Thursday 2 April 2015

Monday 30 March 2015

Grant Shapps' business 'plagiarising' software and breaching Google's rules: how the Internet works

Grant Shapps' business 'plagiarising' software and breaching Google's rules - Telegraph: "According to the Guardian newspaper, the company which is selling TrafficPaymaster was co-founded by Mr Shapps under the name of Michael Green and his wife, Belinda.

A spokesman for the minister, who is currently responsible for housing and has been tipped for promotion in the forthcoming reshuffle, insisted that he had had nothing to do with the firm since passing his share of it to his wife in 2008.

Google is reported to be considering taking action against the company. A spokesman said Google did not comment on individual cases, but added: "We take copyright very seriously and invest significant time and money in keeping advertisers and publishers that violate our policies out of our network.
"Google bans ads and advertisers involved in activities that infringe on copyright from using our systems and prohibits publishers that violate copyright from participating in AdSense.”

In the past, Mr Shapps has said that he used the name Michael Green to differentiate his political and business activities Before becoming a minister at the last election, he specialised in internet marketing.
An online toolkit said to have been written by Michael Green called "How To Bounce Back From Recession" is sold on the HowToCorp website." 'via Blog this'

Wednesday 25 March 2015

European Commission VP Ansip - Telecoms: the backbone of the Digital Single Market

European Commission - PRESS RELEASES - Press release - Telecoms: the backbone of the Digital Single Market: "On net neutrality, there are three elements we should address:
Firstly, we need to make sure that the internet is not splintered apart by different rules. This is why we need common rules for net neutrality.
Then, we need an open internet for consumers. No blocking or throttling.
And we want an internet that allows European industry to innovate and provide better services for consumers." 'via Blog this'

Daithí Mac Síthigh: Computers and the Coalition

Daithí Mac Síthigh: Computers and the Coalition | Centre for Law and Information Policy at IALS: "I have reviewed the legislation adopted by Parliament during this period, referring back to the Coalition agreement where appropriate. I have also considered the more significant instances of secondary legislation and policy documents, including EU measures (but primarily those measures where Member States had some discretion in implementation or where there is a meaningful link with a national-level debate or controversy." 'via Blog this'

Tuesday 3 February 2015

Website Operator Banned from the ‘Revenge Porn’ Business After FTC Charges He Unfairly Posted Nude Photos

Website Operator Banned from the ‘Revenge Porn’ Business After FTC Charges He Unfairly Posted Nude Photos | Federal Trade Commission: "The complaint also alleged that Brittain offered a “bounty system” on his site, wherein users could offer a reward of at least $100 in exchange for other users finding pictures and information about a specific person.

Overall, Brittain’s site included photos of more than 1,000 individuals, according to the complaint.

Women whose photographs and information were posted on the site contacted Brittain to have the information removed, citing the potential harms to their careers and reputations. In addition, women cited unwelcome contact from strangers who had discovered their information on Brittain’s site.

The complaint notes that in many cases Brittain did not respond to the women’s requests to remove the information.

In fact, the complaint alleges that Brittain’s site advertised content removal services under the name “Takedown Hammer” and “Takedown Lawyer” that could delete consumers’ images and content from the site in exchange for a payment of $200 to $500. Despite presenting these as third-party services, the complaint alleges that the sites for these services were owned and operated by Brittain. 


Under the terms of the settlement, Brittain is required to permanently delete all of the images and other personal information he received during the time he operated the site. He will also be prohibited from publicly sharing intimate videos or photographs of people without their affirmative express consent, as well as being prohibited from misrepresenting how he will use any personal information he collects online." 'via Blog this'