Andrew Ramadge reports: Internet service provider iiNet has won a major legal battle over whether it should be held responsible for its customers downloading content illegally. The case, against the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft, could have had major implications for the way internet providers police their users. If AFACT had won, providers would likely…
Category: Non-U.S.
Australia Post ‘spying’ on workers
Kirsty Needham reports: Australia Post has been accused of secretly monitoring Sydney postal workers using computerised street-side red letter boxes in breach of NSW surveillance laws. But the postal service says it is entitled to spy on its staff because it is not subject to state laws. The NSW Attorney-General, John Hatzistergos, has intervened in…
EU blasts Sweden over failure to store data
Peter Vinthagen Simpson reports: The European Court of Justice has told Sweden that it must implement a 2006 measure requiring telecom operators to store information about their customers’ phone calls and emails. The European Union directive, known as the Data Retention Directive, was approved by Brussels in March 2006, but Sweden has yet to implement…
AU: Michael Atkinson Steps Back From Pre-Election Net Censorship
Andy Chalk reports: South Australian Attorney General Michael Atkinson has backed away from a law requiring internet users to provide their real names and other information when commenting on the upcoming election, saying it will not be enforced and will be repealed immediately after the election. The law, which actually came into effect on January…