ALA Press Release:
In the fourth of a series of reports regarding technology access in U.S. public libraries, the American Library Association (ALA) Office for Research & Statistics (ORS) is highlighting how public library technology supports public access and use of e-government information and resources. The issues brief draws from national data published in the Public [...]
Archive of entries posted on June 2009
Roles of public library technology in supporting E-government highlighted in new issues brief
White House Tape Recordings and Textual Materials
NARA Press Release:
On June 23, 2009, the Nixon Presidential Library will be opening approximately 154 hours of tape recordings from the Nixon White House recorded in January and February 1973 and consisting of approximately 994 conversations. The conversations cover topics such as the conclusion of a peace settlement between the United States and the Democratic [...]
In Defense of Google Books
From Reuters:
The bottom line on Book Search is that if you want to construct doomsday scenarios about how Google’s Larry Page and Sergey Brin will partner with Dr. Evil to suddenly shut off our access to hundreds of years of knowledge, you can. But nothing we know about Google or about the book business gives [...]
US lodges China censorship complaint
From the Financial Times:
The US has complained officially to China over its strict new internet censorship rules as tension builds over an issue causing consternation among international technology companies and Chinese internet users.
The development is a rare direct intervention by the US over internet freedom, which has steadily risen in importance as an issue between [...]
Japan Strengthens Copyright Law
From Billboard:
The Japanese parliament has passed an amendment to the existing Copyright Law that extends further protections to copyright holders and, for the first time, makes it illegal for private users to download copyrighted material that has been uploaded without the rights holders’ permission.
The new statute will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2010 but [...]
U.K. plans universal access to high-speed Internet
From the Mercury News:
Britain’s government pledged today to provide universal access to broadband Internet connections as part of a plan to spur the country’s technology sector and boost the economy.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said today that high-speed Internet access has become as “indispensable as electricity, gas and water” for most of the public.
NZ copyright bill reborn?
From Stuff.co.nz:
InternetNZ has slammed moves to redraft a controversial section of copyright law, saying the Government is cutting corners and trying to impose a “broken remedy”.
Section 92a would have obliged internet service providers (ISPs) to terminate the accounts of repeat copyright infringers “in reasonable circumstances”, but was canned in March after opposition from critics who [...]
From Canada – Tories seek to widen police access online
From The Globe and Mail:
Police will have sweeping new powers to collect information about Canadian Internet users without a warrant, and activate tracking devices in their cellphones and cars under legislation proposed by the Conservative government yesterday and criticized by privacy advocates as excessive.
If the government’s latest shot at introducing “lawful access” legislation – something [...]
China disables some search functions on Google
From the Mercury News:
The Chinese government disabled some search engine functions on the Chinese-language Web site of Google on Friday, saying the site was linking too often to pornographic and vulgar content. Government officials met with managers of the Chinese operations of Google on Thursday afternoon to warn them that the company would be punished [...]
Internet has changed foreign policy for ever, says Gordon Brown
From the Guardian:
Foreign policy can never be the same again — and it’s all because of the internet, Gordon Brown said in an exclusive interview with the Guardian.
Referring to the so-called Twitter revolution in Iran, the prime minister said technological advances and the democratisation of information mean “foreign policy can no longer be the province [...]