Gov't Legislation/Regulation - News, Features, and Slideshows

News

• FAQ: What the SOPA soap opera is all about

  The recently introduced Stop Online Privacy Act has ignited a firestorm of protest from numerous quarters. Many of those opposed to the bill see in it a cynical attempt by the entertainment industry to impose a sort of Internet censorship regime. <a href="http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9221916/Stop_Online_Piracy_sponsors_defend_the_copyright_bill">Supporters downplay that criticism</a> and say the bill is needed to counter the theft of hundreds of billions of dollars worth of U.S. IP annually. Here's what the big fight is all about.

• Google, Yahoo join opposition to rogue website legislation

  Google, Yahoo, Facebook and several other large Web companies today joined a growing chorus of strong opposition to proposed legislation that aims to curb online IP and copyright theft by foreign sites.

• Facebook may be close to privacy deal with FTC

  Facebook is close to reaching a deal with the Federal Trade Commission over charges that the social network engaged in "deceptive behavior" when changing its privacy settings, according to a report Thursday in the Wall Street Journal.

• Supreme Court set to hear landmark GPS tracking case

  The U.S. Supreme Court Tuesday will begin hearing arguments in a <a href="http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9217985/Supreme_Court_to_weigh_in_on_warrantless_GPS_tracking">landmark case</a> involving the government's authority to use GPS tracking devices in criminal investigations without first obtaining a court order.

• Opposition to Stop Online Piracy Act grows

  A coalition of technology trade groups today joined the growing chorus of voices opposing a recently filed <a href="http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9221232/New_bill_would_target_websites_enabling_copyright_infringement">anti-piracy bill</a> that they contend is far too heavy-handed.

• GOP advances bill to help China, India tech grads

  WASHINGTON - A key House committee this week approved a Republican-sponsored high-skill immigration bill intended to help advanced degree holders in India and China get green cards to work in the U.S.

• High-skill visa reform needs action by Congress, Obama says

  WASHINGTON -- President Obama's administration has been <a href="http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9218825/White_House_clarifies_H_1B_green_card_rules_to_attract_investment">tweaking U.S. immigration policy</a> and making little changes where it can to try to encourage the type of immigrant it wants.

• EU antitrust regulators give Microsoft-Skype deal green light

  Antitrust regulators in the European Union today approved Microsoft's $8.5 billion acquisition of Skype, the online telephone and chat giant.

• Facebook tracking prompts call for FTC probe

  Facebook's tracking technology has landed the social network in hot water, with two lawmakers calling for a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) investigation.

• Chinese officials shutter some fake Apple stores

  Chinese authorities have closed two unauthorized Apple stores in Kunming following an investigation prompted by a blogger who posted photos last week of one outlet.

• Facebook may have privacy battle on two fronts

  Facebook said it's working with European Union regulators to resolve criticism about its new facial recognition feature, but trouble may also be brewing for the social network here in the U.S.

• Facebook stirs privacy ire with facial recognition

  Facebook's move to enable facial recognition across its entire social networking site is raising some eyebrows - and possibly some legal woes -- over its privacy implications.

• Major damages sought in Oracle-Google patent dispute

  A new document in a year-old patent lawsuit filed by Oracle against Google over Android intellectual property suggests Oracle could be seeking huge damages from Google.

• Facebook fights California privacy push

  California is considering legislation that would tighten Facebook's privacy practices, and the social network is not happy about it.

• FTC calls out Google's Chrome over Do Not Track

  Federal Trade Commission Chairman Jon Liebowitz this week singled out Google for not adopting "Do Not Track," the privacy feature that lets consumers opt out of online tracking by Web sites and advertisers.