Google, U.S. Working on Chinese Internet Censorship

Google is working with U.S. and European officials to build a case that would argue Internet censorship acts as a trade barrier, a top company executive said. Robert Boorstin, Google's director of corporate and policy communications, said the company is working with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the State Department, Commerce Department and European officials to build a case to take to the World Trade Organization.

FTC Plans Probe of Apple's Mobile Device Practices

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission will investigate whether Apple Inc.'s business practices harm competition in the market for software used on mobile devices, people familiar with the situation said. For weeks, the FTC has been engaged in negotiations with the Department of Justice over which agency would review allegations by companies that say they're being shut-out of one of the most important emerging computing platforms.

New York to Sue Tagged.com for Child Porn

New York's attorney general Andrew Cuomo accused the social networking site Tagged.com of not responding to user reports of child pornography and sexual solicitation of minors, which has allowed the popular site to become a place where sexual predators can exploit children. Cuomo sent a letter to the site announcing his intent to sue the site for violating trade laws by not adhering to its promises to keep the site safe.

  • Read the article: Wired

Facebook, PTA Working Together on Internet Safety

Facebook is teaming up with the National PTA to spread information to kids, parents and teachers about how to responsibly and safely use the Internet, the two organizations said. The aim of the partnership is to reduce cyberbullying and other risks to children online, issues that have gained attention in recent years as parents, lawmakers and regulators in Washington struggle to keep children safe as the Internet becomes an extension of kids' lives.

Groups Praise, Criticize Cybersecurity Bill

Business and public interest groups praised the latest congressional effort aimed at bolstering cybersecurity but voiced concern with provisions such as one that would give the federal government emergency powers. The latest bill would give the government emergency authority to take information technology systems offline in dire situations when no other option is available.

FBI Investigating Leak of iPad E-mail Addresses

The Federal Bureau of Investigation said that it was investigating a security breach on AT&T's Web site that allowed a security group to obtain the e-mail addresses of 114,000 iPad 3G owners. "The FBI is aware of these possible computer intrusions and has opened an investigation to address the potential cyber threat," said Jason Pack, a supervisory special agent with the FBI's press office.

Google Wants U.S., EU to Press China on Censorship

Google Inc.'s top lawyer said the company is asking the U.S. and European governments to press China to lift Internet censorship, describing it as an unfair barrier to free trade. David Drummond told reporters that Western countries should defend the free trade in information with the same kind of rules that they use to complain of China's below-cost sale of products.

Tech Rivals Join Forces on Broadband Policies

A new industry effort that bypasses Washington politicians and regulators indicates a cooling of hostilities over Net neutrality rules is underway. Longtime political rivals including AT&T, Google, Comcast, Verizon, and Microsoft, announced they had joined together to form a technical advisory group to "develop consensus on broadband network management practices or other related technical issues that can affect users' Internet experience," including applications and devices.

Hackers Got E-mail Addresses of iPad Users

A group of hackers exploited a hole in an AT&T Web site to get e-mail addresses of about 114,000 iPad users, including what appears to be top officials in government, finance, media, technology, and military. Among the iPad users who appeared to have been affected were White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, Diane Sawyer, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, movie producer Harvey Weinstein, and New York Times CEO Janet Robinson.

Most Internet Users Worried About Privacy, Poll Shows

A new poll shows that a large majority of consumers are concerned about being tracked on the Internet and favor a proposal from privacy groups to create a "do not track list." The survey, commissioned by the tech and telecom industry research group Precursor LLC, found that 81 percent of those polled said they were "somewhat" or "very" concerned about companies tracking their Web surfing habits and using that information for advertising, while 88 percent said it is "unfair" for companies to do such tracking without an Internet user's permission.

FTC Rejects Safe Harbor Application for COPPA

The FTC said it has rejected a proposal by the Internet safety education group iSAFE to operate a self-regulatory program that would allow firms that sign up for it to comply with the provisions of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act. The FTC voted 5-0 to reject iSAFE's application to operate a "safe harbor" program in compliance with COPPA, which requires Web sites aimed at children under 13 to obtain parental consent before collecting information from them.

Record Companies Want Court to Freeze LimeWire's Assets

Thirteen big record companies want to freeze assets of the provider of popular file-sharing service LimeWire, accusing its founder of fraudulently trying to evade hundreds of millions of dollars in damages over copyright infringement. In papers filed in Manhattan federal court, lawyers for the record companies said Gorton has moved "significant" assets, including nearly 90 percent of Lime Wire's ownership stakes, to an entity he "openly" hopes will be shielded from damages that could top $1 billion.

China Says It Won't Reduce Internet Restrictions

China will not ease state control over what can be said online and will brook no foreign criticism of its rules, according to a government white paper released after months of wrangling about freedoms for Web users. The 31-page white paper, which called the Internet "a crystallization of human wisdom," said its usage in the most populous nation on earth was "transforming the pattern of economic development."

Social Networking Exposes Employers to Risks, Study Says

Employees who dabble in social networking both on and off the job could expose their companies to a variety of risks, according to a study released by the ISACA. Malware, brand hijacking, lack of content control, noncompliance with rules over recordkeeping, and unrealistic expectations of Internet performance were the top five social-media risks to businesses identified by the ISACA in its study "Social Media: Business Benefits With Security, Governance and Assurance Perspectives."

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The GigaLaw Firm helps companies of all sizes protect their brands online, using domain name dispute policies – such as the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) – and other legal tools available to copyright and trademark owners on the Internet.