Ex-Student Faces 10 Years for Webcam Spying

A former Rutgers University student accused of spying on and intimidating his gay roommate by use of a hidden webcam was found guilty on all counts, including invasion of privacy and the more severe charges of bias intimidation, in a case that thrust cyberbullying into the national spotlight. CNN legal analyst Paul Callan called Friday's verdict "unprecedented," adding that it "sends a message to people across the rest of the country" about the potential consequences of unauthorized webcam use.

  • Read the article: CNN

Sarkozy Wants Internet Companies to Pay French Tax

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said he wants "Internet giants" to pay tax in France, shortly before he was due to meet the founder of the micro-blogging site Twitter. "It is unacceptable that they have a turnover of several billion euros in France without paying tax," he told Le Point magazine, adding that the French government should consider taxing online advertising revenues.

  • Read the article: AFP

Lawmakers Focus on Cyberattacks on Infrastructure

During the five-month period between October and February, there were 86 reported attacks on computer systems in the United States that control critical infrastructure, factories and databases, according to the Department of Homeland Security, compared with 11 over the same period a year ago. The increase has prompted a new interest in cybersecurity on Capitol Hill, where lawmakers are being prodded by the Obama administration to advance legislation that could require new standards at facilities where a breach could cause significant casualties or economic damage.

Free System to Alert Users of Online Fraud

Internet security experts have set up a system to alert Americans when sensitive personal information such as social security numbers and online banking log-in credentials turn up in the hands of cyber fraudsters. AllClear ID, an Austin, Texas-based company that provides identity theft protection, is offering the free service with help from the non-profit National Cyber-Forensics and Training Alliance.

ISPs to Launch Anti-Piracy Program in July

Last July, Comcast, Cablevision, Verizon, and Time Warner Cable and other bandwidth providers announced that they had agreed to adopt policies designed to discourage customers from pirating music, movies and software over the Web. During a panel discussion at a gathering of U.S. publishers, Cary Sherman, CEO of the Recording Industry Association of America, said most of the participating ISPs are on track to begin implementing the program by July 12.

FTC Subpoenas Apple in Google Antitrust Case

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission subpoenaed Apple Inc. as part of its antitrust probe of Google Inc., seeking information on how the computer maker incorporates the search engine on the iPhone and iPad, two people familiar with the matter said. The agency’s request for documents includes the agreements that made Google the preferred search engine on Apple’s mobile devices, said the people, who weren’t authorized to speak publicly and declined to be identified.

Justice Dep't Approves Sale of Nortel's Patents

The consortium of companies who successfully bid on Nortel's patent portfolio last year received the go-ahead from the U.S. Department of Justice to proceed with the acquisition. That deal was struck last June by the Rockstar Bidco consortium -- a group of companies led by Apple that sought ownership of some 6,000 patents and patent applications from the bankrupt Canadian telecom equipment maker.

Google, Facebook Face Web-Blocking Trial in India

Google Inc. and Facebook Inc. are set to stand trial in a New Delhi court to face charges that they failed to censor objectionable content from their sites, putting on stark display the legal risks for Internet companies chasing growth in India. The case is the highest-stakes example yet of the controversy in India over what role Internet companies should have in policing content on the Web.

Aereo Files Countersuit Against TV Broadcasters

Aereo Inc, a new online television service backed by Barry Diller's IAC/InterActiveCorp, has filed a countersuit against several broadcasters, seeking a declaration that it does not infringe their copyrights. The countersuit was filed 11 days after broadcasters including Walt Disney Co's ABC, CBS Corp and Comcast Corp's NBCUniversal and Telemundo sued Aereo, seeking an injunction to stop its alleged plan to retransmit their programs without permission.

Yahoo Files Patent Lawsuit Against Facebook

In what is either the boldest gamble of its history or the most boneheaded, Yahoo has filed a massive patent infringement lawsuit against Facebook. The attack by the Internet icon against perhaps the most powerful consumer social networking site today is sure to be a controversial one, pitting Yahoo against a company that has surpassed it handily in recent years among consumers.

Sixth Grader Sues School District Over Facebook Search

A Minnesota middle school student, with the backing of the American Civil Liberties Union, is suing her school district over a search of her Facebook and e-mail accounts by school employees. The 12-year-old sixth grade student, identified in court documents only as R.S., was on two occasions punished for statements she made on her Facebook account, and was also pressured to divulge her password to school officials, the complaint states.

  • Read the article: CNN
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