[LINK] Link Digest, Vol 201, Issue 34
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Thu Aug 27 12:00:40 AEST 2009
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Today's Topics:
1. Australian National Data Service (Tom Worthington)
2. Internet Speeds in the US... (Marghanita da Cruz)
3. Re: Internet Speeds in the US... (Richard Chirgwin)
4. AMC-CTF guards Australia against $1500 Villains (Roger Clarke)
5. Re: AMC-CTF guards Australia against $1500 Villains (Stilgherrian)
6. Re: AMC-CTF guards Australia against $1500 Villains
(Brendan Scott)
7. Re: AMC-CTF guards Australia against $1500 Villains (Stilgherrian)
8. Re: AMC-CTF guards Australia against $1500 Villains (Roger Clarke)
9. Re: AMC-CTF guards Australia against $1500 Villains (Lea de Groot)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:40:26 +1000
From: "Tom Worthington" <Tom.Worthington at tomw.net.au>
Subject: [LINK] Australian National Data Service
To: "link at anu.edu.au" <link at anu.edu.au>
Message-ID: <1251254426.13452.1331643089 at webmail.messagingengine.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Greetings from the Australian National University in Canberra where Ian
Barnes is giving a presentation on the Australian National Data Service
<http://ands.org.au/> to my e-commerce students. ANDS aims to make the
data behind research in Australia accessible online. The services
provided are both for human readers to search for data and then machine
to machine web services to access the data.
One interesting question is why scientists would share their data. One
reason would be that this will tend to result in the scientist's work
being more widely cited and thus promoting their career. A less obvious
reason is that by making the data available will help ensure the data is
preserved for long term use, including by the original creator. Another
reason is that this may be required by funding bodies to prevent
academic fraud.
Interestingly some of the initial data in the ANDS system is research
data about humpback whales near the location for the proposed north west
multi-billion dollar gas platform.
The service provides a google map interface using the geotagging
information in the metadata. The service uses a different metadata
standard to the ISO19115/19139 standard which is used for some
repositories, but there is provision for converson of the data.
The service has a harvesting process to search registered data sources
to find new collections of data to index. The service uses RIF-CS basd
on ISO2146 to represent data in XML format.
More on this in my blog at:
<http://www.tomw.net.au/blog/2009/08/australian-national-data-service.html
>.
--
Tom Worthington FACS HLM
PO Box 13, Belconnen ACT 2617, Australia
http://www.tomw.net.au
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2009 13:02:24 +1000
From: Marghanita da Cruz <marghanita at ramin.com.au>
Subject: [LINK] Internet Speeds in the US...
To: Link list <link at anu.edu.au>
Message-ID: <4A94A5C0.2090201 at ramin.com.au>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
> The data also confirms that where a customer lives is a good
> indicator of Internet connection speed. With some exceptions, if
> you live in a Northeastern or Mid-Atlantic state, you are likely to
> have good high-speed Internet options. The five fastest states are:
> Delaware (9.9 mbps), Rhode Island (9.8 mbps), New Jersey (8.9 mbps),
> Massachusetts (8.6 mbps) and New York (8.4 mbps).
>
> However, if you live in a Southern or Western state, access to high-
> speed Internet is less likely. Mississippi (3.7 mbps), South
> Carolina (3.6 mbps), Arkansas (3.1 mbps), Idaho (2.6 mbps) and
> Alaska (2.3 mbps) have some of the slowest Internet connections
> speeds, according to the study.
>
<http://www.cwa-union.org/news/nationwide-study-of-real-time-internet-connection-speeds-shows-u-s-still-lags-behind-other-advanced-nations-posts-small-gains-last-two-years.html
>
Marghanita
--
Marghanita da Cruz
http://www.ramin.com.au
Phone: (+61)0414 869202
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2009 13:45:27 +1000
From: Richard Chirgwin <rchirgwin at ozemail.com.au>
Subject: Re: [LINK] Internet Speeds in the US...
