Adobe Plans to Sue Apple Over Flash Dispute

Adobe intends to sue Apple over the recent SDK change that bans iPhone and iPad applications translated from languages Steve Jobs doesn't like, according to a report citing sources close to Adobe. IT World reports that Adobe will sue Apple "within a few weeks," after the Jobsian cult not only barred native Flash from the iPhone and iPad, but also put the kibosh on Flash apps repackaged for use with Apple's APIs.

Cyber Command Nominee Warns of Legal Limits

The Army intelligence officer nominated to lead the Pentagon’s new command devoted to warfare in cyberspace has warned Congress of a gap between the military’s technical capabilities and legal controls over digital combat. The officer, Lt. Gen. Keith B. Alexander, wrote to members of the Senate Armed Services Committee that computer network warfare is evolving so rapidly that there is a “mismatch between our technical capabilities to conduct operations and the governing laws and policies.”

Google, Privacy Groups Support Yahoo on E-mail

Google and an alliance of privacy groups have come to Yahoo's aid by helping the Web portal fend off broad requests from the U.S. Department of Justice for e-mail messages. In a brief, the coalition says a search warrant signed by a judge is necessary before the FBI or other police agencies can read the contents of Yahoo Mail messages -- a position that puts those companies directly at odds with the Obama administration.

Italian Judge Cites Profit for Google Conviction

An Italian judge convicted three Google employees in February of violating privacy laws because the Internet company had sought to profit from a video of an autistic boy being bullied by classmates, according to a judicial reasoning in the case. That verdict was the first to hold the company’s employees criminally responsible for content posted on its system.

China's Internet Censors Take on Growing Task

Since late March, when Google moved its search operations out of mainland China to Hong Kong, each response to a Chinese citizen’s search request has been met at the border by government computers, programmed to censor any forbidden information Google might turn up. In the new networked China, censorship is a major growth industry, overseen -- and fought over -- by no fewer than 14 government ministries.

Transportation Department Studying Distracted Driving

The Department of Transportation stepped up its campaign against distracted driving, announcing its first pilot program to study whether increased law enforcement would reduce distracted driving in two East Coast cities. The $600,000 program, modeled on previous safe-driving programs to curb drunk driving and improve seat belt usage, also involves a paid advertising campaign aimed at men and women up to age 49.

Lack of Change Noticed in Government's Cookies Policy

New regulations issued aimed at removing obstacles to using Internet-based tools for transparency are long overdue, said accountability groups and privacy advocates, but they pointed out a promised revision to an outdated ban on cookies was conspicuously absent. In accordance with a December presidential directive, agencies released plans to weave transparency, public participation and collaboration with the private sector into daily operations.

Despite Ruling, FCC Officials Still Pushing Broadband Plan

Federal Communications Commission officials said they will push ahead to implement their recently released National Broadband Plan despite an appeals-court decision that struck down some of the agency's authority over Internet regulation. In a statement, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said the court's decision "does not change our broadband policy goals, or the ultimate authority of the FCC to act to achieve those goals."

U.K. Approves Controversial Digital Economy Bill

The British government forced through the controversial digital economy bill with the aid of the Conservative party last night, attaining a crucial third reading -- which means it will get royal assent and become law -- after just two hours of debate in the Commons. However, it was forced to drop clause 43 of the bill, a proposal on orphan works which had been opposed by photographers.

FCC Begins Work on New Broadband Plan

Federal Communications Commission members began the work of relaunching their broadband strategy after a court threw out their earlier effort to police broadband traffic and even as Internet providers said no action at all would be best. The ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit that the FCC has limited authority under current law to tell Internet providers how to manage their networks has put portions of FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski's National Broadband Plan at risk.