A judge has granted a summary judgment stating that defendants Washington Post and AFP improperly used without license photographs owned by photographer Daniel Morel. Morel took photographs within hours of the Haiti earthquake in 2010 and posted links to them on Twitter. AFP had argued that any photos posted on the internet and linked to from Twitter were available for all to use without licence.
News outlets improperly used photos posted to Twitter: judge
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/15/us-socialmedia-copyright-ruling-idUSBRE90E11P20130115
The case is not yet concluded, as determination of willfulness and damages will be determined at trial.
The case highlights the evolving area of copyright law as applied to photographs used in social media. While Twitter's service terms do allow the reposting and rebroadcasting of users' images in certain circumstances, such as "retweeting," they do not apply to commercial use.
There is a tendency in the social media business and photographic support businesses, such as printing of digital photographs, to treat consumer photos as "not copyrighted" even though existing copyright law states explicitly that all photographs are protected by copyright from the moment of capture, and that the copyright is owned by the photographer.
Although this law applies even to supposedly non-professional photographs, it is in the interest of social media companies such as Google+, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to insist upon unlimited distribution rights as a non-negotiable part of their Terms of Service. Instagram recently changed their TOS to take a right to use customer photographs for any purpose, which could have included advertising, without compensating the owner of the photograph.
More on Instagram's TOS:
Instagram's TOS Go Into Effect Today
Terms of Use • Instagram
What Instagram’s New Terms of Service Mean for You
The TOS of companies that make prints from digital photographs also overreach in most cases. The actual wording of the contracts makes it clear that when you upload photographs to Sams Club, Costco, Wal-Mart, Target, SnapFish, SmugMug, Mpix, Wolf Camera, Shutterfly, Flickr, and so on that the company gains a perpetual license to reproduce your photograph, with no compensation to you.
Sams Club TOS
Excerpt from the Sams Club TOS:
"You grant to samsclub.com a non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, unrestricted, world-wide right and license to access, use, copy, reproduce, distribute, transmit, display, perform, communicate to the public, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, and otherwise use such Materials (in whole or in part) in connection with the Site and/or the Products, using any form, media or technology now known or later developed, without providing compensation to you or any other person, without any liability to you or any other person, and free from any obligation of confidence or other duties on the part of samsclub.com, its affiliates and their respective licensees;"
In short, you must be extremely vigilant when getting prints made from your better photographs, because some larger businesses are looking to monetize your content. To avoid losing rights to your own pictures, insist on a new, separate contract that grants a right to the print-making company to copy your files and photos only for the purpose of making prints for you as customer, and limits the time frame on the license to no more than 30 days.
Monday, January 21, 2013
North Korea: "It's like The Truman Show, at country scale"
Google chief Eric Schmidt, who said at one time that everything you do should be posted on line*, visited North Korea with his daughter Sophie. Sophie blogged about the visit in a post titled It might not get weirder than this. Everything she says in her article is surprising. I highly recommend reading it, especially if you like traveling.
Networkworld's Ms. Smith's take: Bugged guesthouse: Eric Schmidt's daughter reveals North Korea trip details.
* Actually, he said something like "if you don't want anyone to know what you are doing, then maybe you shouldn't be doing it." But it amounts to the same thing. I could even prove it mathematically, except that I'm too lazy at the moment, and you probably believe me already.
1/22/13 update:
More articles about the trip, with new details:
Sophie Schmidt Recounted North Korea Trip with Her Father, Google Chairman Eric Schmidt on a Blog
SOPHIE SCHMIDT GOES TO NORTH KOREA & REPORTS BACK META
Eric Schmidt's daughter lifts lid on 'very strange' North Korea
Eric Schmidt's post on Google+
Networkworld's Ms. Smith's take: Bugged guesthouse: Eric Schmidt's daughter reveals North Korea trip details.
* Actually, he said something like "if you don't want anyone to know what you are doing, then maybe you shouldn't be doing it." But it amounts to the same thing. I could even prove it mathematically, except that I'm too lazy at the moment, and you probably believe me already.
