archive : 2001-12
quick links
10:42 AM +1000, Dec 31 2001
Excerpt:
Swedish cops fake video evidence, infringe copyright
DVD drives are circumvention devices
FBI visits grandmother over Christmas gift package
Euro notes to have ID chips by...
timesofindia: Email users beware, Big Brother is watching
02:02 PM +1000, Dec 29 2001
Excerpt:
India's Intelligence Bureau has upgraded its email surveillance after reports the leader of the recent attack on Parliament used email to communicate with associates in Pakistan. While the...
reuters: Arab American Who Guards Bush Is Barred From Flight
01:52 PM +1000, Dec 29 2001
Excerpt:
A U.S. Secret Service agent was removed from a domestic flight on Christmas day over discrepancies in paperwork required to carry his firearm. The airline denies the incident had anything to...
bbc: Woolf suggests no-trial jail option
07:26 PM +1000, Dec 26 2001
Excerpt:
Britain's most senior judge, the Lord Chief Justice, has suggested jailing people on the basis that they might commit a crime.
In an interview with BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he...
newsmax: U.S. Police and Intelligence Hit by Spy Network
03:47 PM +1000, Dec 21 2001
Excerpt:
Following recent accusations of U.S. law enforcement wiretaps being compromised by the company contracted to provide interception equipment, Newsmax reports on widespread "reverse...
faz: New Laws Passed in Terror Fight
08:56 AM +1000, Dec 21 2001
Excerpt:
The German government has approved more anti-terrorism measures increasing law enforcement powers.
The anti-terror package was approved by the Bundesrat, which represents the states...
paknews: Amnesty critical of POTO
08:51 AM +1000, Dec 21 2001
Excerpt:
Amnesty International has criticized India's proposed new anti-terrorism laws.
The Indian government proposes to move a bill in Parliament to replace the Prevention Of Terrorism...
latimes: U.S. Careful of Legalities on Prisoners
08:37 AM +1000, Dec 21 2001
Excerpt:
The FBI admits it doesn't know how much force it can legally use when interrogating terrorism suspects.
Authorities acknowledge that they are struggling to figure out how much...
theage: New privacy laws badly flawed: consumer group
08:27 AM +1000, Dec 21 2001
Excerpt:
Australia's new privacy laws, which come into effect today, aren't making anyone happy - businesses are unprepared, and consumer advocate groups don't think they go far enough....
sfbg: A look at the FBI's computer surveillance scheme
08:17 AM +1000, Dec 21 2001
Excerpt:
The San Fransisco Bay Guardian talks to the administrator of monkeybrains.net after earlier news that the FBI had requested copies of keystroke logs delivered by the Badtrans email...
zdnet: Australia pushes for e-mail interception
09:31 AM +1000, Dec 20 2001
Excerpt:
ZDNet Australia reports on EFA concerns about forthcoming anti-terrorism legislation.
However amendments to the Act, which was originally only used when police were investigating...
wired: Steganography, Next Generation
09:27 AM +1000, Dec 20 2001
Excerpt:
Wired reports on a new watermarking technique which allows a barcode to be embedded in printed images.
The Concealogram, developed by a scientist from the electrical- and...
bbc: Analysis - Terror suspects detained
09:08 AM +1000, Dec 20 2001
Excerpt:
The BBC reports on the methods used by MI5 and the Home Office in rounding up terrorism suspects.
Several weeks ago, MI5 began drawing up a list of Islamic radicals - some linked to...
bbc: Eight held under new terror law
09:03 AM +1000, Dec 20 2001
Excerpt:
British police and immigration officers have detained eight people without charge or trial under new anti-terrorism laws. Home Secretary David Blunkett promises he's given the matter...
wired: A Call to End Copyright Confusion
10:07 AM +1000, Dec 19 2001
Excerpt:
Jack Valenti of the MPAA threatens the technology industry with government regulation unless they "voluntarily" implement copy protection in consumer electronic devices.
