• All “private content” held by a service provider should be protected by the same standard as material on your laptop: a warrant must be obtained. Currently, the rules are murky and confusing; the government can go after server e-mail older than 180 days, for instance, with only a subpoena (no judge needed), while more recent e-mail needs a warrant.
• Warrants must be sought to access location information. Currently, says the CDT, GPS data is protected by warrant, but other data (such as that from cell phones) is not. Courts have been “all over the ballpark” on this issue.
• For “transactional” data (i.e., data that might include e-mail headers but not message content), the coalition says that a judge should be involved, though a warrant may not be needed.
• Subpoenas should only be used where government has a particular person whose data they seek; they shouldn’t be used for bulk requests on many subscribers at once without a court order. (Source)

Here is a video released to promote the campaign:

• Internet disconnection without a judge or court examination
• Personal border searches
• The potential of increased border inspection and seizure to be used against legitimate products
• Three strikes policy
• Failure to include developing nations in negotiations

It is a pleasant surprise to see the EU taking a swipe at this secretive, closed-doors discussion about the future of our civil liberties. The potential for abuse in such a far-reaching piece of international legislation is tremendous, and it is an atrocity that the details of this legislation are being kept from public scrutiny. The last thing this struggling economy needs is more obstacles and greater intrusion. Perhaps before our good officials start intruding into each and every one of OUR lives, we should be permitted to have a little access to what these Upper Rats are doing. Seems like the spotlight is being pointed in the wrong direction.

Sadly, considering the incredible intrusion of civil liberties proposed, Canadian officials have merely shown concern over definitions and semantics. Barack Obama is looking forward to moving ahead with the legislation and has yet to show concern.

It is all too clear that our North American politicians have lost all touch with the realities of their people. Big business first, liberty second – a sad state of affairs.

“Is intended to rally everyone in support of a single Internet that is unrestricted and accessible to all. It is also meant to draw attention to the fact that, by creating new spaces for exchanging ideas and information, the Internet is a force for freedom. However, more and more governments have realised this and are reacting by trying to control the Internet.”

Today, the Netizen award ceremony was held and the prize was given to the Iranian website Change For Equality. This website brings attention to victims of sexual discrimination in Iran and aims to change existing discriminatory laws. Change For Equality is a champion of free speech and the rights of individuals. I hope you all take a moment tomorrow to consider the opportunities and tools that the internet has provided in promoting the free exchange of ideas. Let us not take it for granted. Keep the internet free and open.

If you’d like to do more for the cause of Online Free Speech and Anti-Censorship, consider supporting the organizations below:

• WikiLeaks.org – Releases censored materials not found in traditional media due to government censorship
• Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) – Defender of online rights and privacy
• Global Network Initiative – A collaborative approach to protect and advance freedom of expression and privacy
• Cryptome.org – Releases documents for publication that are prohibited by gov-coms worldwide, in particular material on freedom of expression, privacy, cryptology, dual-use technologies, national security, intelligence, and secret gov-com complicity

Internet sellers will be under the IRS microscope starting in 2011. Any bank or other payment settlement company that processes credit cards, debit cards, and electronic payments such as PayPal will have to issue information returns telling the IRS what it’s merchants receive.

Who’s Affected
All merchants who accept payments through credit cards, debit cards, gift cards and PayPal will receive information returns telling them – and the IRS – the gross amount of the merchant card transactions. While the form uses the word “card,” the IRS has made it clear that this is interpreted broadly to include third-party network transactions (i.e., PayPal). An exception is made for merchants with revenue under $20,000 or less than 200 transactions.

Mechanics
As it now stands (not yet finalized), gross amounts reported for merchant transactions do not take into account any adjustments for credits, cash equivalents, discount amounts, fees, chargebacks, refunded amounts, or any other amounts. It will be up to sellers to report on their returns the full amounts reported to them and then make adjustments or explanations to account for differences in what is ultimately taxable to them.

So even though a seller who is paid $1,000 for a transaction does not necessarily have $1,000 profit, they will need to include $1,000 on Form 1099-K. The $1,000 must then be reported so the return will match what’s in the IRS computers. It is then up to merchants to report the cost of goods, transaction fees, or any other costs.

Source: Barbara Weltman – AuctionBytes.com