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