My Observer column explaining why Osama bin Laden should get a knighthood for services to MI5. Basically by scaring legislators so that they swallow just about any intrusion into online privacy.

Useful resume of the Microsoft case

“In November, the Justice Department arrived at a consent decree with Microsoft.

Under the settlement, Microsoft agreed to enable computer makers to remove the desktop icons to several of the software programs that it includes in Windows, and to disclose more information to rival developers so that its own programs would not benefit from a superior interaction with the operating system. Nine states who originally joined the Justice Department’s lawsuit against Microsoft also signed on to the settlement.

But nine other states, led by California and Iowa, argue that the settlement is ineffective. They want Judge Kollar-Kotelly to order Microsoft to sell a stripped-down version of Windows that would allow computer makers actually to substitute rival programs for those produced by Microsoft, rather than simply removing the icons.

They are also pushing for broader disclosure provisions, without the exceptions included in the proposed settlement, to ensure that Microsoft shares information about Windows with rivals.

Other crucial provisions in the states’ proposal include forcing Microsoft to give away the source code for its Internet Explorer browser, and to auction its popular Office software to developers who could create versions for the Linux operating system.” [ more…]

Disney embraces Open Source. Eh?
“NYT” story

Disney has decided that it will henceforth do all its animation work on HP machines running Linux. As the article astutely points out, however, in the first instance this is a challenge not to Microsoft, but to proprietary versions of Unix.

Vint Cerf on the origin of the term RFC. [Scripting News]

Dane Carlson notes that “blog” is being added to the Oxford English Dictionary. [Scripting News]

Senators Say U.S. Should Keep Tabs on ICANN
“NYT” story.

“WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. lawmakers said on Wednesday that they would step up oversight of the nonprofit group that oversees the Internet’s domain-name system, but stopped short of saying the United States should run the controversial body.

Several senators and a Bush administration official said the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, or ICANN, would have to change the way it operates if it wants to continue to oversee the system that allows Internet users to navigate using easy-to-remember domain names like ”www.example.com.”

But Montana Republican Sen. Conrad Burns, who two days before called for the United States to exert more direct control if ICANN did not clean up its act, said the Department of Commerce should renew ICANN’s contract when it expires in September….”

Getting a lock on broadband
Salon story.

The Federal Communications Commission is quietly handing over control of the broadband Internet to a handful of massive corporations. Fifth in a series of articles on BigCo’s moves to control the Net.

The RIP Act really begins to bite
Guardian story.

“The news in the UK this week that surveillance powers are to be handed to a host of government departments and other groups takes the use of data retention – the keeping of detailed information on how and with whom we are communicating – to a level not seen anywhere else in the world.

The new UK proposals would allow bodies ranging from the Home Office and local councils to Consignia and fire authorities to access the records. “

[ more]

“A draft order to be debated by MPs next Tuesday reveals that ministers want the list of organisations empowered to demand communications data to be expanded to include seven Whitehall departments, every local authority in the country, NHS bodies in Scotland and Northern Ireland, and 11 other public bodies ranging from the postal services commission to the food standards agency. Until now, the list included only police forces, the intelligence services, customs and excise and the inland revenue. ”

What happens when the 2.4GHz band becomes so congested that it’s unusable?

Bob Cringeley can sometimes be irritating (because of the way he makes himself a central part of any story), but even his sternest critic has to admit that he’s very good at explaining complex issues. As here, for example. The basic puzzle is this: according to reliable sources, a company called Fusion Lighting has developed a new kind of street lamp. It gives off radiation in the unregulated 2.4GHz band used by 802.11b — so much so that it is claimed that a single bulb can shut down WiFi nets with half a mile. Why then, asks Cringeley, is the WiFi industry not up in arms about this outrageous threat to its technology? Answer: because the industry has already sussed that 802.11b is on its way to commodification (i.e. low profit margins) and would like to move us quickly onto 802.11a — more expensive (and therefore more profitable) kit operating in the 5GHz band. Hmmm… sounds plausible.

Update on governments which are actively exploring Open Source solutions to their software problems

Useful survey article.