The lobbyist...
latimes: Radio Kandahar Is Back on the Air
09:24 AM +1000, Dec 19 2001
Excerpt:
The LA Times reports that Radio Kandahar, Afghanistan's national radio station, is now back on the air.
The Taliban who ruled in Kandahar from 1994 destroyed music, which it...
nytimes: Gathering for Cookies Prompts Jerusalem Terror Detention
09:09 AM +1000, Dec 19 2001
Excerpt:
Israeli police yesterday arrested the senior Palestinian political representative after he invited guests to a hotel to celebrate the post-Ramadan feast Id al-Fitr. He was released shortly...
nytimes: Lawyer Demands to Meet Client Held by Military for Two Weeks
09:00 AM +1000, Dec 19 2001
Excerpt:
John Walker Lindh, the American captured fighting alongisde the Taliban, has been been detained and interrogated for 16 days without legal representation, according to his lawyer....
bbc: Irish police hold 'dissident suspects'
08:55 AM +1000, Dec 19 2001
Excerpt:
Irish police have detained without charge nine men and one woman after raiding a Republican "political meeting."
The men can be held for 24 hours before being released unless an...
abc: Govt calling on Labor not to delay ASIO bill
08:45 AM +1000, Dec 19 2001
Excerpt:
The Australian government has called on the opposition to pass new anti-terrorism powers for ASIO without an investigation.
Labor wants a parliamentary inquiry to be set up to examine...
australian: Amnesty urges detention inquiry
08:38 AM +1000, Dec 19 2001
Excerpt:
Amnesty International has again condemned Australia's policy of indefinite detention of refugees and asylum seekers, and is calling for an inquiry into riots at the Woomera Detention...
a-g: UPGRADING AUSTRALIA'S COUNTER-TERRORISM CAPABILITIES
08:35 AM +1000, Dec 19 2001
Excerpt:
The Australian Cabinet has agreed on proposed new anti-terrorism laws. ASIO will be given new powers, and a range of "terrorist activities" added to criminal laws. The Attorney General...
smh: Civil liberties group questions ASIO powers
08:29 AM +1000, Dec 19 2001
Excerpt:
The Civil Liberties Council have raised questions over proposed new anti-terrorism powers for ASIO, Australia's domestic intelligence agency.
Under the plan, ASIO officers will be able...
cnet: RSA beefs up wireless security
09:38 AM +1000, Dec 18 2001
Excerpt:
RSA has announced an update for 802.11 WEP encryption for wireless networks.
The new technology, called Fast Packet Keying, "enables you to encrypt each packet of data with a different...
nytimes: Nuclear Sites Ill-Prepared for Attacks, Group Says
09:31 AM +1000, Dec 18 2001
Excerpt:
An NY Times article suggests government security regulations for U.S. nuclear power plants are hopelessly outdated.
The regulations require a minimum of five guards on duty at plants -...
independent: 'Draconian' terror law attacked by head of Bar
09:18 AM +1000, Dec 18 2001
Excerpt:
In his opening speech, David Bean QC, the new head of the legal Bar, has criticized the British government for its handling of the new anti-terrorism legislation.
Mr Bean said the...
bbc: Child sex trade 'is terrorism'
09:13 AM +1000, Dec 18 2001
Excerpt:
Yet another organisation attempts to co-opt The War Against Terrorism to suit their own agenda; this time it's Unicef.
The sexual exploitation of children is a form of terrorism,...
washingtonpost: National ID Card Gaining Support
05:21 PM +1000, Dec 17 2001
Excerpt:
This Washington Post article suggests the new U.S. military smart ID card might form the model for a national citizen ID system. Existing social security and drivers license systems are...
politech: Al Qaeda terrorist manual tells how to use PGP crypto software
03:50 PM +1000, Dec 17 2001
Excerpt:
According to politech , a Portugese newspaper article has reported the discovery of a PGP manual in an Al Qaeda base in Kandahar. Politech doesn't include a translation, so I'm quoting...
foxnews: Carl Cameron Investigates Part 3
12:36 PM +1000, Dec 17 2001
Excerpt:
A Fox News article suggests information about FBI wiretaps may have been leaked via Comverse Infosys, the Israeli company that manufactures and services interception equipment for U.S. law...
dailyrotten: FBI wants access to worm's pilfered data
12:27 PM +1000, Dec 17 2001
Excerpt:
According to Daily Rotten , the FBI has requested copies of keystroke logs collected by the Badtrans email virus and delivered to several free email accounts.
