Developing Nations Propose UN Should Control Internet
As the United Nations' World Summit on the Information Society began in Geneva, Switzerland this week, representatives from a number of developing countries, including China, South Africa, India, and Brazil, indicated that they would like the UN to assume control of the Internet. Developing nations would like to replace the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), a U.S. firm that authorizes the Internet's domain names and addresses. The governments of these nations argue that since ICANN is under the authority of the U.S. government, there is nothing to prevent the U.S. government from imposing policies that could kick countries completely offline by removing their domain names from the central databases. Such a situation does not seem improbable if, for example, the U.S. were to claim a nation is a sponsor of terrorism. The nations would therefore like to see a treaty-based U.N. agency govern the Internet.
On Tuesday a U.N. official stressed that it is important to resolve the issue because if countries do not believe that the Internet authorities are giving proper attention to their concerns, then they could create their own networks and national policies, which would fragment the Internet and prevent it from remaining "a free and interchangeable medium of exchange." Developing nations have also complained that rich nations are not funding information technology projects that could help lessen the wide digital gap between rich and poor countries. The Associated Press speculates that world leaders will try to avoid the issues. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan will then have to convene a working group, which would introduce a proposal at the second phase of the summit in Tunisia in 2005.
European Commission Cracks Whip on e-Privacy Slackers; Seeks Suggestions to Improve Cross-Border e-Commerce
The European Commission may take legal action against 9 European states that have not yet implemented stronger laws to protect electronic privacy. One of Reuter's sources recently said, "The Commission is looking into sending letters to nine countries. This would be the first step of an infringement procedure." Denmark, Spain, Italy, Austria, and Sweden have already enacted new rules to protect personal data, and the UK's laws will take effect soon.
The European Commission is asking for suggestions on how to make cross-border e-commerce easier, cheaper, and more secure. Internal Market Commissioner Frits Bolkestein said, "A Single Payments Area will mean lower costs for payments, an end to unnecessary delays and much greater certainty over security and legal responsibility. It will also help consumers and businesses to get the full benefits of the single currency. This is not only a matter of convenience but also crucial for the competitiveness of the EU economy. The EU Regulation on Cross-Border Payments in euro has made it easier and cheaper to make many types of euro payments within the Internal Market. But significant difficulties remain. The Commission is determined to tackle them."
U.S. Internet Tax Ban Fails
The U.S. Senate failed to pass a bill that prohibits the taxing of Internet sales and services because its members were unable to agree upon the specifics of how a tax moratorium would be extended. Supporters of the bill argue that it keeps Internet access affordable and puts more consumers online. But others claim that the bill's language was so broad that it could be interpreted that many kinds of Internet services were exempt from taxes, including movie and music downloads. Meanwhile, telecommunications providers would like Congress to clarify that states cannot tax Internet access technologies that were in their infancies (including DSL) five years ago. The ban on taxes may come up for renewal again next year.
Pop-Up Ads Win Another Case
WhenU, an Internet pop-up ad company, defeated Wells Fargo and Quicken Loans in a lawsuit before a Federal Court in Washington. The two financial companies had complained about pop-up ads for their competitors appearing over their own web sites, but as Judge Nancy Edmunds points out, "When WhenU's advertisements pop up and partially overlap plaintiffs' sites on the computer screen, it seems apparent to the user that what is appearing on his or her screen are two distinct sources of material." WhenU also defeated U-haul in a U.S. District Court in a similar case in September.
Casino Books Open to FBI
The Senate and House have both recently approved the Intelligence Authorization bill, which will give the FBI access to financial records from casinos and other businesses in terrorism cases without the approval of a judge or grand jury. Financial institutions were already subject to these rules, but the new bill would make casinos, car dealers, pawnbrokers, travel agents, and other companies subject to them also. The bill will now go to the desk of George Bush, who will likely sign it into law.