Category Archives: Google

Alarming noises fom Google

Posted on July 23, 2019 by

My clever radio alarm clock normally wakes me me up by blasting out the BBC’s “Today” programme. This is the UK’s  prime, agenda-setting current affairs programme. Pretty much the whole of our political class tunes in. And me. Four days … Continue reading →

Posted in Google, Internet governance, Regulation, Self-regulation, Uncategorized

A few choice quotes

Posted on July 7, 2019 by

The Sunday Times is behind a pay wall so many of you might miss an article with  some great quotes from Tristan Harris of the Center for Humane Technology, ex of Google. As a service to my readers, here are … Continue reading →

Posted in Google, Internet governance, Regulation, Self-regulation

The only show in town

Posted on May 11, 2019 by

Recently I took part in a couple of events attended by high level professional child welfare and child development experts from across Europe, EU and non-EU. A great crowd. I thought I spotted someone at the second event whom I … Continue reading →

Posted in Consent, Default settings, Facebook, Google, Internet governance, Privacy, Regulation, Self-regulation

Scary stuff

Posted on April 13, 2019 by

Over 90% of households in the UK receive their domestic broadband service via one of the “Big Four” ISPs. Each supplies customers with a set of family filters to restrict access to content considered unsuitable for children. These filters are … Continue reading →

Posted in Default settings, Google, Internet governance, Location, Privacy, Regulation, Self-regulation, Uncategorized

A bulletin from California

Posted on February 21, 2019 by

The UK’s Secretary of State responsible for internet policy, Jeremy Wright MP, is in California this week meeting various high tech companies ahead of a soon-to-be-released White Paper which will shape Britain’s future policy on a range of internet harms … Continue reading →

Posted in Default settings, E-commerce, Facebook, Google, Internet governance, Regulation, Self-regulation

The net tightens

Posted on September 13, 2018 by

On 2nd September the Financial Times reported on a remarkable letter which had appeared that day in the Sunday Telegraph. Because it is behind a paywall, I reproduce the text of the epistle here: SIR – The Government launched its Green … Continue reading →

Posted in Default settings, Facebook, Google, Internet governance, Regulation, Self-regulation

Another big step forward – well done Google

Posted on September 3, 2018 by

Today Google are announcing the release  of a new tool which they are making available at no cost to relevant NGOs and industry partners. Here’s the problem it is addressing. Microsoft’s Photo DNA is brilliant. It works at scale to find … Continue reading →

Posted in Child abuse images, Google, Internet governance, Microsoft, Regulation, Self-regulation

Article 29 and children

Posted on May 5, 2018 by

In the UK our Data Protection Authority (DPA) – the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) – has shown a real and sustained interest in how the new data privacy regime – the GDPR -is likely to impact children.  ICO officials attended … Continue reading →

Posted in Age verification, Facebook, Google, Location, Regulation, Self-regulation

Good news and bad news from across the pond

Posted on March 22, 2018 by

A great article appeared in the Canadian Globe and Mail earlier this week.  It was written  by Peter MacKay a former Federal Attorney General of Canada. In the article MacKay reminds us, and here is the bad news, that even … Continue reading →

Posted in Default settings, E-commerce, Facebook, Google, ICANN, Internet governance, Regulation, Self-regulation

2018 – transparency will be the key

Posted on January 4, 2018 by

At last month’s Internet Governance Forum in Geneva, one of the acknowledged creators of the internet,  Vint Cerf,   was asked what he wished for in 2018.  His reply was telling No further fragmentation of the internet. Conforming with a single set of … Continue reading →

Posted in Default settings, E-commerce, Facebook, Google, Internet governance, Privacy, Regulation, Self-regulation