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(Guardian) It has been an extraordinary few days in British broadcasting history. As the BBC reels from the fallout of the Hutton report many are asking what lies ahead for the corporation - especially with charter renewal around the corner. We start this issue by asking top industry figures how they see the future for the BBC, its news operation - and the way it is run.
(Guardian) The advertising industry has weighed into the row over the future of the BBC, claiming the corporation has strayed too far from its public service remit with shows such as Fame Academy and EastEnders and should be reined in by Ofcom. The Institute of Practitioners in Advertising has accused the BBC of favouring 'mass market appeal' over its public service commitments.
(Reuters) Amsterdam police have arrested 52 people in connection with an e-mail scam designed to defraud people in several countries with get-rich-quick schemes. Police said the group was suspected of sending about 100,000 e-mail messages to addresses in Japan and the United States.
(Guardian) Computer-derived evidence has become a feature of court proceedings. Ed Halliwell spoke to an expert whose job it is to interpret the findings for a jury. Provisions for computer-derived evidence have been part of English law since 1968, but it was not until last year that the potential impact of information technology on court proceedings became widely apparent.
(BBC) A UK teenager who hacked into a US Government laboratory's computer network has been ordered to serve 200 hours community service. Joseph McElroy used the lab's computers for films and music taken from the net. Southwark Crown Court waived a demand for £21,000 in damages as it ruled that McElroy could not pay the fine.
(Heise) Der Interessenverband europäischer Webmaster (IVEW) wirft der Kommission Jugendmedienschutz (KJM) vor, sie gebe Empfehlungen, die an der Realität vorbeigehen. Torsten Wenzel hat als Betreiber des Altersverifikationssystems xpass.de ein Schreiben von Jugendschutz.net erhalten, in dem der Schutz über eine Personalausweisabfrage als nicht ausreichend bezeichnet wurde. Empfehlungen der KJM erweckten den Anschein, als seien sie eine gesetzliche Vorgabe, meint Rechtsanwalt Daniel Kötz. Der KJM fehle aber die Grundlage, Jugendschutzsysteme zu bewerten und die Nutzung nicht empfohlener Systeme zu untersagen.
(Recorder) A California state appeal court ruled in Thany Thuy Vo v. City of Garden Grove that cities aren't violating the First Amendment by forcing Internet cafe owners to implement extreme security measures, such as security guards and video surveillance cameras. But the decision, upholding an ordinance ostensibly aimed at curbing gang-related violence, drew an unusually sharp dissent from one justice, who accused the majority of blessing Orwellian "Big Brother" governmental oversight.
(Reuters) Bolstered by outrage from Haitian Americans and parents over a top-selling game "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City," in which players are urged to "kill the Haitians" and score points for rape and murder, a group of Florida lawmakers is moving to stiffen penalties for retailers that sell or rent violent or sexually explicit computer games to minors. But retail associations are urging lawmakers to shelve their plans because the proposals ignore the Entertainment Software Rating Board system that already ranks video games based on content. Furthermore, the Interactive Entertainment Merchants Association, an industry group including such retailers as Wal-Mart and video chain Blockbuster, agreed to have procedures in place by next Christmas to stop the sale of mature and adult video games to minors.
(Reuters) A Tennessee woman has sued Janet Jackson and others involved in her breast-baring Super Bowl halftime show, saying millions of people are owed monetary damages for exposure to lewd conduct, court records show. The suit, filed earlier this week in federal court in Knoxville, Tennessee, also names pop star Justin Timberlake, who performed with Jackson, CBS Broadcasting, show producer MTV, and the parent of those two companies, Viacom. It also asks the court to declare the matter a class action for purposes of damages. see also The Jackson stunt: What now? (CNN) and Politicos React to Wave of Smut (Wired).
(Privacy International) Privacy International has released a report on the transfer of passenger data between the EU and the U.S. The report is the most comprehensive investigation yet published on negotiations between the US Department of Homeland Security and the Commission over the mandatory transfer to the US of files on all EU air passengers. The report shows how the European Commission agreed to U.S. requests for European data in order to create its own European surveillance system to track movement throughout the EU.
