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Nations at WSIS Better Off with an ICANN-Like Structure

There is much talk currently about the WSIS meeting taking place in Geneva this week which means some needed attention is being paid to Internet governance. While some may view the term "Internet governance" as an oxymoron and my natural reaction is something along the lines of "I hope that they continue to view regulation as too complicated so that we Internet-folks can just keep doing what we are doing" I confess to knowing deep down that we would all be better off with a simple, effective policy framework than with the current anarchic state. more

Privacy and Trust Go Hand-In-Hand

A few days ago, Eric Goldman wrote an interesting thinkpiece in CircleID regarding users' feeling about privacy. He seems to conclude that the existent regulations and policies on the matter are unnecessary, since Privacy doesn't "really" matters to the consumer. Eric based his argumentation on a number of surveys, stating that, even when the user expresses concerns about their privacy, on line behavior shows a different reality. We don't want to discuss here the soundness of surveys as a reliable source of information, but the author could be assuming too much in his analysis. more

ICANN Can’t Take Care of Everything

Bruce Young tells a story of an Internet user who gets into trouble because "his" domain name was registered in the name of a web hosting provider that went bankrupt later on...As far as registrars are concerned, ICANN is currently doing its homework on domain name portability. As far as web hosting companies are concerned, though, these suggestions only look appealing at first sight. Upon closer inspection, they wouldn't be good policy... more

U.S. Senate’s Hearing on ICANN

Later today, Senator Conrad Burns, who chairs the U.S. Senate subcommittee responsible for supervising ICANN, will be holding a hearing on a number of issues.

At the beginning of the year, a press release called "Burns Unveils NexGenTen Agenda For Communications Reform and Security in the 21st Century", had reported:

"U.S. Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Mont.) announced his top priorities for his chairmanship of the Senate Communications Subcommittee during the 108th legislative session. The ten items, called the Burns NexGenTen Tech Agenda, aim to strengthen security and usher reform for 21st Century Communication... more

ICANN Workshop Displays Diverging Perspectives on WHOIS

At a workshop held in late June in Montreal (Canada) -- Karl Auerbach had submitted some live coverage to CircleID --, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) had an in-depth look at various aspects of the Internet's WHOIS databases. These databases associate social information (like holders' names and contact information) with network identifiers, such as IP addresses and domain names. Current policy for these databases -- in particular in the generic top level domain area -- is part of ICANN's contracts with domain name retailers ("registrars") and database operators ("registries"), and permits for use of the data by arbitrary parties for arbitrary purposes. more

Researchers Uncover Browser-Based SSD Side Channel That Can Track User

Researchers have uncovered a browser-based technique that exploits SSD activity through local storage features, allowing malicious websites to infer user behavior, identify visited sites and applications, and potentially expand online tracking without special permissions. 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

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

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

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

Why DNS-Level Piracy Enforcement Is a Trap

Efforts to combat online piracy are pushing courts to weaponise the Internet's naming system. Turning DNS operators into enforcement agents may deliver quick takedowns, but risks collateral damage, jurisdictional conflict and long-term fragmentation of the Internet. more

Munich Cybersecurity Conference 2026: Moving Into the Twilight Zone

At Munich's twin security gatherings, leaders warned that cyber conflict, transatlantic rifts and weaponised AI are pushing the rules-based order into a perilous transition, where deterrence falters, norms erode and digital sovereignty trumps multistakeholder ideals. more

Iran Expands Digital Dragnet After Crushing Protests

After quelling nationwide protests, Iran has intensified its use of digital surveillance, deploying phone tracking, facial recognition and online monitoring to identify, intimidate and detain dissenters through a vast state-controlled communications infrastructure. more

Starlink Flexing Its Market Power

Starlink is leveraging its growing dominance with data-hungry AI ambitions, regulatory demands, and space infrastructure plans. A merger with xAI could solidify its position as an unregulated gatekeeper of orbital connectivity and intelligence. more

The Hidden Risks of AI Notetakers: Precaution or Paranoia?

As AI notetakers become common in virtual meetings, concerns grow over data privacy, potential misuse, and the risks of unknowingly sharing sensitive corporate information with unseen third parties beyond organizational control. more