WASHINGTON INTERNET DAILY - Covering legislative, regulatory and judicial news.
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ISP DATA RETENTION PLAN slammed by high-tech privacy watchdogs. Govt. proposal could also hit wireless carriers, hotspot providers and others, CDT says.

COOKIE CAMPAIGN could be in works for online ad industry. Consumer perception, cookie-blocking should be ‘wake-up call,’ analyst says.

.COM HEARING SET Wed. in House Small Business Committee. VeriSign critic calls hearing ‘logical next step’ in protest.

ISP RECORD-KEEPING REQUIREMENTS sought by Bush Administration. Data retention talks with Microsoft, Google, AOL, others continue today.

MAJOR ONLINE PIRACY OUTLET sunk by Swedish raiders. Demise of ‘Pirate Bay’ big win for movie, music industries.

21ST CENTURY COMMUNICATION REGIME gives incumbent systems a run for their money, says Yale Internet expert. New information exchange model could lead to 'folk culture' re-emergence.

ONLINE JOURNALISTS WIN Apple case on alleged trade secrets, First Amendment protection.

AT&T SPY ROOM aided NSA email, browser surveillance, EFF says. Redacted witness statement makes waves but next hearing could make or break case, expert says.

OPERATION GLOBAL CON snags hundreds of tech-savvy scammers who preyed on millions of Americans, DoJ says. Phishing, spam, VoIP, other techniques seen in schemes.

U.S. PRIVACY POLICIES encroach on civil liberties but tide will turn, security expert predicts. ‘Digital footprint’ storage becoming easier, ACLU hears.

GOVT. IPV6 PLANS amount to 'political kabuki,' Web expert says after next-generation Internet summit.

SENATE NET NEUTRALITY BILL endorsed by Inouye, increases pressure as House Judiciary prepares to mark up separate bill.

SEARCH FOR ‘AUTHENTIC VOICES’ fuel consumer interest in blogs, podcasts and other online tools, experts tell new media conference.

NEW NET NEUTRALITY BILL by Sensenbrenner would amend antitrust law. Markey wants his original measure reconsidered; hopes pop star Moby can help.

DoJ WEB SAFETY EFFORT has federal, state, local partners. Related Sensenbrenner draft bill meets opposition.

IT WORKER NUMBERS DROPPING as high-tech job slots increase, experts tell diversity conference. Boosting women’s employment seen as shared responsibility.

SPITZER BROADBAND PLAN looks to Philly model. Gubernatorial hopeful says N.Y. lacks imagination, leadership in high speed deployment.

WEB GAMING DISPUTE GROWS as other Second Life users surface with claims of being locked out of the game unfairly. Federal court case in the works, user says.

NEW DATA SECURITY BILL backed by DoJ, consumer and retail groups. Hearing airs concerns about competing bills.

NET NEUTRALITY OPPONENTS claim common carrier-type rules would hurt the Web.

NEW NET NEUTRALITY FOE emerges. Internet Freedom Coalition campaign an ‘industry-funded scare tactic,’ critic says.

ONLINE GAME SPURS LAWSUIT over virtual land deal gone sour. Pa. lawyer sues Linden Lab for damages.

WEB FIRMS MUST UNITE to deal with regimes that repress the Internet, say Google, Microsoft executives. Industry braces for 'long, hard slog.'

CHILD PORN PLAN gets add-on provision to boost civil penalties for ISP negligence. House hears details on FCC role. Administration ‘impugning reputation of network operators,’ Internet expert says.

DIGITAL CIRCUMVENTION BILL grants ‘hacking rights’ to consumers, music industry rep tells House. HR-1201 called music equivalent of handing out black boxes to pirate cable TV.

U.S. SURVEILLANCE LAWS vague on the Web, former DoJ attorney says. Classification nuances cause confusion.

BLACKBERRY BACK IN COURT: RIM sued for patent infringement by wireless content firm Visto. RIM ‘very well aware’ of Visto’s IP, CEO says.

DIGITAL DISCORD: Infighting pits subscription vs. a la carte, proprietary vs. ‘shared ecosystem.’ Napster unveils ad-backed service critics call gimmicky.

