Rebecca MacKinnon › Comments

"IPv6 represents a turning point for the Internet, but one which will take another 5 to 10 years to fully materialize. Some may see this transitional period as an opportunity to propose alternative mechanisms for the management of either IPv6 address allocations, or indeed the Internet itself. However in the absence of any evidence or consensus that a new approach would be beneficial, or that challenges related to IPv6 adoption and transition cannot be managed through the systems, the RIRs will continue to operate as proven, open and inclusive, multi-stakeholder organizations; indeed as some of the best examples of effective Internet Governance which can be found in the world today. " - Rebecca MacKinnon

“由天津政务网和北方网联合策划、共同举办的《政民零距离》栏目，于10月20日正式开通。该栏目集网民提交信息、督察办理效率、反馈办理结果、统计办理情况、评价结果满意度等功能于一体，让公众通过互联网就可以反映建议、意见并得到解决和反馈，在政府与百姓之间搭建起服务的平台。” - Rebecca MacKinnon

"China's Minister of Public Security Meng Jianzhu has called for full application of the information technology in improving the police force's crime prevention and control system. Meng made the remarks during an inspection tour to east China's Anhui Province from Oct. 30 to 31. To safeguard national security and maintain public stability, information technology was indispensable, he said. Greater efforts should be made in sharing information to establish an integrated mechanism of combating, preventing and controlling crimes, Meng said. He also urged close cooperation between the public security departments and technological enterprises." - Rebecca MacKinnon

"The first Guangdong Province Netizen Forum, held in the provincial capital Guangzhou on November 1, 2009 is a sign of the growing importance of the Internet as an expression of Chinese public opinion, Chinanews.com.cn reports. The forum sponsors said their aim is to transmit the views of grass-roots netizens to the government and boost the participation of Internet users in public life. Internet use has spread rapidly across China over the past ten years and Guangdong has more Internet users than any other province. Guangdong Party Secretary Wang Yang has held discussions with netizens and invited them to voice their criticisms of government. He has also said the government wants to create ways for the public to participate in policy making and turn public opinion into a form of soft power to improve Guangdong." - Rebecca MacKinnon

China's Culture Ministry has accused the publishing watchdog of abusing its authority by threatening access to the popular online game, World of Warcraft, stoking bureaucratic rivalry over control of the Internet. - Rebecca MacKinnon

"The country's police chief said the rapid development of the Internet has posed a new challenge to maintaining social stability, as he called for a comprehensive security system covering both the real and virtual worlds. The rare remarks by Minister of Public Security Meng Jianzhu signal more government attention to online opinions but also stricter control on online expression, experts said. "Currently, the overall social order is good ... but the rapid development of the Internet and loopholes in social management are posing unprecedented challenges to maintaining a stable society," Meng said at a seminar with police chiefs from across the country on Sunday in Hefei, Anhui province, according to a transcript posted on the ministry's website yesterday." - Rebecca MacKinnon

“过去网上‘华山论剑’，今天珠岛‘会面拍砖’！欢迎大家！”17日上午，中共中央政治局委员、省委书记汪洋，省长黄华华邀请数十位网民来到广州，请网友们共同为广东科学发展“灌水”、“拍砖”。省委常委、宣传部长林雄以及省直有关单位负责人也参加了座谈会，听取网民提出的意见建议。 汪洋：这是第一次但绝不是最后一次 “我可以告诉大家这是第一次，但绝不是最后一次。”汪洋的一句话给到场的网友们极大鼓舞，他说，将来或许不只是我们在做。他和黄华华想用行动，让广东的各级党委政府更加重视网络民意，重视网络民主平台，更好地发挥其作用。 - Rebecca MacKinnon

11月1日上午10点，第一届“潮涌珠江——广东网民论坛”在广东科学中心正式开坛，108名网友从“线上”走到“线下”，跟受邀参会的政府官员、专家学者面对面拍砖灌水。 　　据了解，“潮涌珠江——广东网民论坛”是广东省委宣传部的指导下，由南方报业传媒集团、广东省网络文化协会主办，南都报系·奥一网承办的一个品牌性网络论坛。论坛计划从今年开始每年举办一届高端论坛，每月组织线下的拍砖会性质的小型聚会，主要为了凝聚广东网民的集体智慧，激发普通民众参政热情，汇集智者的发聩之声，借全球网民之力，推动广东发展。 - Rebecca MacKinnon

