOINT STRATEGIC PLAN ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ENFORCEMENT? issued by the U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator (IPEC), and ICANN efforts are discussed at some length. The Report makes clear that U.S. activities within ICANN are regarded as an integral part of the government?s overall strategic efforts against IP infringement.
<http://internetcommerce.org/IPECandICANN>

New registrar contract could be approved next week
ICANN?s board of directors is set to vote next week on the 2013 Registrar Accreditation agreement, but we hear some last-minute objections have emerged from registrars.
<http://domainincite.com/13483-new-registrar-contract-could-be-approved-next-week>

ICANN explains why it didn?t publish Verisign?s letters
ICANN logoVerisign sent several letters to ICANN earlier this year highlighting concerns about the new registry agreement. ICANN never posted those letters, and they only came to light when Verisign posted a message in a comment period.
<http://domainnamewire.com/2013/06/20/icann-explains-why-it-didnt-publish-verisigns-letters/>

**********************
 - ccTLD & gTLD NEWS
**********************
PuntCAT cross-ownership ban lifted
PuntCAT has become the first gTLD registry operator to have a ban on owning an affiliated registrar lifted.
<http://domainincite.com/13486-puntcat-cross-ownership-ban-lifted>

fr: Afnic Annual Report: Changes in 2012 Detailed
At its AGM, Afnic reviewed the major changes in 2012 in its annual report.
<http://www.afnic.fr/en/about-afnic/news/general-news/7049/show/afnic-annual-report-changes-in-2012-detailed-2.html>

rs: RNIDS - Annual Report for 2012
RNIDS - Annual Report 2012RNIDS is continuing with good practice of European national registers who publish their regular annual publications for the purpose of informing the public about their activities.
<http://rnids.rs/en/what-s-new/rnids--annual-report-for-2012/id/4216>

Nominet Terminates Chief Commercial Officer Due To ?Increasing Public Scrutiny?
She was only appointed in February, but Nominet has terminated their Chief Commercial Officer Jill Finney due to ?increasing public scrutiny?. Nominet believed that this scrutiny made ?it impossible for her to continue with her role and responsibilities.?
<http://www.domainpulse.com/2013/06/21/nominet-terminates-cco/>
<http://www.domainnews.com/en/nominet-terminates-chief-commercial-officer-due-to-qincreasing-public-scrutinyq.html>

uk: NHS 'cover-up' names revealed by CQC
Officials alleged to have been involved in an NHS regulator's cover-up of failures over deaths of babies at a Cumbria hospital have been identified. ... Ms Finney has had her employment terminated from her new job, chief commercial officer at Nominet which controls the .co.uk web domain. She has not yet commented.
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-22992625>

uk: Nominet fires CCO over baby death ?cover-up?
Nominet has terminated its recently appointed chief commercial officer, Jill Finney, who was today alleged to have been involved in the ?cover-up? of baby deaths at a British hospital.
<http://domainincite.com/13473-nominet-fires-cco-over-baby-death-cover-up>

People who paid a lot for one letter .uk domains could lose out under new plan
Registrants paid big bucks for one and two character .co.uk and .org.uk domain names when .uk registry Nominet auctioned them off a couple years ago. Bidders paid ?3m in total.
<http://domainnamewire.com/2013/06/21/people-who-paid-a-lot-for-one-letter-uk-domains-could-lose-out-under-new-plan/>

**********************
 - NEW TLDS
**********************
The First Wave of gTLDs Are Coming - Are You Ready? by Jennifer Wolfe 
In this continuing series on the launch of the new gTLDs for brands, I've covered the many strategies that brands may use to evolve and strengthen the Internet consumer experience. While half of the world's biggest brands applied for a gTLD, many did not and the millions of mid-market and smaller businesses will need a strategy to respond. While most companies are still largely unaware of the coming paradigm shift of the Internet, the first wave of gTLDs are scheduled to begin launching this September.
<http://www.clickz.com/clickz/column/2276493/the-first-wave-of-gtlds-are-coming-are-you-ready>

The Innovators
Forbes magazine put together a list of the 20 top brands for innovation and research ? a photo gallery of brands that deliver the products that excite and create loyal customers. Taking a look at the list, it's clear that most of these brands are also innovators in marketing and branding. Thirteen of the 20 brands, or 65 percent, applied for at least one new gTLD.
<http://www.gtldstrategy.com/marketing-strategies/the-innovators>