LAW BLOGS’ IMPACT on legal scholarship debated at Harvard. Blogging is guiding law to ‘new world,’ high-tech prof. says.

IP RIGHTS STILL SUFFER in China, Russia, USTR says. ‘ Special 301’ highlights ‘notorious’ websites.

ACADEMIA SHOULD ACT on net neutrality, other communications matters, media activist says. ‘Being right is not enough,’ Educause conference hears.

TRADEMARK BILL BACK in House, with changes by Senate that help search engines. Questions remain on noncommercial exemptions, IP expert says.

WEB FUELS FAKE ID TRADE, FBI analyst tells Capitol Hill document security forum. Rep. Stearns says more must be done to curb this growing national security problem.

SEC INTERACTIVITY PROGRAM progressing, curbing filing errors and corruption, SEC chief tells Senate
Banking Committee. Next generation filing workshops planned this year.

NET NEUTRALITY FIGHT resumes as lawmakers return to Washington. SavetheInternet.com Coalition launches, but critic says the debate has ‘denigrated into hysterical nonsense.’

COPYRIGHT CRACKDOWN BILL in works. Critics challenge logic behind criminal, civil penalties proposed.

NET NEUTRALITY ADVOCATES redouble Web outreach efforts as Congress returns. Advocates' 'sky is falling' mentality unfounded, say telco, cable executives.

WEB BLOCKING, MONITORING regime in China should get time in Washington when Hu’s in town, rights experts say.

GOVT. DATA SHARING still lacking, GAO says. Findings back Hill concerns over agencies’ information swapping.

U.S.-CHINA MEETING yields IP protection progress. High-tech working group within JCCT established.

GAG ORDER SUIT dropped by DoJ after Patriot Act provisions become law. Critic calls administration U-turn 'highly suspicious.'

LOBBYING LANDSCAPE ALTERED by Internet, experts say. Mass media’s ‘slow decay,’ broadband’s prevalence impact political communication.

CHILD PORN CAMPAIGN advances in House. Members zero in on roles of ISPs, credit cards and law enforcement.

STREAMLINED SALES TAX stumbles on Hill irk backers. Senate makes progress, retailers hope for ‘ new day’ in House.

WEB CRIMES RUN WILD, data show. Auction fraud, phishing, spoofing, spam worse than ever, FBI says.

ONLINE CHILD PORN prevention tackled by House investigations subcommittee. Lawmakers consider new ISP data retention duties.

CRACKDOWN BY U.S. law enforcement faces serious obstacles, witnesses tell House investigations subcommittee. ‘Predators laugh’ at DoJ, expert says.

SPITZER SUES AGAIN: N.Y. prosecutor targets Direct Revenue with accusations of installing spyware on millions of PCs. Defendant calls practices lawful.

WEB GAMBLING MEASURE eyed by House Judiciary subcommittee. Critics say Goodlatte bill a dull blade; DoJ backs it.

GOVT. PRIVACY POLICIES need reforming to catch up with Internet age, experts tell DHS workshop.

HILL CAN’T HEAR US, Internet advocates complain. They say bridging gap between lawmakers, consumers and Web interests is key to preserving Internet freedom.

ORPHAN WORKS REFORM probably won’t trigger lawsuits, says high-tech law expert. Industry negotiations wrap up as Senate plans to examine changes to copyright system this week.

ID THEFT EXPERTS see Social Security number system as highly vulnerable to Internet-savvy criminals. Securing storage and transmission mechanisms, public outreach and law enforcement efforts are crucial, House panel hears.

ICT ISSUES PROGRESSING at international govt. meetings, State Dept. telecom advisory committee hears. Members get sneak peak at likely topics for ITU meeting in Turkey.

DATA SECURITY BILL PASSES House Commerce. Amendments aimed at curbing Social Security number sales, overseas data processing thwarted.

DIGITAL AGE GUARDS discussed in House consumer protection subcommittee hearing. MPAA, TiVo, Sling Media and videogame industry testify.

CHINESE MUSIC PIRACY still a plague, witnesses tell Senate Finance. Abuses thrive in enforcement vacuum.

