In The News

Intelligence Loopholes

Nayan Chanda August 30, 2010
Confidential messages have served as a basis for long-distance trades for thousands of years. Long ago a list of contents was baked into clay tablets that accompanied shipments. Upon arrival, the tablets were cracked open to assure complete delivery. The modern BlackBerry phone, with countless more messages over longer distances, also provides confidentiality. As secure phones become more popular...

Is Europe Building Big Brother?

Jason Walsh August 30, 2010
As technology increases in speed and variety, governments seek easy access to citizens' electronic data for security purposes. The United Arab Emirates is banning BlackBerry encryption capability and the US proposes greater access to citizen browser histories and e-mail addresses without judicial oversight. One EU proposal would require Google to retain information on millions of users. Yet...

The Two-Tier Internet: Fighting for Control of the Web's Future

Frank Dohmen, Martin U. Müller, Hilmar Schmundt August 27, 2010
Profit margins have shrunk for internet providers. Attracted by low prices and rapid growth, consumers rely on cloud computing, which uses central servers for storage of treasured documents – yet few understand internet technology or long-term maintenance needs. A recent release from Google and Verizon recommended regulations, calling “for governments to leave it up to the market to determine...

Facebook Deletes Accounts Purporting to Be From North Korea

Jun Yang August 25, 2010
It’s unclear if Facebook, Twitter and Google accounts claiming to represent North Korea are truly from the isolated nation. Facebook, insisting that the social networking site is for real people aiming for real connections with real identities, deleted two suspect accounts. “The move comes as South Korea, which bans its citizens from communicating with the North, clamps down on Twitter Inc....

Iranian Activist Sues Telecoms Firm Over “Spying System”

Saeed Kamali Dehghan August 24, 2010
Mobile phone networks connect people and the exchange of ideas on issues small and grand. Isa Saharkhiz, activist and journalist, was arrested during Iranian post-election protests in summer 2009. His interrogators admitted to using Nokia Siemens Networks equipment to monitor his mobile phone calls, and a lawsuit has been filed against the corporation in US courts on his behalf. The company...

BlackBerry Challenges May Spread as Governments, RIM Collide

Anthony DiPaola, Hugo Miller August 12, 2010
Business people on the go, in need of instant contact and information, appreciate mobile devices and can’t imagine doing without smartphones like the BlackBerry. A major feature of the BlackBerry includes high-level security around communications, with encrypted messages and delivery through protected equipment in Canada and maker Research in Motion. “However, the system also makes it harder for...

Sites Feed Personal Details to New Tracking Industry

Julia Angwin, Tom McGinty August 10, 2010
Internet users are under constant surveillance, warns the Wall Street Journal after an investigation of 50 popular websites accounting for nearly half of US page views. Wikipedia.org was the only site without tracking devices, while other sites together included more than 3000 sensitive devices to track user interests behind every click. Analysts build profiles as trackers collect keystrokes and...