Archive for: government
- December 14, 2010 6:29 am
In the never-ending assault on our wallets, taxes swoop in to pummel us when we’re done and spitting up blood. Though, given the current economic climate it’s certainly understandable governments are trying just about anything and everything they can to make a buck. With that said, one popular solution that has been proposed in several countries around the world before is a tax on SMS/Text messages. The latest person to call for such a thing — the UK Transport Union leader, Bob Crow.
His 1 cent per text proposal would generate upwards of £1 billion extra for the economy. However, it’s hardly a drop in the bucket when you look at the bigger picture — a staggering (and growing) 2010/11 budge deficit of £149 billion.
From a capitalists perspective, it makes sense to tax SMS messages like you would any other communication service. For consumers however, it’s just *insert local currency here* out of our wallets.
*Facepalm* When are corporate entities going to realize the almighty dollar is not always the most important factor? I’m referring to a recent decision by the UK Government to forgo any browser upgrades as they had been planning. Instead, the whole lot of ‘em will continue pushing IE6 as the standard affair.
It’s quite sad when the browser’s own parent company, Microsoft, repeatedly knocks the browser for being old, slow, and insecure, the UK Government still considers it a viable option. When looking solely at monetary aspects, sure, IE6 may save a few pennies. But after being in the corporate IT world myself for many years, I can tell you that moving from browser to browser is not as big of a hassle as the UK Government is playing it off to be.
The Brits cite Microsoft’s willingness to update and patch IE6 until 2014. For the sake of everyone UK Government employee’s sanity, I hope to God they jump ship to greener pastures long before the deadline. Any official employees care to weigh in?
Leave it to the U.S. Gov’t to come up with one of the worst ideas known to man kind. Much like other places around the world are unfairly subjected to bogus taxes on electronics under the false guise of “saving the music industy, movie industry, journalism, etc”, our own government is now falling in line. Specifically, the FTC and the U.S. Gov’t are releasing some suggestions as to how the country as a whole might be able to “save journalism”.
The forefront of this new plan — a 5% tax on all electronic goods…
Specifically, the tax is suggested to include (but is not limited to): iPads, iPods, iPhones, laptops, desktop PCs, Macs, netbooks, Zunes, Sansas, Creative MP3 players, digital cameras, video cameras, Android smart phones, Nintendo DS’s, PSP Go’s, Xbox 360s, Wiis, and the PS3. And this — all in the name of “saving journalism”…
I don’t normally go too deep into politics here because (1) this isn’t a politics blog and (2)….I just don’t like politics. Pretty good reasons eh? Regardless of your knack for politics however, if there’s any ounce of interest in anything digital within your head, you should be at least a little interested/worried about ACTA (anti-counterfeiting trade agreement). The repercussions from such a law have truly wide ranging effects.
For those that don’t, the main gist is that it’s a bill being drafted to supposedly stamp out piracy and make the world a happier place. In actuality, it screws over legitimate users more than ever, complete removes rights of accused with a “shoot first, ask questions later” approaches, and blatantly echoes the wishes and rules of big corporate lobbyists more-so than the wants and needs of consumers. And of course, the fact that the government is fighting tooth and nail to keep ACTA locked up behind closed doors only means it’s a lose-lose situation for end users. All-in-all, ACTA is one of the worst crafted “tech bills” in the history of man, and the US government is trying their hardest to force it upon other nations, labeling those that don’t comply as “black-listed”. But there’s hope…
One of the stronger pro-copyright/IP places on the planet — the EU — has actually pulled quite the odd move. EU Parliament voted 663 to 13 against ACTA, citing that it went against various EU laws, one chief example being the Lisbon Treaty.
MEPs will go to the Court of Justice if the EU does not reject ACTA rules, including cutting off users from the Internet “gradually” if caught stealing content.
For a body of government and peoples who are generally much stronger on copyright law than we are here in the US, it’s a huge signaling that maybe, just maybe, a few politicians out there have some common sense.
I can only hope other countries come to their senses and recognize what a grave injustice and completely one-sided affair ACTA really is, and that the only people it benefits are those on the receiving end of the settlement payments. Keep speaking out folks, someone could actually be listening…
TechDirt > Euractiv
Terrorists and normal civillians residing in Saudi Arabia have something new to worry about this week — security in regards to BlackBerry Messenger and BlackBerry handhelds overall. It’s no secret that RIM has an amazingly secure platform and network with the BlackBerry. Sadly, the bad guys have realized this too and have made heavy use of the encrypted and untouchable platform, angering many governments around the globe. The Saudi gov’t has had enough however and is calling on RIM to let them have full access as to properly track and arrest terrorits and other criminals.
This reasoning of “security” seems noble and honest. And on many levels, it would extremely helpful (if not at least providing some peace of mind) to break down another aspect of terrorists lives. But at what cost? The privacy of millions of Saudi’s and potentially the entire world is at stake. What starts as a security/anti-terrorism movement can easily be turned into a Big Brother from hell landscape whenever the government sees it fit to pry into every corner of our lives. However RIM and the Saudi gov’t react will set a precedent for the entire world for if one gov’t can gain VIP access to the BB network, others will follow.
