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This BBC commentary by Bill Thompson reviews the much discussed actions of search engine giant Google who has exluded content from their German and French search results. Content that is no longer available originates in what be called hate sites that are actually banned in these countries. See this excellent report, Localized Google search result …
The FBI, via its National Infrastructure Protection Center, is investigating the DoS attack on the Internet that occurred October 21 (see my previous posting, //www.bespacific.com/mt/archives/000375.html).
A joint “outreach letter” from the associations representing the motion picture, music and songwriters groups was sent to the Presidents/CEOs of Fortune 1000 companies. Similar to the “polite” warning sent to college and university presidents (see my previous posting at //www.bespacific.com/mt/archives/000292.html), this letter warns that there is extensive music and video piracy in the corporate …
Advocacy groups the ACLU, EPIC, the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression and the Freedom to Read Foundation have sued the DOJ under FOIA in an effort to obtain documents related to the implementation of the Patriot Act that involve libraries, bookstores and newspapers.
According to the Chicago Sun Times, Adobe will offer by year’s end a server based solution for government and corporate clients that will allow the use of digital signatures on PDF documents.
See this informative Financial Times article for a perspectives on US and EU copyright laws provided by Prof. Lawrence Lessig of Stanford Law School, Thomas Hazlett, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, law professor Richard A. Epstein, University of Chicago, Edward Welbourne, and Frank Walker, chief executive of the Newspaper Licensing Agency …
Iwon.com has responded swiftly to a 10/22/2002 report by TechTV.com documenting iWon’s use of a malicious spyware program users were encouraged to downloaded as part of a promotional effort to win money. Not only was the use of this software in violation of iWon’s own stated privacy policy, it has proved to be almost impossible …
Many news outlets reported what was described as an historic denial of service attack(DoS) that began on Monday, and lasted about an hour. Reports vary, but at least 9 of the 13 root servers were affected. See the Washington Post coverage here, and CNN’s coverage here.
The E-Government Act of 2002 would establish the position of Federal Chief Information Officer within the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and with an agenda to further development in the delivery of government services to citizens via web sites. The Senate has passed their version of the bill (S. 803), and the House verion …
The trusted computing model is advocated by an alliance of technology heavyweights – Compaq, HP, IBM, Intel and Microsoft, and involves issues such as privacy, digital rights management, and the marginalization of open source software. The implementation of increasingly complex proprietary encryption programs automatically installed on PCs via software applications and required upgrades has resulted …
There are hidden consequences to downloading freeware programs from web sites. The cost of free software is often an agreement to be subjected to a constant barrage of pop-up ads. However, there is a higher price that may be involved – spyware programs that often tag along in download process. Once activated, spyware programs can …
The ABA has published a new book focused on protecting companies from claims associated with employee use of e-mail and the Web. The book is titled Employee Use of the Internet and E-Mail: A Model Corporate Policy With Commentary on Its Use in the U.S. and Other Countries. See the press release here.
