Category Archives: Mobile phones

Public WiFi and politics

Posted on May 8, 2013 by

  It is two weeks and a day since Mr Cameron disclosed to the Daily Telegraph that he wanted to ensure, where internet access was being made available via WiFi in public spaces, the WiFi provider would take steps to … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertising, Age verification, Consent, Default settings, Internet governance, Mobile phones, Pornography, Privacy, Regulation, Self-regulation

Big Brother in your pocket

Posted on March 3, 2013 by

  The American Association for the Advancement of Science met in Boston last week to survey and discuss, erm, the advancement of science. Lots of interesting stuff going on with the boys and girls in white coats. One particular piece … Continue reading →

Posted in Consent, Default settings, E-commerce, Internet governance, Location, Mobile phones, Pornography, Privacy, Regulation, Self-regulation

My research agenda

Posted on February 9, 2013 by

  I expect we all have ideas buzzing around our heads about unanswered questions which, if we had the time and the money, we would like to see resolved. Below is my current list. Some are probably not research proposals … Continue reading →

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

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

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 world goes mobile – but not in a good way

Posted on January 4, 2013 by

  December was a busy month at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in Washington DC. But first let’s wind back to February, 2012, and a report the FTC published based on research carried out in 2011. Mobile Apps for Kids: … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertising, Age verification, Consent, Default settings, E-commerce, Internet governance, Location, Mobile phones, Privacy, Regulation, Self-regulation | Tagged

A false sense of security or a false argument?

Posted on December 18, 2012 by

  I have previously commented that the Prime Minister’s November announcement about Active Choice definitely represents a step forward for online child protection in the UK. I hold to that line. If implemented the UK will retain and enhance its position … Continue reading →

Posted in Age verification, Default settings, Internet governance, Mobile phones, Privacy, 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

Maybe I should have ignored this…..

Posted on September 12, 2012 by

  I have just read an extraordinary blog. It was written by someone called Rick Falkvinge. He founded the world’s first Pirate Party in his native Sweden. The title of the blog is “Three reasons why child porn must be … Continue reading →

Posted in Child abuse images, Default settings, Mobile phones, Pornography, Privacy, Regulation, Self-regulation

An active what?

Posted on July 4, 2012 by

In March, 2008, the Byron Review was published. Paragraph 4.60 on page 94 reads as follows ….. I do not recommend that the UK pursue a policy of blocking non-illegal material at a network level at present. However, this may need to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Age verification, Default settings, Mobile phones, Pornography, Self-regulation