Use of the World Wide Web in the 1996 US election

The role of the World Wide Web in the 1996 US election was analyzed from three perspectives: receiver, source, and effects. A test Web site was set up to provide political information, and the pattern of use indicates that users seemed more interested in seeking news than in deciding how to vote. An analysis of campaign characteristics and subsequent votes indicates that the higher the office being sought, the more likely a campaign is to have a supporting Web site, and that having a Web site was also associated, for one reason or another, with a statistically significant number of additional votes on the average.     

Premature or stillborn? – The recent challenge to the Digital Economy Act

The High Court has recently delivered judgment on the judicial review of the Digital Economy Act 2010 (DEA) and the draft Costs Order¹ on application by BT and Talktalk.² Mr Justice Kenneth Parker rejected the application on all but one ground (one aspect of the cost sharing arrangement). See: The Queen on the Application of British Telecommunications Plc, Talktalk Telecom Group Plc v The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills [2011] EWHC 1021 (Admin), Judgment of 20. April 2011.     

计算机辅助教学课件(CAI)的设计理念及使命

本文从信息社会教学改革的中心任务出发,阐述了CAI课件的重要使命,指出CAI课件制作中要转变传统的部分教育理念,解决一些关键问题,展望了CAI课件制作的趋势;试图从理论角度给CAI制作提供一个帮助。     

涉网案件地域管辖规则修改问题刍议

互联网空间地址与现实空间地址的非对应性,使运用《民事诉讼法》中的地域管辖规定去判断涉及互联网案件的管辖法院会有一定困难。目前学者们解决该问题的思路,主要集中于针对互联网的特点,建构新的地域管辖规则。但本文认为,目前《民事诉讼法》规定的地域管辖制度具有合理性,不需要也不能够针对互联网的特点去修改法典的规定。解决地域管辖规定适用困难的方向,应当是发展包括解释地域管辖法律和认定地域管辖事实在内的司法技术。     

Privacy and personal data protection in China: An update for the year end 2009

This paper explores developments in privacy and data protection regulation in China. It argues that, since China is an emerging global economic power, the combination of domestic social economic development, international trade and economic exchange will encourage China to observe international standards of privacy and personal data protection in its future regulatory response.     

Asia-Pacific news

This column provides a country-by-country analysis of the latest legal developments, cases and issues relevant to the IT, media and telecommunications’ industries in key jurisdictions across the Asia-Pacific region. The articles appearing in this column are intended to serve as ‘alerts’ and are not submitted as detailed analyses of cases or legal developments.     

Unauthorised access to wireless local area networks: The limitations of the present Australian laws

Wireless local area networks (WLANs) have enjoyed a rapid increase in usage in recent years. WLANs serve to connect users to the Internet by means of radio or infrared frequencies. The rise in WLAN usage has however served to highlight some of the inadequacies of the present laws governing unauthorised access to WLANs. At present, the legislation serves to make unauthorised access, modification or impairment of electronic communications illegal. It is clear that the provisions prohibit the hacking of computer systems and denial of service attacks. However, it is unclear whether the legislation extends to additional forms of unauthorised access such as wardriving (using software to identify and map freely available WLAN) and joyriding (accessing a network with no further damage to the connection). The liability of Internet Service Providers and those engaged in unauthorised access in public places also remains unclear. Finally, the relationship of the offence of unauthorised access to the tort of trespass and the laws of copyright remain untested. The objective of this paper is to consider the measures necessary to increase the effectiveness of WLAN laws. The paper will begin by considering the nature of WLAN technology and the policy discourse to date. This will be followed by an examination of the present Australian law and an identification of areas of uncertainty. Finally, the paper will consider the measures required to enhance the certainty and effectiveness of the laws governing unauthorised access to WLAN.     

“人肉搜索”浅析

“人肉搜索”是一种大量网民参与、互动的信息搜索方式。“人肉搜索”作为转型期中国社会的特定产物尽管存在着诸多不足，但其维护正义及公益性本质为其自身发展提供了一个广阔前景。“人肉搜索”行为只要没有侵犯个人隐私，就不需要用刑法加以规制，而应完善网络法规对“人肉搜索”进行规范和引导。     

中国互联网内容监管的预期与效果——事实及评价

从监管预期与效果的落差来看,不同时期的案例证明,中国互联网"国家防火墙"仍会有间歇性失常,无论是冲动许可、维权春天还是哄客暴戾,民众表达仍然有弹性空间。西方的政治家和知识精英基于他们的自由价值立场和生活经验,对中国互联网内容监管提出了强烈批评,辩护者则注意到中国政府的现实权衡。批评者表达的是私人自由与公共权力之间的紧张,辩护者关注的是公共权力与统治秩序之间的调和。     

European national news

The regular article tracking developments at the national level in key European countries in the area of IT and communications – co-ordinated by Herbert Smith LLP and contributed to by firms across Europe. This column provides a concise alerting service of important national developments in key European countries. Part of its purpose is to compliment the Journal's feature articles and Briefing Notes by keeping readers abreast of what is currently happening “on the ground” at a national level in implementing EU level legislation and international conventions and treaties. Where an item of European National News is of particular significance, CLSR may also cover it in more detail in the current or a subsequent edition.