Cc: Link list <link at anu.edu.au>
Message-ID: <4A94AFD7.6090705 at ozemail.com.au>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Marghanita da Cruz wrote:
>> The data also confirms that where a customer lives is a good
>> indicator of Internet connection speed. With some exceptions, if
>> you live in a Northeastern or Mid-Atlantic state, you are likely to
>> have good high-speed Internet options. The five fastest states
>> are: Delaware (9.9 mbps), Rhode Island (9.8 mbps), New Jersey (8.9
>> mbps), Massachusetts (8.6 mbps) and New York (8.4 mbps).
>>
>> However, if you live in a Southern or Western state, access to high-
>> speed Internet is less likely. Mississippi (3.7 mbps), South
>> Carolina (3.6 mbps), Arkansas (3.1 mbps), Idaho (2.6 mbps) and
>> Alaska (2.3 mbps) have some of the slowest Internet connections
>> speeds, according to the study.
>>
>>
> <http://www.cwa-union.org/news/nationwide-study-of-real-time-internet-connection-speeds-shows-u-s-still-lags-behind-other-advanced-nations-posts-small-gains-last-two-years.html
> >
>
> Marghanita
>
<methodological criticism>
Notice how all the areas with fast averages have high business density?
This kind of speed test is skewed by the proportion of users running the
test from an office LAN with fibre connection.
I realise that excessive skepticism spoils good headlines...
As for the statement that "at this rate it will take 15 years to catch
up with South Korea", what can I say?
Broadband debate is utterly debased, everywhere, by rubbish statistics.
RC
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 2009 09:10:47 +1000
From: Roger Clarke <Roger.Clarke at xamax.com.au>
Subject: [LINK] AMC-CTF guards Australia against $1500 Villains
To: link at anu.edu.au
Message-ID: <p0624080dc6bb71633b1c@[192.168.1.101]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed"
Cash strapped and brassed off, filmmaker casts PayPal as the villain
Date: August 27 2009
The Sydney Morning Herald
Rick Feneley
http://www.smh.com.au/technology/cash-strapped-and-brassed-off-filmmaker-casts-paypal-as-the-villain-20090826-ezt9.html?skin=text-only
DAVID STEINHOFF is developing a $60 million war-romance feature film
in Sydney, so he was shocked when PayPal blocked a modest cash
transfer from the US - just in case he was a money launderer or
terrorist. Or possibly even a child pornographer.
A week later, Mr Steinhoff still does not have his money, and he is
wondering why the Australian Government has ''subcontracted'' PayPal
to do security checks on its citizens.
A shareholder in his company, Presence Films, transferred $US1500
($1794) on Thursday last week with this message in the subject field:
''You've got money!''
But no he didn't. When Mr Steinhoff used the internet to try to
withdraw the funds on Friday, he received this message: ''Your
account has been limited.'' And this: ''Australian law requires
PayPal to collect information about you and your business.''
Alarmed, the producer obeyed the direction to upload one
proof-of-identity document, and was advised it may take 72 hours to
process.
''We're a film development company, so we run on the smell of an oily
rag,'' Mr Steinhoff said at his Fox Studios office. ''I we don't have
cash, we can't pay the bills.''
On Saturday, he called PayPal. He says he was advised that the
Attorney-General had requested PayPal perform identity checks on
money transfers exceeding $700, as part of a crackdown on terrorism.
He noted that, to hold a corporate bank account in Australia, his
company had to be registered with the Australian Securities and
Investment Commission and provide 100 points of identity to the bank.
He logged on again on Sunday to check the progress of his money and
found that PayPal needed more documents - a rates notice and utility
bill - before it would restore his account access. On Monday he
called AUSTRAC, in the Attorney-General's Department, and says he was
told they were investigating terrorism and child pornography and
PayPal was helping in their investigations.
On Tuesday he contacted the Herald, worried that Australia was
entrusting an ''offshore company'' to gather information on its
citizens, with no guarantee that it could not be used against them or
for identity theft.
