CIA following Twitter, Facebook
...but like no one else is bothering with Google+?
Saturday, 5 November 2011
SOPA: Hollywood's latest effort to turn back time
The bill, introduced as the House version of the Senate's Protect IP Act, solves few of the glaring problems of the Senate bill and introduces many all its own. While Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) may have given in to hyperbole in calling SOPA "the end of the Internet as we know it," there is certainly a great deal in the bill that should concern even law-abiding consumers and leaders in the tech community.
Has Washington finally gone too far?
House leaders assured Silicon Valley they would correct serious defects in the Senate bill. Unfortunately, SOPA does just the opposite. It creates vague, sweeping new standards for secondary liability, drafted to ensure maximum litigation. It treats all U.S. consumers as guilty until proven innocent. If passed, the bill would give media companies unprecedented new powers to shape the structure and content of the Internet.
Critics of Protect IP pointed out that most of its provisions would only harm innocent foreign Web sites, since truly rogue Web sites could easily engineer around all of its provisions. Rather than give up on the idea of legislating a fast-changing Internet, the House authors have instead built in as many alternative definitions, open-ended requirements, and undefined terms as they could.
The result is not a better piece of legislation. It is simply one with no real boundaries. The House version throws legal and technical spaghetti against the wall, hoping some of it will stick.
The House bill, for example, dubbed the "E-PARASITE Act," proposes alternative versions of several provisions from Protect IP, including new authority for the attorney general to cut off access and funding for "parasite" foreign Web sites. (SOPA requires the U.S. copyright czar to determine the extent to which these foreign infringers are actually harming U.S. interests, data collection that logically should precede such sweeping new powers.)
Once the Justice Department determines a site "or a portion thereof" is "committing or facilitating" certain copyright and trademark violations, it can apply for court orders that would force ISPs and others who maintain DNS lookup tables to block access to the site.
Search engines (a term broadly defined that includes any website with a "search" field), along with payment processors and advertising networks, can also be forced to cut ties with the parasites. Operators of innocent sites have limited ability to challenge the Justice Department's decision before or after action is taken.
SOPA also includes its own version of another Senate bill, which would make it a felony to stream copyrighted works. The House version allows prosecution of anyone who "willfully" includes protected content without permission, including, for example, YouTube videos where copyrighted music is covered or even played in the background...
Continue reading
Larry Downes @'c/net'
Murdoch press a threat to democracy
A senior ALP faction leader branded Rupert Murdoch's News Limited "a threat to democracy" today as the feud between the newspaper group and the Government intensified.
Left faction convenor Doug Cameron's extraordinary outburst was sparked by a story in News Limited's Daily Telegraph reporting that former PM Kevin Rudd is being urged by his backers to challenge Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
Senator Cameron said he would take a motion to Labor caucus seeking to widen the existing inquiry into the media to look specifically at News Limited's "absolute hatred" of Labor.
"The inquiry we are having into the media - we should widen it to make sure we get a decent press in this country," he told reporters at Parliament House.
News Limited and the Daily Telegraph are not the only publications to report on a Rudd challenge, but Senator Cameron singled out the newspaper as "reprehensible".
"The Murdoch press are an absolute disgrace, they are a threat to democracy in this country and we should absolutely be having a look at them.
"They run unsubstantiated stories. I'm saying it's a fabrication. They run unsubstantiated stories in relation to the leadership of the party."
Senator Cameron said the Labor caucus was "completely in support of the leader" and said the Daily Telegraph story was "lies and nonsense".
"We should not be diverted by the Murdoch press and their attempt to destabilise this government. This is a good government. It doesn't suit Rupert Murdoch and his minions and we are prepared to take that on.
"Day in and day out the Murdoch press are putting false headlines out there. They are misrepresenting the position of the government. Day in and day out it's absolute lies and nonsense that is getting printed in the Murdoch press, and that's the issue."
He said he would move to change the terms of reference of the media inquiry to specifically examine News Limited reporting.
"It's my view - and I'm going to take it up in the next caucus - that we should widen the inquiry into the press in this country and make sure that we put a forensic analysis on the behaviour of the Murdoch press and the threat to democracy they are.