1/22/13 update:
More articles about the trip, with new details:
Sophie Schmidt Recounted North Korea Trip with Her Father, Google Chairman Eric Schmidt on a Blog
SOPHIE SCHMIDT GOES TO NORTH KOREA & REPORTS BACK META
Eric Schmidt's daughter lifts lid on 'very strange' North Korea
Eric Schmidt's post on Google+
Trusteer may not be worth the CPU cycles
Trusteer's Rapport software is an application written that a number of banks have asked their customers to download onto their systems. Banks that have offered the software include Bank of America, Société Générale, INGDirect (now owned by Capital One), HSBC, NatWest, The Royal Bank of Scotland, CIBC,Ulster Bank, First Direct, Santander, Standard Bank of South Africa, Scotiabank, Bank of Montreal, Banco de Chile, and The Co-operative Bank. Reports are that the software is difficult to remove, as it has some features that resemble malware in the way it installs itself, and offers little protection against most malware. It can consume an excessive amount of CPU time and prevent some normal programs, such as screen snapshot applications, from functions. The purported purpose is to stop screen-scraping programs and keyloggers, and to verify that you are connected to the bank’s actual Web site.
Should you install it? Should you uninstall it if you already have it?
We recommend against installing it. It is not proven that the software doesn't violate privacy, and your financial institution would not take responsibility for its actions should there be data leakage or intrusions into your computer if Rapport were found to be culpable. Overall, the risks are much larger than the rewards for this particular application. The application has been found to be weak at accomplishing its goals, and it is likely well behind the current wave of malware technology being used by the bad guys. Another problem is that it has been almost three years since the last authoritative article appeared on the web analyzing Rapport.
The intent of the bankers and the company offering the application is to thwart criminals that target customer systems with malware in order to steal credentials, identities, and the contents of bank accounts. The problem is that, legally, the software is acting on behalf of the bank, not you, so you have no recourse when the software does stupid things, like consume all of your computing power, or be difficult to uninstall. A better solution is to increase your computer's defenses with better firewall, better virus and malware detection, and especially to surf the web using only a non-administrative account. Even if you are the only user on your computer, you will be safer if you create two accounts: one for administrative functions, and the other for everything else, especially cruising the internet and online banking, which does not have the power to locally modify the registry, other computer settings, or install applications.
Businesses are usually liable for losses arising from this type of fraud. If you are in this position, we recommend this solution: Dedicate a single computer for the purpose of online banking. Use it to connect only to your online bank web site. Make it company policy that using that computer for any other purpose is grounds for immediate dismissal.
Free Software to Protect Your Bank Account
A Closer Look at Rapport from Trusteer
Should you install it? Should you uninstall it if you already have it?
We recommend against installing it. It is not proven that the software doesn't violate privacy, and your financial institution would not take responsibility for its actions should there be data leakage or intrusions into your computer if Rapport were found to be culpable. Overall, the risks are much larger than the rewards for this particular application. The application has been found to be weak at accomplishing its goals, and it is likely well behind the current wave of malware technology being used by the bad guys. Another problem is that it has been almost three years since the last authoritative article appeared on the web analyzing Rapport.
The intent of the bankers and the company offering the application is to thwart criminals that target customer systems with malware in order to steal credentials, identities, and the contents of bank accounts. The problem is that, legally, the software is acting on behalf of the bank, not you, so you have no recourse when the software does stupid things, like consume all of your computing power, or be difficult to uninstall. A better solution is to increase your computer's defenses with better firewall, better virus and malware detection, and especially to surf the web using only a non-administrative account. Even if you are the only user on your computer, you will be safer if you create two accounts: one for administrative functions, and the other for everything else, especially cruising the internet and online banking, which does not have the power to locally modify the registry, other computer settings, or install applications.
Businesses are usually liable for losses arising from this type of fraud. If you are in this position, we recommend this solution: Dedicate a single computer for the purpose of online banking. Use it to connect only to your online bank web site. Make it company policy that using that computer for any other purpose is grounds for immediate dismissal.
Free Software to Protect Your Bank Account
A Closer Look at Rapport from Trusteer
Friday, January 18, 2013
Compendium for the Aaron Swartz Case
“We can rightly judge a society by how it treats its eccentrics and deviant geniuses—and by that measure, we have utterly failed.”
"Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in the 1970s committed crimes more damaging than Swartz's"
Reddit: On the Death of Aaron Schwartz
http://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/16hzpx/on_the_death_of_aaron_schwartz/
Aaron's Law: Violating a Site's Terms of Service Should Not Land You in Jail
http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/13/01/aarons-law/267247/#
Prosecutor as bully
http://lessig.tumblr.com/post/40347463044/prosecutor-as-bully
Reddit: I'm Rep Zoe Lofgren & I'm introducing "Aaron's Law" to change the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA)
http://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/16njr9/im_rep_zoe_lofgren_im_introducing_aarons_law_to/
Aaron's Fight is Our Fight
http://www.rootstrikers.org/
US Government Ups Felony Count In JSTOR/Aaron Swartz Case From Four To Thirteen
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120917/17393320412/us-government-ups-felony-count-jstoraaron-swartz-case-four-to-thirteen.shtml
How the Legal System Failed Aaron Swartz—And Us
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2013/01/everyone-interesting-is-a-felon.html
Thanks To The Lori Drew Case, I Can Make Each Of You A Criminal
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20081201/0252082984.shtml
Thomas J. Dolan, Ortiz' husband, attacked Swartz's parents, saying on Twitter: "Truly incredible that in their own son’s obit they blame others for his death and make no mention of the 6-month offer."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/15/tom-dolan-aaron-swartz_n_2479980.html
Many on Twitter were outraged by Dolan's attack on Swartz and his family:
http://betabeat.com/2013/01/tom-dolan-defends-carmen-ortiz-aaron-swartz-twitter/
Tom Dolan bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_J._Dolan
Punitive Damages, Remunerated Research, and the Legal Profession
http://www.stanfordlawreview.org/print/article/punitive-damages-remunerated-research-and-legal-profession
Carmen Ortiz, lead prosecutor of Aaron Swartz
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmen_Ortiz
Aaron Swartz indicted on charges of "wire fraud, computer fraud" etc.
http://kottke.org/11/07/aaron-swartz-indicted-on-charges-of-wire-fraud-computer-fraud-etc
JSTOR Prosecutes User for Downloading Too Much
http://vorpaltrade.blogspot.com/2011/10/jstor-prosecutes-user-for-downloading.html
Another example of prosecutorial overreach:
http://www.wbur.org/2012/11/14/tewksbury-motel-owner-fights-property-seizure
Aaron Swartz's Lawyer: Prosecutor Stephen Heymann Wanted 'Juicy' Case For Publicity
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/14/aaron-swartz-stephen-heymann_n_2473278.html
Carmen Ortiz and Stephen Heymann: accountability for prosecutorial abuse
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jan/16/ortiz-heymann-swartz-accountability-abuse
After Aaron Swartz's Death, the Focus Now Falls On the Prosecutors
http://yro.slashdot.org/story/13/01/16/239259/after-aaron-swartzs-death-the-focus-now-falls-on-the-prosecutors
Prosecutor in Aaron Swartz 'hacking' case comes under fire
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-57564212-38/prosecutor-in-aaron-swartz-hacking-case-comes-under-fire/
Aaron Swartz Lawyer: I Warned Prosecutors Of Suicide Risk
http://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/news/aaron-swartz-lawyer-suicide-104262
"...prosecutors only responded by saying Swartz would have been safe in jail..."
Added 1/21/13:
Harvard Business Review blog: Aaron Swartz's "Crime" and the Business of Breaking the Law
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-21/former-synthes-executive-huggins-sentenced-in-bone-cement-marketing-case.html
This article makes reference to dis-proportionality of punishment in two cases:
Ex-Synthes Officials Get Prison Terms in Bone Drug Case
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-21/former-synthes-executive-huggins-sentenced-in-bone-cement-marketing-case.html
A number of patients were killed when the company decided to evade medical device testing ethics.
Outrageous HSBC Settlement Proves the Drug War is a Joke
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/blogs/taibblog/outrageous-hsbc-settlement-proves-the-drug-war-is-a-joke-20121213
British mega-bank HSBC (former owner of The Money Store, Household Finance, GM Card) managed to avoid all criminal prosecution for multiple, extensive money-laundering schemes. If you would rather have a more sober description of the matter, try Wikipedia's entry on HSBC.
