March 29, 2006
Internet Driven Revolts in France, U.S.
As students and workers across France organize demonstrations on blogs against a bill that would make it easier for companies to hire and fire young people, immigration protesters in the U.S. are using the Internet to organize.
Posted by Buzz Webster at 05:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
March 28, 2006
Israeli Elections on the Web
Today Israelis head to the polls, but in the weeks leading up to the election they were logging on, tuning in and ringing out to follow campaign and election news.
The Internet is playing a big role ahead of the Israeli General Election (E-Democracy Forum)
Posted by Buzz Webster at 01:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
March 27, 2006
FEC Won't Regulate Internet Politics
The Federal Election Commission decided today that the nation's new campaign finance law will not apply to most political activity on the Internet.
Posted by Buzz Webster at 12:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
March 24, 2006
France Takes a Bite Out of Apple
French lawmakers approved copyright legislation that requires online music sellers to make songs available for use on any digital player. The legislation has sparked criticism from companies and debate abroad.
French lawmakers approved copyright legislation that requires online music sellers to make songs available for use on any digital player. The measure passed in the National Assembly and will now move to the Senate for debate and a vote. The vote is expected in May.
The law would force Apple Computer to make the songs it sells at its iTunes music store playable on devices that compete with its iPod. Apple has responded negatively to the legislation calling it, “state-sponsored piracy."
Meanwhile, the debate over the law has spilled out beyond France’s borders. France is pushing the European Union to adopt similar legislation, while across the Atlantic, representatives in the United States have condemned the French legislation.
Related Articles:
Challenge to iPod Restrictions Advances in French Legislature
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/22/technology/22ipod.html
Apple's Core Problem with France
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/newsnight/4837834.stm
Apple Calls French Law 'State-Sponsored Piracy'
http://news.com.com/Apple+calls+French+law+state-sponsored+piracy/2100-1025_3-6052754.html
Posted by Buzz Webster at 09:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
March 23, 2006
Did He Say Blog?
"One of the things that we have to value is that we do have a media. There's blogs, there's Internet, there's all kinds of way to communicate which is literally changing the way people get their information."
Posted by Buzz Webster at 11:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
March 21, 2006
ePolitics Buzz Brief - Voices of Dissent Online
The Internet is flexing its "dissent" muscle again, proving to be a powerful tool of opposition from Belarus to Syria.
Syrian Voice of Dissent Stays one Step Ahead
(Australian IT) IN Syria, where the state regularly exercises censorship and stifles domestic criticism, the internet has become a vehicle for dissent. The electronic medium has pushed the limits of what is acceptable but at a price. Cyber-rebels who have broadened the political debate could be preyed on at any time and thrown in jail for proselytising to 's internet audience of more than 500,000. (March 21, 2006)
http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,18536347%5E15318%5E%5Enbv%5E,00.html
Belarus Protesters Turn to Internet
(BBC) In the wake of
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4828848.stm
Posted by Buzz Webster at 10:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
March 17, 2006
Political Messages on Demand
On demand political advertising could become a serious contender in challenging the traditional “sound-byte” ad on broadcast TV.
Think that the best way to reach voters is by inundating them with 30-second TV ads? Think again. The next big thing in high-tech political advertising may just be on demand advertising that gives viewers the chance to decide when, where, and how often they want to watch political messages. With the flexibility for candidates to offer ads up to sixty minutes long, on demand ads could become a serious contender in challenging the traditional “sound-byte” ad on broadcast TV.
Rhode Island Democrat and general treasurer candidate, Frank Caprio, (http://www.frankcaprio.com/) is the first candidate to use on demand advertising to reach voters. Cox Communications digital cable Subscribers can watch Caprio’s four-minute long biography over and over and over again.
Fasten your seatbelts; this online advertising flight is just taking off.
Related Articles:
Comcast On Demand Political Advertising Information
http://www.comcastspotlight.com/sites/Default.aspx?pageid=7608&siteid=62&subnav=3
The
http://www.projo.com/news/politicalscene/projo_20060306_polsc6.86fbb3e.html
Posted by Buzz Webster at 11:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
March 16, 2006
Bloggers Try To Reach Journalist's Captors In Iraq
The Internet is adding new momentum to the campaign urging Iraqi captors to release freelance reporter Jill Carroll.
U.S. bloggers are linking to public service announcements airing on Iraqi television. They feature an appeal from Carroll's mother and one from the politician she was trying to meet before kidnappers ambushed her. They also include references to her love for Iraq and show interviews with Iraqis who say they have come to regard Carroll as one of their own daughters.
Read, "Bloggers Try To Reach Journalist's Captors In Iraq"
http://www.informationweek.com/internet/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=181503696
Posted by Buzz Webster at 12:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
March 14, 2006
Wikipedia: Friend, Foe or Both?
Wikipedia continues to post controversial entries on its site, despite efforts to curb political slander.
Over the past few months, there have been reports alerting the public that Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia which allows its users to edit its content, has seen an influx of entries with potentially false and misleading information. With little surprise, the biggest targets are political candidates.
Specifically, the staff members of political campaigns are changing entries for their opponents. Although the problem has been thoroughly addressed to the creators of Wikipedia, who harness the intuitive Wiki technology to power its site, this issue remains ongoing.
Some of these changes are minor and downright "silly," but others are negative to the point of maliciousness. Reportedly, Wikipedia has roughly 1,000 volunteers checking the site daily for accuracy, or its lack thereof.
So the issue begs a question: is this a tool the public can trust enough for the most part, or is it too dangerous to place faith in a technology that has proven incapable of providing absolute truth?
