CyberLaw Blog

Archive for June 24th, 2008

UK - Plan to protect children online unveiled: “(Guardian)
The government has unveiled an action plan to make the internet safer for children with a £9m ad campaign promoting ‘e-safety’ and setting up a council on child internet safety. The action plan, unveiled today by the department for children, schools and families, aims to deliver on Dr Tanya Byron’s recommendations in her report ’safer children in a digital world’. See Byron Review Action Plan.”

(Via QuickLinks Update.)

Traders caught selling violent games to children, online and off: “Thirty-eight online traders and three high street shops have been caught selling 18-rated video games to children in a series of undercover investigations. Such sales are illegal and businesses can be punished by prison sentences and fines.”

(Via OUT-LAW News.)

EU - EDPS Opinion on safer Internet for children: “(RAPID)
The European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) has adopted an Opinion on the proposed multiannual Community programme on protecting children using the Internet and other communication technologies. The EDPS fully supports the general orientations of the programme aiming at more efficiently protecting children using the Internet, while adapting to the evolution of new technologies. He stresses the fact that the protection of children’s data is an essential first step in guaranteeing more safety and prevention of abuse on the Internet. Data protection considerations should also apply to all persons who are connected in some way with the information circulating on the network to prevent illegal content and harmful conduct (e.g. person reported as suspect, reporting person, victim of abuse). Data protection authorities play a decisive role in the protection of children on the Internet. This should be taken into consideration when it comes to the implementation of the multiannual programme;
any reporting system to be put in place in order to report illegal or harmful content online has to take into account the existing data protection framework. Guarantees related to the supervision of the system, in principle by law enforcement authorities, are decisive elements to comply with this framework; filtering or blocking tools to control access to networks should be used cautiously, bearing in mind their potential adverse effect (e.g. preventing access to legitimate information) and taking advantage of the privacy enhancing opportunities offered by technology; the development of best practices by the industry should be promoted. However, the surveillance of telecommunication networks, where necessary in specific circumstances, should be the task of law enforcement authorities.”

(Via QuickLinks Update.)

Reuters: Iran bans daily critical of Ahmadinejad

Sun Jun 22, 2008 8:43am EDT

TEHRAN (Reuters) - An Iranian newspaper has been banned after carrying articles critical of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s economic policies, the state Press TV satellite station said on its website.

A government media body revoked the license of Tehran Emrooz on Saturday, Press TV said.

Nazi paedophile: “‘Racial war’ terrorist who viewed child abuse images”

Neo-Nazi Martyn Gilleard has been found guilty of making bombs for a far-right terrorist campaign, after having previously admitted downloading thousands of images of child sexual abuse.

He wrote of starting a “racial war” and murdering Muslims.

(Via BBC News.)

UK - Youths ‘buy violent games online’: “(BBC)
Children are able to illegally buy violent video games through online auction websites, the UK’s Trading Standards Institute has said. Almost 90% of retailers tested by the association sold under-18s games, such as Manhunt 2, through such outlets. Traders supplying games to an under-age person in breach of official classifications can face a fine or up to six months in jail.”

(Via QuickLinks Update.)

What’s Obscene? Google Could Have an Answer: “In a Florida trial, Google data will be used to argue that explicit material doesn’t violate community values.”

(Via NYT > Technology.)