Open letter to Audible and Amazon: Stop the DRM
Audible - Amazon - has a near-monopoly on the world's audio books. Author Violet Blue argues that its DRM harms authors, readers - and Amazon.
Pulp Tech
Violet Blue unapologetically covers the intersection of tech trends and media stories about corruption, hypocrisy and redemption from tech's fault line, San Francisco.
Violet Blue
Violet Blue is an outspoken and controversial author and journalist; she contributes to ZDNet, CNET, CBS News and SF Appeal.
Latest Posts
Sex Tech: Prenda Law cries foul, Visa continues adult processing
A collection of notable new sex and technology news items. Covers innovation, legal issues, IP, privacy, controversies, business and more.
WCIT-12 leak shows Russia, China, others seek to define 'government-controlled Internet'
Leaked proposals from the U.N. WCIT-12 summit show Russia, China, and similar regimes are making a bid to define the Internet as a system of government-controlled networks. UPDATED.
U.S. now 'totally unified' in opposition of U.N. Internet governance
The U.S. House of Representatives has unanimously approved a resolution to oppose U.N. intent to govern and regulate the Internet at its WCIT-12 conference in Dubai, currently underway. [UPDATED]
U.N. WCIT-12 makes Syrian Internet blackout 'trivial' everywhere
If the ITU's treaty is signed into law at WCIT-12 in Dubai this month, its new Internet governance rules will make Syria's Internet blackout a "trivial" and legally supported maneuver for every country in the world.
U.N. readies for protests on eve of secret Internet regulation treaty
With potential of becoming SOPA and CISPA on steroids a multinational U.N.-sponsored treaty will be decided behind closed doors in Dubai next Monday. Leaked documents show why everyone wants it stopped.
Ladyada's Hacker Gift Guide [Gift Guide 2012]
![Ladyada's Hacker Gift Guide [Gift Guide 2012]](http://cdn-static.zdnet.com/i/r/story/70/00/007803/ladyadas-hacker-gift-guide-for-hack-black-friday-2012-hackfriday-60x45.jpg?hash=LJSwAzR3Mw&upscale=1)
Give gifts so your favorite hackers can make something great. Raspberry Pi, lockpicking tools, a free coloring book... our exclusive Hacker Gift Guide has Ladyada's top gifts for all the hackers.
Skulls and candy: Hands-on with Speck phone and tablet cases [Gift Guide 2012]
![Skulls and candy: Hands-on with Speck phone and tablet cases [Gift Guide 2012]](http://cdn-static.zdnet.com/i/r/story/70/00/007705/hands-on-with-speck-products-gift-guide-2012-60x45.jpg?hash=MJL3Lwx5AJ&upscale=1)
Small Silicon Valley startup spinoff Speck Products has quickly become the company making some of the world's most popular iPhone cases. Violet Blue visited Speck's new HQ and went hands-on with their new lines.
Favorite Speck cases under $40 [Gift Guide 2012]
![Favorite Speck cases under $40 [Gift Guide 2012]](http://cdn-static.zdnet.com/i/r/story/70/00/007704/favorite-speck-cases-under-40-gift-guide-2012-60x45.jpg?hash=AGAvMzV4MQ&upscale=1)
Violet Blue visited Speck Products to go hands-on with its phone and tablet cases, and came back with her holiday hotlist.
Porn companies adopt facial-recognition technology, encourage Instagram photos
Porn companies have begun adopting facial-recognition technology that allows any user to search for a face in their databases with an uploaded photo. It could become a privacy nightmare.