ICANN has 99 gTLD passes but .payu ain?t one
ICANN has delivered another 100 new gTLD Initial Evaluation results this evening, with 99 passes and one failure.
<http://domainincite.com/13489-icann-has-99-gtld-passes-but-payu-aint-one>

Hexonet scores dot-brand deal with Brights
Hexonet has made a deal with new gTLD consultancy Brights Consulting to provide registrar technical services for all of Brights? dot-brand clients.
<http://domainincite.com/13481-hexonet-scores-dot-brand-deal-with-brights>

Two more new gTLD bids dropped
Uniregistry and L?Or?al, two of the highest profile new gTLD applicants, both withdrew applications today.
<http://domainincite.com/13479-two-more-new-gtld-bids-dropped>

The .gift that keeps on .giving
For those of you wondering how the issue of multiple applications for the same new gTLD string will be resolved, then now is the time to keep an eye on the domain name press. Each applicant for a contended string (and remember there are approximately 230 such applications) can opt to try and negotiate a solution, or simply go to an auction where the winning bidder wins the right to run the TLD.
<http://www.netnames.com/blog/2013/06/the-gift-that-keeps-on-giving/>

Chrysler's application for .ram domain meets India's objection
Following India?s objection to Chrysler?s application to register the communally sensitive website domain name, .ram, the global auto giant has proposed to sign an agreement to use the domain with caution, in view of the sensitivity attached to the name.
<http://www.rediff.com/business/slide-show/auto-slide-show-1-chryslers-application-for-ram-domain-meets-indias-objection/20130621.htm>
<http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/chrysler-s-application-for-ram-domain-meets-india-s-objection-113062000921_1.html>

Frank Schilling?s Uniregistry Withdraws Its 1st New gTLD Application
Frank Schilling Uniregistry withdrew its 1st new gTLD application for .Marketing
<http://www.thedomains.com/2013/06/20/frank-schillings-uniregistry-withdraws-its-1st-new-gtld-application/>

**********************
 - DNS SECURITY
**********************
?Hijacking? of DNS Records from Network Solutions
Multiple organizations with domain names registered under Network Solutions suffered problems with their domain names today, as their DNS nameservers were replaced with nameservers at ztomy.com. The nameservers at ztomy.com were configured to reply to DNS requests for the affected domains with IP addresses in the range 204.11.56.0/24. Cisco observed a large number of requests directed at these confluence-network IP addresses. Nearly 5000 domains may have been affected based on passive DNS data for those IPs.
<http://blogs.cisco.com/security/hijacking-of-dns-records-from-network-solutions/>

DNS provider's error caused LinkedIn "hack" and affected 5,000 more
In all, around 5,000 sites, including LinkedIn, were affected by a configuration error at DNS provider Network Solutions; this sent traffic to an IP range run by a network services company.
<http://www.h-online.com/security/news/item/DNS-provider-s-error-caused-LinkedIn-hack-and-affected-5-000-more-1894413.html>

Jugaad Innovation and Applications of DNSSEC by Burt Kaliski
It would be one of the ironies of global technology development that the West has effectively so far followed a Jugaad principle of "good enough" innovation for DNS security, whereas India could well embrace all the latest advances in DNS security as its Internet economy grows. Like most other protocols from the early Internet, the DNS protocol was not designed with security built in. For those protocols, security services were typically either implemented at a different layer of the protocol stack, or were added on later.
<http://www.circleid.com/posts/20130621_jugaad_innovation_and_applications_of_dnssec/>

apnic.net zone secured with DNSSEC
APNIC is proud to announce the apnic.net zone will have Domain Name Security Extensions (DNSSEC) applied from 1 July 2013.
<http://www.apnic.net/publications/news/2013/apnic-dnssec>

After suspicious activity yesterday, Moniker asks users to reset passwords
MonikerDomain name registrar Moniker discovered suspicious activity on its network, and as a precaution is asking all account holders to reset their passwords today. The suspicious activity occurred yesterday.
<http://domainnamewire.com/2013/06/20/after-suspicious-activity-yesterday-moniker-asks-users-to-reset-passwords/>

