28 September 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.

28 September 2016 – In Europe MEPs have been considering the use of ‘big data’ and a report is currently being drafted by Ana Gomes. By 2017, the big data market is expected to reach €50 billion and create 3.75 million new jobs.

German data protection authorities have ordered Facebook to delete data, such as phone numbers, it has received from its subsidiary WhatsApp.

A report from Kaspersky Labs has found that the use of biometric data in lieu of passwords and pin codes are still highly susceptible to being hacked. This is primarily due to the fact that once hacked, biometric data cannot be altered unlike conventional digital passwords.

A report from the Institute of Directors Annual Convention, suggests that 70% of board members of the top FTSE 250 Security companies believe companies should face financial penalties if they are unable to keep customers data secure. The news comes in the aftermath of the Yahoo hack last week.

Meanwhile in the US Yahoo is being sued for a 2014 hack which saw data stolen for at least 500 million accounts. In other US Internet Governance news, Presidential candidate Donald Trump has backed Sen. Ted Cruz’s campaign to stop President Obama from transferring the internet domain name system to an international body.

The issue of cyber threats featured in the first Presidential debate on Monday, with Hilary Clinton citing the threat of hacks form both profit motivated groups, and nation states. Trump meanwhile suggest that many hacks come from “someone sitting on their bed that weighs 400 pounds”.

In cyber privacy, the First Lady’s Passport was leaked on the internet, after a low level staffer from the Clinton Campaign, it is suspected, had their email account hacked.

In Asian news, Internet and technology firms may become subject to new tax laws in Thailand after a working committee had been set up to find solutions on tax collections.

A survey of 2,000 internet users in Asia-Pacific, carried out by the Internet Society has found that 58% of respondents feel that cybercrime needs to be more thoroughly addressed.

U.S. guidelines on regulating self-driving cars have been well received by members of the G7 in Tokyo who have agreed to work together on creating such standards to maintain safety. Cyber security considerations has been included in these guidelines.

The Privacy Exchange Forum will take place in Arizona on 16-18 October. The forum will discuss cyber threats. Edward Snowden will address the forum.

750 European researchers, investors and policy makers will gather in Bratislava over the next two days for the Digital Assembly to discuss the creation of a Digital Single Market in the EU.

For the full version of the above report, click here