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Apps and websites used by children too often have insufficient controls with regards to collecting and sharing their data with third parties, a survey conducted by GPEN (Global Privacy Enforcement Network) found. In a bid to raise children’s awareness and empower them to protect their privacy online, the European Digital Rights organisation EDRi has launched a campaign and crowdfunding initiative, running until 15 September, to develop a textbook for kids. 

EU citizens could soon get new privacy rights when their data is being shared with US law enforcement agencies. “Judicial redress” has been the major point of contention during the 4-year negotiations. Yet, the EU is said not to start its law-making process before the US Congress passes the bill. 

The European Court of Justice’s advocate general is expected to give his opinion on 23 September on whether the Irish data protection commissioner was right to refuse to investigate into the alleged ‘en masse’ transfer of European users’ Facebook data to the US. The commissioner had done so on grounds of the Safe Harbour agreement, a 15-year old agreement often found outdated especially in view of the Snowden revelations. 

The Council’s responsible working party met again last week to discuss the Luxembourgish Presidency’s summer proposals. The focus is still on digital service platforms (DSPs) and if they should be subject to “light-weight” regulation or not. Also the issue of jurisdiction and territoriality is still not solved. Some governments (and businesses) are concerned that the discussion on DSPs could pre-empt the upcoming platform consultation. The next trilogue is planned for November, as the European Parliament wants to see genuine progress in Council first before negotiating again.  

In his answer to a Parliamentary Question, Commissioner Oettinger has announced that the Commission will take the assessment of online platforms as an occasion to “analyse the need for new measures to tackle illegal content on the Internet” and to see “whether to require intermediaries to exercise greater responsibility and due diligence in the way they manage their systems”. Pressure is building up on a review for the main clauses and principles in the e-Commerce Directive. And also IPRED (the IPR enforcement directive) is set for review, including provisions on injunctive relief. 

Electronic communications networks & services, internet speed, online platforms, geo-blocking, eGovernment, ICT Standards, cybersecurity: September and October will see a long list of consultations related to the Digital Single Market package. The platform consultation probably gets most attention, as the Commission seeks to find out whether data control, market strength and bargaining power are “really problems” (Ansip). Also the telecoms review is on its way. The public consultation to be launched end of next week seeks to cover access to networks, spectrum, and infrastructure investment. 

Today CENTR published its comment on the IANA Stewardship Transition Coordination Group's proposal. In its comment, CENTR underlines its support for the proposed model and suggests three improvements.
1. CENTR believes that the proposal would benefit from risk assessments of different scenarios, in particular those where one of the communities would decide to move in a different direction at some point following the transition.
2. CENTR agrees that all  the criteria put forward by the NTIA are met in the proposal.
3. CENTR strongly suggests to include the recently agreed upon Service Level Expectations into the final proposal.

CENTR would like to congratulate and thank all contributors to the work of the ICG, including those that contributed to the three subparts of the proposal.

The CENTR comment can be downloaded here.

CENTR today announced the shortlisted candidates in each of the five categories of the 2015 CENTR Awards, which aim at highlighting ccTLD registry projects, teams and people that are making a difference in the industry.

All shortlisted nominations in the first four categories were forwarded to Jury members, who have until 18 September to submit their choices. “This shortlist is very promising”, says Carolina Aguerre, LACTLD General Manager and Chair of the 2015 CENTR Awards Jury. “We really look forward to diving into the details of each project.”

This year, the CENTR community will also be voting for the Contributor of the Year Award. Votes are open to full and associate CENTR members, with one ballot per member.

The winners this year's edition will be announced at the 2015 CENTR Awards Ceremony in Brussels on 7 October.

Congratulations to all participants! 

 

Two important calls for public comment were launched this week: one for the IANA Stewardship Transition proposal and one for the 2nd draft of the CCWG-Accountability proposal. 

The IANA Stewardship Transition (IST) Coordination Group (ICG) announced the Proposal to Transition the Stewardship of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) Functions from the U.S. Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to the Global Multistakeholder Community. This is the first proposal that combines the three proposals from the names, numbers and protocols communities. The ICG is collecting comments from the broader community until 8 September 2015 at 23:59 UTC. Click here for more information on how to provide comments.



The Cross Community Working Group on Enhancing ICANN Accountability (CCWG-Accountability) have also published the 2nd CCWG-Accountability Proposal for public comment. This proposal focuses on Work Stream 1, on which the IST proposal is dependend. The CCWG is collecting comments until 11 September 2015 at 23:59 UTC. Click here for more information on how to provide comments.

 

 

The latest of CENTRs 'DomainWire Stat Report' is available (Quarter 2, 2015).  The report provides a global status update on top level domains (legacy gTLDs, new gTLDs and ccTLDs) with a focus on European ccTLDs.
Included in report: Global TLD Status and market share Top 20 ccTLDs list European ccTLD trends  High growth European ccTLDs  Retention and creation rate trends New gTLD update	Click to open