Mr Steinhoff did not realise, but every financial institution - not
only PayPal - is obliged to run identity checks when transactions
reach a threshold under "know your customer" obligations covered by
the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act of 2006.
The Attorney-General's Department said PayPal was required to act
when a customer's account balance exceeded $1000. A spokesman could
not explain the $700 figure that Mr Steinhoff said he was quoted, nor
the mention of child pornography, given that the act refers to action
against money laundering and terrorism. He said amounts of $1000 or
less may not require the checks, but ''only where PayPal determines
the risk of money laundering and terrorism financing is low''.
PayPal advised Mr Steinhoff that his account was restored on Tuesday,
but that the money may not be deposited into his bank until Monday.
''That's 11 days later,'' Mr Steinhoff said. He wonders how many
businesses are having their cash flow - seemingly petty amounts, but
critical to their operation - frozen the same way.
Commercial obligations prevent disclosure of details about the film,
but $60 million is a big budget for an Australian production. The
person who sent the money was a senior US military non-commissioned
officer who had worked in intelligence in Afghanistan. ''What he had
to say about all this was pretty heavy-duty. He was upset,'' Mr
Steinhoff said.
On the matter of privacy, PayPal stresses it is bound by law to
protect customers' personal information. A spokeswoman could not
discuss the particular case, but said usual bank clearance procedures
could explain the lag in the funds hitting Mr Steinhoff's account.
PayPal sent another message on Tuesday, requesting he answer a survey
on how it had met his needs on this matter. In block letters, it
said: ''AFTER 5 DAYS, THIS INVITATION WILL EXPIRE.''
Expire it will. Mr Steinhoff has a movie to make.
--
Roger Clarke http://www.rogerclarke.com/
Xamax Consultancy Pty Ltd 78 Sidaway St, Chapman ACT 2611 AUSTRALIA
Tel: +61 2 6288 1472, and 6288 6916
mailto:Roger.Clarke at xamax.com.au http://www.xamax.com.au/
Visiting Professor in Info Science & Eng Australian National University
Visiting Professor in the eCommerce Program University of Hong Kong
Visiting Professor in the Cyberspace Law & Policy Centre Uni of NSW
------------------------------
Message: 5
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 2009 10:00:15 +1000
From: Stilgherrian <stil at stilgherrian.com>
Subject: Re: [LINK] AMC-CTF guards Australia against $1500 Villains
To: Link list <link at anu.edu.au>
Message-ID: <653034BA-73C9-4AAA-A7AC-0573590705E2 at stilgherrian.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes
On 27/08/2009, at 9:10 AM, Roger Clarke wrote:
> DAVID STEINHOFF is developing a $60 million war-romance feature film
> in Sydney, so he was shocked when PayPal blocked a modest cash
> transfer from the US - just in case he was a money launderer or
> terrorist. Or possibly even a child pornographer.
Yes, far be it for Mr Steinhoff to follow the same procedures as
anyone else transferring money for the first time and who may have
triggered a flag for all sorts of reasons, or the other party may have
triggered a flag... HE'S MAKING A MOVIE!
What bollocks.
The fact that PayPal transfers can take up to 11 days is not news.
It's one of the most common complaints small players have about them,
and have for years.
Stil
--
Stilgherrian http://stilgherrian.com/
Internet, IT and Media Consulting, Sydney, Australia
mobile +61 407 623 600
fax +61 2 9516 5630
Twitter: stilgherrian
Skype: stilgherrian
ABN 25 231 641 421
------------------------------
Message: 6
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 2009 10:33:46 +1000
From: Brendan Scott <brendansweb at optusnet.com.au>
Subject: Re: [LINK] AMC-CTF guards Australia against $1500 Villains
To: Link list <link at anu.edu.au>
Message-ID: <4A95D46A.7010605 at optusnet.com.au>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252
Stilgherrian wrote:
> On 27/08/2009, at 9:10 AM, Roger Clarke wrote:
>> DAVID STEINHOFF is developing a $60 million war-romance feature film
>> in Sydney, so he was shocked when PayPal blocked a modest cash
>> transfer from the US - just in case he was a money launderer or
>> terrorist. Or possibly even a child pornographer.