"South Korea touts itself as one of the most wired and technology savvy countries in the world. But the Lee Myung-bak government's increasing attempts to monitor the Internet have the blogosphere and Web industry reminded of the cold realities of the real world behind the screen. The National Assembly passed the new anti-file sharing provision, suggested by the ruling Grand National Party (GNP), following a close vote April 1, despite protests from Internet companies and civil liberties advocates that it could threaten the freedom of expression on the Internet. " - Rebecca MacKinnon

did you read about their treatment of 'Minerva' in Wired? doesn't speak well for democracy: http://www.wired.com/magazin... - Sean Meade

"Analysts said that Huawei's business was mainly focused on developing areas presently, such as China, Africa and South America, where it is relatively easy for the company to snatch profits. As for developed countries, the BDA executive Fang Meiqin believed that Huawei's opportunities mainly lay in the 4G telecoms industry, as it had been a latecomer in the 3G era. " - Rebecca MacKinnon

"Assuming the executive branch is still fighting terrorists as fiercely as necessary to protect Americans, the need for oversight on privacy and civil liberties remains as vital as it was immediately after the Sept. 11 attacks. Nonetheless, President Obama and Congress appear to have dropped the ball." - Rebecca MacKinnon

"Today anonymous dissenters are unlikely to be punished in democratic countries. But the law in South Korea makes it easy for the government to unmask troublesome writers. Every account on Daum and other major sites is associated with a national ID number. In Minerva’s case, Daum promptly handed over his IP address, which led the police directly to Park’s door." - Rebecca MacKinnon

excellent PPT presentation - Rebecca MacKinnon

——我市检察机关成立“网络正义卫士”，切实加强网络宣传引导 2009年7月，为提高政治意识、强化舆情引导，根据上级检察院的部署和要求，我市检察机关成立以“网络正义卫士”为名的网络兼职评论员队伍，推动网络舆情公开公正、及时透明，维护党和政府以及检察机关的良好形象。一是加强组织领导，提高队伍战斗力。由院党组成员、政治处主任叶红担任主要负责人，从各部门抽调近80名思想政治坚定、工作经验丰富、文字功底较好、熟悉网络操作的检察干警，分成6个工作小组开展工作，定期召开碰头会进行研究，有力保障网评员队伍的质量和战斗力。二是开展学习教育，明确职责要求。认真组织学习《关于组建检察机关互联网兼职评论员的暂行办法》等文件，明确网评员所担负的重要使命和具体任务，进一步增强工作责任感和事业心。同时，加强对网评员的纪律教育，要求网评员做到严守保密要求、严守政治纪律、严守工作秘密。三是抓住工作重点，有效开展工作。把天涯社区等网络论坛和新浪网等新闻网站作为网络舆情的重要来源，充分利用业余时间浏览有关信息，及时向主管领导反馈情况。对网络上出现的涉检负面新闻和失实报道，网评员都能以高度的政治责任感，积极发帖质疑和反驳，引导网民正确思考，努力还原事实真相，取得较好的政治效果和社会效果。 - Rebecca MacKinnon

"I still think it is the adults, not the children, who are living on fantasy island. I would add that the fantasists include many of the IPR lawyers, domain name registrars, corporate counsel, sales and marketing staff and lobbyists of the Internet industry. Unfortunately they are busy sabotaging the bridges and boats that would allow the rest of us to escape to the mainland. The time has come for users of all ages to call on politicians to ensure that the same law really does apply on-line as off-line - and that the creeping erosion of consumers rights, not just responsibilities, is stopped - not just in court by those who can afford it. " - Rebecca MacKinnon

"广东省政府相关负责人表示，设立网络发言人有利于政府部门之间工作和谐，步调一致。网络时代，群众会提出各种各样的问题，我们的政府部门如何应答，不能张三一个答复，李四一个解释，最后，群众也糊涂了。政府部门设立发言人，就是要有一个权威声音，让群众能够信服。" - Rebecca MacKinnon