Added 1/21/13:
O'Reilly Giving Away Open Government As Aaron Swartz Tribute
http://news.slashdot.org/story/13/01/21/1644254/oreilly-giving-away-open-government-as-aaron-swartz-tribute
We’re releasing the files for O’Reilly’s Open Government book
http://radar.oreilly.com/2013/01/open-government-files-released.html
Edward Tufte's Defense of Aaron Swartz and the "Marvelously Different"
http://news.slashdot.org/story/13/01/20/1823256/edward-tuftes-defense-of-aaron-swartz-and-the-marvelously-different
"Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in the 1970s committed crimes more damaging than Swartz's"
Reddit: On the Death of Aaron Schwartz
http://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/16hzpx/on_the_death_of_aaron_schwartz/
Aaron's Law: Violating a Site's Terms of Service Should Not Land You in Jail
http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/13/01/aarons-law/267247/#
Prosecutor as bully
http://lessig.tumblr.com/post/40347463044/prosecutor-as-bully
Reddit: I'm Rep Zoe Lofgren & I'm introducing "Aaron's Law" to change the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA)
http://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/16njr9/im_rep_zoe_lofgren_im_introducing_aarons_law_to/
Aaron's Fight is Our Fight
http://www.rootstrikers.org/
US Government Ups Felony Count In JSTOR/Aaron Swartz Case From Four To Thirteen
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120917/17393320412/us-government-ups-felony-count-jstoraaron-swartz-case-four-to-thirteen.shtml
How the Legal System Failed Aaron Swartz—And Us
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2013/01/everyone-interesting-is-a-felon.html
Thanks To The Lori Drew Case, I Can Make Each Of You A Criminal
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20081201/0252082984.shtml
Thomas J. Dolan, Ortiz' husband, attacked Swartz's parents, saying on Twitter: "Truly incredible that in their own son’s obit they blame others for his death and make no mention of the 6-month offer."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/15/tom-dolan-aaron-swartz_n_2479980.html
Many on Twitter were outraged by Dolan's attack on Swartz and his family:
http://betabeat.com/2013/01/tom-dolan-defends-carmen-ortiz-aaron-swartz-twitter/
Tom Dolan bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_J._Dolan
Punitive Damages, Remunerated Research, and the Legal Profession
http://www.stanfordlawreview.org/print/article/punitive-damages-remunerated-research-and-legal-profession
Carmen Ortiz, lead prosecutor of Aaron Swartz
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmen_Ortiz
Aaron Swartz indicted on charges of "wire fraud, computer fraud" etc.
http://kottke.org/11/07/aaron-swartz-indicted-on-charges-of-wire-fraud-computer-fraud-etc
JSTOR Prosecutes User for Downloading Too Much
http://vorpaltrade.blogspot.com/2011/10/jstor-prosecutes-user-for-downloading.html
Another example of prosecutorial overreach:
http://www.wbur.org/2012/11/14/tewksbury-motel-owner-fights-property-seizure
Aaron Swartz's Lawyer: Prosecutor Stephen Heymann Wanted 'Juicy' Case For Publicity
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/14/aaron-swartz-stephen-heymann_n_2473278.html
Carmen Ortiz and Stephen Heymann: accountability for prosecutorial abuse
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jan/16/ortiz-heymann-swartz-accountability-abuse
After Aaron Swartz's Death, the Focus Now Falls On the Prosecutors
http://yro.slashdot.org/story/13/01/16/239259/after-aaron-swartzs-death-the-focus-now-falls-on-the-prosecutors
Prosecutor in Aaron Swartz 'hacking' case comes under fire
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-57564212-38/prosecutor-in-aaron-swartz-hacking-case-comes-under-fire/
Aaron Swartz Lawyer: I Warned Prosecutors Of Suicide Risk
http://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/news/aaron-swartz-lawyer-suicide-104262
"...prosecutors only responded by saying Swartz would have been safe in jail..."
Added 1/21/13:
Harvard Business Review blog: Aaron Swartz's "Crime" and the Business of Breaking the Law
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-21/former-synthes-executive-huggins-sentenced-in-bone-cement-marketing-case.html
This article makes reference to dis-proportionality of punishment in two cases:
Ex-Synthes Officials Get Prison Terms in Bone Drug Case
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-21/former-synthes-executive-huggins-sentenced-in-bone-cement-marketing-case.html
A number of patients were killed when the company decided to evade medical device testing ethics.
Outrageous HSBC Settlement Proves the Drug War is a Joke
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/blogs/taibblog/outrageous-hsbc-settlement-proves-the-drug-war-is-a-joke-20121213
British mega-bank HSBC (former owner of The Money Store, Household Finance, GM Card) managed to avoid all criminal prosecution for multiple, extensive money-laundering schemes. If you would rather have a more sober description of the matter, try Wikipedia's entry on HSBC.