(Heise) Der Bundesbeauftragte für den Datenschutz, Peter Schaar, befürchtet tiefe Einschnitte in das Fernmeldegeheimnis und in die Persönlichkeitsrechte der Bürger durch die geplante EU-Richtlinie zur Durchsetzung der Interessen der Verwerter geistigen Eigentums. Im Gespräch mit heise online kritisierte der Ende 2003 ins Amt eingeführte Datenschutzexperte, dass der Gesetzesentwurf aus Brüssel die Auskunftsansprüche der Rechteinhaber zu weit ausdehne. Zudem könnte die Richtlinie alle gerade anlaufenden Bemühungen unterwandern, den Einzug kleiner Identifizierungschips (RFID-Tags) in eine Unzahl von Produkten datenschutzfreundlich zu gestalten.
(ZDNet France) L'autorité fédérale de protection des données critique le texte d´une directive européenne portant sur la lutte contre la contrefaçon – dans ses aspects numériques. Son adoption en l´état pourrait nuire à la protection de la vie privée, selon son directeur.
(Statewatch) On 23 December 2003, the Italian data protection authority expressed its 'concern' about a decree that the government approved on the compulsory storage of traffic data relating to telephone and Internet communications by service providers. The decree introduces the wholesale collection and storage of traffic data on all telephone and Internet communications by service providers compulsory for sixty months, in case it may subsequently prove useful for criminal investigations.
(BBC) A Canadian teenager whose website annoyed Bill Gates' lawyers is giving it up in exchange for Microsoft goodies, including an Xbox console.
(CircleID) by Erica Wass. Congress and the President of the United States believed so much in the idea that the Internet needed a 'safe zone' for children that they passed a law designating such a space. One year after its passage I sought to examine the development of the .kids.us name space. I found an initiative that has yet to live up to its potential, but has a limitless, albeit difficult future ahead.
(Associated Press) Citing security concerns, the Pentagon has canceled Internet voting that would have involved as many as 100,000 military and overseas citizens from seven states in November. The announcement comes two weeks after outside security experts urged the program's cancellation in a scathing report. They said hackers or terrorists could penetrate the system and change votes or gather information about users. At the time, the Pentagon said it felt confident enough to proceed.
(Sydney Morning Herald) Australians' most popular place to gamble online is a Caribbean casino, according to a survey. While online gaming websites are illegal, except on certain sports betting and lottery sites, about 40 per cent of hits by Australians gambling on the internet are on illegal overseas casinos and sports betting services. The federal Interactive Gambling Act 2001 makes it illegal to provide or advertise interactive gambling sites. But it is difficult to police because many sites are based overseas, and it does not apply to individuals using the sites.
(TF1) E-tabac.com, un site français qui vendait des cartouches de cigarettes à bas prix a été fermé et ses créateurs interpellés. Les clients pourraient également être sanctionnés. Les cigarettes étaient vendues uniquement à des clients français à moitié prix. Le bénéfice des délinquants a été estimé à 350.000 euros et le préjudice des douanes à 960.000 euros. Via un système complexe avec des ramifications aux Etats-Unis, au Bénin, aux Etats-Unis et à l'île Maurice, les trafiquants ont écoulé 24.000 cartouches, soit six tonnes de tabac.
(RAPID) The importance of investment and use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) for further growth and jobs in Europe is highlighted in a communication adopted by the Commission. It underlines the importance of the electronic communication sector for the health of the European economy and its key role in boosting productivity. Further growth will be driven by the provision of new services over high-speed fixed and wireless networks making use of broadband and 3G mobile communications, while policy makers must do more to create the conditions for faster investment. The report singles out the implementation of the new regulatory framework for electronic communications, action to extend broadband coverage in underserved areas, stimulating demand and the successful role out of third generation mobile communications as top priorities. This should be supported by the on-going mid-term review of the eEurope 2005 Action Plan.
