Category Archives: Facebook

Much ado about……what exactly?

Posted on February 2, 2013 by

  In a blog I wrote in March, 2011, I quoted Robert Madelin, the then newly appointed Director-General of DG Connect. Speaking about the role of self-regulation as a mechanism for making the internet a better place for children Madelin said … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertising, Consent, Default settings, E-commerce, Facebook, Google, Internet governance, Location, Microsoft, Mobile phones, Privacy, Regulation, Self-regulation

Facebook’s Safety Advisory Board

Posted on January 21, 2013 by

  The Facebook narrative in the online child protection space seeks to position the company somewhere in the vicinity of Mother Theresa, Gandhi and a very large but cool cuddly teddy bear.  Soft, virtuous and hip. Unless Facebooks start paying … Continue reading →

Posted in Facebook, Internet governance, Privacy, Regulation, Self-regulation

Non-Disclosure Agreements – enforced silence?

Posted on January 16, 2013 by

  Over the years I have worked for many different high tech companies. As I recall in each case under the contractual agreement I entered into there was either an implied or, more often, an express term requiring me to … Continue reading →

Posted in Consent, Default settings, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Privacy, Regulation, Self-regulation

COPPA – probably not the last word

Posted on January 9, 2013 by

  The COPPA Rule is an online child protection measure. It was adopted and became Federal law in the USA under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, 1998. The Rule came into effect in 2000. It governs key data collection and advertising practices … Continue reading →

Posted in Age verification, Default settings, E-commerce, Facebook, Google, Internet governance, Mobile phones, Privacy, Regulation, Self-regulation

The devil is in the detail

Posted on November 21, 2012 by

  Last Saturday the Daily Mail carried a detailed account of the Prime Minister’s views on how online child safety in the UK should move forward. I checked and can confirm that in all of its essentials the story was … Continue reading →

Posted in Age verification, Default settings, Facebook, Pornography, Regulation, Self-regulation

No more low hanging fruit

Posted on October 2, 2012 by

  I have been reflecting on the achievements of the UK’s framework for making the internet a better and safer place for children and young people. We have an impressive record. Yet I was struck by a quite dramatic but … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertising, Age verification, BlackBerry, CEOP, Child abuse images, Consent, Default settings, E-commerce, Facebook, Google, ICANN, Internet governance, Location, Microsoft, Mobile phones, Pornography, Privacy, Regulation, Self-regulation

Child abuse images – record levels of convictions and cautions

Posted on March 19, 2012 by

  I made two Freedom of Information (FoI) requests to the UK’s Ministry of Justice. I asked for the latest official data on offences involving indecent images of children for England and Wales.  The final set of answers arrived last week. … Continue reading →

Posted in Child abuse images, Facebook, Internet governance, Microsoft, Self-regulation | Leave a comment

There is something about Munich

Posted on January 30, 2012 by

  John Naughton is a rare and exotic creature. Having just read his bio we seem to share an Irish heritage and as children we both encountered the Jesuits, but people who read The Observer, the Sunday version of The … Continue reading →

Posted in Consent, Default settings, Facebook, Internet governance, Privacy, Self-regulation | Leave a comment

Brussels makes a move

Posted on December 4, 2011 by

  Neelie Kroes is a Vice President of the European Commission. She is responsible for the European Union’s ambitious Digital Agenda. Robert Madelin is her CEO, being the Director-General for Information Society and Media. In an earlier blog I said … Continue reading →

Posted in Apple, Child abuse images, Consent, Default settings, Facebook, Google, Internet governance, Microsoft, Pornography, Privacy, Self-regulation | Leave a comment

The Internet Governance Forum

Posted on October 8, 2011 by

  I’ve just back from the sixth meeting of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF). It was held in Nairobi. Out of the six IGFs the only one I have missed was the first, in Athens in 2006. I think of … Continue reading →

Posted in Facebook, Google, Internet governance, Microsoft, Self-regulation | Leave a comment