"They are setting out to try and destroy the Labor party. They are not reporting the facts. They are making stories up and the story that's there this morning is a complete fabrication."
Senator Cameron linked the Australian arm of the Murdoch empire to News International, the UK newspaper arm of News Corporation, which saw its popular News of the World tabloid closed after a phone tapping scandal.
"You can't tell me that the culture that permeates the Murdoch press internationally has not permeated Australia. I don't buy that for one minute."
And Senator Cameron questioned how the story was obtained in the first place.
"This report looks like a long boozy dinner and something's been made up. It looks absolute nonsense."
Liberal Senator Eric Abetz said Senator Cameron needed "liver cleansing treatment" and said he should not blame newspapers for Labor's problems.
"It is no secret around this building that Kevin Rudd is trying to make a comeback and here we have Senator Cameron blaming the Murdoch press for it. I ask you, if that is what he actually believes he is hugely deluded," Senator Abetz told reporters.
Mr Rudd has laughed off the speculation he will challenge for the Labor leadership.
"As I have said a thousand times before, I am very, very happy being the Foreign Minister of Australia," he said. "That hasn't changed and it won't change."
When contacted for comment, one of the report's authors, Daily Telegraph reporter Simon Benson, asked: "Do you normally ring other journos for comment?"
"Journos speaking to other journos - what a joke. You're a clown. You're a clown."
The other journalist on the joint by-line, Steve Lewis, declined to comment.
Today's story and Senator Cameron's comments will add to the bitter animosity between News Limited and the Government in the wake of strident criticism of the Daily Telegraph by Treasurer Wayne Swan and Communications Minister Stephen Conroy.
Greens leader Bob Brown has also been bitterly critical of News Ltd papers, particularly the Australian, which he brands "the hate media", and Senator Conroy has accused the Daily Telegraph of running a campaign for "regime change".
The Greens have called for the break-up of the Murdoch press - which owns almost 70 per cent of Australia's capital city newspaper market - but the current media inquiry is not considering the reform, instead looking at ways to strengthen the print media watchdog, the Press Council.
@'ABC'
Left faction convenor Doug Cameron's extraordinary outburst was sparked by a story in News Limited's Daily Telegraph reporting that former PM Kevin Rudd is being urged by his backers to challenge Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
Senator Cameron said he would take a motion to Labor caucus seeking to widen the existing inquiry into the media to look specifically at News Limited's "absolute hatred" of Labor.
"The inquiry we are having into the media - we should widen it to make sure we get a decent press in this country," he told reporters at Parliament House.
News Limited and the Daily Telegraph are not the only publications to report on a Rudd challenge, but Senator Cameron singled out the newspaper as "reprehensible".
"The Murdoch press are an absolute disgrace, they are a threat to democracy in this country and we should absolutely be having a look at them.
"They run unsubstantiated stories. I'm saying it's a fabrication. They run unsubstantiated stories in relation to the leadership of the party."
Senator Cameron said the Labor caucus was "completely in support of the leader" and said the Daily Telegraph story was "lies and nonsense".
"We should not be diverted by the Murdoch press and their attempt to destabilise this government. This is a good government. It doesn't suit Rupert Murdoch and his minions and we are prepared to take that on.
"Day in and day out the Murdoch press are putting false headlines out there. They are misrepresenting the position of the government. Day in and day out it's absolute lies and nonsense that is getting printed in the Murdoch press, and that's the issue."
He said he would move to change the terms of reference of the media inquiry to specifically examine News Limited reporting.
"It's my view - and I'm going to take it up in the next caucus - that we should widen the inquiry into the press in this country and make sure that we put a forensic analysis on the behaviour of the Murdoch press and the threat to democracy they are.
"They are setting out to try and destroy the Labor party. They are not reporting the facts. They are making stories up and the story that's there this morning is a complete fabrication."
Senator Cameron linked the Australian arm of the Murdoch empire to News International, the UK newspaper arm of News Corporation, which saw its popular News of the World tabloid closed after a phone tapping scandal.
"You can't tell me that the culture that permeates the Murdoch press internationally has not permeated Australia. I don't buy that for one minute."
And Senator Cameron questioned how the story was obtained in the first place.
