CyberLaw Blog

Archive for December 7th, 2009

9/11 pager messages published online:

Whistleblowing website publishes ‘intercepted’ texts in order officials and witnesses sent them

The unfolding secret story of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon is being told today when more than 500,000 intercepted pager messages, many from US officials, are published online in the order in which they were sent.

The mass live leak began at 8am GMT and will continue for 24 hours until all of the messages are seen as they were sent on September 11.

The experiment by whistleblowing website Wikileaks includes pager messages sent on the day by officials in the Pentagon, the New York police and witnesses to the collapse of the twin towers.

Wikileaks said the messages would show a ‘completely objective record of the defining moment of our time‘.

It added: ‘We hope that its entry into the historical record will lead to a more nuanced understanding of how this tragedy and its aftermath may have been prevented.’

The post said the release of the messages at times corresponding to when they were sent would help ‘foster a deeper understanding’.

A preview of some of the messages to be leaked suggests they show how panic and rumour began to spread on the day, and are likely to fuel conspiracy theories about the attacks.

One message from a New York City official sent just minutes after the first attack said: ‘WTC has been hit by an airplane and a bomb.’ Another says: ‘It’s reported that a US military helicopter circled the building then crashed into or next to the Pentagon.’ Later in the day, a message presciently says: ‘We are bombing Afghanistan.’

One message from a witness reads: ‘Still in my apt, nowhere to go … This is the end of the world as we know it.’

Wikileaks would not reveal the source for the leak, but hinted: ‘It is clear that the information comes from an organisation which has been intercepting and archiving US national telecommunciations since prior to 9/11.

Wikileaks has a good track record in releasing authentic official documents, but its website tends to get overloaded at busy times. It is encouraging readers to follow the leaks on Twitter.

(Via Latest news, sport, business, comment and reviews from the Guardian | guardian.co.uk.)

Yahoo Issues Takedown Notice for Spying Price List: A detailed menu of Yahoo’s spying services for law enforcement agencies leaks onto the web. The company issues a DMCA takedown notice to a site that posted it.

(Via Wired News.)

EU – The Impact of Social Computing on the EU Information Society and Economy: “(IPTS)
This report by the The Institute for Prospective Technological Studies provides a systematic empirical assessment of the creation, use and adoption of specific social computing applications and its impact on industry, personal identity, learning, social inclusion, healthcare and public health, and government services and public governance.

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(Via QuickLinks Update.)

CN – Website porn tip-offs surge as China offers cash rewards to informers: “(Xinhua)
Tip-offs on Internet and mobile WAP sites containing pornographic contents have surged in China as authorities announced to give each qualified informer with up to 10,000 yuan (1,465 U.S. dollars) in reward. Since the announcement, the China Internet Illegal Information Reporting Center had received more than 13,000 online tip-offs and more than 500 phone calls, 10 times the usual daily number. The center, together with ministries and the National Office against Pornographic and Illegal Publication, issued a circular encouraging the public to report on websites and mobile WAPsites that contain obscene information or put on illegal advertisements of sex products. China has launched several rounds of crackdowns on online pornography. In mid-November, the crackdown was extended to WAP sites that can be accessed by mobile handsets.

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(Via QuickLinks Update.)

UK police take down fake designer goods sites: “

Del Boys swept out of .co.uk domains

UK police have completed a massive take-down operation, after targeting scam websites selling fake designer goods.…

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(Via The Register – Public Sector.)

Europe’s ISPs object to secret copyright treaty talks: “Secret trade talks on counterfeits and copyright threaten to undermine citizens’ rights without giving them a voice in negotiations, European internet service providers (ISPs) have warned.”

(Via OUT-LAW News.)

Rome I comes into force, clarifies whose laws apply to contract disputes: “Companies that negotiate contracts without specifying which country’s law should govern any contractual disputes between them will face a new legal regime in two weeks’ time. From 17th December, a new EU law, Rome I, will decide which law should apply.”

(Via OUT-LAW News.)

Twitter breaks privacy law, says Norwegian consumer group: “The Norwegian consumer group that says that Facebook’s terms and conditions break the law has pledged also to take action against Twitter and LinkedIn.”

(Via OUT-LAW News.)

EU issues guidance on complex consumer protection laws: “Social networking sites and blogs can be governed by the European Union’s Unfair Commercial Practices Directive, according to new guidance published by the European Commission.”

(Via OUT-LAW News.)

Over 1,200 UK shopping websites shut down: “More than 1,200 illegal internet shopping websites that have made millions of pounds for criminals have been shut down by Scotland Yard in the biggest operation of its kind in Britain.

(Via Tech and Web from Times Online.)