For more info, check out http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/stories/0313wiki.html
Posted by Buzz Webster at 03:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
March 10, 2006
Tech Helps Bypass “Information Black Hole” In Belarus
With newspapers, radio, and television under state control, the Belarusian opposition is using new technologies to get their voices heard -- in particular the Internet.
Ahead of Belarus’ March 19th presidential elections, President Alexander Lukashenko is accused of stifling the news media, producing an "information black hole." In contrast to previous election years, technology is allowing citizens the opportunity to the bypass traditional media and access unfiltered information.
With newspapers, radio, and television under state control, the Belarusian opposition is using new technologies to get their voices heard -- in particular the Internet. All the presidential candidates have launched websites, which provide news and discussion forums. However, this information has trouble reaching past Belarus’ digital divide.
Perhaps reaching a broader audience is an EU- funded radio station that began broadcasting into Belarus ahead of elections to offer "independent" news.
For tech junkies, this will be an election to keep an eye on. Even after the votes have been counted tech will continue to inform Belarusians, and potentially help them mobilize. Reportedly, the opposition has plans to use SMS to mobilize voters if they feel the election has been rigged.
Read More: "Belarus: Opposition Politicians Embrace Internet, Despite Digital Divide"
Posted by Buzz Webster at 02:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
March 09, 2006
Fasting for Internet Access in Cuba
Cuban dissident, Guillermo Fariñas, who has been on a hunger strike since January 31st, continues to demand free access to the Internet, while his health deteriorates rapidly.
For an in depth look at Fariñas' struggle, read PoliticsOnline's Sound off Piece written by Rafa Rubio, "Cuban Journalist Fasts for Right to Unrestricted Internet Access" http://netpulse.politicsonline.com/soundoff.asp?issue_id=10.05
And for the latest update on Fariñas' condition read:
More information on the Internet in Cuba from Reporters Without Borders:
http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=10611&Valider=OK
Posted by Buzz Webster at 11:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
March 08, 2006
South Dakota's Abortion Ban is the New Must-Blog Issue
Since South Dakota's governor signed a far-reaching abortion ban into law on Monday, both ends of the blogosphere has been up in arms.
Detractors as well as supporters of the new law have moved online to voice their opinions.
The blogs started out local and have gone national and even international, with bloggers in Europe entering the fray.
For more information, check out Keloland.com for "The World is Blogging About SD Abortion Ban."
Posted by Buzz Webster at 04:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
March 07, 2006
An Unlikely Partnership Between Wal-Mart and Bloggers
Some members of the last independent media are helping the largest private sector employer in the United States to improve its image.
An article in today's New York Times reveals that Wal-Mart is using bloggers as an integral part of its new public relations campaign:
Under assault as never before, Wal-Mart is increasingly looking beyond the mainstream media and working directly with bloggers, feeding them exclusive nuggets of news, suggesting topics for postings and even inviting them to visit its corporate headquarters.
Check out the full story, "Wal-Mart Enlists Bloggers in P.R. Campaign."
Posted by Buzz Webster at 12:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
March 06, 2006
Pakistan Blocks Bloggers Over Cartoons, Bush?
Over the last few days, Pakistani bloggers have repeatedly reported being blocked from accessing popular blogging web sites, yet the motives are still unclear.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4771846.stm
Another theory, on Andy Carvin's Waste of Bandwith Blog is that the bloggers are being blocked because of President Bush's visit:
http://www.digitaldivide.net/blog/acarvin/view?PostID=11675
In response to the censorship, Pakistani bloggers have begun a "Don't Block the Blog" Campaign, visit the campaign website here:
http://help-pakistan.com/main/dont-block-the-blog/
Posted by Buzz Webster at 11:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
March 03, 2006
Repaving the Web
E-mail taxes and toll ways have the potential to change the Internet as we know it, and everyone from bloggers to the U.S. government is up in arms about it.
AOL and Yahoo are currently collaborating with Goodmail on plans to charge between a quarter-cent and a cent for each e-mail message that is sent. They claim the fees are a response to recent e-mail scams, and the plan will allow them to provide better services to their users, such as improved spam blocking. MoveOn.org and the Electronic Freedom Foundation are leading a ragtag band of more than fifty nonprofits in protesting the plan. Although AOL and Goodmail plan to offer discounts for nonprofit users, MoveOn and others say the policy will hurt small businesses, nonprofits and even families.
At the same time, Internet providers are proposing a so-called "toll way superhighway." The plan would allow them to give priority treatment to those who pay extra to get through faster. Critics argue this threat to "net neutrality" is a major threat to the blogosphere, forcing bloggers to choose between paying the extra fees and dealing with a consistently clogged Internet. The benefit would go to the regular media. Washington is fighting back, proposing possible legislation to deal with the problem.
For More Information
"Plan for Fees on Some E-Mail Spurs Protest"
"Building the Internet Toll Road"
Sign an Online Petition Opposing AOL's Plans
Posted by Buzz Webster at 11:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
March 01, 2006
Minnesota Republican Party Makes Waves with CD
A CD created and distrubuted by the Minnesota Republican party is causing a stir in the land of 10,000 lakes.
The Minnesota Republican Party and supporters of a constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage are stepping up their efforts to get the initiative on the ballot this November. Two days before the legislative session begins, the GOP is sending hundreds of thousands of videos on the issue to voters. The goal is to force the state Senate to vote on the proposal. Surprisingly the hot button issues addressed on the CD aren't what all the fuss is about. Instead, the blogosphere and others are up in arms about the CD's data gathering. Questions about the security of the data, and the lack of privacy policy have been raised. For more information, check out Minnesota Public Radio's article "GOP Steps Up Efforts for Constitutional Amendment on Marriage."
For more information, check out Minnesota Public Radio's article
Posted by Buzz Webster at 12:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
