Does the Federal Arbitration Act preempt a state court’s decision that class action bans within arbitration clauses are unenforceable? AT&T hopes so, and the Supreme Court will hear arguments on this case tomorrow.
The European Commission and Parliament are holding a daylong meeting to discuss net neutrality and related issues.
AFP reports that European Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding wants the EU to expand its online privacy rules, aiming at the goal of allowing users to have control over their data. Short excerpt:
“People should be able to give their informed consent to the processing of their personal data, for example when surfing online, and should have the ‘right to be forgotten’ when their data is no longer needed or they want their data to be deleted,” the commission said.
From CBC News comes word that the Tories in Canada are seeking to implement legislation that would allow for the interception of online communications and the warrantless collection of information from ISPs. The purported motive behind the legislation is to increase law enforcement effectiveness against online crime involving pornography, child predators, identity theft, and terrorist activities.
AFP has a story on a pending Internet law in Syria that will result government oversight of online publishing by the Information Ministry and make it easier for the government to shutdown sites which it finds objectionable. Some 240 websites are already blocked in Syria, according to a human rights activist interviewed by AFP.
Spencer Ackerman at Wired’s Danger Room reports on the standing-up of US Cyber Command. Ackerman spells out the official role of the Command, noting it is largely a reactive force and will only intervene on behalf of the public and private sector networks during emergencies.
Audrey Watters at Read, Write, Web reports that the group Anonymous launched a DDOS attack on the US Copyright Website yesterday, rendering the site inoperable for upwards of a half hour and causing delays for a few hours more. Watters comments on the use of DDOS attacks as an emerging form of political activism, and warns of “fireworks,” on Nov. 5, likely an homage to Alan Moore’s V for Vendetta.
Given the context of last week’s Yemen-to-Chicago bomb scare, how do we secure in-flight Wi-Fi networks so that terrorists are unable to use them for destructive ends?
Post Tech had a Q&A with a Tivo VP who suggested, in part, that the internet would not completely displace cable and satellite, but would come to complement and merge with it.
Former NC tobacco town, trying to build and maintain a fiber network, settles with a local telco association over a records dispute as part of its ongoing legal battles. As Wilson’s city manager put it, “I think this won’t be the last time we have a court case with Time Warner.”
Marvin Ammori 