>
> Yes, far be it for Mr Steinhoff to follow the same procedures as
> anyone else transferring money for the first time and who may have
> triggered a flag for all sorts of reasons, or the other party may have
> triggered a flag... HE'S MAKING A MOVIE!
>
> What bollocks.
Perhaps it was really meant as a subtle example of nepotism in the
media industry?
------------------------------
Message: 7
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 2009 10:27:16 +1000
From: Stilgherrian <stil at stilgherrian.com>
Subject: Re: [LINK] AMC-CTF guards Australia against $1500 Villains
To: Link list <link at anu.edu.au>
Message-ID: <05896CBC-FFEE-4087-9760-197AD34A8B7E at stilgherrian.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes
On 27/08/2009, at 10:33 AM, Brendan Scott wrote:
> Perhaps it was really meant as a subtle example of nepotism in the
> media industry?
There's nepotism in the movie industry? REALLY???!!1!?!?!??!
Stil
--
Stilgherrian http://stilgherrian.com/
Internet, IT and Media Consulting, Sydney, Australia
mobile +61 407 623 600
fax +61 2 9516 5630
Twitter: stilgherrian
Skype: stilgherrian
ABN 25 231 641 421
------------------------------
Message: 8
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 2009 10:33:03 +1000
From: Roger Clarke <Roger.Clarke at xamax.com.au>
Subject: Re: [LINK] AMC-CTF guards Australia against $1500 Villains
To: link at anu.edu.au
Message-ID: <p06240811c6bb83ac8443@[192.168.1.101]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed"
Maybe I'd better explain why I thought the article was significant.
No, it wasn't anything to do with whinging Yanks, nor film-makers.
Here's my follow-up posting on the privacy list.
At 10:11 +1000 27/8/09, Kevin Lurie wrote:
> And the story is big because...
> Um...
> He's a [feature] film maker?
A fair question.
I thought the article was relevant because it highlights the way in
which financial transaction services providers have been forced to
become spies on their customers:
> Mr Steinhoff did not realise, but every financial institution - not
> only PayPal - is obliged to run identity checks when transactions
> reach a threshold under "know your customer" obligations covered by
> the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act of
> 2006.
And the latest amendments extended the scheme to a vast array of
other businesses.
We deplored this when it was done in East Germany, and in the
'People's' Republic of China.
But we've accepted it here, without justification, but simply because
the national security extremists said they wanted it.
--
Roger Clarke http://www.rogerclarke.com/
Xamax Consultancy Pty Ltd 78 Sidaway St, Chapman ACT 2611 AUSTRALIA
Tel: +61 2 6288 1472, and 6288 6916
mailto:Roger.Clarke at xamax.com.au http://www.xamax.com.au/
Visiting Professor in Info Science & Eng Australian National University
Visiting Professor in the eCommerce Program University of Hong Kong
Visiting Professor in the Cyberspace Law & Policy Centre Uni of NSW
------------------------------
Message: 9
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 2009 11:18:50 +1000
From: Lea de Groot <lealink at viking.org.au>
Subject: Re: [LINK] AMC-CTF guards Australia against $1500 Villains
To: Link List <link at anu.edu.au>
Message-ID: <8D6AFDF6-F9A3-4DE6-BCAD-D3EE0380DACD at viking.org.au>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes
On 27/08/2009, at 10:33 AM, Roger Clarke wrote:
> I thought the article was relevant because it highlights the way in
> which financial transaction services providers have been forced to
> become spies on their customers:
I'm not certain, but I believe this isn't true.
Yes, the banks have to do a 100 -point on their customers at the
appropriate point (I thought it was when the account was opened!!)
I am not aware that the information is flowed through to the govt, I
understand it is kept internally.
IIRC from last time I opened an account they don't even take
photocopies, they just cite the documents.
This isn't what I would label 'spying', just confirmation.
IMHO
Lea
--
Lea de Groot
Brissie
------------------------------
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