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(Libération) Des tunnels de pub sans fin, des programmes coupés deux , trois , dix fois par les réclames... Du téléachat comme s'il en pleuvait et Navarro s'extasiant sur sa dernière Peugeot. Voilà le cauchemar qui se dessine derrière la révision de la directive «télévision sans frontières» (TSF).
(Ofcom) David Currie, Ofcom Chairman. Introductory remarks at the Liverpool Conference on the review of the EU Television Without Frontiers ('TWF') Directive, 21 September 2005. We in Ofcom start from the position that is doubtful whether the best way to promote such new content and new business models in Europe is through more regulation. So, a first request on our part has been for the Commission to assess carefully the costs and benefits of regulating content delivered over non-broadcast platforms. Ofcom's view, boiled down to its essential, is one of scepticism about the case made for the extension of scope, in so far as it seeks to extend regulation to services currently in their infancy, and concern about the practicalities involved.
(Europa) The Commission has concluded the Sector Inquiry into the competitive situation in the market for new systems of mobile communication that are able to transmit pictures (3G). The Commission wants to ensure that critical sports content is not held back by anticompetitive conduct during the take up of the new mobile technologies. Such conduct would hamper consumers' choice, innovation and competition within the media sector. The Sector Inquiry found four main bottleneck problems that may risk limiting the access to sports content on mobile devices: Market players should review their business practises and act to address possible anti-competitive behaviour. Specific cases of national dimension where potentially harmful behaviours have been identified during the Sector Inquiry will be examined with national competition authorities. Concluding report.
(info) Special Issue: Chris Marsden, Damian Tambini; Free, open or closed? approaches to the information ecology Christopher T. Marsden; Competition and the exercise of market power in broadcasting: a review of recent UK experience Martin Cave ; Broadcasting, universal service and the communications package Lorna Woods; Competition policy and regulatory style - issues for OFCOM Thomas Gibbons; Competition in the media sector - how long can the future be delayed? Herbert Ungerer.
(IAAC) Organisations and individuals currently have little idea how to collect and preserve evidence from computers and the Internet. As a result criminal prosecutions become difficult, businesses fail to get redress in the civil courts or are unable to make proper insurance claims. That's the message of the Directors and Corporate Advisors' Guide to Digital Investigations and Evidence launched by the Information Assurance Advisory Council (IAAC). "With the vast proliferation of computer ownership and usage plus the growth of low-cost always-on broadband connectivity, all organisations require a Forensic Readiness Program", says report author Peter Sommer, Senior Research Fellow at the London School of Economics. See also press handout.
(Reuters) China set new regulations on Internet news content, widening a campaign of controls it has imposed on other Web sites, such as discussion groups. "The state bans the spreading of any news with content that is against national security and public interest," the official Xinhua news agency said in announcing the new rules, which took effect immediately. Established news media needed permission to run a news Web site, it said. New operators had to register themselves with government information offices. China has a dedicated band of cyber police who patrol the Internet with the aim of regulating content. Postings that criticize the government or address sensitive topics are quickly removed. Registration was a feature of rules imposed earlier this year aimed at not-for-profit Internet activities, such as personal Web sites and blogs. see also China's leaders launch smokeless war against internet and media dissent (Guardian) and China toughens restrictions on Internet news (NBC News).
(Reporters sans frontières) 'You shall not spread rumours', 'You shall not damage state security', 'You shall not destroy the country's reputation'. There are just three of the 11 commandments ordered by Beijing, on 25 September, aimed at bloggers and websites managers. Reporters Without Borders expressed concern at this latest turn of the screw in an ongoing crackdown on freedom of expression. "The Chinese authorities never seem to let up on their desire to regulate the Web and their determination to control information available on it ever more tightly," the worldwide press freedom organisation said. "These new rules, announced with a fanfare by the official media, are certainly more intended to frighten Internet-users than to codify the use of the Net," it said. "In fact there is nothing really new in these 11 commandments, which simply repeat that the party has the monopoly of the dissemination of information and that the media's task is not to be objective but to relay state propaganda."
(Open Rights Group) by Suw Charman. An RSA, IPPR, PCMLP Lecture held on 29 September 2005. Prof. Lawrence Lessig, Creative Commons, John McVay, CEO of PACT (representing film and TV producers), Adam Singer, CEO of MCPS and the PRS (musicians' royalty collecting societies), Moderated by John Howkins, RSA. Conference announcement.
(out-law.com) The European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) has published his Opinion on the Commission's proposal for a Directive on the retention of communications data, stressing the need to respect the fundamental rights of EU citizens.
(RAPID) The European Commission has unveiled its strategy to make Europe's written and audiovisual heritage available on the Internet. Turning Europe's historic and cultural heritage into digital content will make it usable for European citizens for their studies, work or leisure and will give innovators, artists and entrepreneurs the raw material that they need. The Commission proposes a concerted drive by EU Member States to digitise, preserve, and make this heritage available to all. It presents a first set of actions at European level and invites comments on a series of issues in an online consultation (deadline for replies 20 January 2006). The replies will feed into a proposal for a Recommendation on digitisation and digital preservation, to be presented in June 2006.
