Dutch ISPs not keen on acting as filters for their users communications - refuse to block IP addresses without a fight
The impact of the Dutch court decision to oblige Dutch internet access providers XS4ALL and Ziggo to block specific URLs and IP-numbers leading to The Pirate Bay or suspected associated sites continue. While the court has obliged XS4ALL and Ziggo to block a limited number of websites from their users, both operators have chosen to appeal the decisions. Dutch providers UPC, T-Mobile and after some hesitation also KPN say that they will definitely not oblige with the block voluntarily and all three operators have released statements explaining that it is not the role of the ISP to act as a communication filter, but instead a communication mediator, on behalf of their users.
Dutch ISPs moving into online entertainment
Dutch ISP Ziggo has decided to enter into an agreement with Norwegian Aspiro about providing streaming services to their users. Mobile phone providers Hi en MTV Mobile have entered into an agreement with Spotify about providing premium access to Spotify streaming services included in their traffic bundle. Similarly, Belgian Belgacom-consumers are getting provided access to Deezer-services, Deezer being a French streaming enterprise. The development clearly is going towards a user, when choosing internet service provider, choosing not only who will provide them with a functional IT helpdesk but also simultaneously making a choice about which company gets to provide them with cultural materials online. This "pillarisation" (creating bundles of infrastructure+service provision+online services) of the telecommunications markets risks creating lock-in effects for consumers and increasing market entry barriers in the Union instead of promoting online entrepreneurship.
Security that should be provided by private actors but isn't
An Australian man took revenge on his local authorities by releasing several hundred thousand litres of environmentally unsafe water into local water supplies. He did this by operating an essentially unsecured datasystem. The world is full of society critical infrastructure that is not well secured against this type of action. A prime example is the nuclear reactor systems that were targetted by the Stuxnet virus last year. In reality, many systems that are used in critical infrastructures are old or need security updates. Such updates are most easily provided by the agents that are manufacturing the systems not legislators. See also ENISA/CERT debate.
New system for accountability and transparency in political party financing in Netherlands
The Dutch Tweede Kamer (legislative institution, second chamber, lower house, parliament) wants to make it mandatory for political parties to declare from where they get their funding. The proposal includes political parties registeringmoney given to them (presumably including the identity of the donator), and if the sum is large enough (over 4500 euro) also make public the identity of the donator. Right-wing populist party PVV is against the proposal.
Extras:
A group of Occupy-protesters in The Hague were almost forcefully removed from their outdoor camping (keyword: almost, they're allowed to stay now) site since city regulations prohibit sleeping outdoors in temperatures that are very (dangerously) cold.
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