5 October 2016

The following is summary of the most recent IEEE Global Internet Governance Monitor report. To access the full reports containing additional details and other news items, please join the Internet Technology Policy Community on IEEE Collabratec.

In the European Union this week the Commission has announced plans to implement rules for internet connected machines to meet certain levels of cyber security. The move continues the EU’s stance of boosting IOT innovation through the encouragement of internet connectivity in commercial products.

The EU has begun to debate new export controls for cyber security and surveillance products. The proposed reform package will lead to fewer restrictions for encryption, whilst increasing regulations on digital interception.

Finally in European news this week, Facebook’s datasharing practises with WhatsApp have been found to be in contravention of German data protection laws. Facebook has been ordered to delete all data received from WhatsApp following its recent acquisition.

In the United States, officials at the Department for Homeland Security have revealed that two fifths of US states have faced major cyber attacks on their digital election systems in the lead up to the Presidential election in November.

Gen. Gustave Perna, commander of US Army Materiel Command has this week stated that American soldiers should be trained to respond to cyber attacks, so that they can better react on the battlefield in the modern era.

Despite a slow adoption of the EU – US Privacy Shield by major corporations, there is now growing momentum to join the scheme. Google and Dropbox are the latest big name firms to join the program after Microsoft signed on back in August.

In Asia this week, India has been urged to engage more effectively in internet governance by Carl Bildt, Head of the Global Commission on Internet Governance (GCIG). The suggestion comes as part of a wider report by the GCIG, into global internet governance.

Elsewhere, Pakistan has been criticised for its cyber security measures, following the announcement that an Indian cyber security organisation has breached the country’s defence and critical infrastructure.

The Indian Government has provided greater support for future net neutrality laws, with the Minister for Electronics, IT and Law and Justice stating that the Government remains committed to ensuring non-discriminatory access to the Internet. No comment was made on national telecoms regulator TRAI’s continuing study of net neutrality.

In Global news this week, South Africa has announced plans to enforce new net neutrality rules on national telecommunications operators and service providers.

In institutional news this week, NATO has reported that China is continuing to extend its influence over global cyber space, particularly in the fields of internet governance, cyber security and cyber espionage.

Finally, in the biggest news this week, the IANA functions have successfully been transferred from the USA to the wider internet community, in the face of last minute resistence by Republican Governors.