(BBC) The BBC's grassroots campaign website, Action Network, has been honoured as the top politics and internet 'world changer' of 2005, for the third year in a row. The site was declared the winner of the Top 10 vote at the World Forum on e-Democracy in Paris.
(BBC) Online auction company eBay is facing court action over claims it allowed contact lenses to be sold on the site. The General Optical Council claims people buying lenses online risk serious eye problems because they do not receive the necessary checks. By law, lenses must be sold by a registered optician or doctor.
(Cyprus Mail) A new website has been launched in Cyprus, aimed at targeting improper use of the internet. SafeWeb describes itself as a hotline service of Cyprus dedicated to contribute to the restraint of distribution of illegal content over the Internet. The service states that its primary concern is the elimination of child pornographic material posted on the internet while also hoping to aims to combat all other types of illegal content, dealing with pornography, racism, online gambling, data and consumer protection. The new site service provides concerned users the means to anonymously report various illegal matters on the internet. It is partnered and supported by the Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas, Institute of Computer Science and the University of Cyprus. SafeWeb is part of the Safer Internet-plus programme which is funded by the European Union and is leading the battle in Europe against illegal use of the internet and works closely with Safeline, a Greek-based website offering a similar service throughout Greece.
(WSIS) The European Union signaled a radical shift of position on its support for maintaining the Internet governance status quo, tabling a bold new document that proposed a new public-private governance model, including an international multi-stakeholder forum. Taking the floor half-way through Wednesday evenin's meeting of Sub-Committee A, the UK delegate's placid delivery belied the ground-shaking import of the proposal, which represented a clear departure from the "status quo" camp led by the US. As proposed, the new model would foster development of public policy principles, and include provision for equitable global IP number block allocation, procedures for changing the root zone file system to provide for insertion of new top-level domains and for changes of ccTLD managers. It also includes open support for a new public policy forum that would work with existing institutions and organizations to address multi-dimensional and interrelated public policy issues without trying to "dominate issues already dealt with elsewhere" or performing oversight functions. see also Tunis 'Summit of Solutions' Now in Sight (WSIS Press Release), Second Phase, Tunis : Preparatory Process : Prepcom-3. Report of the Work of Sub-Committee A (Internet Governance): [WSIS-II/PC-3/DOC/11] Chair's paper (after fourth reading): Chapter three [WSIS-II/PC-3/DT/10(Rev.4)]. Report from the Working Group on Internet Governance.
(Associated Press) The European Union has insisted the job of Internet traffic cop must be shared by governments and the private sector. The U.S. wants to remain the Internet's ultimate authority, rejecting calls in a United Nations meeting in Geneva for a U.N. body to take over. EU spokesman Martin Selmayr rejected American claims the EU had changed direction. 'We are looking for a new cooperation model, a model that allows Internet governance and the laying down of public policy principles in coordination by all countries which are interested in the governance of the Internet because the Internet is a global resource', he said, 'The EU is very firm on this position'.
(International Herald Tribune) The European Union has joined calls from other nations for giving supervisory power to an intergovernmental body, but the idea was rejected by Washington as leading to unnecessary bureaucratization. The uncompromising U.S. stance has led to a deadlock in the talks, called the World Summit on the Information Society, which started in 2003 and are set to conclude in Tunisia next month. Groups representing Web surfers at the talks complained that the dispute between the United States and the rest of the world over administration is overshadowing more important issues, such as cleaning up spam from e-mail systems and combating cyber crime and identity theft, areas where they say governments should play a more active role.
(International Herald Tribune) The U.S. government, which currently oversees the Internet addressing system, this past week clashed with the European Union and other governments over who should retain control over the master address list. Whoever controls the root zone files in essence controls access to Web sites, and one fear is that the United States could arbitrarily decide to deny requests by other countries for changes in the files. The United States has never denied such requests, but many involved in Internet governance do not like even the possibility that such a denial could take place.
(BBC) The US has rejected calls by European Union (EU) officials to give control of the net over to a more representative United Nations (UN) body. The matter is supposed to be discussed at November's World Summit on the Information Society in Tunisia. But at a pre-Summit meeting this week, the US said it would resist the plans. In the meeting, the European Union (EU) backed proposals that control of the net should be under a more representative body. "We will not agree to the UN taking over the management of the internet," said Ambassador David Gross, the US coordinator for international communications and information policy at the State Department.
