Information Policy

EU initiative Puzzled by Policy provides a free, interactive platform for understanding public attitudes to key policy issues

London, UK, 28 November 2013 –  Developed by leading IT companies, public authorities, universities and NGOs from across Europe, Puzzled by Policy reduces the complexity of policy-making by consulting with people in a way that is both fun and engaging. Combining innovative online tools with traditional face-to-face consultation techniques ensures accessibility, transparancy and inclusion, transforming the way in which policy influencers interact with the public. 

Google’s Schmidt Sees Encryption Killing Censorship

Protecting Internet traffic with hard-to-crack code may prevent governments from censoring their populations’ communications within a decade, Google Inc. (GOOG) Chairman Eric Schmidt said.

U.K. PM Cameron wants to block ‘extremist’ websites

By Chris Smith

David Cameron, the British prime minister, has recently said in parliament that the U.K. government wants to block Internet access to certain “extremist” Islamist sites, Business Insider reports.  On October 23rd, when discussing the measures the U.K. government is taking to combat terrorism, Cameron said that the government has various steps in place to disrupt the extremist narrative, “including [...] blocking online sites,” with the remark apparently being overlooked by the media. However, Cameron did not offer any details on how the government would define “extremism” or how the blocking of such sites would occur and who would oversee the ban.

The prime minister has repeatedly said that he wants to change U.K. law to censor more of the Internet, Business Insider notes. Cameron has also recently announced that he wants to create a new law that would punish owners of pornography videos that depict rape with three years in prison. Furthermore, in July Cameron revealed plans to ban pornography in the region, with users interested in adult shows having to register their intentions with their ISP in order to access such content. The proposal was met with concerns in the U.K., specifically because the company hired to develop the porn filter for ISPs is owned by Huawei, which was accused of spying for the Chinese military in the past.

Source: http://bgr.com/2013/11/27/uk-internet-censorship-proposal/

Australia’s lessons in promoting open government

Technology is changing the way governments think, and one of the most crucial areas of change is in information management. How do governments leverage these technologies to improve information management and ultimately promote open, transparent governance?

FutureGov spoke to Professor John McMillan, Australian Information Commissioner, on how the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) is leveraging Big Data and promoting open government, to bring new opportunities to Government information management.

“What is really driving the cultural change in government nowadays is technology. It is transforming the way we collect, use, share, store and protect information. Technology opens up new threats but also wonderful new opportunities for information management.”

Link: http://www.futuregov.asia/articles/2013/nov/27/australias-lessons-promoting-open-government/

TeliaSonera targets Baltic expansion

By Chris Dziadul

TeliaSonera would like to gain majority, if not 100%, control of Lattelecom and Latvian Mobile Telephone (LMT).

Quoted by DB, Kenets Rodne, head of LMT and the TeliaSonera Mobility business in the Baltic Republics, said that such a move would be a very meaningful step.

Ultimately, Latvia, the Nordics and Baltic countries are the company’s home market and it wants to maximise its share of the companies it has a stake in.

On the other hand, owning 100% of a company’s shares is not a prerequisite for doing business.

TeliaSonera currently owns 49% of the incumbent Lattelecom, with the Latvian state holding 51%. The mobile operator LMT is meanwhile backed by a subsidiary of TeliaSonera (49%), Lattelecom (23%), Latvian State Radio and Television Centre (23%) and Latvian state (5%).

Source: http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2013/11/27/teliasonera-targets-baltic-expansion/