Added 1/21/13:
O'Reilly Giving Away Open Government As Aaron Swartz Tribute
http://news.slashdot.org/story/13/01/21/1644254/oreilly-giving-away-open-government-as-aaron-swartz-tribute
We’re releasing the files for O’Reilly’s Open Government book
http://radar.oreilly.com/2013/01/open-government-files-released.html
Edward Tufte's Defense of Aaron Swartz and the "Marvelously Different"
http://news.slashdot.org/story/13/01/20/1823256/edward-tuftes-defense-of-aaron-swartz-and-the-marvelously-different
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Devices and Internet Services That Read Your Mind
There are increasing numbers of new devices that can collect telltales about your mental state. George Orwell's 1984 may have been an underestimate of the amount of state control of people that may soon be possible.
Your television could soon be watching and listening to you in order to deliver a more personalized experience, and of course a more personalized series of advertisements.
New DVR will use camera and microphone to target advertisements based on recordings of users
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/dvr-camera-microphone-target-advertisements-based-recordings-users-014434311.html
This isn't news, as Google filed its patent back in 2007.
Google TV Might Watch You, According to Patent
http://gizmodo.com/277162/google-tv-might-watch-you-according-to-patent
But companies and governments will be able to go further than just watching and listening to you. Through implantable devices, they will record heart rate, blood pressure, and other chemical signals inside your body. Already Medtronic refuses to share this data with the people who have the devices implanted within them, even though it is their bodies that are the authors of the information stream being collected by the Medtronic device.
Who Owns Your Health Data?
http://science.slashdot.org/story/12/12/03/144245/who-owns-your-health-data
Heart Gadgets Test Privacy-Law Limits
http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB10001424052970203937004578078820874744076-lMyQjAxMTAyMDMwMDEzNDAyWj.html?mod=wsj_valettop_email#project%3DHEARTDATA%26articleTabs%3Darticle
Wearable devices about the size of a standard company ID badge have already been created, tested, and verified in operation. Although the headline purpose is increasing the happiness of employees, you can imagine where else the technology might go.
Can happiness in the enterprise be engineered?
http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/bulletin/can-happiness-in-the-enterprise-be-engineered/7163?tag=nl.e660&s_cid=e660&goback=.gde_138801_member_192315721
The deeper and more technical article on wearable "happiness measurement" badges is at the IEEE site:
Can Technology Make You Happy?
http://spectrum.ieee.org/at-work/innovation/can-technology-make-you-happy
But even if you aren't implanted or badged, there are ways to pick up cues about your mental state. Facebook has dedicated itself to "trying to help users map out all the things they care about and all the things they’re connected to, and to help people discover things through the lens of their friends":
How Facebook’s Top Engineer Is Trying to Read Your Mind
http://www.wired.com/business/2012/11/mike-vernal-facebook/
Your television could soon be watching and listening to you in order to deliver a more personalized experience, and of course a more personalized series of advertisements.
New DVR will use camera and microphone to target advertisements based on recordings of users
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/dvr-camera-microphone-target-advertisements-based-recordings-users-014434311.html
This isn't news, as Google filed its patent back in 2007.
Google TV Might Watch You, According to Patent
http://gizmodo.com/277162/google-tv-might-watch-you-according-to-patent
But companies and governments will be able to go further than just watching and listening to you. Through implantable devices, they will record heart rate, blood pressure, and other chemical signals inside your body. Already Medtronic refuses to share this data with the people who have the devices implanted within them, even though it is their bodies that are the authors of the information stream being collected by the Medtronic device.
Who Owns Your Health Data?
http://science.slashdot.org/story/12/12/03/144245/who-owns-your-health-data
Heart Gadgets Test Privacy-Law Limits
http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB10001424052970203937004578078820874744076-lMyQjAxMTAyMDMwMDEzNDAyWj.html?mod=wsj_valettop_email#project%3DHEARTDATA%26articleTabs%3Darticle
Wearable devices about the size of a standard company ID badge have already been created, tested, and verified in operation. Although the headline purpose is increasing the happiness of employees, you can imagine where else the technology might go.
Can happiness in the enterprise be engineered?
http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/bulletin/can-happiness-in-the-enterprise-be-engineered/7163?tag=nl.e660&s_cid=e660&goback=.gde_138801_member_192315721
The deeper and more technical article on wearable "happiness measurement" badges is at the IEEE site:
Can Technology Make You Happy?
http://spectrum.ieee.org/at-work/innovation/can-technology-make-you-happy
But even if you aren't implanted or badged, there are ways to pick up cues about your mental state. Facebook has dedicated itself to "trying to help users map out all the things they care about and all the things they’re connected to, and to help people discover things through the lens of their friends":
How Facebook’s Top Engineer Is Trying to Read Your Mind
http://www.wired.com/business/2012/11/mike-vernal-facebook/
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Current Web Tracking Trends, Cyberweapons, Espionage
Advertisers are no longer selling bulk clicks or groups of consumers. They are collecting individual users of web sites, and selling each user on that user's particular visit to a web site. The user is automatically auctioned off to the highest bidder by robot software. The number of tracking companies is growing dramatically, and each web site visit may result in sending user browsing data to 50 to 100 different vendors of advertising based on tracking.