After Badtrans pilfers...
bbc: Paving the way for 'uncrackable' codes
12:08 PM +1000, Dec 17 2001
Excerpt:
The Quantum Cryptography meme does the rounds again, this time thanks to an experimental new LED capable of emitting single photons.
Quantum cryptography provides a way for two people...
cnet: Cuba blocks activist Web site
12:04 PM +1000, Dec 17 2001
Excerpt:
CNet reports on an opposition web site blocked by the Cuban government.
The site was launched on Dec. 7 by Roque's Cuban Institute of Independent Economists and includes one of the...
latimes: Fraudulent Passports Key Weapon for Terrorists
11:52 AM +1000, Dec 17 2001
Excerpt:
An LA Times feature article on the assassination of Ahmed Shah Masoud, the leader of Afghanistan's Northern Alliance killed on September 9, argues that stolen and forged passports are...
guardian: Mugabe declares 'total war' on rivals
11:46 AM +1000, Dec 17 2001
Excerpt:
The Zimbabwean opposition leader has been arrested over possession of a two-way radio as President Mugabe cracks down on his political opponents using new "anti-terrorism" legislation....
bbc: Bugging claims over Labour peer
11:37 AM +1000, Dec 17 2001
Excerpt:
A British politician claims his telephone has been tapped, after transcripts of a private phone conversation in which he made comments critical of the bombing of Afghanistan were allegedly...
cryptome: Digital rights management operating system
09:18 AM +1000, Dec 14 2001
Excerpt:
Via Cryptome , Microsoft has patented a Digital Rights Management operating system. I'm quoting from the abstract below.
A digital rights management operating system protects...
reuters: FBI Confirms 'Magic Lantern' Project Exists
08:57 AM +1000, Dec 14 2001
Excerpt:
An FBI spokesman has confirmed the existence of its Magic Lantern project, reportedly a keystroke-logging trojan horse program.
"It is a workbench project" that has not yet been...
ap: Bush Invokes Executive Privilege
08:53 AM +1000, Dec 14 2001
Excerpt:
U.S. President Bush has invoked his executive privilege to prevent a Congressional investigative committee from seeing legal documents related to FBI dealings with mob informants during the...
smh: Refugees meeting hears proposal to register every human
08:36 AM +1000, Dec 14 2001
Excerpt:
A proposed UN plan to fight illegal immigration would require every person in the world to be fingerprinted and registered.
"There are no technical problems. It is only a question of...
smh: Civil libertarians launch sniffer dog site
08:17 AM +1000, Dec 14 2001
Excerpt:
The SMH reports on a new website established by the NSW Council for Civil Liberties on random searches by police sniffer dogs
The issue came under the spotlight last month after a...
wired: Military Wary of Map's Release
08:56 AM +1000, Dec 13 2001
Excerpt:
NASA has bowed to pressure from the U.S. military and limited its release of a new, highly detailed three-dimensional topographic map of the earth.
A week ago the two opposing...
wired: New Suit Targets Obscenity Law
08:53 AM +1000, Dec 13 2001
Excerpt:
Wired reports on a new lawsuit aimed at overturning the U.S. Communications Decency Act.
"Obscenity is unprotected speech, but not all material is obscene from jurisdiction to...
nytimes: Compromise Settles Debate Over Tribunal
08:44 AM +1000, Dec 13 2001
Excerpt:
The U.S. governmnet has elected to try Zacarias Moussaoui, the first suspect in the September 11 terrorism investigation, in a civilian court rather than a military tribunal. The civilian...
bbc: Plane-spotters 'to be released'
08:28 AM +1000, Dec 13 2001
Excerpt:
The 14 plane-spotters held on spying charges in Greece are to be released on bail.