Cyber-attacks: Denial of service attacks over the internet are growing easier and more powerful. Their perpetrators are more cunning, too
?Tick tock tick tock?, tweeted Anonymous Africa, a group of computer hackers, on June 14th. Minutes later a website of the African National Congress (ANC), South Africa?s ruling party, went offline: another victim of the oldest and crudest form of cyber-assault, a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack. Arbor Networks, an American security firm, counts 2,800 each day. Unlike some forms of internet mischief DDoS attacks generally are not clever or complex. They consist of floods of nuisance traffic, which slows or crashes the victims? websites, leaving them offline, unable to send e-mail, process orders, make bank transactions or (for governments) run the country.
<http://www.economist.com/news/international/21579816-denial-service-attacks-over-internet-are-growing-easier-and-more-powerful-their>

New Regulation for EU cybersecurity agency ENISA, with new duties [news release]
European Union (EU) cybersecurity agency, ENISA has today (18th June) received a new Regulation, granting it a seven year mandate with an expanded set of duties.
<http://www.enisa.europa.eu/media/press-releases/new-regulation-for-eu-cybersecurity-agency-enisa-with-new-duties>

Most firms underestimate volume of malware, study shows
Most companies greatly underestimate the number of malicious programs appearing daily, a global survey of more than 2,000 IT professionals has revealed.
<http://www.computerweekly.com/news/2240186615/Most-firms-underestimate-volume-of-malware-study-shows>

Pirate Bay founder sentenced to two years in Sweden hacking case
A co-founder of file-sharing website Pirate Bay was sentenced to two years in jail on Thursday for hacking into computers at a company that manages data for Swedish authorities and making illegal online money transfers, a court said.
<http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/06/20/uk-sweden-piratebay-idUKBRE95J08Z20130620>
<http://in.reuters.com/article/2013/06/20/sweden-pirate-bay-idINDEE95J07G20130620>

**********************
 - DOMAIN DISPUTES
**********************
Kentucky State To Receive $6m In PokerStars Domain Case
The US State of Kentucky is to receive $6 million as part of what it describes as the state?s ?groundbreaking actions to curb rampant unregulated online gambling in the state.?
<http://www.domainpulse.com/2013/06/21/kentucky-receive-6m/>

Kentucky to Receive $6 Million for Cracking Down on Online Gambling
Gov. Steve Beshear announced today that Kentucky will receive more than $6 million for its groundbreaking actions to curb rampant unregulated online gambling in the state.
<http://migration.kentucky.gov/newsroom/governor/20130619gambling.htm>

Another PornTube Domain Name Victory ? PornTube.net
The 13 adult tube sites ordered transferred to the operator of PornTube.com wasn't the first win for Tenza Trading Ltd. over sites that use "porn" and "tube" in their domain names.
<http://newswire.xbiz.com/view.php?id=164288>

au: Kosciuszko Thredbo in legal battle over name
A NSW ski resort has lost the exclusive right to the name "Thredbo" to promote its business.
<http://www.canberratimes.com.au/nsw/kosciuszko-thredbo-in-legal-battle-over-name-20130621-2onc4.html>

PokerStars Settles Domain Case with Kentucky for $6 Million
Kentucky settled its five year old domain name dispute with PokerStars on Wednesday. The company agreed to pay just over $6 million to settle the claim made by Kentucky.
<http://www.4flush.com/online-poker-news/pokerstars-settles-domain-case-with-kentucky-for-6-million/14213>

Cybersquatters target family business
Lakshmi Mittal ? head of family steel firm ArcelorMittal ? has fought back against a businessman who bought website domain names in his name and offered them back to the UK-based billionaire at a hefty ?6 million price tag.
<http://www.campdenfb.com/article/cybersquatters-target-family-business>

**********************
 - IPv4/IPv6
**********************
The March of the IPv6 Internet
It has been a year since the World IPv6 Launch and in that year the global usage of IPv6 has more than doubled. Where traditionally it is believed that there is no IPv6 traffic on the Internet is now shown differently! The reality of real existing user traffic demonstrates the progress of the next generation of the Internet. During the World IPv6 Launch a year ago there was about 0.64% of Internet traffic carried over IPv6, while right now about 1.35% of the Internet traffic is carried over IPv6. That is nearly double and experts believe exponential growth is expected over the next couple of years.
<http://blogs.cisco.com/sp/the-march-of-the-ipv6-internet/>

