InternetPolicy.net

Conference report "freedom of the media online"

On 27 and 28 August 2004, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Mr Miklos Haraszti, organised a conference on 'freedom of the media online' in the Amsterdam city hall.
Two panels focussed on the problematic definition of harmful content and self-regulation. Yaman Akdeniz (director of the UK NGO Cyberrights), Sandy Starr (editor of the e-zine Spiked) and Matthew Berry, senior counsel at the U.S. Department of Justice all gave strong arguments against global regulation of hatespeech, as suggested by the additional protocol to the Cybercrime Convention (signed by 23 countries, amongst which 15 EU member states, and only just ratified by Slovenia on 8 September 2004).
Conference website with papers from speakers (27/28-08-2004) http://www.osce.org/events/conferences/fom/2004amsterdam/
Cybercrime convention additional protocol - chart of signatures http://conventions.coe.int/Treaty/Commun/ChercheSig.asp?NT=189&CM=8&DF=9/9/04&CL=ENG

Israel Releases Report On Electronic Issues

A committee created by the Israeli Justice Ministry has released on electronic issues including ISP liability and privacy issues. The committee recommended adopting e-commerce type provisions along with protection of ISPs for liability for third party content. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/475571.html

Sweden to start issuing biometric passports and e-ID cards in 2005

The Swedish Government will start issuing its citizens with biometric passports in 2005. The new document will be consistent with the facial recognition standard adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and will fulfil the US visa waiver programme's requirements. http://europa.eu.int/ida/en/document/3247/194

Attitudes to e-government increasingly different in France, Germany and the UK

A survey performed by TNS Sofres for Capgemini France and providing comparative data for France, Germany and the UK, reveals that attitudes of European citizens towards e-government seem to vary significantly between countries.
Although the study is primarily aimed at measuring French attitudes to electronic public services, it features data for Germany and the UK, thus providing insight into the respective attitudes and expectations of French, German and British citizens. http://europa.eu.int/ida/en/document/3246/194

Ideology and policy: notes on the shaping of the Internet

This paper considers some of the ideologies that are shaping Internet policies. It addresses the priorities of international policy initiatives and identifies their discursive constructions. It takes stock of some of the most characteristic policy directions that seek to define the Internet and its uses within an agenda of predominant privatisation. http://www.firstmonday.org/issues/issue9_8/sarikakis/index.html

Zambia Cybercrime Bill Set To Become Law

An Internet crime bill in Zambia has caused some controversy
in the country's IT community but is expected to become law soon. The
bill received parliamentary approval and is expected to be signed into
law by President Levy Mwanawasa within a month or two.
http://www.idg.com.sg/idgwww.nsf/0/BCF4433791E6F94D48256F07000F96A8?OpenDocument

Management skills key to e-government

Softer management skills are more important than technical skills in senior e-government roles, such as e-champion and head of ICT, according to the Delivering Local E-government report from Socitm.
The study warns that a lack of clarity about how e-government should be managed, and the roles at the heart of e-government, will add to the risks of failure for e-government programmes.
The role of e-champion is to promote service transformation and to set the strategic direction.
http://www.vnunet.com/news/1157817

Ukraine: Public hearings "On Interception of Telecommunications"

On September 2, 2004, the public hearings on the draftlaw "On interception of telecommunications" (registration number — 4042-1) took place in Kyiv, in the conference hall of the Ukrainian House (2 Khreshchatyka str, 5th floor). During the hearings, the participants discussed the new version of the above-mentioned lawdraft in which most of the amendments proposed by the state uthorities, business and public organizations have already been introduced. The public hearings were organized by the Internet Association of Ukraine together with the Internews-Ukraine and Ukrainian Internet Community. http://www.irf.kiev.ua/en/programs/inf/inf/news/?doc:int=1161

Government Open Source Policies

The efforts include measures to investigate open-source software or give it preference in purchasing decisions, according to a draft study published by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The tally indicates some success by open-source advocates promoting the programming philosophy in favor of the prevailing proprietary products. http://www.csis.org/tech/OpenSource/0408_ospolicies.pdf