As is the same in many other areas of security and gov’t, at some point, the “added security or safety” is greatly outweighed by the freedoms and privacy taken away. I for one hope RIM doesn’t back down. If the Saudi gov’t then decides to ban BlackBerry sales because terrorists use them, so be it. That’s just the way it is. I just hope by the time my kids have kids that there is still some form of “privacy” on this planet.
Should the Saudi gov’t be given “behind-the-scenes” access to RIM’s BlackBerry Messenger to help fight terrorism or are the added security holes and potential issues further down the line too detremimental to basic privacy? Are the benefits and real world results going to be outweighed by the cons?
Cellular-News
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EU residents may want to write/call/email/text their local governments and let them know any bill or law that drops data retention limits from 12 months to 6 is a bad idea. Especially so because if it does pass, Google Street View will be no more. They’re stating that if data retention limits are lowered for the original unblurred images from twelve to six months, the accuracy, integrity, and overall usefulness will be dimished. After those 6-months, if Google wants fresh unblurred images, they’ll have to drive all over kingdom come again, resnapping life as it happens. The short answer would be to hire more Street View drivers to scan more often. But is that really the answer?
I just can’t see the reasoning behind the “privacy” motives if the images will still be online for many months at a time. What’s the difference in a screen capture from Street View whether it’s six or twelve months? Am I missing something here?
Bloomberg
What’s better than an already over-restrictive and anti-consumer digital based bill moving through an technologically intellectual congress? How about censorship? Yes folks, it appears more countries and governments want to be exactly like China and their “great firewall” in every way. Under the guise of “copyright protection” lawmakers site that such blocking measures would help protect IP and make the planet an overall better place to live. Riiiiight. Regardless of what is being blocked, once the government (and to some extent corporate lobbyists) are allowed to selectively censor and takedown any website they choose, what’s to stop them from overstepping their boundaries and taking down legitimate sites?
Sites such as YouTube and countless other social sites that have TB’s worth of user generated content will now instantly be subject to instant removal because some label or IP holder feels threatened from someone’s stupid dog dancing to their precious one hit wonder while wearing that super special design on their shirt that almost looks too close to said companies own logo. (Longest sentence in the world award anyone….?)
It’s worth noting that the geniuses that run the Australian government are already pushing for similar laws and the Obama administration is no doubt getting the same heat from IP holders/big corporate entities daily here in the states. I certainly hope someone starts to grow either a brain or a spine soon and realizes how bassakwards current policies are heading.
The fix is simple: handle each case individually as no two cases are ever the same. A blanket law or punishment will never be appropriate enough. If I lived in the UK right now, I’d start getting worried.
Who’s ready to start their own colony away from idiotic, anti-consumer, technologically incompetent people? The line starts here…
TechDirt > Open Rights Group
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- February 22, 2010 3:08 am
After a brief 15-month hiatus, it looks like personal flash drives will once again be allowed inside the Department of Justice. Spurred by a rash of virus outbreaks and compromised computers, the DoD enacted the ban back in late 2008 to get a grip on the damaging and stubborn malware war path.
Don’t go all hogwild just yet though, bringing in a bin of flash drives and relying on them for home and work use. The new decree strictly mentions “mission critical” jobs as the only time in which flash drives can be used. So simple flyers for DoD employee of the month and luncheons probably won’t fit the bill. Sorry.
And not any old flash drive will do. Only a select few drives from only a couple of manufacturers have enough password or encryption security to stand up to the military’s and DoD’s strict standards. With that said, such high security features mean your little Hello Kitty talking head flash drive probably won’t cut it. To some, that’s a blessing. Hey, at least it’s good to see the DoD moving back to 2002 tech again, is it not? Flash drives FTW!!
DefenseNews
- February 10, 2010 4:55 pm
While the controversy around Google and China continues to push on, albeit at a more subdued tone, someone else looks to be crawling into the brawl. Iran, the most favorite country in the world has announced today that it plans to completely block any and all access to Gmail. The reasoning given by government officials to the WallStreet Journal claim that it is to “further technological innovation” within the country and that a nationalized email system will be rolled out to everyone.
It really does strike a heart string for me even though I’m no where near Iran. I mean, the government murders people, takes away completely legitimate internet services and access without any real reasoning, and ultimately censors everything that reaches the people. Not to mention, a “nationalized” email system is the last thing I would ever use. Having the type of government that Iran’s government is breathing down my neck and monitory my email at any given point is that last thing I’d ask for.
One other question I’d like to raise is “Why?” Why is Iran going up against Google now? Perhaps the same thing can be asked of why Google suddenly took it’s stance that it did with China. Though the circumstances here between Iran and Google are a bit different. Either way, normal citizens are going to lose out.
Censorship or meddling by the government into such deep and personal levels of our lives is BS. Yet another topic for another post at another time I suppose. Any Iranian readers (if you can even read this anymore) care to chime in on these new developments?
BoingBoing
WSJ
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