**********************
 - MISCELLANEOUS
**********************
us: Feds Seized 1,700 Online Domains in 3 Years
Federal authorities said today that, since June 2010, they have seized more than 1,700 domains that allegedly breached intellectual property rights.
<http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2013/06/domains-seized/>

NSA, Prism and Internet Exchange Points in Canada by Byron Holland
As the operator of the registry for the .CA TLD and the DNS infrastructure that supports it, I am uncomfortable, though not surprised, with the knowledge that a government is monitoring the activities of Internet users. And while recent reports about the National Security Agency's top-secret PRISM program actively monitoring Internet users in the United States and (by default) citizens of other countries - Canada included - are on the front page of newspapers around the world, Internet surveillance is not exactly new.
<http://www.circleid.com/posts/20130621_nsa_prism_and_internet_exchange_points_in_canada/>

AFRINIC faces challenge of attracting government participation
Africa's Regional Internet Registry, AFRINIC, is having trouble getting senior government officials involved in establishing strategy, a problem that may be hampering the organization's ability to effectively set and implement policy decisions and organize security campaigns.
<http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/internet/3454237/afrinic-faces-challenge-of-attracting-government-participation/>

?I have a domain name to sell you? is a terrible business proposition
Over the past few weeks, Wonkblog has been corresponding with an Internet entrepreneur, who shall remain nameless. His proposition: to monetize our daily ?Best Sentences? posts with a whole Web site full of them.
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/06/20/i-have-a-domain-name-to-sell-you-is-a-terrible-business-proposition/>

How to Prepare for the Day When Your Domain(s) Are Misbehaving by Chris Griffiths
For a number of years, there have been many different high profile incidents where major websites were defaced, taken offline, or crippled due to issues related to their domain registration. Last night, there was an incident where several high profile domains went offline due to issues at their registrar, and they are now coming back online after what I am sure was a few crazy hours for their operations teams and management
<http://www.circleid.com/posts/20130620_how_to_prepare_for_the_day_when_your_domains_are_misbehaving/>

Yahoo ID recycling should put domain registrars on edge
If you have access to a domain account holder?s email, it?s fairly easy to steal a domain from them. Which is why domain name registrars should be on high alert about Yahoo?s plan to recycle dormant user IDs.
<http://domainnamewire.com/2013/06/20/yahoo-id-recycling-should-put-domain-registrars-on-edge/>

**********************
 - DOMAINING & AFTERMARKET
**********************
Six-Figure Sales Drought Ends With DomainNameSales Ringing Up One of the Year's 10 Biggest Transactions
After three consecutive weeks with no six-figure sales reported, DomainNameSales.com (DNS) ended the aftermarket's high end hiatus by banking $162,500 for BoatsForSale.com. That is the 9th largest sale reported so far this year. DNS went on to place seven domains on our new all extension Top 20 Sales Chart, including three of the top four entries.
<http://dnjournal.com/archive/domainsales/2013/20130619.htm>

**********************
REPORTS & RESEARCH PAPERS
**********************
Global Internet Law in a Nutshell by Michael L. Rustad & Michael L. Rustad [Suffolk University Law School Research Paper]
Abstract: Global Internet law distills the main contours of settled Internet law, as well as areas that are still evolving. The goal is to provide the reader a succinct exposition of basic concepts and methods in diverse Internet law topics, as well as multiple perspectives on what shape the law should take. This second edition of the Nutshell expands the scope to include global developments, as well as U.S. Internet law because, since the previous edition, Internet law is less U.S. centric.
<http://ssrn.com/abstract=2279696>

**********************
INTERNET USE
**********************
For Web Firms, Faster Access Comes at a Price
Hoping to speed traffic through an increasingly congested Internet, several big Web companies including Google Inc., Microsoft Corp. and Facebook Inc. are paying major broadband providers for connections to get faster and smoother access to their networks, say people familiar with the matter.
<http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323836504578553170167992666.html>

**********************
SOCIAL MEDIA
**********************
Facebook admits bug shared contact details of 6 million users [AFP]
Facebook says it is "upset and embarrassed" that a software bug resulted in the phone numbers and email addresses of some 6 million users being improperly shared.
<http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-22/facebook-admits-bug-shared-users-contact-details/4773720>

Facebook bug exposes some contact information
A newly discovered Facebook bug may have inadvertently compromised the contact information of 6 million users, the company says.
<http://edition.cnn.com/2013/06/21/tech/social-media/facebook-contact-bug/index.html>

