Column: Gentleman and genius - remembering ‘internet elder’ Aaron Swartz
I met Aaron at Harvard when he was 24. It was immediately clear that he was not only a genius, but also a gentleman who was wise beyond his years.
I met Aaron at Harvard when he was 24. It was immediately clear that he was not only a genius, but also a gentleman who was wise beyond his years.
Junior Minister Seán Sherlock has spoken at length about the controversy surrounding a law enacted last year that some believe will restrict internet freedom.
Ireland has bent over backwards to accommodate the wishes of copyright holders by blocking file-sharing websites – but there isn’t as much effort put into the voluntary blocking of child porn, such as exists in the UK or Norway, writes Aaron McKenna.
The enterprise minister says the rights of legal internet users are taken into account before any website can be blocked.
UPC, Imagine, Digiweb, Vodafone, Three and O2 have been given 30 days to block users’ access to the piracy website.
Aaron Swartz was an internet activist who had helped create RSS when he was just 14 years old. Authorities in New York are treating his death as a suicide.
The public questionnaire identifies three main problems with current takedown procedures, and wants public thoughts.
In a discussion on copyright today, Junior Minister Sean Sherlock said the Attorney General was never shown a copy of an alternative proposal for copyright law in Ireland.
The EU’s trade commissioner Karel De Gucht wants to see whether the anti-counterfeiting rules are in breach of EU freedoms.
In another major piracy-related ruling, the ECJ says a web host can’t be ordered to scan all uploaded files for an infringement.
Bulgaria may join the growing list of EU countries delaying their ratification of the controversial ACTA legislation…
Demonstrators expressing concern over EU copyright legislation and online censorship gathered in cities from London to Tallinn today.
Demonstrators has been protesting against ‘SOPA Ireland’ and the EU-wide ACTA legislation.
A ‘hacktivist’ from the Anonymous movement accesses and publishes website passwords of staff of the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Jerry Buttimer’s reference to ‘keyboard warriors’ during the Dáil debate on the controversial statutory instrument reinforcing online copyright laws was criticised in some quarters.
How come some laws – like the ‘Irish SOPA’ – can be signed into law without being passed through the Oireachtas? We explain.
Earthquakes! Earnings! Petitions! Racehorses! Healthy cities?! Our weekly numerical guide to the events of the last seven days.
TDs will give statements on the proposed legislation being prepared by Seán Sherlock for 50 minutes next Tuesday evening.
Seán Sherlock has committed not to signing his proposed new law on online copyright without first holding a Dáil debate on it.
Protesters rallied in the cities of Poznan and Lublin to express their anger over the treaty, while both conservative and liberal lawmakers voiced dissatisfaction.
Miss today’s debate? Never fear – we’ve got the full video of the discussion between Seán Sherlock and Catherine Murphy here.
Sean Sherlock says he remains committed to implementing new laws, but is “personally” willing to consider primary legislation.
The full text of the draft Statutory Instrument, being prepared by Sean Sherlock, on online copyright law.
The VP of EMI’s Urban Promotions says that the best way to tackle piracy is not to introduce bills like ACTA or SOPA – but to simply provide better service.
This is the text of a full briefing note distributed by Seán Sherlock to members of the Oireachtas this evening.
Junior minister Seán Sherlock says he will participate in a full debate on the plans for a controversial Statutory Instrument.
Minister of State Sean Sherlock has said this evening that the Government does not intend to introduce “SOPA-type legislation” in Ireland.
Solicitor and chairman of Digital Rights Ireland TJ McIntyre explains exactly what we know about proposed legislation to block website accused of infringing copyright – and what we don’t know.
Get the feed up and the kettle on. Here’s some of our favourite pieces from the past seven days.
Paul Quigley, co-founder of a site which tracks the sharing of news stories through social media, warns that changes in Irish legislation could shut down any site that ‘interacts’ with the internet.
The #irishfactsaboutwikipedia hashtag has been trending worldwide this afternoon. Here’s our country’s revised history.
How to get around its internet blackout, if you want…
Sites such as Wikipedia, Reddit and Boing Boing are taking part in an ‘internet blackout’ today.
The Green Party wants the government to abandon plans which would force ISPs to block access for illegal downloaders.
The future of the controversial bill SOPA looks uncertain after White House criticism, but the protest is going ahead.