(RAPID) Enterprise and Information Society Commissioner Erkki Liikanen called for global cooperation against 'spam' at a two-day OECD workshop in Brussels. Building on efforts by many countries to combat 'spam', the OECD should rapidly agree a five-point framework to promote effective legislation against spam, cooperation between enforcement agencies, self-regulation by industry, technical solutions, and greater consumer awareness. Opening remarks at the OECD workshop on spam (RAPID). See Background paper for the OECD workshop on spam. see also OECD calls for cooperation on spam (IDG), There's No Spam Like American Spam (Washington Post) and The idea of e-mail postage gains currency (New York Times).
(Reuters) Cellphones are becoming the latest target of electronic junk mail, with a growing number of marketers using text messages to target subscribers in Asia. Mobile phone spam has yet to approach anything like the volume of the e-mail variety, but the problem is growing in a region where the average user sends as many as 10 SMS (short message service) messages a day.
(Heise) Am Ende der OECD-Konferenz in Brüssel waren sich alle in einem einig: Die internationale Zusammenarbeit beim Thema Spam muss verbessert werden. Die Europäische Kommission will laut Bernd Langeheine, Direktor Communication Services, ein Kontaktnetzwerk aus Ansprechpartnern in den Mitgliedsländern aufbauen. siehe auch Spam-Krieger suchen noch nach guten Strategien.
(ACA) Mobile phone carriers are introducing third generation (3G) mobile phone networks into Australia. In addition to the services supported by other mobile networks, 3G networks support video calls. The introduction of these networks has led to concerns about the potential health effects of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) produced by 3G transmitters, including base stations and handsets. This fact sheet explains what is known about the effects of 3G EMR emissions on human health and what is being done to protect the health of the Australian community by regulating these emissions.
(RAPID) On 6th February 2004, the Safer Internet Day will be celebrated across Europe. This event focuses on children's rights to a safer Internet as part of the European Commission's Safer Internet Programme. It showcases existing safer Internet projects, videos and awards developed with the backing of the programme. These programmes involve actors from the private, public and voluntary sectors. Safer Internet project members have contributed to several remarkable achievements. In October 2003 a worldwide child-porn ring was broken up following a tip from the Internet hotline association INHOPE. In November 2003 the new Internet Content Rating Association content filtering platform ICRAplus was launched. Events will be staged simultaneously in 12 European countries (Denmark, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom), as well as in Australia. These events involve public authorities, the Internet industry and hundreds of other organisations. Press coverage: see English, Italian, German and French
(Media Release) Australia's Internet safety advisory body NetAlert is urging Australians to take 15 minutes on Safer Internet Day (6 February) to safely explore web sites with their children. "Safer Internet Day promotes children's rights to a safer Internet and there is no more fundamental element of Internet safety than the involvement of parents," Chair of NetAlert Karyn Hart said. By taking the time to share just 15 minutes of a child's Internet experiences on Friday parents will have the opportunity to find out what interests their children online and to flag potential dangers.
(MadridPress) Un total de dieciséis países de la Unión Europea celebran el 'Día Internacional para una Internet Segura', promovido por el programa Internet Segura, iniciativa del proyecto europeo SafeBorders , en el marco del programa 'Safer Internet' de la Comisión Europea. Esta jornada, que se celebra en Australia, Austria, Alemania, Bélgica, Dinamarca, España, Francia, Grecia, Irlanda, Islandia, Italia, Luxemburgo, Noruega, Países Bajos, Portugal, Reino Unido y Suecia, persigue garantizar el derecho de los niños a disfrutar de una Red segura, según informa Internet Segura, programa coordinado por la Fundació Catalana per a la Recerca, que cuenta con la colaboración de la Universidad de Cádiz y UNICEF, entre otras entidades. Búsqueda en Google: "Internet Segura".
(BBC) Children are still arranging face-to-face meetings with people they talk to online despite warnings about the dangers of internet chatrooms. And 60% of children do not know that people they chat to online might not be who they say they are, a study shows. The findings came to light in research carried out to support Safer Internet Day that is being held on 6 February. see Emerging Trends Amongst Primary School Children's Use of the Internet Executive Summary | Full Report. See also Slipping through the net (Guardian) by Rachel O'Connell.
(RAPID) The European Commission presented a Communication explaining why security research needs to be co-ordinated at the EU level in key priority areas such as: protection against terrorism (including bio terrorism); improving crisis management; and enhancing the security, reliability, protection and interoperability of communication systems. A €65 million budget has been earmarked for the initial phase (2004 2006). The Preparatory Action should lead to a full European Security Research Programme starting in 2007.