Online Tracking Ramps Up
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303836404577472491637833420.html
Behavioral data tracking rising dramatically
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-57456273-83/behavioral-data-tracking-rising-dramatically-q-a/
Facebook said to be launching platform for real-time ad bidding
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57452712-93/facebook-said-to-be-launching-platform-for-real-time-ad-bidding/
Activist coders aim to deafen Phorm with white noise
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/05/16/antiphormlite/
Obama Order Sped Up Wave of Cyberattacks Against Iran
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/01/world/middleeast/obama-ordered-wave-of-cyberattacks-against-iran.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all
U.S., Israel developed Flame computer virus to slow Iranian nuclear efforts, officials say
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-israel-developed-computer-virus-to-slow-iranian-nuclear-efforts-officials-say/2012/06/19/gJQA6xBPoV_story.html
Cyberweapons: Bold steps in a digital darkness?
http://www.thebulletin.org/web-edition/op-eds/cyberweapons-bold-steps-digital-darkness
India's Internet Threat
http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htterr/articles/20120616.aspx
NSA Claims It Would Violate Americans' Privacy To Say How Many of Us It Spied On
http://yro.slashdot.org/story/12/06/19/194216/nsa-claims-it-would-violate-americans-privacy-to-say-how-many-of-us-it-spied-on
Online Tracking Ramps Up
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303836404577472491637833420.html
Behavioral data tracking rising dramatically
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-57456273-83/behavioral-data-tracking-rising-dramatically-q-a/
Facebook said to be launching platform for real-time ad bidding
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57452712-93/facebook-said-to-be-launching-platform-for-real-time-ad-bidding/
Activist coders aim to deafen Phorm with white noise
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/05/16/antiphormlite/
Obama Order Sped Up Wave of Cyberattacks Against Iran
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/01/world/middleeast/obama-ordered-wave-of-cyberattacks-against-iran.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all
U.S., Israel developed Flame computer virus to slow Iranian nuclear efforts, officials say
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-israel-developed-computer-virus-to-slow-iranian-nuclear-efforts-officials-say/2012/06/19/gJQA6xBPoV_story.html
Cyberweapons: Bold steps in a digital darkness?
http://www.thebulletin.org/web-edition/op-eds/cyberweapons-bold-steps-digital-darkness
India's Internet Threat
http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htterr/articles/20120616.aspx
NSA Claims It Would Violate Americans' Privacy To Say How Many of Us It Spied On
http://yro.slashdot.org/story/12/06/19/194216/nsa-claims-it-would-violate-americans-privacy-to-say-how-many-of-us-it-spied-on
Friday, May 4, 2012
Don't Get Bubbled!
Some, or perhaps nearly all, search engines narrow your results based on what they think you will be interested in. But this leads to a problem: You may miss out on new things because the search engine has filtered them out of your results. Instead of helping you find things you want to know, the search engine's filtering system has thrust you down some path based on your earliest inquiries, stranding you in a part of the information forest that looks inviting but omits the surprises you really do want to see.
In other words, using Google, Yahoo, or Bing forces you to have a blind spot in your thinking and searching.
For more, see http://dontbubble.us/
The search engine DuckDuckGo solves this problem by not slanting your results through the storage of past searches. In my short (very short) tests while writing this entry I was very pleasantly surprised. Unlike Cuil, the supposed "wonder search engine" that produced amazingly bad results after a while, DuckDuckGo is pretty, produces Google-quality (or Bing-quality if that's the way you roll) results, and had some very cool extra features.
Five stars.
In other words, using Google, Yahoo, or Bing forces you to have a blind spot in your thinking and searching.
For more, see http://dontbubble.us/
The search engine DuckDuckGo solves this problem by not slanting your results through the storage of past searches. In my short (very short) tests while writing this entry I was very pleasantly surprised. Unlike Cuil, the supposed "wonder search engine" that produced amazingly bad results after a while, DuckDuckGo is pretty, produces Google-quality (or Bing-quality if that's the way you roll) results, and had some very cool extra features.
Five stars.
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