ICANN Updates On New gTLD Applicant Portal Security Breach: 60 Searches, 200 Unauthorized Access Instances

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has provided an update on its investigation into a data exposure issue in the New gTLD Applicant and GDD (Global Domains Division) portals, first reported on 1 March 2015. In its 30 April announcement, ICANN noted its intention to disclose to affected users the identity of …

Belgian watchdog says Facebook tramples on European privacy laws

The Belgian privacy commission has told Facebook to stop tracking the internet activities of people who have not registered with the site or have logged out, after a “staggering” report showed alleged breaches of EU privacy law. “Facebook tramples on European and Belgian privacy laws”, the data protection authority said in a statement. “Facebook has …

Arstechnica: Vox Populi fires back at ICANN over .SUCKS domain pricing criticism

When last we left the nascent “.sucks” generic top-level domain, ICANN was calling for investigation and scrutiny into the pricing structure the domain’s designated registry was implementing. That registry, a company called Vox Populi, is currently offering sunrise pricing on “.sucks” domain names with the MSRP going as high as $2,499. Individual registrars are charged …

Greg Walden led Committee to review DOTCOM Act and discuss Transition of Internet Oversight Functions

The Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, chaired by Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR), has scheduled a legislative hearing for Wednesday, May 13, at 2:00 p.m. in room 2322 of the Rayburn House Office Building. The hearing is entitled, “Stakeholder Perspectives on the IANA Transition.” The Obama administration last year announced plans for a process that could …

Appeals Court Rules that NSA Collection Of Phone Data Is Illegal

A federal appeals court ruled on Thursday that the National Security Agency’s routine mass collection of Americans’ phone records and metadata is unlawful. The three judges ruled that the NSA’s use of phone records “exceeds the scope of what Congress has authorized” under the Patriot Act. The Patriot Act was initially intended as a counterterrorism …

US Congress to hold hearing on .sucks gTLD and ICANN accountability

A Congressional hearing called  “Stakeholder Perspectives on ICANN: The .sucks Domain and Essential Steps to Guarantee Trust and Accountability in the Internet’s Operation” has been scheduled by the House Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet It will take place in Washington DC next Wednesday, May 13. The announcement has however not listed any …