UN talks on net regulation hit ‘impasse’

Dec 11, 2012 | Regulation

A UN debate on internet regulation has stalled as the UK, US and other westerm countries disagree with Arab States, China and Russia in a diplomatic battle over a set of possible global web laws. The chief American negotiator at a UN telecommunications conference in...

SMS marketing regulation – FCC updates US position

Dec 4, 2012 | Regulation

Opt-in or opt out? And how do you tell someone who’s unsubscribed that this has been actioned? In the US, the FCC’s latest update on SMS marketing regulations makes it clear… This week, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the US officially made sending...

Google and Amazon tax investigation – profits scrutinised

Dec 3, 2012 | Regulation

Public outcry in Britain as journalists uncover the scale of how Google and Amazon reduce taxes to boost overall profits. New funding being given to support the Google tax investigation which could impact other multinational online service providers… Amazon, the...

Google fined $22.5m for Safari privacy breach

Nov 19, 2012 | Regulation

Google has been fined $22.5 million by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the US, for breaching the privacy of Safari browser users. The privacy case revolves around allegations that the search giant deceived millions of web surfers using Apple’s Safari web...

Kim Dotcom debuts Megaupload sequel ‘Me.Ga’ after ban

Nov 2, 2012 | Regulation

Kim Dotcom has revealed a plan to open a new online storage service called Mega, replacing his banned file-sharing website Megaupload. The new service will be launched in January next year, and will give users direct control and responsibility over their files and...

EU data protection laws ‘sent back to drawing board’

Nov 2, 2012 | Regulation

European data protection proposals have been slammed by a select committee for being “too prescriptive”. A report by the Justice Select Committee said that the proposals for a common European data protection framework did not allow for flexibility or discretion for...

BPI aims to block more websites in piracy clampdown

Oct 25, 2012 | Regulation

The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) has asked UK’s major internet service providers (ISP) to add three more file-sharing websites to its piracy blockade. The BPI claims that three sites including Fenopy, H33t and Kickass Torrents have been involved in...

The Pirate Bay moves to cloud to thwart shutdown

Oct 19, 2012 | Regulation

The Pirate Bay has moved its servers to the cloud to hinder authorities’ attempts to take it offline. The file-sharing website will now operate from cloud-hosting providers around the world. It says the move will save money and make it harder for law-enforcement...

UK government planning online ID scheme

Oct 5, 2012 | Regulation

The Government is set to announce details of its controversial national identity plans, letting people use their mobile phones and social media profiles as official identification documents for accessing public services, according to a news report. Initially floated...

Spam texters fined £250,000 by UK regulator

Oct 3, 2012 | Regulation

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is set to issue two monetary penalties totalling well over £250,000 to two illegal marketers who have been responsible for distributing millions of spam texts. The ICO has written to both individuals to confirm that the ICO...

Most UK 5-year olds now going online regularly

Oct 2, 2012 | Regulation

More than four fifths of British five-year-olds now own or use an internet device, according to new research. Some 82 per cent have access to a computer, smartphone, tablet or other way of getting online, the security firm McAfee said, based on a poll of 2,000 parents...

Google finally adds ‘Do Not Track’ option to Chrome

Sep 17, 2012 | Regulation

Google is to add a ‘Do Not Track’ option to its Chrome browser, letting users opt out of developers and advertisers tracking their web surfing habits. The move follows similar features already rolled out to Internet Explorer, Safari, and Firefox. The...

EU cookie law: UK sites start to comply

Sep 7, 2012 | Regulation

Nearly one third (63%) of top UK websites have taken steps to address the new EU Cookie Directive, which aims to warns users when their data is being tracked online. The new research, from data privacy management firm TRUSTe, looked at UK website compliance efforts to...

FileSonic taken offline in piracy clampdown

Sep 4, 2012 | Regulation

FileSonic has become the latest cyberlocker service to go offline, following a renewed clampdown on internet piracy. The service used to be one of the most popular file-sharing sites, but had restricted its members’ ability to access other’s uploads after...