internet filtering
Australian ‘Net filter to block video games, too
Quick, name the country that plans to impose a mandatory Internet censoring regime that will, among other things, block access to all video games intended for anyone over the age of 15? Answer: Australia. The Australian government has pressed ahead with a trial of its proposed Internet filtering system , this despite the fact that—by its own admission —”there are no success criteria as such.”
Continue reading »Department of Energy lays out plans for stimulus spending
One of Steve Chu’s first actions when he took over the Department of Energy was to appoint Matt Rogers as a senior advisor. Rogers had previously worked on energy issues at a consulting firm and brought a wealth of industry experience to the DOE. Yesterday, at a meeting hosted by the American Council on Renewable Energy, Rogers provided a high-level view of the DOE’s current position on energy policy and the Department’s view of where it stands in terms of fostering a transition to renewable energy in the middle of a financial crisis.
Continue reading »Apple sued over iTunes pricing and "fraudulent" gift cards
An Illinois couple has filed a class action suit against Apple for selling “fraudulent” iTunes gift cards. At issue is the language printed on some cards that reads, “Songs are 99¢,” and as we all all know, a variety of tracks on the iTunes Store are now sold for $1.29 . The couple alleges that such language constitutes deception and fraud on Apple’s part, and that the gift cards end up being “worth less than what was represented” because some songs after April 7 of this year cost more than the 99¢ price.
Continue reading »Fight over German filtering law sends MP into Pirate Party
After seeing Swedish voters send the Pirate Party to the European Parliament , the German branch of the group has now gotten a seat in the lower house of that nation’s parliament, the Bundestag. But the seat didn’t come about through an electoral triumph; instead a member of the Social Democrats, Jörg Trauss, changed allegiances, claiming his decision was driven by his former party’s support for a mandatory Internet filtering scheme. But the situation is complicated by the fact that the filtering would target child porn, and Trauss is under investigation for possession of that material (he claims it was for investigative purposes).
Continue reading »Verizon boosts FiOS speeds, but talks mostly about uploads
Verizon has just boosted speeds across its FiOS network, but the focus isn’t on downloads so much as it is on uploads. Verizon believes it can set itself apart by appealing to those customers who want to “fully participate in today’s interactive, multimedia Web.” Download speeds are increasing today; the base-level 10Mbps package gets a bump to 15Mbps, and the 20Mbps plan jumps to 25Mbps.
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