E-SPYING EXAMINATION RESUMES in Senate Judiciary Committee. Judges agree technological evolution justifies amending foreign intelligence surveillance law.

NEW TECH THINK TANK will tackle innovation, competition issues in a ‘pro-growth, proinnovation’ way. ITI offshoot starts small, thinks big.

SECURING SMALL BUSINESS data simplified by new campaign for mom/pop shops.

WEB MARKETER DEFENDS practices after Spitzer sues. Gratis founder dubs complaint ‘puzzling,’ vows fight.

WEB SCAM SLAMMED by N.Y. attorney general. Internet marketing firm accused of selling millions of consumers' personal information.

CHANGING COPYRIGHT LAW exceptions in digital era risky without ways to handle piracy, creators’ rights, Library of Congress working group hears.

CLARIA BOWS OUT of adware business. One-time worst offender will sell off assets, focus on creating personalized Internet platform.

BADWARE BLASTED by new Stop Badware Coalition report. Kazaa, MediaPipe, SpyAxe and Waterfalls 3 screensaver in antispyware advocates’ cross hairs.

BAD NEWS FOR BROADCASTERS: New licensing regime could cut Web world out of U.K. radio. Virgin says new simulcast cost unlikely to pay off.

ADWARE FUNDERS FLAGGED in watchdog report. Major brands dim reputations by laxity on online ads, analysts say.

GOVT. CAN’T PREVENT cyberjihad, former White House adviser warns. Administration ‘asleep at the switch’ on critical infrastructure, he says.

.XXX BILL ATTACKED by Web wonks for ignoring ICANN principles and risk of driving adult webmasters abroad.

CYBERSECURITY, SMALL BUSINESS subject of House oversight hearing. Mom/pop shops ‘ alarmingly complacent’ and slack on threats, experts say.

.XXX DOMAIN PROPOSAL in Senate offers civil penalties for noncompliance. Measure would ‘ ghettoize’ content-based speech online, adult entertainment group says.

GOVT. SECURITY SCORES ‘ unacceptably low,’ says Rep. Davis. DHS, other agencies fail despite focus on cybersecurity.

PHISH FIGHT demands unity of tech industry, consumers, govt., Consumer League says, outlining campaign.

WEB WAGERS BILL sails through committee. Data security bill bogs down in states’ rights debate.

WEB SEARCH STIRS privacy, legal questions as U.S. law tries to catch up with rapidly evolving technologies, experts say. Legal scholars ‘ scratching and crawling toward the light.’

U.S. INNOVATION TOUR reaches Senate Commerce Committee. High-tech executives emphasize importance of
American competitiveness on future of economy.

S. KOREAN TRADE TALKS must include IP enforcement, antipiracy goals, USTR hears. Despite progress, Korea still plagued by online, software piracy.

.COM A GOOD VALUE, small firms say. Mom & pop shops willing to pay more for domains to get fast, reliable Internet.

.COM DEAL COULD FUEL anti- Americanism in debate on Internet governance, says Network Solutions CEO. NTIA must choose ‘ least bad alternative.’

BLOGGER PROTECTION BILLS advance amid lobbying reform push. House, Senate pursue online communication exemptions ahead of FEC hearing.

DATA SECURITY DISTRESS: Foreign high-tech clients fret at lack of comprehensive U.S. privacy law. Conference hears how Japan and Spain stack up.

ORPHAN WORKS PROPOSAL workable despite hurdles, House IP subcommittee members believe. Bill embracing Copyright Office report coming, staffer says.

ONLINE GIVING SOARED in 2004 campaign, study says. Internet helped level playing field between large, small donors.

DOJ PROBES PRICE COLLUSION among online music distributors. Some say music retailers should be examined.

ICANN VOTE INSIGHT shows some .com contract supporters have problems with VeriSign deal. Foes say the agreement tarnishes ICANN reputation.

TECH EXECS DESCEND ON D.C. for innovation chats with policymakers. Meetings marked by less tension than last year's, Microsoft CTO says.

PLATFORM PARITY PUSH: First audio flag bill introduced. ‘Grokster’ behind them, RIAA and CEA square off on new battlefield.

