American policymakers face an increasingly complex set of choices about whether to permit commerce with “repressive regimes” for core internet technologies. The more straightforward cases involve prohibitions on US import of critical network technology from states that we suspect may include surveillance backdoors. For example, fears of “cyber espionage” have fueled a push for import […]
No Longer Bit Players: Internet Governance & Economic Growth in Developing Countries
December 3, 2012 by
The 200 sovereign state members of the United Nations International Telecommunications Union (ITU) will gather in Dubai this week for the World Conference of International Telecommunications (WCIT). The WCIT is a treaty developed to facilitate global interconnection and interoperability between telecommunications carriers. The treaty was last reviewed in 1988, an era where the majority of telecommunications networks […]
Congressman Issa's "Internet Law Freeze": Appealing but Impractical
November 29, 2012 by
This week, Congressman Darrell Issa released a draft bill that would prevent Congress and administrative agencies from creating any new internet-related laws, rules, or regulations. The Internet American Moratorium Act (IAMA) is a rhetorical stake in the ground for the notion that the government should “keep its hands off the internet.” In the wake of […]
Voting machine lawsuit, oral arguments, venue change
November 27, 2012 by
For those who were considering attending the oral arguments December 4th of the appeal of the Gusciora lawsuit about New Jersey’s voting machines–which I encourage you to do–the location has been changed from Jersey City to Trenton. Location: 8th Floor, N. Wing, Hughes Justice Complex, Trenton, NJ. Date/time: December 4th, 2012, 10:00 a.m. Postponed until […]
Facebook Copyright Statement: Not Entirely Silly
November 27, 2012 by
There’s a meme going around on Facebook, saying that you should post a certain legal incantation on your Facebook wall, to reclaim certain rights that Facebook would otherwise be taking from you. There’s an interesting counter-meme in the press now, saying that all of this is pointless and of course you can’t change your rights […]