If supplied the Britons can go back to the UK but will have to return to Greece at a later date to...
cnn: Anonymous e-mail services gain users
01:46 PM +1000, Dec 12 2001
Excerpt:
An article at CNN speculates at a possible crackdown on anonymous remailers. The technical details are surprisingly accurate.
So far, U.S. and European authorities battling terrorism...
DNS problems
01:22 PM +1000, Dec 12 2001
Excerpt:
Both of squidly.org's nameservers have been down for the last 12 hours or so. We apologise for the inconvenience.
- The MGT.
wired: Court: Online Scribes Protected
08:47 AM +1000, Dec 12 2001
Excerpt:
A New York state court has found online journalists have the same free speech rights as print journalists in libel suits. The ruling states that in matters of public importance,...
bbc: Terror bill clears Lords
10:19 AM +1000, Dec 12 2001
Excerpt:
The British House of Lords have finished examining and amending the proposed anti-terrorism bill. The amendments, which would remove or limit some of the more worrying measures, will be...
cryptome: NIST Special Publication 800-38A: Recommendation for Block Cipher Modes of Operation
10:56 AM +1000, Dec 12 2001
Excerpt:
NIST has published a new recommendation on block cipher modes of operation, presumably as a complement to FIPS-197, the official AES standard released earlier this week.
This...
bbc: Israel's 'assassination policy'
02:31 PM +1000, Dec 11 2001
Excerpt:
The BBC reports on the Israeli government's policy of assassinating anyone it believes will carry out acts of terrorism.
Palestinian officials say that about 60 individuals have been...
latimes: Court Upholds Jail Term for Reformist Lawmaker
02:26 PM +1000, Dec 11 2001
Excerpt:
A very brief article from the LA Times on an Iranian MP convicted of "spreading lies against the state."
An Iranian appeals court upheld a seven-month jail sentence for a reformist...
nytimes: Customer Acts Odd? U.S. Wants to Know
11:58 AM +1000, Dec 11 2001
Excerpt:
The U.S. customs service will begin asking businesses to report customers who engage in "suspicious" behaviour when purchasing goods such as encryption products. Suspicious activities...
nytimes: U.S. Seeks New Use for Secret Evidence
02:59 PM +1000, Dec 10 2001
Excerpt:
The NY Times reports on the increasing use of secret evidence in immigration trials, where defense lawyers and the accused are not allowed to see the evidence used against them....
nytimes: Cornered Minds, False Confessions
02:54 PM +1000, Dec 10 2001
Excerpt:
The NY Times discusses the surprisingly high incidence of false confessions in the U.S. justice system.
Far more interesting than how these people got out of jail is how they got in....
smh: Islamic website devoted to jihad sparks US concern: report
02:46 PM +1000, Dec 10 2001
Excerpt:
An AFP report on an anti-American web site turns into yet another unverifiable claim about terrorists using steganography.
In an open letter to US President George W Bush and...
usatoday: Probe fails to link suspects to al-Qaeda
12:15 PM +1000, Dec 09 2001
Excerpt:
Despite being given greatly expanded surveillance and arrest powers, and detaining between 600 and 1100 people, it appears the FBI has failed to find a single person linked to the Septemner...
washingtonpost: Ashcroft Aide Says Criticism Wasn't Aimed at Policy Foes
11:48 AM +1000, Dec 09 2001
Excerpt:
A U.S. Justice Department spokesman has defended Attorney General Ashcroft's recent testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, saying he did not intend to criticize those who...
independent: US law chief 'throws rights to the wind'
11:43 AM +1000, Dec 09 2001
Excerpt:
The UK Independent reports on growing international opposition to new U.S. anti-terrorism measures.
