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News

• Net neutrality advocates hope Dutch law will inspire others

  Network neutrality advocates are hoping the rest of Europe will be inspired by the Dutch government's work to protect the Internet using legislation.

• EU Parliament votes for contract for online sales

  Europe-wide rules covering online sales came a step closer as the European Parliament backed plans for a new contract law on Wednesday.

• Senator blocks controversial copyright bill

  A U.S. senator has blocked a controversial bill that would enlist ISPs, search engines and other businesses in blocking access to alleged websites infringing copyright.

• Senate panel approves controversial copyright bill

  A U.S. Senate committee has unanimously approved a controversial bill that would allow the U.S. Department of Justice to seek court orders requiring search engines and Internet service providers to stop sending traffic to websites accused of infringing copyright.

• Google Street View in India faces challenges

  Google started collecting data for its Street View project in Bangalore on Thursday, but is being very careful not to run into controversies about privacy or government concerns about security, a company executive said.

• New U.S. bill requires ISPs to keep 18-months records

  A bipartisan <a href="http://judiciary.house.gov/hearings/pdf/052511_Smith-Wasserman%20Schultz.pdf">bill</a> introduced on Wednesday in the U.S. House of Representatives will require Internet service providers to retain subscriber information for up to 18 months to assist federal law enforcement in investigations into online child pornography and child exploitation cases.

• Lawmakers question Obama cybersecurity proposal

  A proposal for new cybersecurity legislation by U.S. President Barack Obama's administration could give the government unprecedented access to private data, critics said Wednesday.

• Governments illegally specify brands in IT tenders - study

  One in eight government IT tenders in the European Union illegally specifies a brand, according to a new report from Openforum Europe (OFE).

• EU IP plans tantamount to censorship, say critics

  The European Commission has presented a controversial proposal for a European intellectual property rights strategy that it said will strengthen the knowledge-based economy and critics charge will lead to a censorship regime.

• Google intends to resist anti-piracy law efforts

  Google is standing its ground when it comes to enforcing -- or rather, not enforcing -- an anti-piracy law that would require ISPs to terminate the Internet connections of copyright infringers. The controversial law has been met with resistance from opponents claiming it limits free speech.

• Senators: New smartphone tracking law needed

  The U.S. Congress needs to pass new laws to protect smartphone customers from having their locations tracked by operating systems and applications, members of a Senate subcommittee said Thursday.

• Overhaul of U.K. copyright law would boost GDP, says report

  The U.K.'s obsolete copyright laws are hurting innovation and should be overhauled to boost economic growth and make it easier for content and creative businesses to set up in the country, an independent report has recommended.

• Internet trade group wants changes in copyright bill

  New U.S. legislation intended to shut down foreign websites that infringe copyrights would cause major headaches because it would allow copyright holders to target legitimate Web services with "thousands" of court orders, an e-commerce trade group said.

• Senator introduces electronic surveillance reform bill

  A new bill introduced in the U.S. Senate would update a 25-year-old law that sets the rules for law enforcement surveillance of e-mail and other electronic communications, with more legal protections for the privacy of data stored in the cloud.

• European Commission needs help on cloud computing strategy

  The European Commission wants feedback on how to manage its cloud computing strategy for Europe, where legislation is trailing behind the new technology.