News Briefs

Re-Booting Internet Governance: Resurgence of Ideas and Proposals

Milton Mueller reporting at IGP: At the recently concluded Seoul Conference on Cyberspace, a memo was circulated calling for the creation of a "Commission on the Future of Internet Cooperation." The commission, the confidential memo said, would consist of "civic leaders, ministers, CEOs and technical pioneers." Its purpose will be to "provide new ideas for transnational and multistakeholder proposals for Internet governance." According to the leaked document, the group is supposed to begin work in October and conclude its work with a presentation at the World Economic Forum in January 2014. more

US Senators in Letter to Yahoo Say Late Hack Disclosure “Unacceptable”

"A group of Democratic U.S. senators on Tuesday demanded Yahoo Inc (YHOO.O) to explain why hackers' theft of user information for half a billion accounts two years ago only came to light last week and lambasted its handling of the breach as "unacceptable," reports Dustin Volz from Washington in Reuters. more

Copper Thieves in New Brunswick Impacting Bell Aliant Customers

Bell Aliant customers in the Canadian province of New Brunswick have been experiencing repeated and prolonged disruption to their internet, home phone, and TV services due to vandalism to Bell's network. more

Iran’s Record Internet Blackout Deepens Civilian Isolation, Fuels Humanitarian Concerns

Iran’s unprecedented internet blackout, imposed after February’s strikes, has reduced connectivity to near zero, tightened state control over information, and set a global precedent for wartime digital isolation with significant humanitarian consequences. more

U.S. Blocks Foreign-Made Routers Over Cybersecurity Fears

America has barred imports of new foreign-made routers, citing cybersecurity risks tied to espionage and infrastructure disruption, signalling a broader push to reduce reliance on Chinese technology in critical network systems. more

European Parliament Votes Down Amendments Aimed at Strengthening Network Neutrality

Following some heated debates, the European Parliament today voted down various amendments aimed at strengthening network neutrality in the new telecommunications package which has been on the agenda of the European Union for more than two years. more

Steven Bellovin Takes Aim at Cybersecurity Myths in New Book

Cybersecurity pioneer Steven Bellovin's new book strips away jargon and outdated online-safety advice, offering ordinary users practical guidance on passwords, phishing, privacy and digital habits in an era of constant cyber threats and increasingly sophisticated scams. more

UDRP Domain Disputes Surge on Back of Mega-Cases

A surge in massive cybersquatting disputes pushed UDRP domain-name cases sharply higher in early 2026, with two complaints alone accounting for more than a quarter of all disputed domains, according to a new report released by GigaLaw. more

AI-Driven Cyber Threats Are Growing, Google Warns

Google says cybercriminals and state-backed hackers are rapidly adopting generative AI to automate attacks, disguise malware, exploit vulnerabilities and spread disinformation, marking a shift from experimental use to industrial-scale cyber operations across the global threat landscape. more

Inside Iran’s Shift From Internet Shutdowns to Tiered Connectivity

Iran's wartime internet restrictions transformed online access into a costly, unequal system, according to researcher Imad Payande, with black markets, selective connectivity and institutional privilege reshaping how citizens reached the global web. more

Internet Censorship Grows More Sophisticated, Warns OONI Co-Founder

Maria Xynou warns that internet censorship is becoming more sophisticated and less transparent as governments deploy targeted blocks, throttling and encrypted traffic interference, while OONI's crowdsourced measurements help researchers and human-rights groups expose restrictions and defend online freedoms worldwide. more