We often overlook the factors that enable the Internet to accommodate a wide range of applications, from real-time surgeries to viral memes, and individual expression. Some of those factors are technical and some are policy. A critical policy issue that has shaped the evolution of the Internet is the question: should websites and other online […]

The post Protection for Intermediaries Is Vital for the Internet in Mexico appeared first on Internet Society.

In December 2018, the Indian Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) proposed a significant change to its intermediary rules. The draft Information Technology  [Intermediaries Guidelines (Amendment) Rules] 2018 seeks to tie tech platforms’ (e.g., social media) protections from liability to an obligation to monitor and filter their users’ content. One of the proposed obligations […]

The post Making Intermediaries Liable for Encrypted Content Breaks Trust and Security appeared first on Internet Society.

In the recent G7 outcome document “Combating the use of the Internet for Terrorism and Violent Extremist Purposes“, Ministers of the Interior made commitments on content filtering and “lawful access solutions” for encrypted content, which, if implemented, would greatly weaken the security of the Internet, G7 economies and their citizens. While there is an urgent […]

The post Leaders of the G7: A Safer World Means Strong, Secure Communication appeared first on Internet Society.

On 17 July 2018, the Internet Society and its locally based chapter, Internet Australia, joined 75 organizations in signing a letter urging Australia not to pursue legislation that could undermine the security of encrypted services and devices used by Australians. As Internet Society CEO Kathy Brown wrote last year, “strong encryption is an essential piece […]

The post Encryption Is Critical for the Australian Economy appeared first on Internet Society.

The Internet Society and Chatham House will be hosting a roundtable of experts to deconstruct the debate on encryption and law enforcement access this week. I am not under any illusion that we will walk away with the solution. This is a complex problem: one that many have tried to solve, often with limited success. […]

The post Encryption and Law Enforcement Can Work Together appeared first on Internet Society.

As these devastating global ransomware attacks illustrate, cybersecurity is not an issue that can be ignored. Any time a device or system is connected to the Internet, it is a potential target. What was once just another lucrative means of extorting money from Internet users, ransomware is emerging as a preferred tool for causing widespread […]

The post Hit Pause: Take a Moment to Reflect on the Repercussions of the Recent Ransomware Attacks appeared first on Internet Society.

What are the best ways to reduce spam? How can we work together to reduce this threat and create a more trusted Internet? Last October, in the vibrant city of Bangkok, the Internet Society joined regulators for an in-depth conversation about how to eliminate spam and its harmful effects. Our kind hosts were the Canadian […]

The post Join forces to eliminate spam – read the new report from the CRTC appeared first on Internet Society.

Last weekend, millions joined the Women’s March in the US and across the world. They stood up for their rights, and the rights of everyone. We need to do the same on the Internet. The Internet gives everyone a voice, but we need people to protect those voices. Online harassment and cyber bullying are real. […]

The post Shield & Sword – 10 tips to protect yourself online appeared first on Internet Society.

This week, at the OECD Ministerial Meeting on the Digital Economy, Kathy Brown, our President and CEO, introduced the “beta version” of the Internet Society’s policy framework for an open and trusted Internet. Large scale data breaches, uncertainties about how data is being used, cybercrime, surveillance and other online threats are eroding users’ trust and […]

The post Read the Internet Society's trust framework and share your views appeared first on Internet Society.

Spam is not a new issue. Its origins precede the arrival of the Internet. Remember all the unwanted mail, faxes, sms and telephone calls you have received? Spammers will use any communications means that is available to achieve their objectives. Some countries that faced the effect of email spam early on have discovered ways to […]

The post No haven for spam: collaborating at WSIS Forum 2016 to address spam in emerging economies appeared first on Internet Society.

Have you ever lost your smartphone or had it stolen? Have you ever worried that your passcode may not be strong enough? Didn’t you have a sigh of relief when you remembered that you had enabled the feature that would erase your data after 10 failed attempts? The Internet Society is very concerned to learn […]

The post Encryption Backdoors Come In All Guises – Reacting to Apple’s Customer Letter appeared first on Internet Society.

Let’s use Data Privacy Day (28 January 2016) to advocate for respect of Internet users’ privacy across the world! User privacy faces more challenges today than ever before: mass online surveillance; commercial profiling; tracking; an Internet of sensors; and even confidential communications are at risk through governmental attempts to limit the use of encryption. That […]

The post The Internet Society believes privacy is key for a trusted Internet appeared first on Internet Society.

Today is the beginning of National Cyber Security Awareness month, and to mark that occasion, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is launching its new approach to security –  Recommendation on Digitial Security Risk Management for Economic and Social Prosperity, an approach that resonates with the Internet Society’s own Collaborative Security principles. The […]

The post OECD’s New Approach For Digital Security Is A Major Milestone For Cybersecurity Policy appeared first on Internet Society.

The Internet technical and operational communities are coming out in strong support of the paper: Keys Under Doormats: Mandating insecurity by requiring government access to all data and communications (KEYS) which concludes: “… This report’s analysis of law enforcement demands for exceptional access to private communications and data shows that such access will open doors […]

The post No keys under the doormat please appeared first on Internet Society.

June is another busy month for the Internet Society in the area of Internet security. People are what ultimately hold the Internet together. The Internet’s development has been based on voluntary cooperation and collaboration. Cooperation and collaboration remain the essential factors for its prosperity and potential. This is the spirit of the various events that […]

The post Security in June: An origami ballet of collaboration appeared first on Internet Society.

There are many messages to take away from UN Special Rapporteur David Kaye’s report on encryption and anonymity, but one that gave me an “aha!” moment was his analysis of human rights law on the right to hold opinions without interference. Specifically, it was his observation that the limitations and restrictions on the right to […]

The post Will the right to hold an opinion win the battle against pervasive surveillance? appeared first on Internet Society.

Recently David Kaye, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, released his first report, which will be submitted to the Human Rights Council at the upcoming meeting from 15 June to 3 July. The Internet Society was one of a number of non-governmental organisations that provided […]

The post Strong Support From The UN Special Rapporteur David Kaye For Anonymity And Encryption appeared first on Internet Society.

Next week, the Internet Society will be in The Hague for the Global Conference on CyberSpace 2015 (GCCS2015) and other associated events including: a meeting of the Global Commission on Internet Governance, established in 2014 “to articulate and advance a strategic vision for the future of Internet governance”; and the International NCSC ONE Conference 2015, […]

The post Internet Society Activities At The Global Conference on CyberSpace 2015 (GCCS2015) appeared first on Internet Society.

The need for confidential communication and finding it difficult to achieve is a sentiment that spans national borders and cultures. That is the message from the Internet Society’s survey regarding confidential online communication. Before diving into the results, we need to insert a disclaimer: we recorded 1347 responses, indicating global interest in this issue. However, […]

The post I Just Want to Communicate Confidentially: Is That too Much to Ask? appeared first on Internet Society.

The post Surveillance: Is this the beginning of the end of data trawlers? appeared first on Internet Society.