Facebook admits year-long data breach exposed six million users
Facebook Inc has inadvertently exposed 6 million users' phone numbers and email addresses to unauthorized viewers over the past year, the world's largest social networking company disclosed late Friday.
<http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/06/21/uk-facebook-security-idUKBRE95K19120130621>
<http://in.reuters.com/article/2013/06/21/facebook-security-idINDEE95K0J220130621>
<http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/22/business/facebook-says-technical-flaw-exposed-6-million-users.html>

**********************
NEW TECHNOLOGIES
**********************
Much faster Wi-Fi coming soon
A new, faster version of Wi-Fi was officially rubber-stamped Wednesday. The latest Wi-Fi technology, called "802.11ac," offers speeds of up to 1.3 Gigabits per second.
<http://money.cnn.com/2013/06/19/technology/mobile/wifi-speeds/index.html>

Disruptions: Medicine That Monitors You
They look like normal pills, oblong and a little smaller than a daily vitamin. But if your doctor writes a prescription for these pills in the not-too-distant future, you might hear a new twist on an old clich?: ?Take two of these ingestible computers, and they will e-mail me in the morning.?
<http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/06/23/disruptions-medicine-that-monitors-you/>

*********************************
CHILD PROTECTION & ONLINE SAFETY
*********************************
How to child-proof the Internet
The Internet is filled with websites that are inappropriate for anyone, much less children. Kids get into trouble online all the time, even when they aren?t looking for it. Misspelling a website address, screwing up a search term, or clicking a risqu? ad can lead to some awkward bedtime conversations. Online bullying, predatory adults, and illegal downloading of copyrighted content are other threats.
<http://www.pcworld.com/article/2042233/how-to-child-proof-the-internet.html>

au: Kids are taking over as the family CTO, survey reveals
Forget "hand-me downs." Some parents are coming to grips with the notion of "hand-me ups" when it comes to technology.
<http://www.pcworld.com/article/2042089/kids-are-taking-over-as-the-family-cto-survey-reveals.html>

**********************
ONLINE CRIME & LEGAL
**********************
'Horrified' girl spied on in the bath by webcam hackers
A 20 year old student from Glasgow says she fell victim to webcam hackers who spied on her while she was in the bath.
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-22986017>

Webcam hacker: I "can make money from it, so why not"
A Finnish computer hacker speaks to 5 live about hacking and then selling access to people's webcams.
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01bmk4v>

Internet Crime Complaint Center's (IC3) Scam Alerts
This report, which is based upon information from law enforcement and complaints submitted to the IC3, details recent cyber crime trends and new twists to previously-existing cyber scams.
<http://www.ic3.gov/media/2013/130619.aspx>

Australian doctor withdraws lawsuit against Google
A Port Macquarie breast surgeon who sued Google for defamation over an auto-complete search suggestion that he believed had cost him clients has withdrawn his case.
<http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/australian-doctor-withdraws-lawsuit-against-google-20130618-2of81.html>

**********************
PRIVACY
**********************
Mozilla again postpones Firefox third-party cookie-blocking, this time for months
Mozilla has effectively postponed Firefox?s controversial third-party cookie-blocking policy for several months.
<http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9240218>
<http://www.pcworld.com/article/2042597/mozilla-again-postpones-firefox-thirdparty-cookieblocking-this-time-for-months.html>

Mozilla checks in with Cookie Clearinghouse for better cookie handling
The Center for Internet and Society at Stanford Law School has announced a list-based exception platform for managing cookies, called the Cookie Clearinghouse (CCH). Mozilla has committed to work with the CCH Advisory Board to develop the platform.
<http://www.h-online.com/open/news/item/Mozilla-checks-in-with-Cookie-Clearinghouse-for-better-cookie-handling-1894058.html>

**************************
GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY
**************************
Ex-Contractor Is Charged in Leaks on N.S.A. Surveillance
Edward J. Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor whose leak of agency documents has set off a national debate over the proper limits of government surveillance, has been charged with violating the Espionage Act and stealing government property for disclosing classified information to The Guardian and The Washington Post, the Justice Department said on Friday.
<http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/22/us/snowden-espionage-act.html>

NSA leaks: US charges Edward Snowden with spying
The US justice department has filed criminal charges against a fugitive ex-intelligence analyst who leaked details of a secret surveillance operation.
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-23012317>