"The Department of Justice has finally admitted it in court papers: The nation’s telecom companies are an arm of the government — at least when it comes to secret spying. Fortunately, a judge says that relationship isn’t enough to squash a rights group’s open records request for communications between the nation’s telecoms and the feds." - Rebecca MacKinnon

"the vice president for corporate development warned that attacks on free speech are becoming more common as countries copy the censorship strategies of their neighbours. He wants governments who support freedom of expression to intervene and put pressure on other leaders when they negotiate treaties. Google hopes web freedom can become a demand from one country to another when they sign trade agreements." - Rebecca MacKinnon

"Journey with us to a state where an unaccountable panel of censors vets 95 per cent of citizens’ domestic internet connections. The content coming into each home is checked against a mysterious blacklist by a group overseen by nobody, which keeps secret the list of censored URLs not just from citizens, but from internet service providers themselves. And until recently, few in that country even knew the body existed. Are we in China? Iran? Saudi Arabia? No – the United Kingdom, in 2009. This month, we ask: Who watches the Internet Watch Foundation?" - Rebecca MacKinnon

"Bross’s experience with BT — and his in depth knowledge of the details of 21CN — will give Huawei a significant advantage as it develops its role as one of the industry’s premium vendors. An American accent, voiced by a weighty champion of all-IP, will go a long way to helping Huawei win sales with US and other significant operators worldwide. " - Rebecca MacKinnon

"I know there are political realities for the Senate Judiciary Committee members, but they ought to get over their apparent fear of "looking soft on terrorism," and realize that the best weapon we have to fight terrorism is to uphold the Constitution. " - Rebecca MacKinnon

Chinese officials who use the Internet to improve governance. - Rebecca MacKinnon

"NBR is leading a multi-year project to analyze and inform U.S. and Chinese leaders on the policy implications of (1) China’s approach to standards, (2) stakeholder involvement in standards setting in China, and (3) the relationship between standards and innovation. This ongoing, multinational initiative builds on a ground-breaking, five-year NBR research project on intellectual property rights in China that featured meetings in Beijing, Shanghai, and Chongqing. The China Standards and Innovation Policy initiative, which has convened workshops with leading scholars, industry executives, and policymakers from the United States, Europe, and Asia, has resulted in a series of top-quality publications and dozens of briefings for government and industry leaders in both the United States and China." - Rebecca MacKinnon

"ICANN is on the cusp of improving the effectiveness of the NCUC, and through them the wider public interest that goes beyond the interests of individual registrars, trademark holders, etc. " - Rebecca MacKinnon

"The organization established to provide management of Internet names and numbers is finally becoming internationalized. Will ICANN shape up at last?" - Rebecca MacKinnon

"Researchers predict that more than one billion people around the world will be using mobile broadband by 2012." - Rebecca MacKinnon

"the clear momentum at present is against any kind of meaningful change to the sweeping surveillance powers Congress has granted the government in recent years." - Rebecca MacKinnon

"Isn't it so interesting how the phrase "Patriot Act" was the symbol of everything Democrats claimed to find so heinous during the Bush years, but now that there's a Democratic President, Senate and Congress, it's absolutely certain that the Patriot Act will continue, and civil libertarians are reduced to hoping that there may be some tiny modifications to it, and even that's highly unlikely?" - Rebecca MacKinnon

"Electronic Frontiers Australia spokesman Geordie Guy said it was unclear if the draft Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Amendment Bill was an "attempt to sneak through" a wholesale expansion of intercepts of private emails and file-sharing or merely a badly drafted bill." - Rebecca MacKinnon

"...the next question to ask is whether this industry will undertake this transition at all if left to its own devices. It may well be the case that this is another instance of a public good with common interest implications, in that the problem of undertaking the transition is simultaneously a problem that is in every consumer's common interest as a desirable outcome, yet lies in no individual consumer's sphere of immediate self interest. If this is indeed the case, then we may be facing a situation of a market failure with this transition, in which case we may need to contemplate some for of additional impetus in the form of a response to stimulating a viable and efficient market for what is at present a public good of the transition to IPv6." - Rebecca MacKinnon