ZDNetGovWeek: another week, another NSA leak, paranoid fraidy cats, and gov around the world
ZDNet's worldwide team provides global 24/7 technology news and analysis. In addition to my own coverage analysis here in the ZDNet Government column and on ZDNet's DIY-IT, every week I'll bring you a selection of the best government-related articles posted by our intrepid reporters and analysts. Here are some of the most interesting from the last week.
Top stories this week
Latest NSA leak details PRISM's bigger picture
Another leaked batch of top secret slides relating to the U.S. National Security Agency's PRISM data collection program sheds further light on how non-U.S. data is collected from various tech firms, and how under law U.S. data is filtered out " albeit not always.
Are we a nation of paranoid fraidy cats?
Paranoia and fear drive a lot of people mad. For those who don't go so far, the paranoia and fear can be nearly debilitating. A bit of healthy fear and a small amount of paranoia is good but how much is too much?
FTC fights for data mining transparency post-NSA leak
"Reclaim Your Name" is a new initiative to give consumers access to records held by firms and agencies.
Moore's law and the exponential growth in surveillance systems
Big Brother gets all the same benefits from cheaper, more powerful computer systems that big business gets.
Other government coverage around ZDNet
Aspen Ideas Festival: The value of trust in tech, finance and government
Is technology the next vertical where trust is going to plummet -- or is it already gone?
Aspen Ideas Festival: Is Twitter bringing back the live TV experience?
The former chairman of the FCC and CEO of Sony USA reflect on what Twitter means for the entertainment business in the living room.
HP secures US Navy enterprise contract
Hewlett-Packard has been awarded the U.S. Navy's Next Generation Enterprise Network (NGEN) contract.
457 visa amendments pass parliament
The Australian Senate has today passed legislation that will crack down on misuse of the skilled worker visa scheme.
Beyond Conroy: Australia's future internet politics
Whether it's the Coalition's Malcolm Turnbull or Labor's candidate, any future communications minister faces the same long-term issues " and geek lobbyists must learn to deploy better skills.
Turnbull 'virtually invented the internet' in Australia: Abbott
Australian opposition leader Tony Abbott has claimed that Shadow Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull invented the internet in Australia.
South Korea hacks blamed on 'Dark Seoul Gang'
A four-year hacking spree inflicted on South Korea is apparently down to a single hacking group called the "Dark Seoul Gang."
457 visa changes pass lower house
Proposed changes to Australia's skilled migration system have passed the lower house of parliament, as the IT industry urges the government to ease off their businesses.
WA agencies fail to meet international security standards
An audit by the Western Australian auditor general has found that each of the state agencies it looked at failed to meet the requirements of the international standard for information security.
Conroy's legacy: From factional Dalek to NBN master
Former Communications Minister Stephen Conroy ruffled more than a few feathers in his time, but his legacy in the telecommunications industry will last for decades.
S'pore healthcare site hacked over haze
Eu Yan Sang's Web site was breached by a hacker who warned the company against "insulting" Indonesia over the haze situation which had engulfed Singapore this past week.
Conroy resigns as Rudd returns
Stephen Conroy has resigned as communications minister as former Australian Prime Minster Kevin Rudd is re-elected the leader of the federal Labor party.