U.S. charges Snowden with espionage
Federal prosecutors have filed a criminal complaint against Edward Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor who leaked a trove of documents about top-secret surveillance programs, and the United States has asked Hong Kong to detain him on a provisional arrest warrant, according to U.S. officials.
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-charges-snowden-with-espionage/2013/06/21/507497d8-dab1-11e2-a016-92547bf094cc_story.html>

If you think GCHQ spying revelations don't matter, it's time to think again
The revelations about GCHQ confirm that what once looked like science fiction is now an everyday reality
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jun/22/gchq-internet-snooping-kafkaesque>

MI5 feared GCHQ went 'too far' over phone and internet monitoring
Senior figures inside British intelligence have been alarmed by GCHQ's secret decision to tap into transatlantic cables in order to engage in the bulk interception of phone calls and internet traffic.
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/jun/23/mi5-feared-gchq-went-too-far>

GCHQ taps fibre-optic cables for secret access to world's communications
Exclusive: British spy agency collects and stores vast quantities of global email messages, Facebook posts, internet histories and calls, and shares them with NSA, latest documents from Edward Snowden reveal
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/jun/21/gchq-cables-secret-world-communications-nsa>

Mastering the internet: how GCHQ set out to spy on the world wide web
The memo was finished at 9.32am on Tuesday 19 May 2009, and was written jointly by the director in charge of GCHQ's top-secret Mastering the Internet (MTI) project and a senior member of the agency's cyber-defence team.
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/jun/21/gchq-mastering-the-internet>

The legal loopholes that allow GCHQ to spy on the world
William Hague was adamant when he addressed MPs on Monday last week. In an emergency statement forced by the Guardian's disclosures about GCHQ involvement with the Prism programme, the foreign secretary insisted the agency operated within a "strong framework of democratic accountability and oversight".
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/jun/21/legal-loopholes-gchq-spy-world>

How does GCHQ's internet surveillance work?
Learn more about the system for collecting content and metadata, and what GCHQ can do with it
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/jun/21/how-does-gchq-internet-surveillance-work>

Operation Tempora: GCHQ in fresh snooping row as it eavesdrops on phones and the internet
Britain?s electronic eavesdropping centre, GCHQ, has started collecting data from the network of fibre-optic cables carrying the world?s telephone calls and internet traffic, it was reported tonight.
<http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/operation-tempora-gchq-in-fresh-snooping-row-as-it-eavesdrops-on-phones-and-the-internet-8669137.html>

N.S.A. Leak Puts Focus on System Administrators
Edward J. Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor who leaked details about American surveillance, personifies a debate at the heart of technology systems in government and industry: can the I.T. staff be trusted?
<http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/24/technology/nsa-leak-puts-focus-on-system-administrators.html>

NSA surveillance may be legal ? but it?s unconstitutional by Laura K. Donohue, professor at Georgetown University Law Center and director of Georgetown?s Center on National Security and the Law
The National Security Agency?s recently revealed surveillance programs undermine the purpose of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which was established to prevent this kind of overreach. They violate the Fourth Amendment?s guarantee against unreasonable search and seizure. And they underscore the dangers of growing executive power.
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/nsa-surveillance-may-be-legal--but-its-unconstitutional/2013/06/21/b9ddec20-d44d-11e2-a73e-826d299ff459_story.html>

NSA Prism Spying Scandal: Tech Companies Struggle to Open Up
The phone calls began late in the morning, Silicon Valley time, on June 6. Representatives of nine leading U.S. technology companies received a flurry of calls and e-mails from reporters at the Guardian and the Washington Post, asking them to comment on explosive stories they would soon publish. Their reports, based on government documents leaked by former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden, alleged that the country?s leading Internet firms were giving the NSA and the Federal Bureau of Investigation ?direct access? to their servers and thus to the e-mails, photos, and other private information of hundreds of millions of users around the world. The papers gave the companies roughly two hours to respond, according to spokespeople for four of the businesses.
<http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-06-20/nsa-prism-spying-scandal-tech-companies-struggle-to-open-up>

Barack Obama: NSA is not rifling through ordinary people's emails
Barack Obama has sought to address European concerns over internet privacy in the wake of the National Security Agency surveillance scandal, insisting US authorities are not "rifling through the emails" of ordinary people and he is confident the US intelligence services have "struck the appropriate balance" between security and civil rights.
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/19/barack-obama-nsa-people-emails>