[UN human rights chief Mary Robinson] singled out as a special "reason for concern"...
politech: German government plans to ban Net-porn except from 11 pm - 6 am
11:29 AM +1000, Dec 09 2001
Excerpt:
According to Politech, the German government plans to ban internet porn between 6am and 11pm German time. There is no explanation as to how they believe they can accomplish this.
No,...
sierratimes: What's Our National Identity?
11:12 AM +1000, Dec 07 2001
Excerpt:
An editorial by Duncan Frissell discusses the fundamental issues in the ID card debate.
A National ID card is *not* really about identity. It is about authorization.
[...]...
smh: Shock as columnist investigated for un-American activity
01:34 PM +1000, Dec 07 2001
Excerpt:
Australian journalist Phillip Adams, an outspoken opponent of racism and discrimination, is under investigation for racial vilification of Americans after publishing a column opposing the...
latimes: INS Fugitives to Be Listed on FBI Database
10:55 AM +1000, Dec 07 2001
Excerpt:
The U.S. Immigration service plans to share with the FBI its database of the names of people overdue for deportation.
The almost total lack of knowledge of the whereabouts of more than...
washingtonpost: On Hill, Ashcroft Defends Anti-Terror Tactics
10:49 AM +1000, Dec 07 2001
Excerpt:
The U.S. Attorney General has defended his anti-terrorist strategy in testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, labelling those who question his plans as supporters of terrorism....
guardian: You can ring, but you can't hide
07:08 PM +1000, Dec 06 2001
Excerpt:
The Guardian reports on documents obtained under the Data Protection Act detailing a British cellular carrier's tracking and data retention. The article is a week old but worth...
fairfaxit: NSW looks again at looming online censorship laws
06:30 PM +1000, Dec 06 2001
Excerpt:
NSW's looming internet censorship laws have been referred to a parliamentary enquiry.
Online rights group Electronic Frontiers Australia said yesterday NSW Attorney-General Bob Debus...
washingtontpost: Whose Sacrifice?
05:34 PM +1000, Dec 06 2001
Excerpt:
In the Washington Post Letters to the Editor, a U.S. government employee describes how his funds have been repeatedly frozen - simply because his name resembles that of another man with...
vegassun: News Media Protest Lack of Access
04:50 PM +1000, Dec 06 2001
Excerpt:
News organisations protest as U.S. military officials prevent journalists from seeing injured American soldiers.
[Washington Post executive editor Leonard] Downie criticized the...
nist: Commerce Secretary Announces New Standard for Global Information Security
02:22 PM +1000, Dec 05 2001
Excerpt:
NIST has formally announced Rijndael as the new AES encryption standard as part of FIPS-197.
The algorithm selected for the AES in October 2000 incorporates the Rijndael (pronounced...
theregister: FBI 'Magic Lantern' reality check
11:22 AM +1000, Dec 05 2001
Excerpt:
Skeptical reporting from The Register on the recent rush of Magic Lantern stories.
So what we have here are three stories, none of which contains a single verifiable fact...
wired: Real Music, With Restrictions
10:34 AM +1000, Dec 05 2001
Excerpt:
Wired reports on RealOne, an online music subscription service run by RealNetworks and supported by several major music labels. The article reads like a list of reasons the service will...
guardian: Violent protesters face EU travel ban
09:06 AM +1000, Dec 05 2001
Excerpt:
The Guardian reports on EU plans to monitor suspected protestors and limit their ability to travel.
The new dedicated database covering protesters with a record of violence or...
bbc: Saudi hospital fights tobacco 'terrorists'
08:58 AM +1000, Dec 05 2001
Excerpt:
A Saudi Arabian hospital says tobacco firms should be considered "terrorists", and announces plans to launch a multi-billion-dollar lawsuit.
Mr Tuwarjiri was quoted as saying that...
nytimes: Judicial Candidates' Speech to Be Reviewed by Justices
08:54 AM +1000, Dec 05 2001
Excerpt:
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a challenge to a Minnesota law prohibiting judicial candidates from speaking publically about legal or political issues.
The limitations are...
wired: Who EU Calling a Terrorist?
