[LINK] Broadband Forum Assists Google's Entrapment Strategy

[Roger Clarke]

You can participate in the Australian Government's discussion, at:
http://www.broadbandfuture.gov.au/open-to-ideas.html

But only if you have a Google account, and log in to it.

The Google login mechanism is a means whereby Google consolidates 
data about individuals, which it permits itself to use as it sees fit.

It's completely inappropriate for any government to use a rapacious 
private sector mechanism as the (or, arguably, even a) channel for 
eParticipation.

Note too that several of the elements don't work in all browsers or 
for all users:
-   Safari can't display some of Google's pages.
     (Firefox displays them, so there may be an undeclared cookie or
     pop-up requirement that isn't detected or managed properly)
-   the video appears to require the latest version of a proprietary
     product, rather than supporting international standards


[Declaration:  I'm a strong supporter of the considerable efforts 
that Senator Kate Lundy and her staff-member (and IT industry 
luminary) Pia Waugh have invested in eCommunity engagement;  and I'm 
an occasional contributor to their work.  And I'm delighted that 
DBCDE has taken it up, at least for the event this week.  But this 
aspect is a serious mis-fire.]


-- 
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 the Cyberspace Law & Policy Centre      Uni of NSW
Visiting Professor in Computer Science    Australian National University