Skype's secret Project Chess reportedly helped NSA access customers' data
Skype, the web-based communications company, reportedly set up a secret programme to make it easier for US surveillance agencies to access customers' information.
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2013/jun/20/skype-nsa-access-user-data>

Spying on NZ: More power to watch us
What has an 18th-century English law lord got to do with the GCSB, the Government Communications Security Bureau?
<http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10892436>

nz: Law Society slams spy agency bill
The Law Society has made a stinging attack on proposed law changes governing the GCSB spy agency, saying they effectively transform it from a foreign intelligence agency to a domestic one without any justification being given.
<http://www.odt.co.nz/news/politics/262199/law-society-slams-spy-agency-bill>
<http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10892498>

France, Spain launch probe into Google's privacy law
Spain has launched proceedings against Google over five suspected serious data breaches.
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-22994883>

France, Spain take action against Google on privacy
France and Spain led a Europe-wide push on Thursday to get U.S. Internet giant Google to change its policies on collecting user data.
<http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/06/20/uk-google-privacy-idUKBRE95J07T20130620>
<http://in.reuters.com/article/2013/06/21/google-privacy-idINDEE95J06L20130621>

Google faces potential fines over privacy policy in France, Spain
Data-protection officials in France and Spain are leading a Europe-wide push for Google to change parts of its privacy policy deemed to violate European data-protection laws.
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/google-faces-potential-fines-over-privacy-policy-in-france-spain/2013/06/20/c45d31f4-d9bd-11e2-a016-92547bf094cc_story.html>

Google Privacy Comes Under Fire From European Watchdogs
Google Inc. is facing heightened pressure from European regulators, who are getting closer to bringing legal action or fines against the company for alleged violations of data-privacy rules, after more than a year of working together on probes.
<http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324577904578556952125062278.html>

au: Government refuses to be drawn on whether MPs' emails are spied on
The Federal Government has refused to confirm if the official or unofficial email addresses and the metadata content of federal parliamentarians is spied on by the US electronic spy program knows as PRISM.
<http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-20/carr-refuses-to-be-drawn-on-whether-mps-emails-are-spied-on/4769854>

German Parliament Says No More Software Patents
The German Parliament recently took a huge step that would eliminate software patents when it issued a joint motion requiring the German government to ensure that computer programs are only covered by copyright. Put differently, in Germany, software cannot be patented.
<https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2013/06/german-parliament-says-no-more-software-patents>

Apple antitrust trial ends; ruling could be broad
The Justice Department on Thursday concluded its antitrust trial against Apple over alleged price-fixing of digital books, with a federal prosecutor saying the creator of the iPhone and iPad engaged in an ?old-fashioned, straightforward? conspiracy and Apple?s lead attorney warning that a ruling against the company ?will send shudders throughout the business community.?
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/apple-trial-defense-a-guilty-verdict-would-send-chills-across-internet-industry/2013/06/20/64254036-d9ce-11e2-a9f2-42ee3912ae0e_story.html>

F.T.C. Head Seeks End to Misuse of Patents
A Federal Trade Commission investigation into the practices of ?patent trolls? is necessary because there is little real evidence about the costs and benefits of a rising tide of patent litigation, Edith Ramirez, the F.T.C. chairwoman, said on Thursday.
<http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/21/business/ftc-head-seeks-end-to-misuse-of-patents.html>

au: Data retention needs oversight: Inquiry
A parliamentary inquiry has recommended that any data retention laws should include provisions to protect privacy and provide oversight.
<http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/465679/data_retention_needs_oversight_inquiry/>

au: Ludlum to get busy on improving privacy, transparency
Greens Senator Scott Ludlum has laid out his focus areas for improving privacy and transparency when it comes to the use of citizens' personal data by commercial companies and government agencies.
<http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/465665/ludlum_get_busy_improving_privacy_transparency/>

------
David Goldstein

 email: david at goldsteinreport.com

 web:   http://goldsteinreport.com/
            http://davidgoldstein.tel/
 phone: +61 418 228 605 - mobile; +61 2 9663 3430 - 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
Received on Mon Jun 24 2013 - 04:53:50 UTC

This archive was generated by hypermail 2.3.0 : Sat Sep 09 2017 - 22:00:11 UTC