(OECD) There is no 'silver bullet' to rid the world of computer viruses and hackers, but a new OECD web site is dedicated to help combat these and other security risks to information systems and networks. In a year that has seen a record number of computer virus attacks, including 'Win32.Blaster', causing an estimated US $2 billion damage, the site is designed to help governments, businesses and the public understand the risks and responsibilities attached to information systems and networks. The site provides information on initiatives that have been taken in response to the OECD Guidelines for the Security of Information Systems and Networks: Towards a Culture of Security, published last year. It also serves as a portal to other relevant websites as a step towards creating a global culture of security. In the future, the site will also centralise educational tools for the security of information systems and networks.
(CNET News.com) A small army of angry Web users has set up a network of Web sites where they post reports of antispyware programs said to prey on consumers by installing offending files. Some of these charges could get a hearing soon, as public-interest group The Center for Democracy & Technology plans to file complaints with the Federal Trade Commission against specific companies.
(AP) The Federal Trade Commission and regulatory agencies in 26 countries warned hundreds of thousands of computer users that they were unwittingly helping people who send floods of unwanted e-mails. In a campaign called Secure Your Server, the FTC and others sent e-mail warnings to operators of computers that might be improperly configured to permit outsiders to route spam e-mails through them.
(Washington Post) E-mail communication to and from The Washington Post was disrupted after its washpost.com Internet address was shut down because the company failed to renew its $35 annual registration. The outage did not affect the ability of readers around the world to read the Post's news Web site, which resides at a separate "domain," washingtonpost.com.
(BBC) Good news for spammers, the smart filtering software used to catch spam can be beaten. The bad news for spammers is that this flaw in filtering systems is not easy to exploit and can be combated by turning off the preview pane in e-mail.
(Reuters) Rather than being hit by lawsuits, file-sharers should be paid for converting their collections to legal formats, according to an industry trade group. Internet users could collect paychecks rather than lawsuits when they share music through 'peer-to-peer' networks like Kazaa, under a proposal outlined by an industry trade group, the Distributed Computing Industry Association.
(New York Times) Let the music industry sue those who share files, and let Hollywood push for tough laws and regulations to curb movie copying. Playboy, like many companies that provide access to virtual flesh and naughtiness, is turning online freeloaders into subscribers by giving away pictures to other sites that, in turn, drive visitors right back to Playboy.com.
(BBC) Net users may have to get used to watching TV ads between web pages, if trials currently under way on high profile websites are successful. The new video ads are being tested on 15 sites over the next five weeks. They are the result of a collaboration between online ad developers, Unicast, and software giant, Microsoft. But though users may find them annoying, they could ultimately reduce the overall number of web advertisements in the long term. [Ed: interesting reader feedback]
(New York Times) Bill Gates has decided that the Internet search business is both a serious threat and a valuable opportunity. Mr. Gates readily acknowledges these days that Microsoft "blew it" in the market for Internet search. Google developed a speedy search engine that soon became almost a universal first step onto the Internet. It displaced earlier search engines because the technology did a measurably better job in returning results that satisfied Web surfers' requests.
(Reuters) Microsoft is better placed to avoid an impending attack from the MyDoom worm, the spam e-mail virus that has infected hundreds of thousands of personal computers worldwide and brought down the Web site of a small software provider, experts said. Infected machines are instructed to flood SCO and Microsoft's Web sites with requests for information in an attack called a distributed denial of service, and also give potential attackers unauthorized access to compromised PCs. see also Clues point to single MyDoom culprit (ZDNet).
(CNET News.com) Cellphone manufacturers will ship 585 million phones in 2004, marking the second consecutive record-setting year for an industry mired in a slump not so long ago, according to a study from market watcher Strategy Analytics.
(Reuters) A survey published by consumers group the Transatlantic Consumer Dialogue (TACD), which was released at a spam meeting led by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), showed 52 percent of respondents were shopping less on the Internet or not at all because of concerns about receiving unsolicited junk e-mail.
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