From the International Herald Tribune:
In the early stages of its planning, the European Digital Library held the promise of a counterstrike to Google domination of digital archives through the search engine’s vast book search project and powerful alliances with American universities.
But as the European project prepares for its debut early next year, the 80 museums, [...]
Archive of entries posted on October 2007
European libraries face problems in digitalizing
DNI Discloses National Intelligence Program Budget
From Secrecy News:
As required by law, the Director of National Intelligence today disclosed (pdf) that the budget for the National Intelligence Program in Fiscal Year 2007 was $43.5 billion.
The disclosure was strongly resisted by the intelligence bureaucracy, and for that very reason it may have significant repercussions for national security classification policy.
A geriatric assault on Italy’s bloggers
From The Times Online:
Italy’s leaders barely understand word processors, let alone the web. Now they’ve turned against the country’s bloggers.
Recently, Italian lawmakers once again took aim at modern life, introducing an incredibly broad law that would effectively require all bloggers, and even users of social networks, to register with the state. Even a harmless blog [...]
Uruguay buys first ‘$100 laptops’
From BBC News:
The first official order for the so-called “$100 laptop” has been placed by the government of Uruguay.
The South American country has bought 100,000 of the machines for schoolchildren aged six to 12.
A further 300,000 may be purchased to provide a machine for every child in the country by 2009.
Music takedown strikes the wrong chord
From the Toronto Star:
Michael Geist discusses the complexities of international copyright law and the International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP).
Obama pledges Net neutrality laws if elected president
From News.com:
If elected president, Barack Obama plans to prioritize, well, barring broadband providers like AT&T and Comcast from prioritizing Internet content.
Affixing his signature to federal Net neutrality rules would be high on the list during his first year in the Oval Office, the junior senator from Illinois said during an interactive forum Monday afternoon with [...]
Kremlin Seeks To Extend Its Reach in Cyberspace
From the Washington Post:
After ignoring the Internet for years to focus on controlling traditional media such as television and newspapers, the Kremlin and its allies are turning their attention to cyberspace, which remains a haven for critical reporting and vibrant discussion in Russia’s dwindling public sphere.
Allies of President Vladimir Putin are creating pro-government news and [...]
Archive seeks to discover true extent of missing e-mails at White House; Demands the initiation of discovery to ensure Executive Office of the President cannot render judicial preservation decisions meaningless
From the National Security Archive:
The National Security Archive filed a motion on Friday, October 26, seeking expedited discovery against the Executive Office of the President to find out what e-mails are missing from the White House e-mail system or backup tapes.
Fox Orders Halt to McCain Ad
From the New York Times’ political blog The Caucus:
Fox News Channel confirms that it has ordered the campaign of Senator John McCain to cancel its new ad featuring a clip of him at last Sunday’s debate, which was sponsored by Fox News. The news network prohibits candidates from using debate clips in their political advertisements.
The [...]
The Council of Europe adopts Guidelines on protecting freedom of expression and information in times of crisis
From the Council of Europe:
The Council of Europe Committee of Ministers just adopted several important documents related to the challenges freedom of expression and information face today in its 47 Member States. The Committee adopted Guidelines on protecting freedom of expression and information in times of crisis, a Declaration in which it calls on Member [...]