ZDNetGovWeek: Obama proposes a sort-of end to NSA phone records, AWS gets DoD deal, and Jimmy Carter vs. NSA
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
Amazon Web Services lands DoD security authorization
The Department of Defense security and compliance blessing means more government agencies can move workloads to AWS.
Obama proposes to end NSA phone record snooping
The Obama administration proposes to end the NSA's bulk phone record collection. Here's why the revamp gets sticky.
Jimmy Carter uses snail mail to evade NSA
Former US president Jimmy Carter has said that he believes his email is monitored, and in order to avoid such surveillance, posts letters to foreign leaders instead.
Other government coverage around ZDNet
Google claims Turkey intercepts their DNS
Apparently in order to enforce a government ban on certain services, Turkish ISPs are intercepting access of Google's public DNS service.
Electronic voting recommended for NSW state and local elections
A major expansion of electronic voting through the iVote system would help improve voter turnout for local council and state elections, according to a New South Wales parliamentary committee.
Supporters want a trial period for eSafety commissioner
As tech companies line up against the Australian government's anti-bullying eSafety commissioner proposal, even supporters of the proposal have said the government shouldn't rush to legislate to remove 'harmful' content from social media.
Australian government requests to Google increase fivefold
The number of requests to Google for user information from Australian government and law enforcement agencies has increased fivefold between 2009 and the end of 2013.
Google: User info requests have jumped 120 percent in four years
Google's legal director stressed that the Internet giant's ninth Transparency Report hones in on requests related to criminal investigations during the second half of 2013.
NBN committee demands strategic review redo
The Labor-Greens majority Senate Select Committee for the NBN has demanded that NBN submit a new, more reliable, strategic review that transparently costs the different network rollout proposals.
Brazil passes groundbreaking Internet governance Bill
Key provisions around net neutrality, right to privacy and freedom of expression online are part of the country's first "Internet Constitution".
Communications Dept seeks electronic voting trial
The Australian Department of Communications has said that the government should consider a small trial of electronic voting at the next federal election in 2016.
Italy's artists line up to support the piracy tax: How much should you pay for the right to copy?
Italy's artists and creatives are hoping to have the levy charged on all blank storage increased, while consumers groups and hardware companies are opposed to what they see as an unfair tax. The battle rages on.
World Wide Web founder supports Brazil's "Internet Constitution"
Sir Tim Berners-Lee: “If Marco Civil is passed, this would be the best possible birthday gift for Brazilian and global Web users."
Government stumps up $18.4m to fix NBN satellite service
An AU$18.4 million deal to expand capacity on the NBN interim satellite service will bring the speed up from below dial up, according to Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
Beijing demands US explain Huawei spying
Chinese government wants its U.S. counterpart to provide a "clear explanation" over reports the NSA had infiltrated servers operated by Huawei, to spy on the Chinese networking giant's top executives.
TPG begins live trials of fibre to the basement
While the Australian government decides the fate of NBN competition, TPG is already building its fibre to the basement network and has live trial customers.
Price cuts, Wi-Fi touted as alternatives to roaming regulation
Telstra has pointed to the price drops in roaming, and the availability of Wi-Fi as reasons why the Australian government should back away from plans to regulate mobile roaming charges.
Treasury backs NBN funding cap
Treasury has thrown its support behind the government capping off NBN Co investment at AU$29.5 billion, and opening up the network to infrastructure-based competition.
Poland's military strikes new deal to bolster cybersecurity, starting with cryptography
A new deal between Poland's ministry of defence and three universities is aimed at swelling the ranks of its cyberwar forces.