04:54 PM +1000, Dec 04 2001
Excerpt:
European lawyers are reportedly denouncing an EU definition of terrorism which could include strikes and protests. If adopted, the definition would be incorporated into the anti-terrorism...
one year old
02:58 PM +1000, Dec 04 2001
Excerpt:
The zemblog turned a year old yesterday, and I missed it. December 3 2000 was the beginning of the blog's current incarnation (you'll have to scroll to the bottom, I didn't have article...
torontostar: New terror bill targets protesters, MP says
10:01 AM +1000, Dec 04 2001
Excerpt:
The Toronto Star reports concerns that Canada's new anti-terrorism laws are aimed at protestors rather than terrorists. Via Orwell Today .
The second bill on terrorist-related...
viridian: Geeks and Spooks
09:36 AM +1000, Dec 04 2001
Excerpt:
A Bruce Sterling opinion piece on the history and future of private sector crypto. It's a little old - dated November 20 - but just showed up on Slashdot.
The truer and sadder story...
nytimes: Canada Altering Its System of Vigilance Against Terror
09:13 AM +1000, Dec 04 2001
Excerpt:
The Canadian government will introduce new anti-terrorism laws after pressure from the U.S. government.
The measure, which is expected to be passed soon by the Senate, would vastly...
statewatch: EU to create databases on "suspected" protestors
08:50 AM +1000, Dec 04 2001
Excerpt:
According to Statewatch, an EU report outlines plans to track potential protestors, and bar their entry to countries where protests are banned. Via Politech
The Council of the...
bbc: Alice: Through a looking-glass darkly
08:25 AM +1000, Dec 04 2001
Excerpt:
This is a few days old, but worth mentioning as something of a curiosity: the British government has reportedly prohibited the export of nude photographs taken by Lewis Carroll.
Most...
heraldsun: TV censorship plan
08:17 AM +1000, Dec 04 2001
Excerpt:
The Victorian government is recommending the censorship of television broadcasts, including news footage, that they consider unsuitable for children. They cite the "growing numbers" of...
cnet: Online limits to the First Amendment
09:23 AM +1000, Dec 03 2001
Excerpt:
CNet considers the free-speech implications of the EFF's two recent court losses
A few years make a difference. In 1997, the U.S. Supreme Court readily struck down the onerous...
silicon: Snooping virus could backfire on men in black
09:18 AM +1000, Dec 03 2001
Excerpt:
Anti-virus vendors warn of unchecked spying over the FBI's Magic Lantern keystroke-logging software. Via Unknown News
Magic Lantern hides a Trojan on a victim's hard drive that can...
washingtonpost: Bush Team Seeks Broader Surveillance Powers
09:07 AM +1000, Dec 03 2001
Excerpt:
Not content with the USA Patriot Act, the U.S. Justice Department is asking for their surveillance powers to be extended even further.
The Justice Department asked Congress to remove...
independent: Blunkett refuses to yield over terror Bill
09:02 AM +1000, Dec 03 2001
Excerpt:
British Home Secretary is pushing hard to get his new anti-terrorism laws passed this year.
Mr Blunkett is to refuse making major concessions to opponents of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime...
independent: Zimbabwe passes law to license journalists
08:59 AM +1000, Dec 03 2001
Excerpt:
The Zimbabwean government has passed a law requiring all journalists to be licensed.
Under the new Access to Information and Protection of Privacy bill, journalists will be issued...
nytimes: Ashcroft and Leahy Battle Over Expanding Police Powers
08:50 AM +1000, Dec 03 2001
Excerpt:
The NY Times reports on an impending battle between U.S. Senator Lehay of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Attorney General John Ashcroft over the FBI's recently expanded powers....
nytimes: Ashcroft Seeking to Free F.B.I. to Spy on Groups
08:43 AM +1000, Dec 03 2001
Excerpt:
U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft is reportedly considering relaxing restrictions which currently prevent the FBI from spying on religious and political organisations. Thanks to Alex 4.0...