"This report looks like a long boozy dinner and something's been made up. It looks absolute nonsense."
Liberal Senator Eric Abetz said Senator Cameron needed "liver cleansing treatment" and said he should not blame newspapers for Labor's problems.
"It is no secret around this building that Kevin Rudd is trying to make a comeback and here we have Senator Cameron blaming the Murdoch press for it. I ask you, if that is what he actually believes he is hugely deluded," Senator Abetz told reporters.
Mr Rudd has laughed off the speculation he will challenge for the Labor leadership.
"As I have said a thousand times before, I am very, very happy being the Foreign Minister of Australia," he said. "That hasn't changed and it won't change."
When contacted for comment, one of the report's authors, Daily Telegraph reporter Simon Benson, asked: "Do you normally ring other journos for comment?"
"Journos speaking to other journos - what a joke. You're a clown. You're a clown."
The other journalist on the joint by-line, Steve Lewis, declined to comment.
Today's story and Senator Cameron's comments will add to the bitter animosity between News Limited and the Government in the wake of strident criticism of the Daily Telegraph by Treasurer Wayne Swan and Communications Minister Stephen Conroy.
Greens leader Bob Brown has also been bitterly critical of News Ltd papers, particularly the Australian, which he brands "the hate media", and Senator Conroy has accused the Daily Telegraph of running a campaign for "regime change".
The Greens have called for the break-up of the Murdoch press - which owns almost 70 per cent of Australia's capital city newspaper market - but the current media inquiry is not considering the reform, instead looking at ways to strengthen the print media watchdog, the Press Council.
@'ABC'
Cain Controversy Reaches Tipping Point
A German woman has since come forward. Says she kept telling him 'nein, nein, nein!'
CryptoAnarchy KillerByte
Sigh I had and still have a lot of hope for #opdarknet but come on! Accusing tor of running a porn ring is like accusing ISPs for piracy
RePost: Gunpowder Treason & Plot
'Remember, remember the Fifth of November,
The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,
I know of no reason
Why Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, t’was his intent
To blow up King and Parliament.
Three-score barrels of powder below
To prove old England’s overthrow;
By God’s providence he was catch’d
With a dark lantern and burning match.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, let the bells ring.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King!'
Until the nineteenth century there was a special Church of England service for this commemoration in the Book of Common Prayer. Guy Fawkes Day became a public holiday in 1606 when it was proclaimed by an Act of Parliament. In commemoration of the Gunpowder Plot on this day in 1605, when Guy Fawkes and his comrades tried to blow up King James I and the whole English Parliament, English people still burn a 'guy' in effigy.
More here.
We ask a OPD officer why he had his name badge covered....
This how to properly engage with police when they do suspicious things. We were riding by on bikes and noticed hes hiding his name and has no badge number. SO we decided to ask him. He did not answer, we asked a ranking officer is that policy? The LT. quickly went about fixing his attitude. This is a common practice among cops at occupy's around the US .That way he/she cannot be named or referenced if he participates in police miss-conduct . Its in most police departments policies that all officers in uniform must show some form of identification. OPD does not wear badges with #'s, how do we hold anyone accountable?
Friday, 4 November 2011
Phone hacking: Scotland Yard arrests 48-year-old man
The arrest at 10.30am on Friday is the sixth made by detectives working in Operation Elveden, which was set up in July following allegations that police officers had received up to £130,000 over several years from the News of the World for information, including contact details of the royal family.
The Guardian understands the man arrested is not a policeman. It is also understood that the person is a current employee of News International.
Scotland Yard said in a statement: "He was arrested at an outside London on suspicion of corruption allegations in contravention of section 1 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906, and is being brought to a south-west London police station."
Operation Elveden is one of three Met investigations relating to alleged illegal activities by newspapers. The others are Operation Weeting and Operation Tuleta, set up to examine phone hacking and computer hacking, respectively.
On Thursday, Scotland Yard confirmed to the Guardian that the number of people whose phones may have been hacked had reached 5,800 – 2,000 more than previously stated.
So far 16 people have been arrested and bailed on allegations of phone hacking.
Lisa O'Carroll and Sandra Laville @'The Guardian'
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