Government & Policy
23 May 2009
EU consults on state aid rules for high-speed Internet EurActiv
The European Commission yesterday (19 May) launched a public consultation on draft guidelines that will determine when governments can grant public funds for rolling out high-speed broadband networks.
Step forward on Australia's e-waste law; UK 'worst electrical recycler' in Europe Australian IT
Mandatory recycling of old electronic equipment is a step closer, with the nation's environment ministers agreeing to consider new laws aimed at keeping dangerous and bulky e-waste out of landfill.
Pro-internet piracy party on course for EU seats The Times
The Pirate Party, a single-issue Swedish group that campaigns to encourage internet copyright infringement, is on course to win several seats in the European parliament.
22 May 2009
ACCC chief gives Australian broadband network the nod Sydney Morning Herald
The head of Australia's consumer watchdog has sparked a row with the Opposition by giving an extraordinary endorsement of the Federal Government's plans to build a new national broadband network.
20 May 2009
White House Wins Court Fight on Email Disclosure Wall Street Journal
A federal appeals court ruled Tuesday that the office that has records about millions of possibly missing emails from the Bush White House doesn't have to make them public.
Please kill this cookie monster to save Europe's websites OUT-LAW News
EDITORIAL: Visit any website and there's a good chance that it will send a cookie to your computer. But unless that cookie is essential, its delivery could become illegal under a strange new plan that has, very quietly, won EU support.
US net pioneer hails Australian govt's 'breathtaking' broadband network The Australian
Call him Kevin Rudd's $43billion man. Larry Smarr, a 60-year-old US physicist and one of the pioneers of the internet, says the Rudd Government's announcement last month of a new broadband network is "breathtaking" and puts Australia at the forefront of government policy around the world embracing "intelligent infrastructure", reports The Australian.
19 May 2009
New Mood in Antitrust May Target Google New York Times
For decades, the nation's biggest antitrust cases have centered on technology companies. And they have all been efforts by the government to deal with powerful companies with far-reaching influence, like AT&T, the telephone monopoly; I.B.M., the mainframe computer giant; and Microsoft, the powerhouse of personal computer software.
14 May 2009
A push to legalise Internet gambling in the US Los Angeles Times
The online gambling industry is waging a campaign in Congress to legalise Internet betting, arguing that it is here to stay and can be regulated and taxed. But opponents are raising moral objections.
Rivals fear Telstra broadband grip Australian IT
A national broadband network born of a union between the federal Government and Telstra would be bad for competition unless regulatory reform accompanied it, according to industry observers, reports Australian IT.
13 May 2009
$4.7bn down-payment made on Australia's broadband network in 2009 budget The Australian
The government has made an initial $4.7 billion down-payment on the $43 billion national broadband network, reports AAP.
Australian govt plan to split up Telstra The Australian
The federal Government will offer Telstra the chance to buy up to 49 per cent of its national broadband network, if it agrees to voluntarily hive off its wholesale arm, reports The Australian.
12 May 2009
Japan under pressure to clamp down on child pornography The Guardian
Japan has come under renewed pressure to clamp down on its huge market in child pornography following the launch of a campaign to ban a video game in which players earn points by raping schoolgirls and forcing them to have abortions.
11 May 2009
us: Bill would turn Internet flamers into felons Network World
A little-noticed bill re-introduced in Congress last month would make the use of popular electronic communications a felony if "the intent is to coerce, intimidate, harass, or cause substantial emotional distress to a person."
10 May 2009
The Economist debate - Copyright and wrongs: This house believes that existing copyright laws do more harm than good The Economist
The moderator's opening remarks: Copyright strangles creativity. Copyright rewards originality. It is a nuisance to the public that unduly enriches a few people. It is the backbone of our knowledge economy that fuels progress. Hate it, love it, break it, protect it; few people lack strong opinions about copyright and its place in society.
09 May 2009
Google CEO says he expects more government scrutiny Reuters
Google Inc Chief Executive Eric Schmidt said he expects more regulatory scrutiny from around the world and the company is paying more attention to the way it approaches certain business issues as a result of the attention.
Google's Strength May Be Part of Microsoft Defense Strategy New York Times
Microsoft will argue against a European Commission proposal that it promote competing browsers in its Windows operating system on the ground that such a move would strengthen its rival Google's dominance in the global search-advertising market, according to a person with direct knowledge of Microsoft's legal defense.
French Anti-Piracy Proposal Undermines E.U. Telecommunications Overhaul New York Times
The European Parliament on Wednesday rejected a long-planned revision of the Continent's telecommunications laws because of a controversial provision to punish Internet pirates.
08 May 2009
Bill unveiled to reverse U.S. online gambling ban Reuters
Legislation aimed at reversing a 3-year-old ban on Americans placing online bets was introduced on Wednesday by U.S. House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank.
Web push derails Europe telecoms reform to make internet access a human right Financial Times
A last-gasp push by European lawmakers to have internet access established as an inalienable human right has derailed a sweeping package of telecoms reform.
European Parliament vetoes telecoms reform, demands court order for ISP disconnection OUT-LAW News
Internet service providers should only be able to disconnect users on the order of a court, the European Parliament has said. The demand has derailed the expected ratification of European telecoms reform at a Parliament session today.
EU lawmakers vote to introduce net neutrality ZDNet
The European Parliament has voted through a massive tranche of reforms for the European telecommunications sector, including a significant net-neutrality amendment.
06 May 2009
Singapore's National Broadband Network progresses Computerworld
More major milestones have been passed in Singapore's journey towards the landmark next generation national broadband network (Next Gen NBN).
EU Mulls New Legal Fight Against Spam, Invasion of Privacy PC World
In a bid to patch holes in Europe's rules governing the Internet, the European Commission is considering a renewed effort to clamp down on spam and online abuse of consumers' privacy.
EU set to adopt big reform of bloc's telecom rules Reuters
The European Parliament is set to adopt a major reform of EU telecoms rules on Wednesday to increase consumer protection, competition and investment in new networks.