CRITICS SLAM .COM VERDICT: Web awaits Commerce Dept. response. ICANN president hails 'best possible deal in the best possible space.'

GOP INNOVATION PLAN unfolds at House Republican pep rally.

SPECIAL REPORT: ICANN board majority approves .com deal with VeriSign.

E-SPYING DEBATE DISSECTED by former govt. officials and constitutional scholars. Panel split over presidential powers and how to proceed.

AMERICANS DIVIDED on how to handle high-tech firms’ dealings in China. Respondents don’t want U.S. companies aiding cyberdissident crackdowns but also don’t want legislation, survey says.

ORPHAN WORKS CONTROVERSY deserves more public discussion, experts agree. Critics call Copyright Office report 'disaster of biblical proportions.'

WIPO BROADCAST TREATY symposium reinvigorates talks as 2006 general assembly nears. 2007 conference expected.

GOVT. PRIVACY PROTECTIONS ranked after survey. Postal Service tops list. DHS called least trustworthy.

E-SPYING HULLABALOO debated at ACLU forum. Scholars say NSA program could be Bush’s downfall.

NSA FUROR continues at Georgetown U. debate. Senate Intelligence Committee opts for inaction for now.

ONLINE GAMBLING BILL introduced in House. Legislation would amend the Wire Act, bar credit card use, hike penalties for illegal gambling.

CHINA’S ONLINE OPPRESSION, U.S. firms’ investments there get congressional scrutiny. Lawmakers blast Google, Microsoft, Yahoo and Cisco, as executives defend their actions.

REGISTRARS SOUND OFF on ICANN settlement, .com deal. Firms say VeriSign’s ‘last, best’ offer need not be ICANN’s.

INTERNET GROUP FORMED by State Dept. as hearing looms on Chinese online censorship. Body to consult with industry, advocates, academia.

INTERNET & CHINA HEARING to bring diverse chorus from Web industry, govt., human rights arenas. Legislation, protests gain steam.

BUSH PR SPENDING includes big money for Internet propaganda, GAO says. Contractors profit on Web design, online outreach.

STALLED SPYWARE BILLS may not pass Senate this Congress, experts say.

PATRIOT ACT DEAL between White House, key senators includes Internet exemptions. Leahy, Feingold, civil libertarians glum.

FTC HIGH-TECH HEARINGS coming in fall, chairman says.

INTERNET TAX TACKLED by House small business subcommittee. Amazon.com, eBay and online seller testify.

NET NEUTRALITY NEEDS DEFINING, Stevens says as Senate panel probes disparate views. Bells push for hands-off regulatory approach vs. those pushing for protection.

NSA E-SPYING DEFENDED by Attorney Gen. Gonzales in Senate hearing. Lawmakers ask much, get few answers.

BUSH'S 2007 BUDGET stresses innovation, high-tech communications, IT security, cyberinfrastructure advances.

ORPHAN WORKS ATTENTION needed from Congress, Copyright Office report says. Public Knowledge challenges ‘reasonable compensation’ recommendation.

TRADEMARK TROUBLES: Bloggers, podcasters, webmasters could face suits under trademark law proposal. Changes sought by fair use advocates.

E-SPYING HEARING will put attorney general in hot seat, say civil liberties leaders.

CHINA’S WEB FILTERING examined by Congressional caucus. Human rights leaders, Internet experts say U.S. can do more to combat Chinese censorship.

STATE OF THE UNION upholds Administration’s argument for electronic wiretapping program. Hightech leaders cheer President’s new competitiveness agenda.

NTIA SUED OVER .US DOMAIN: Small webmaster files suit over .us privacy concerns. Ruing could affect thousands of website owners’ anonymity.

GOVT. SPYING BRINGS SUIT FOR AT&T: Electronic Frontier Foundation suit alleges carrier opened facilities to National Security Agency.

REVISED .COM PROPOSAL UNVEILED by ICANN, VeriSign. VeriSign calls it ‘last, best offer’ on suit. Critics boo.

TV NETWORKS BATTLE for most tech-savvy State of the Union coverage. ABC teams with AOL. CNN pumps Pipeline premium service.

