DIGITAL ECONOMY
US and France reach compromise on digital tax
« Officials from France and the United States have reached a compromise on a new French tax on services provided by large internet companies, potentially defusing the threat of a trade conflict between the two countries…” https://edition.cnn.com/2019/08/26/business/digital-tax-france-us/index.html
DATA PROTECTION
On data security, India and France have similar views: Officials
“The two sides are working closely on internet governance and protection of data and steps will also be taken to foster closer collaboration between the national institutions for super computing, the people said ahead of Modi’s two-day visit to France from August 22…” https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/on-data-security-india-and-france-have-similar-views-officials/story-o6jjrvoKyiF2amhyp9FIDP.html
Microsoft Confirms Windows 10 Privacy Investigation With A $4 Billion Sting
« Windows 10 users have more than just updates that break things and critical security warnings to worry about. There’s also the small matter of user data privacy to consider…” https://www.forbes.com/sites/daveywinder/2019/08/28/microsoft-confirms-windows-10-privacy-investigation-with-a-4-billion-sting/#68d6b6be7b1e
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Technology brings positive change, but collateral damage must be minimized : UN official said
« Digital technology has the potential to bring about a sustainable future, but the “collateral damage” of this transition must be mitigated, says the head of the UN’s technology strategy team, Salem Avan…3 https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/08/1045071
ENCRYPTION
Canada “Government’s encryption proposal will undermine public safety”
“In a surprising reversal, the federal government recently abandoned its support for robust encryption — the vital mechanisms and protocols that secure our data against corporate spies, identity thieves and foreign states.” https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2019/08/28/governments-encryption-proposal-will-undermine-public-safety.html
CYBER ATTACK – CYBER SECURITY
Nato: Cyber-attack on one nation is attack on all
« NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has said a cyber attack on a single member state could constitute an attack on all 29 members…” https://www.itpro.co.uk/cyber-warfare/34282/wannacry-style-cyber-attack-could-trigger-full-nato-response-says-secretary
US cyberattack damaged Iran’s ability to target oil tankers, report says
« A database used by Iran’s paramilitary arm to devise attacks against oil tankers was wiped out by a US cyberattack in June, temporarily reducing Tehran’s means of targeting Persian Gulf shipping traffic, according to a Wednesday report from The New York Times…” https://www.cnet.com/news/us-cyberattack-damaged-irans-ability-to-target-oil-tankers-report-says/
Turning Cybersecurity Agreements into Actions
“Cybersecurity agreements want to be game changers. They read as a mix of high-level targets, calls for action and solemn commitments for their supporters…” https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/turning-cybersecurity-agreements-actions-wim-degezelle/
ACCESS
Urgent UN appeal filed over blocking of internet in Papua
« A West Papuan journalist and editor has complained to the United Nations about internet being cut in Papua by Indonesia’s government…” https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/397501/urgent-un-appeal-filed-over-blocking-of-internet-in-papua
Internet access in Brazil reaches 70 pct of population: study
« The share of Brazilians who have access to the internet rose from 67 percent of the population in 2018 to 70 percent in 2019, up by 3 percentage points or 126.9 million people, according to a study published on Wednesday..”. http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-08/29/c_138347637.htm
The Hong Kong Internet Service Providers Association warns that restricting online access would be ruinous for the region
« After Hong Kong’s leader suggested she may invoke emergency powers that could potentially include limiting internet access, one of the city’s biggest industry groups warned that “any such restrictions, however slight originally, would start the end of the open Internet of Hong Kong.” https://techcrunch.com/2019/08/28/the-hong-kong-internet-service-providers-association-warns-that-restricting-online-access-would-be-ruinous-for-the-region/?fbclid=IwAR0WZ5_yNgCUpznGhVer9elDjfXD3wXaMQzdme453Clbz0xkS7PcII8ziLI
CYBER GEOPOLITICS
Russian MPs to investigate foreign interference in its internal affairs
« A Russian parliamentary commission set up to investigate foreign interference in the country’s internal affairs and which the opposition decries as another tool for authorities to undermine the Moscow protests met for the first time on Friday…” https://www.euronews.com/2019/08/23/russian-mps-to-investigate-foreign-interference-in-its-internal-affairs
US-China tensions are threatening an undersea internet cable between the two countries
« In yet another byproduct of continued tensions between the US and China, a national security review is reportedly scrutinizing an undersea internet cable between the US and China that’s supported by both Google and Facebook — potentially leading to the US’ first-ever denial of such a cable over national security…” https://bgr.com/2019/08/28/undersea-internet-cable-threatened-us-vs-china/
Undersea cables link Australia to Pacific
« Thousands of kilometres of underwater data cables connecting Australia to two of its Pacific neighbours has made land in Sydney…” https://au.news.yahoo.com/undersea-cables-australia-pacific-035542844–spt.html
Cable to China backed by Google, Facebook jeopardized by tensions with US
« U.S. officials are looking to block an undersea cable backed by Google, Facebook and a Chinese company on national security grounds, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday…” https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/459117-cable-to-china-backed-by-google-facebook-jeopardized-by-tensions
China’s internet user number hits 854 million: report
« The number of internet users in China had hit 854 million as of June 2019, with the internet availability rate reaching 61.2 percent, according to a report on China’s internet development released Friday…” http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-08/30/c_138350773.htm
CHILD ONLINE PROTECTION
Facebook Admits ‘Technical Error’ In Messenger Kids App Connected Children With Strangers
“Facebook acknowledged in a letter to two Democratic senators on Thursday that a design flaw in its Messenger Kids app allowed children under the age of 13 participate in group chats with strangers and without their parents permission, essentially sidestepping one of the core security features of the app…” https://www.forbes.com/sites/mnunez/2019/08/29/facebook-admits-technical-error-in-messenger-kids-app-connected-children-with-strangers/#3e3a452baebe
YouTube Is Creating a New Website That Puts All of Its Problems With Kids’ Videos in One Place
« YouTube has built a separate kids-only website in the wake of growing concerns about the platform showing disturbing videos to children…” https://gizmodo.com/youtube-is-creating-a-new-website-that-puts-all-of-its-1837675321
HATE SPEECH ONLINE
Macron says U.S. did not join charter against online hate speech
« The United States did not sign up to a charter against online hate speech at the G7 summit for legal reasons, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday after the end of the meeting…” https://www.reuters.com/article/us-g7-summit-internet-charter/macron-says-us-did-not-join-charter-against-online-hate-speech-idUSKCN1VG1VZ
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Alibaba’s Jack Ma and Tesla’s Elon Musk’s Interesting AI Debate in Shanghai
“Shanghai just hosted Tesla’s CEO and founder Elon Musk, and none other than Jack Ma, billionaire, and co-founder of Alibaba was on stage with him. The two genius businessmen sat down at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference this year to discuss the role of artificial intelligence (AI) and how it will shape our future…” https://interestingengineering.com/alibabas-jack-ma-and-teslas-elon-musks-interesting-ai-debate-in-shanghai
CONTENT POLICY
Australia to Block Domain Names That Host Extremist Content During Attacks
“Following the Christchurch massacre in March which resulted in the killing of 51 worshippers at two New Zealand mosques, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison while attending the G7 summit in France, said the government will establish a new framework to block domains linked to violent attacks….” http://www.circleid.com/posts/20190826_australia_to_block_domains_hosting_extremist_content_in_attacks/
Internet Governance updates 