(Heise) Die Schufa und Fun Communications erwarten gute Geschäfte mit ihren Altersverifizierungssystemen. Beide Systeme, die kürzlich von der Kommission für Jugendmedienschutz (KJM) in einer nicht öffentlichen Sitzungen zugelassen wurden, nehmen Anbietern die von der KJM geforderten Face-to-Face-Prüfungen ab. Die Face-to-Face-Überprüfung des Alters der Kunden haben bei den beiden von der KJM empfohlenen Systemen bereits die angeschlossenen Bank- und Kreditinstitute vorgenommen.
(Madame Figaro) Pédocriminalité, pornographie, incitation à la haine raciale, aux violences, à l'anorexie, au suicide... Les dangers du Web sont nombreux et à portée de main des plus jeunes. Parmi de nombreuses mesures de sensibilisation et de partenariat avec les acteurs de l'Internet, le gouvernement devrait imposer aux fournisseurs d'accès à Internet (FAI) de proposer gratuitement à leurs abonnés une solution de contrôle parental activée par défaut, autrement dit automatique. Configurable par les parents avec des critères pré-établis, ce contrôle se mettrait en route à chaque connexion, contraignant tout adulte à le désinstaller s'il n'en veut pas. «A l'heure actuelle, l'accès à ces outils est compliqué, les parents doivent aller chercher le logiciel de contrôle dans des onglets qui diffèrent d'un FAI à un autre, ils sont souvent inconfigurables, en plus de quoi ils sont facturés en sus de l'abonnement !, s'indigne Christine du Fretay, présidente de l'association e-enfance/Communiquer en toute sécurité. Il est temps d'arrêter l'hypocrisie des FAI qui, depuis quatre ans, font preuve de résistance et de mauvaise foi ! On ne construit pas de voiture sans ceinture de sécurité. Il ne faut pas d'ordinateur sans contrôle parental.». Protection des mineurs: les opinions divergent sur la procédure automatique (silicon.fr) et Une petite minorité de parents contrôlent l'activité de leurs enfants sur la Toile (Le Monde)
(CommsWatch) There is a briefing session at the Cabinet Office on the Get Safe Online initiative. Get Safe Online is a joint public and private sector initiative to raise awareness of Internet security amongst the general public and very small businesses. The first phase of the campaign is due to be launched later this Autumn. Get Safe Online is supported by Government through the Cabinet Office, National Hi Tech Crime Unit, the Home Office, DTI and the NISCC (National Infrastructure Security Coordination Centre).
(OnGuardOnline.gov) OnGuardOnline.gov provides practical tips from the federal government and the technology industry to help you be on guard against Internet fraud, secure your computer, and protect your personal information.
(DHS) The National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) and The Department of Homeland Security today announced the launch of key programs and events to educate Internet users of all ages about safe online practices throughout October in observance of National Cyber Security Awareness Month. NCSA and Homeland Security will work with key industry partners to spread the word about online safety by providing tips and resources and hosting special events designed specifically for home users, small businesses, and the education community.
(Heise) T-Mobile Deutschland, Vodafone D, E-Plus, O2 Germany, Mobilcom, Debitel, Phone House Telecom und Talkline haben einen Verhaltenskodex für ihren Jugenschutz entwickelt. Er enthalte gemeinsame Standards, mit denen die Mobilfunkanbieter dafür sorgen wollen, dass "entwicklungsgefährdende und -beeinträchtigende mobile Informations- und Kommunikationsangebote" von Kindern und Jugendlichen nicht wahrgenommen werden können, teilt Vodafone mit. Außerdem regle er die mobile Nutzung von Chatrooms und den Download von Filmen und Spielen unter Jugendschutzaspekten. Weiter sollen Jugendschutzbeauftragte eingesetzt werden.
(RAPID) The European Commission has presented a new EU strategy for an optimal use of radio spectrum in Europe. Radio spectrum is a critical input for many sectors relying on wireless transmission such as broadcasting, transport systems and mobile telephony. Spectrum rights in bands used for "terrestrial electronic communication services" (including mobile, broadcasting and data communications) should be tradable. This would mean that, in those specific bands, a licence to use spectrum could be freely transferred between holders, so that they can make an informed choice on where in the spectrum they want to operate and whether the cost of the spectrum right makes this worthwhile. Whoever holds a spectrum right should also be able to choose how it is used, so long as they do not interfere with other users. This will make it easier for innovators to access spectrum and to position their innovation in the part of the spectrum where it stands the best chance of being successful. see also A New EU Radio Spectrum Strategy: Frequently Asked Questions
(BBC) Games on mobile phones have come a long way since Snake or endless knock-offs of arcade classics such as Asteroids and Space Invaders. Now many of the big name titles first created for consoles and PCs are turning up in shrunken versions for handsets that an increasingly large section of the population own.
(Guardian) Mobile phone company O2 has bet its competitive position on i-mode, the mobile internet service that has taken Japan by storm but has yet to attract significant numbers in Europe. The company is launching the service next month, backed by an £8m marketing drive, the largest single advertising campaign since its demerger from BT four years ago.
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