CHINA’S WEB RESTRICTIONS get Hill attention. Human rights caucus, international relations subcommittee plan hearings.

GOOGLE CACHE IS FAIR USE, federal court rules. Plaintiff's $2.5 million complaint rejected. Analysts debate impact on future copyright cases.

DHS FALLS SHORT in fulfilling cybersecurity obligations to state and local leaders, report alleges. Agency must be more than ‘point of contact’ for CISOs, Rep. Thompson says.

ADWARE FIRM TARGETED with complaint to FTC. After repeated reform attempts, CDT gives up on 180solutions.

TELECOM FIRMS TIGHTLIPPED about how they will respond to lawmaker letter requesting data given to govt. Privacy experts say getting responses could be tricky.

BASHING BADWARE: Coalition will fight malicious content creators by spotlighting worst offenders. Harvard, Oxford, Google, Sun join forces.

ONLINE THREATS EVOLVING as hackers get sneakier and more specialized, Secret Service says. Web scams no longer spearheaded by amateurs, experts agree.

ADWARE FIRM TARGETED with complaint to FTC. After repeated reform attempts, CDT gives up on 180solutions.

E-SPYING INQUIRIES START on Capitol Hill with unofficial hearing by House Judiciary Committee Democrats.

PROTECTING KIDS ONLINE is responsibility of govt., industry and parents, witnesses tell lawmakers. Experts say resources plentiful, current laws adequate.

DATA INTEGRITY FAILURES abundant in federal govt., Podesta says. Private sector’s incentive to fix breakdowns should rub off on agencies.

HIGH-TECH CAMPAIGNS predicted in 2006 and 2008. Blogs, online communities, mobile devices will take center stage, experts predict.

GOVT. SPY SCANDAL needs full inquiry, Gore says. Bush nod on espying imperiled ‘American values,’ he says.

SPYWARE FIGHTERS ISSUE final guidelines for disclosing how malicious content is found and flagged. Direct marketers also get new standards for downloads.

CRITICS URGE ICANN, VeriSign to rework TLD pact. The deal is anticompetitive, could harm consumers, they say.

COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT CAUTION: IP lawyer gives colleagues guidelines for keeping high-tech clients’ noses clean in the post- Grokster world.

ELECTRONIC SPYING SCANDAL looms as Alito hearings open. Lawmakers push nominee on wiretap stance.

LAW BLOGGING 101: Web-savvy attorneys discuss the perks and pitfalls of joining the blogosphere.

DATA TRACKING DEBATED by academic lawyers group. Attorneys also discuss RFID economics, privacy implications.

WHITE HOUSE WEB WOES: Critics question visitor-tracking on White House and NSA websites. Security analyst says whitehouse.gov could be sidestepping OMB policy.

PORN WEBMASTER JAILED for posting ‘obscene’ pictures; critics say soldier-submitted Iraq war images secretly drive case. Supreme Court denies emergency petition.

DIGITAL MUSIC PRICING targeted in N.Y. attorney general’s probe. Record labels subpoenaed under suspicion of possible collusion.

N.Y.C. TRANSIT STRIKE: City govt., businesses, news outlets search for solutions as bloggers swap horror stories.

PATRIOT ACT STANDOFF CONTINUES: Senators lobby for 3-month extension. Administration says talking time is over.

E-COMMERCE TAX BILL introduced in Senate. Legislation would level playing field for brick & mortar, Web-based businesses, Enzi says.

GALLAGHER LEAVING NTIA, but will stay in D.C. Kneuer expected to be designated as acting dir.

E-GOV GUIDELINES UNVEILED by OMB. Administration wants 2006 to see 90% cybersecurity and 50% IT jobs filled. Hill, CIOs’ reactions mixed.

BUSH DEFENDS E-SURVEILLANCE, as critics in Congress urge probe of domestic phone, e-mail eavesdropping.

TECH SECTOR SENATOR? ITAA chief 'seriously exploring' U.S. Senate bid in Va. Political experts say he’d have to work hard to raise money, make himself known.

CYBERSECURITY DOs, DON'Ts detailed by House Govt. Reform Committee chmn. U.S. agencies must embrace public-private partnership --- no isolationists in global market.


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