Orkut in the dock in Brazil

Google found itself in a not so good position after it reportedly put ads on Orkut beside images of pictures of naked children and abused animals. The ads were suspended and Google's Brazilian Head of Operations is facing criminal contempt charges for refusing to turn Orkut users' data over to police. Orkut has been accused of becoming a portal for criminal acitivities ranging from child porn to racist speech [vide Prof T N De Oliveira's report on the matter]

Update: Reporters Without Borders has urged the Sao Paulo state prosecutor, Rodrigo Cesar Rebello Pinho, to safeguard freedom of speech on 13 November 2008, when an attempt at conciliation between the Brazilian judicial authorities and Google’s Brazilian subsidiary is due to take place.

Truth, distortions and manipulations: Indian ISP liability in the dock

An article in the Times ( a much impassioned one, I must say), alleges that there is a clear and present danger to the Internet in India( don't hold your breath!). Read the full article.

So I thought I would check this out.

And then I saw this- Naavi's rebuttal of the Times of India report.

I shall defer my opinion till more comes to light.

Watch this space.

More data sharing plans

While the plan to merge to merge the U.K.'s General Register Office (which deals with the registration of births and deaths), into the nation's Identity and Passport Service have come under criticism from several quarters- perhaps this is a necessary evil?

Ode to ID Cards

The Pet Shop Boys show their dispproval for ID cards in their new single.

The song is called Integral and is supposed to be an authoritative rant for privacy - perhaps, this form of protest may generate a heightened interest in the debate!