Archive for May, 2008

Deep packet inspection under assault over privacy concerns

Posted by Mark Levitt in Privacy at May 13th, 2008

(Via Ars Technica.)

A Canadian law clinic has asked the country’s Privacy Commissioner to take a closer look at the deep packet inspection being used by Bell Canada and others. While the technology also raises net neutrality concerns, in this case the issue is privacy.

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Pirate Bay: MPAA’s $15.4 million damage claim a fabrication

Posted by Mark Levitt in Computer Law, Copyright at May 9th, 2008

(Via Ars Technica.)

The MPAA has asked a Swedish court for $15.4 million in damages from The Pirate Bay. Peter Sunde, the torrent tracker’s fearless captain, says that the claims are bogus.

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TorrentSpy ordered to pay $110m

Posted by michael in Intellectual Property at May 8th, 2008

via BBC

File-sharing site TorrentSpy has been ordered to pay $110m (£56m) in damages to the Motion Picture Association of America for copyright infringement.

Nine Inch Nails release free, CC licensed album

Posted by Richard in Creative Business in the Digital Era, Creative Commons at May 6th, 2008

Trent Reznor has released the latest Nine Inch Nails album as a free download under a Creative Commons attribution, non-commercial, share-alike license.

As a thank you to our fans for your continued support, we are giving away the new nine inch nails album one hundred percent free, exclusively via nin.com.

We encourage you to remix it, share it with your friends, post it on your blog, play it on your podcast, give it to strangers, etc.

The law of Phorm

Posted by michael in Privacy at May 2nd, 2008

Via OUT-LAW

EDITORIAL: Critics have branded Phorm a regulatory rogue. Its targeted advertising technology will bend our laws and even break them. But these will be hairline fractures – even if Phorm’s operation makes you wince.

Identity “at risk” on Facebook

Posted by michael in Privacy at May 2nd, 2008

Via BBC

Personal details of Facebook users could potentially be stolen, the BBC technology programme Click has found. The popular social networking site allows users to add a variety of applications to their profile. But a malicious program, masquerading as a harmless application, could potentially harvest personal data.

Tax staff breach data security

Posted by Harry in Data Protection at May 1st, 2008

From the BBC:

More than 600 staff at HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have been disciplined for accessing personal or sensitive data, it has been revealed.

In a Commons written reply, Treasury Financial Secretary Jane Kennedy said that in many cases the penalty for staff was dismissal.

There were 238 people disciplined in 2005, 180 in 2006, and 192 in 2007.

Data Security in Financial Services - report

Posted by michael in Data Protection at May 1st, 2008

Via Consuming Experience

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) is urging firms to change their attitude to data security and do more to help prevent their customers falling victim to identity fraud and other types of financial crime.

Link to press release