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TOP STORIES FOR MONDAY, JULY 15, 2002 New Group Fights for Chat Room Privacy Chinese Portals Agree to Restrict Content Microsoft Loses Contract with Norway AND Study Shows Increase in Linux Attacks, Decrease for Microsoft Japanese Firms to Work on Computer-Chip Design Investors Needed for Computer-Development Project NEW GROUP FIGHTS FOR CHAT ROOM PRIVACY Five civil liberties and privacy groups have launched an effort to increase privacy protection for users of chat rooms. The project, called CyberSLAPP (http://www.cyberslapp.org/), hopes to persuade ISPs to become more transparent and responsible in revealing identities of chat room users. (SLAPP stands for Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation.) ISPs are subpoenaed, with increasing frequency, to release identities and other personal data about users. The problem, according to the new group, is that often the users are not notified and many of the subpoenas are not justified. CyberSLAPP mailed letters to more than 100 ISPs, asking that they enact clear and public policies about the release of personal information. Representatives from CyberSLAPP said that many requests for users' identities come from companies attempting to curb online speech. PCWorld, 12 July 2002 http://www.idg.net/ic_886915_4394_1-1681.html CHINESE PORTALS AGREE TO RESTRICT CONTENT An initiative in China to restrict Internet content has attracted the support of many Web portals, including the Chinese-language Yahoo! site. According to a spokeswoman for the Internet Society of China, more than 300 portals and others have signed the "Public Pledge on Self-Discipline for China Internet Industry," which aims to promote safe, copyright-sensitive use of the Internet. The initiative also requires signatories to restrict content "that may jeopardize state security and disrupt social stability" or that could foster "superstition and obscenity." Some observers worry about this pledge, given China's reputation for blocking civil liberties. According to Jack Balkin of Yale University, China is "trying to have it both ways," by trying to encourage use of the Internet while limiting its content. However, he said, China appears "to be doing a not inconsiderable job of it." San Jose Mercury News, 15 July 2002 http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/3666643.htm MICROSOFT LOSES CONTRACT WITH NORWAY The Norwegian government cancelled an exclusive software contract with Microsoft in order to foster greater competition, which the government stated would deliver better software at lower prices. Victor Norman, minister of labor and government administration, said that the Norwegian government objected to the Microsoft procurement contract, which gave Microsoft a near-monopoly on public-sector office software. ZDNet, 15 July 2002 http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104-943851.html AND ***************************************************** STUDY SHOWS INCREASE IN LINUX ATTACKS, DECREASE FOR MICROSOFT A new study from U.K. company Mi2g shows a significant increase in successful attacks on Linux systems for the first half of the year, compared to a 20 percent decline in successful attacks against systems running Microsoft's Internet Information Server. Mi2g's data showed an increase of more than 30 percent, from 5,736 to 7,630, in successful Linux attacks and an overall increase in attacks of 27 percent. The study is based on Mi2g's coverage of more than 600 hacker groups and 60,000 hacking attempts since 1995, including data from the Computer Security Institute and the FBI. The study also shows significant declines in successful attacks against U.K. and U.S. governments, attributing the change in part to increased security efforts since September 11. ZDNet, 15 July 2002 http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1105-943879.html JAPANESE FIRMS TO WORK ON COMPUTER-CHIP DESIGN Six Japanese firms--Fujitsu, Hitachi, Matsushita, Mitsubishi, NEC, and Toshiba--will each contribute about $85 million a year to form a new company, called Aspla, to design new computer chips. Another $268 million will come from the Japanese government to support the flagging Japanese technology industry. The company will focus its efforts on "system-on-a-chip" platforms, which are designed to link various electronic devices. The so-called SoC technology will be in great demand if predictions are correct that devices such as cell phones and digital TVs will communicate with each other and all link to the Internet. Other companies, including Sanyo, Sharp, and Sony, will contribute funding to the new company but will not participate in research. Associated Press, 13 July 2002 http://www.nandotimes.com/technology/story/465285p-3720527c.html INVESTORS NEEDED FOR COMPUTER-DEVELOPMENT PROJECT In April 2001, researchers in India announced plans for the Simputer--the Simple, Inexpensive, Multilingual Computer--and said the machine would be available by November. Lack of funding and demand, however, has kept the inexpensive, hand-held computer in the planning stages. Taking advantage of open-source software and other cost-saving measures, the Simputer was touted as a $200 device that would be available to poor and rural people in India, enabling them to move into the age of technology. Researchers involved in the project said potential investors have not warmed to the device and seem to be sitting on the sidelines, waiting to see what other investors do. An official at Picopeta Simputers, one of the two companies licensed to manufature and sell the Simputer, remains confident in the device. "It is a great product," he said. "It will be very widely used once it comes to the market." Associated Press, 12 July 2002 (registration req'd) http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/technology/AP-Third-World-Handheld.html ***************************************************** EDUPAGE INFORMATION To subscribe, unsubscribe, or change your settings, visit http://www.educause.edu/pub/edupage/edupage.html Or, you can subscribe or unsubscribe by sending e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To SUBSCRIBE, in the body of the message type: SUBSCRIBE Edupage YourFirstName YourLastName To UNSUBSCRIBE, in the body of the message type: SIGNOFF Edupage If you have subscription problems, send e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For past issues of Edupage or information about translations of Edupage into other languages, visit http://www.educause.edu/pub/edupage/edupage.html ***************************************************** OTHER EDUCAUSE PUBLICATIONS EDUCAUSE publishes periodicals, including "EDUCAUSE Quarterly" and "EDUCAUSE Review," books, and other materials dealing with the impacts and implications of information technology in higher education. 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