Geneva pioneers Swiss internet voting

Geneva has become the first canton (state) in the Swiss federation to allow voting on federal issues via the internet. Some 22,000 people resident in the constituencies of Anières, Carouge, Cologny and Meyrin will be able to cast their ballots by computer beginning this Friday. The Geneva government has set up five information stands complete with an internet connection in the constituencies. The centres will be equipped with experts to assist citizens who don't own a computer or who need advice. The Swiss are to go to the polls on 26 September to decide on a whole range of issues including maternity leave and naturalisation procedures. http://www.dmeurope.com/default.asp?ArticleID=2983

The Asia Foundation: Utilizing ICT to Address Human Trafficking

Human trafficking seems to be the "political correct" modern day bureaucratic terminology to refer to slavery. If you refer to slavery, it's likely that people will think you're talking about something that ended a long time ago, so perhaps it's best to call it human trafficking. There are actually many forms of modern slavery, and human trafficking has been getting an increasing amount of attention from development agencies in the past few years.
The Asia Foundation started a program to look at how ICTs can be used to address human trafficking. The answers are not simple and there are numerous challenges and opportunities to explore. http://www.asiafoundation.org/ICT/trafficking.html

ICANN Releases New TLD Evaluation Report

ICANN has released a recently commissioned report evaluating its experience with the introduction of new TLDs. The report notes that the market impact of the new TLDs has been minimal and that the agreements that underpin the new gTLDs reflect a level of detail that may not be needed for future TLDs. Report at http://www.icann.org/tlds/new-gtld-eval-31aug04.pdf

Google Search & Cache Filtering Behind China's Great Firewall

Although China no longer blocks Google in its entirety, a Chinese user of Google can potentially have a much different Google experience than one from another country due to China's content filtering practices. Chinese Internet users' access to Google is filtered for specific keywords, and this filtering disrupts Google searches as well as access to the Google cache. http://www.opennetinitiative.net/bulletins/006/

Polish cops bust 100-member computer piracy gang

Polish police have broken up a gang of more than 100 hackers who sold pirated music and films, using academic computer systems around the world to store their wares. International police and intellectual property experts say eastern European manufacturing centers are notorious for contributing to global software piracy. http://news.com.com/2100-1027_3-5322433.html

China Approves E-Signatures

China's Legislature has passed the Law on Electronic
Signature, which legalizes increasing electronic deals. The
law grants electronic signatures the same legal effect as handwritten signatures and seals in business transactions.

http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20040828-045733-4670r.htm

Sprint, SBC Forge Wi-Fi Pact

Two telecom providers have come together in the name of Wi-Fi. Sprint and SBC Communications have
signed a bi-lateral roaming agreement that will enable their customers more wireless access while on the go. The agreement will enable the companies' customers to access the Internet using their existing user ID and password while on Sprint and SBC-owned Wi-Fi networks. http://www.wirelessweek.com/index.asp?layout=document&doc_id=135368&verticalID=34&vertical=Business+and+Finance&industry=

Self-configuring multifunction mobile terminals

Software Defined Radios (SDRs) are mobile devices that can be reconfigured over the air. Users could download new services from network operators, and even have voice and email services provided by different networks. The SCOUT project has studied how SDRs will be regulated and marketed. http://istresults.cordis.lu//index.cfm?section=news&tpl=article&ID=69663

Ireland: New Rules for Telcos

ComReg (Commision for Communications Regulation) has announced plans to alter the General Authorisation framework - the code that allows telecoms companies to operate in Ireland. The proposed changes to the framework will formalise ComReg's powers in the area of overcharging. Companies in breach of the framework could be brought to court or lose their authority to operate in Ireland.

E-Indonesia strategy to get Korean help

Korea Telecom has linked up with a local consortium to develop a broadband e-government infrastructure for Indonesia.
http://www.pstm.net/article/index.php?articleid=297

ICT Toolsets Announces Winners of 2003 Grant Competition

August 23, 2004
In the fall of 2003, the ICT Toolsets initiative accepted submissions in response to an international request for proposals (RFP). More than 230 proposals were received from 44 countries.
http://www.soros.org/initiatives/information/news/ict2003proposals_20040801