Tag: Government
Sony executive calls for changes to Australian videogames classification system
Australia has one of the most notoriously strict game rating systems in the world. Many games receive an adult rating in other parts of the world, but otherwise remain untouched, shipping the same way as the developers initially intended….
Poll: What has caused BlackBerrys to be banned from David Cameron's Cabinet?
According to BBC Five Live, BlackBerry smartphones have been banned from the UK Cabinet. In a week in which the UK has seen it's first coalition government formed in over three decades, you'd think any device that could help communications…
Facebook adds "I've Voted" button for General Election
If you're a UK resident and haven't been living under a stone for the last month, you'll know that today is vote-casting day in one of the most closely run General Elections in recent history. Facebook, recognising its platform's ability…
UK super-fast broadband tax scrapped at the last minute
The controversial £6 per year super-fast broadband tax has been dropped as the government races to push through key legislation before Parliament is dissolved next week. The tax on all households with a land-line was to raise £170 million a…
Metropolitan Police to monitor internet café users in new terrorism crackdown
Police are trialling a new anti-terrorism measure in which owners of internet cafés are asked to monitor the content their customers access. Any suspicious behaviour pertaining to violent extremism is asked to be passed on to the Metropolitan Police for…
Learn what it takes to become a Royal Navy engineer with this new iPhone app
Thinking of becoming one of the Royal Navy's elite engineers? Then test your mettle with this new iPhone app. Designed to replicate the challenging scenarios that the engineers face on a daily basis, the app features five mission that include…
BT slams government's plans to tackle illegal file sharers
Dealing with online piracy has often been a bone of contention between operators and the government, but since the plans laid out in the Digital Economy Bill were announced, disagreements has stepped up a notch. Now BT's chief executive Ian…
Security fix on its way to Internet Explorer
Microsoft are about to roll out a security update that should see users of Internet Explorer 6 protected from the attacks that have caused the French and German governments to condemn the browser. The vulnerability highlighted by the recent phishing…
Censorship in China may force Google.cn to close
A post on the Google blog titled "A New Approach to China" has revealed Google's plans to stop censoring search results gathered at their .cn domain. The decision follows a number of attacks on the Gmail accounts of Google users…
Home Office accused of Phorm collusion
The UK Home Office has been accused of being in bed with Phorm after emails have come to light that show the government asking if the ad-targeting firm would be “comforted” by its position.
The Home Office appears to have been in discussion with the company over the advice it was drawing up for the public in relation to targeted advertising, though it has denied that it has provided “any advice to Phorm directly relating to possible criminal liability for the operation of their advertising platform in the UK”.
The emails, which were obtained by a member of the public following a freedom of information request, show Phorm repeatedly asking the department if it “has no objection to the marketing and operation of the Phorm product in the UK”.
Liberal Democrat spokeswoman on Home Affairs, Baroness Sue Miller, said:
“My jaw dropped when I saw the Freedom of Information exchanges. The fact the Home Office asks the very company they are worried is actually falling outside the laws whether the draft interpretation of the law is correct is completely bizarre.”
Meanwhile, the company has launched a website – http://www.stopphoulplay.com/ – which it says aims to stop the misinformation surrounding the technology.
Phorm (via BBC)
