Kenya Censors Internet Access
In anticipation of the December 27, 2002 national elections, the Kenyan government is essentially blocking Web access by disabling the country’s only Internet backbone service, called Jambonet.
Consumer Aversion to Paying for Net Content Slowly Eroding
According to a new survey, The Online Content Report (cost $795), web sites are increasingly migrating to fee-based content, and larger numbers of consumers are agreeing to open their wallets to pay the fees. The perspective of this report is not a shifting paradigm in consumer attitude toward pay content sties, but rather the reality …
Ramifications of Web Defamation Suit
As a followup to my previous posting on the Australian Internet defamation case, this Christian Science Monitor commentary provides a perspective on how the threat of Internet libel litigation by individuals around the world may result in web censorship.
Internet law: The year in review
Doug Isenberg of GigaLaw.com reviews how the status quo prevailed this past year in regard to cyberlaw issues, in Congress and the courts.
California Bill on Privacy
California is forging ahead with privacy legislation, continuing what has become a pioneering effort to implement consumer protections that include private and public transactions. With Senate Bill 1, the California Financial Information Privacy Act, financial institutions would be required to provide consumers with written opt-in or opt-out privacy forms.
SEC E-Filing of Ownership Reports
On December 18, the SEC proposed: “the mandatory electronic filing of change of beneficial ownership reports required to be filed by officers, directors and principal security holders under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and Web site posting of such reports by issuers with corporate Web sites.”
GAO Report Documents Troubles With E-Gov Initiatives
For months there has been talk of the launch of a new government portal, sponsored by OMB, that will allow citizens and businesses to easily locate, and then comment on, new regulations proposed by the federal government. The url of this portal is http://www.regulations.gov, but after many announcements of its impending availability, it remains vaporware. …
Bush Administration to Propose System for Monitoring Internet
The New York Times reported that the Administration plans to widen the scope of government sponsored monitoring of Internet usage as well as the use of surveillance, to counter possible terrorist threats. Further details of such plans are still under development, and would be included in the early 2003 release of the final version of …
Northern District of Geogia Moves to E-Filing
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia issued Standing Order 02-01, Electronic Access to Public Records and Sensitive Information, on October 17, 2002. The document stipulates that effective January 1, 2003, the court “intends to make electronic access to court files available through PACER by imaging documents into the court’s computer system.”
Blogs and Legal Issues
Bloggers may be well advised to read this Washington Post article on the potential legal ramifications of posting on work related issues, activities, products, services, etc. Blogger John Stanforth’s seemingly innocuous reference to a former work project on his personal weblog resulted in a cease and desist order from his old employer.
Canadians and Health Web Site Data
According to this press release, a new survey indicates that the majority of Internet searching (66%) undertaken by Canadians focuses on obtaining health related data. In addition, such searches are conducted by users on at least a monthly basis. According to Ipsos-Reid, the company that conducted the survey, healthcare consistently ranks as the number one …
Net Snooping Here and Abroad
There is evidence of a slow but steady groundswell of citizen concern about, and local government response to, increased online surveillance as a result of the Patriot Act. Wired highlighted the work of a new grassroots organization called the Bill of Rights Defence Committee that is assisting municipalities in the passage of resolutions opposing the …