Category Archives: Location

Scary stuff

Posted on April 13, 2019 by John Carr

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 | Leave a comment

We need to keep up with the times

Posted on September 27, 2018 by John Carr

A while ago I had my DNA analysed by a well known family history company. I did it partly out of curiosity and partly because I have been doing quite a lot of research into, er, my family’s history. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Child abuse images, Location, Regulation, Self-regulation, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Article 29, WHOIS and ICANN

Posted on May 16, 2018 by John Carr

In less than ten days time, on 25th May, the GDPR becomes law in every EU jurisdiction.  Officially, the GDPR began its journey towards this state of grace in 2012,  when the European Commission published its draft proposal, although to … Continue reading →

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Article 29 and children

Posted on May 5, 2018 by John Carr

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 | Leave a comment

“Things” are hotting up

Posted on May 28, 2016 by John Carr

The 14th May edition of New Scientist carried an interesting article called The internet of unprotected things. It’s an interview with John Matherly, the man who invented Shodan, a highly specialised search engine. Shodan enables users to identify devices that are connected … Continue reading →

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We need the conversation to begin soon

Posted on April 16, 2016 by John Carr

The GDPR passed its final, formal hurdle earlier this week. It went through un-amended and will become law in mid 2018.  There were only a handful of votes against  it, one of those being registered by Anna-Maria Corazza-Bildt who said  …..we missed … Continue reading →

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A new take on privacy and consent

Posted on December 31, 2015 by John Carr

Simon Davies is one of the world’s leading authorities in the field of online privacy. He thinks we are in the middle of a huge crisis – one that should concern us all. The titles of two of his recent … Continue reading →

Posted in Consent, Default settings, E-commerce, Facebook, Google, Internet governance, Location, Pornography, Regulation, Self-regulation, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Mobile phones as electronic tags for victims of domestic abuse

Posted on August 25, 2015 by John Carr

Interesting release by the excellent Jennifer Perry at the Digital Safety Trust.  Although the focus is on domestic abuse – an extremely important issue in its own right –  it has obvious implications for other types of abusive behaviour Domestic … Continue reading →

Posted in Location, Privacy, Regulation, Self-regulation, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Taking stock of the Coalitions

Posted on February 25, 2014 by John Carr

  In December, 2011, Vice President of the European Commission Neelie Kroes identified five areas where she wanted to see internet companies taking action to make the internet a better place for kids. In the name of self-regulation Kroes asked … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertising, Age verification, Child abuse images, Consent, Default settings, E-commerce, Facebook, Google, Internet governance, Location, Microsoft, Pornography, Privacy, Regulation, Self-regulation | Leave a comment

The law needs to change

Posted on December 1, 2013 by John Carr

  There are (at least) two aspects to everything we do when we make a phone call, send an email, post something online or visit a web site. One is what we say or the action we take. That is … Continue reading →

Posted in Default settings, Internet governance, Location, Privacy, Regulation, Self-regulation | Leave a comment