CyberLaw Blog

Archive for March 3rd, 2009

Spooks told to get used to encrypted VoIP: “

UK start-up aims to conceal more conversations

A British security firm has urged the government not to impose heavy-handed interception regulations on VoIP providers, ahead of the forthcoming consultation on communications data.…

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(Via The Register – Comms.)

Phorm unleashes legal attack on critics: “

Beware the wounded beast

News articles based on a survey indicating public opposition to Phorm’s web snooping and advertising system have been withdrawn after the firm made legal threats to their publishers.…

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(Via The Register – Comms.)

Telenor shuns IFPI’s ‘block Pirate Bay’ demands: “

Like asking post office to open every letter, says Norwegian ISP

Norwegian ISP Telenor has refused demands from representatives of the US music and film industry to block access to BitTorrent tracker website The Pirate Bay.…

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(Via The Register – Comms.)

Good luck!

UK – Government seeks international strategy on illegal downloading: “(Guardian)
The culture secretary, Andy Burnham, is aiming to have the framework of an international strategy to combat illegal internet downloads agreed with the US and European partners by the autumn. Burnham’s ambitious plan, part of a five-pronged strategy to bolster the ailing music industry, was outlined by the government minister at a parliamentary reception involving groups including the BPI, which represents UK record companies. The ultimate aim of the plan would be to develop a consensus with other governments that would make the UK’s own initiatives to combat internet piracy more likely to succeed. Burnham said the government is seeking a 70% to 80% reduction in illegal downloads with its plans in the UK.”

(Via QuickLinks Update.)

EU – Child abuse image trade targeted: “(BBC)
Profits made by peddlers of child sex abuse images are being targeted by a pan-European alliance. The European Financial Coalition brings together payment firms, law enforcement agencies and child protection groups to disrupt commerce in the images. By tracking cash made by sites selling abuse images, investigators hope to stop the trade and find abusers. Backers include Mastercard, Visa, Paypal and UK’s Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP). Funded by the European Commission, the coalition is intended to serve as a ’stark warning’ to those involved in the sale and distribution of child sex images. See also Commission Press Release.”

(Via QuickLinks Update.)

Aussie internet-net will be drawn wider: “

Comms minister expands on site blacklist

The Australian government is already planning to block legal internet content when its ‘great firewall‘ eventually goes live. That is the fear expressed by some of the most trenchant critics of this scheme, including Senators Simon Birmingham (for the Liberal Party) and Scott Ludlam (for the Greens) following another shift in emphasis by Communications Minister Stephen Conroy in evidence to the Environment, Communications and the Arts committee on Monday.…

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(Via The Register – Public Sector.)

Pirate Bay prosecutors get jiggy with charge sheet – again: “

IFPI boss ‘vague’ on BitTorrent tech

Prosecutors in the entertainment industry versus The Pirate Bay trial have made further amendments to the charge sheet in the hope of nailing a conviction against the defendants.…

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(Via The Register – Public Sector.)

Three months on, you still can’t get off the DNA database: “

Carry on sampling…

Almost three months on from the unanimous ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) against the UK’s mass retention of DNA of innocent people, the situation has turned worse. Although eventually the UK should become compliant with the ruling, police forces are adopting a wait and see attitude, while Jacqui Smith is pushing back any response.…

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(Via The Register – Public Sector.)

Last call for UK liberties: “

Convention rallies support against government madness

On Saturday 28 February, several hundred activists and interested citizens got together to issue a rallying cry to all concerned by the government’s ever increasing encroachment on our traditional civil liberties. Or, if you prefer the Labour Party version: a bunch of mostly white, middle-class, middle-aged do-gooders demonstrated just how out of touch they are with the true needs of the people of Britain today.…

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(Via The Register – Public Sector.)

Prime Minister’s health records breached in database attack: “

Scottish rich and powerful victimized

Personal medical records belonging to Scotland’s rich and powerful – including Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Holyrood’s First Minister Alex Salmond – have been illegally accessed in a breach of a national database that holds details of 2.5 million people.…

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(Via The Register – Public Sector.)