CyberLaw Blog

Archive for the ‘Social Networking’ Category

(Via Techdirt.)

Shocking News: Communication Tools Don’t Discriminate: “In response to an article about how ‘Web 2.0 gives new tools to hate groups’ I was tempted to write an entire post, mimicking the original, except changing every instance of ‘hate’ to something positive. Yes, blogs and social networks can and are being used by hate groups. But they’re also being used to combat ignorance and hate. They’re just communication tools, and the fact that hate groups use them (as well as anti-ignorance groups) is hardly surprising. But rather than creating some moral panic about hate groups using these tools, why not encourage more people to use such tools to combat ignorance and hate? Instead, we get a bunch of supposed ‘experts’ talking about how these uses need to be shut down. That does nothing productive. It just makes the hate group members feel even more angry and persecuted, which just fuels the hate. The solution is to educate — and (oh, look at that!) web 2.0 provides some pretty good tools for spreading knowledge and fighting ignorance.

Age verification, Cross media rating and classification and Social networking: “(Europa)
The European Commission launched a public consultation on Age verification, Cross media rating and classification and Online social networking. Download summary report on social networking (155 KB)and an expert report on age verification solutions and cross media rating and classification, including the results of the public consultation on these topics.”

(Via QuickLinks Update.)

Virgin Atlantic sacks 13 over Facebook comments: “Virgin Atlantic has dismissed 13 staff because of comments they made on social networking site Facebook. The staff, all cabin crew, broke the company’s policies, the airline said.”

(Via OUT-LAW News.)

One to show your boss? Facebook at work ‘is not a time-waster’: “Companies should not dismiss social networking sites such as Facebook and Bebo as merely time-wasting, says a study.”

(Via BBC News.)

Spy Fears: Twitter Terrorists, Cell Phone Jihadists | Danger Room from Wired.com

By Noah Shachtman EmailOctober 24, 2008 | 10:32:00 AM

Could Twitter become terrorists’ newest killer app? A draft Army intelligence report, making its way through spy circles, thinks the miniature messaging software could be used as an effective tool for coordinating militant attacks.

For years, American analysts have been concerned that militants would take advantage of commercial hardware and software to help plan and carry out their strikes. Everything from online games to remote-controlled toys to social network sites to garage door openers has been fingered as possible tools for mayhem.
(more…)

German privacy watchdogs agree social networking ground rules: “

Keep users informed about data use

Social networking sites are not permitted to store information about people’s use of the sites beyond the duration of a particular session, according to a panel of Germany’s data protection officials.…

“

(Via The Register - Public Sector.)

German privacy watchdogs agree social networking ground rules: “Social networking sites are not permitted to store information about people’s use of the sites beyond the duration of a particular session in Germany, according to a panel of all that country’s data protection officials.”

(Via OUT-LAW News.)

VSocial networking sites told to warn users of weak privacy controls: “(AFP)
Social networking websites were urged to warn users about the low level of protection given to their profiles at a Council of Europe-organised conference on the issue. The European Union Data Protection Authority (Cnil) said websites like Facebook should inform users that their profiles currently receive only ‘weak’ protection. It added that website users, especially minors, should be told about the risks they face by going online and given clear instructions on how to change their data protection settings. The request came at the end of a two-day conference in the French city of Strasbourg during which 70 countries also stressed the need for a universal standard on privacy and personal data protection.”

(Via QuickLinks Update.)

Security services want personal data from sites like Facebook: “Ministers say terrorists and other criminals are using free websites as a way of concealing their communications”

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

Police scour social websites to tackle brutality and boasts of young criminals: “Social networking websites such as Bebo, YouTube and MySpace have been identified by police as having a big influence over gang culture and youth violence.”

(Via Tech and Web from Times Online.)