UK Highway Cameras Appeared Useless

It recently turned out that the advanced snooping technology of the British Highways Agency has proved so useless that no drivers at all have received tickets for speeding on the M25.

Although a lot of users of the largest carpark in the world may be surprised that anyone could go fast enough to get a speeding ticket, it’s clear that at least someone must have got past 70 miles per hour during the past year. Local newspapers explained that certain technical and legal difficulties were the reason why the Highways Agency couldn’t switch on the network of 36 new digital cameras.

The cameras were purchased and installed in order to enforce variable speed limits on the London orbital motorway. It was found out that the equipment was wasted only after AOL wondered which section of the road netted the most cash. Surprisingly enough, it

BitTorrent Certified Set-Top Box Released

Antik Technolog, Slovakian manufacturer of IPTV devices, has recently introduced its first BitTorrent Certified set-top box designed for telecommunication companies, providers and retailers.

The device in question was announced for the first time in this past January. Desperately expected by many, the device called the FullHD Juice Mini is able to play files users download as torrents directly on a TV. Antik Technology CEO explained that Juice Mini was a unique gadget, because it was the first BitTorrent Certified box in the world.

The company added that thanks to their partnership with BitTorrent they have designed that special IPTV device for customers who

British Government Rejected Online Porn Ban

The UK government has recently rejected demands that ISPs install automatic filters on porn material online to protect the kids. After a joint consultation of the Department and Education and Home Office, the ministers have agreed that broadband providers won’t be required to put default blocks on porn content, and the responsibility should lie with parents.

During the consultation, there were suggestions for a process whereby users would have to “opt in” if they wanted to see adult content, instead of being freely available for any users to access. But the report delivering the government’s response to the consultation read that broadband providers would continue to use a so-called “active choice” system employed by such providers as BT, Sky, TalkTalk and Virgin Media. The system involves encouraging parents to set certain controls on specific content instead of being putting it under the remit of the provider.

Iran Launched Its Own YouTube

The country has created its own YouTube which would only allow video on approval of the government’s regime.

Mehr, which means “affection” in Farsi, is created for Persian-speaking Internet users. Its aim is to promote and cultivate the local culture. At the moment, the URL YouTube.IR is redirecting to Fars TV, while Mehr, located at http://ir.mehr.ir, appears to be down. Anyway, the service is expected to share content specific to the country, including music videos. Iranian users will also be able to submit their own material.

Genetic Database to Be Created in UK

Advocates expressed concerns over a £100 million project that will see DNA information of 100,000 cancer patients mapped out in a database. Big Brother Watch has called the plan “wholly wrong”. In the meanwhile, David Cameron promised that the plans will be worked on over the next 5 years to finally hold the genetic details of every UK citizen.

According to the Prime Minister, this move will push the boundaries of science and allow genetic sequencing by unlocking the power of DNA information. However, the UK’s genome plan has also raised some concerns that the information could be used to create commercial deals with such entities as drug firms. People also fear that people having access to the database might use the genetic codes in order to identify and track everyone on it, as well as their relatives.

The Prime Minister’s office also promised that the genome sequencing would be entirely voluntary and the patients will have a choice to opt out without affecting their NHS care.

ITU Treaty Refused by US, UK, and Canada

The United Kingdom, United States and Canada have refused to sign a treaty which would allow greater involvement in web governance to nations throughout the globe

During the International Telecommunication Union conference in Dubai, a number of countries objected outright to the proposals of the agreement. For instance, there was strong opposition from the US Federal Communications Commission. Its head, Robert M. McDowell, claimed that the public governing of the web might impact the basic freedoms of web. McDowell also said that a number of countries present at the conference in UAE had gone back on commitments to keep the web free from government control.

Facebook Changed Policy despite User Vote

Although the company claimed to offer its users a kind of democracy, the social network still made the changes it wanted to its policies. In defense, Facebook blamed its users for not bothering to vote on a topic which received almost no promotion from the social network.

A couple weeks ago, the company opened the polls in a bid to provide its users the chance to vote on how the social network processes people’s information, as well as a plan to get rid of the website’s policy to allow users vote in the first place. However, Facebook has now claimed that participation in the polls wasn’t high enough to reach a consensus from its users.

Entertainment Industry against UK Pirate Party & TPB

Music industry group (British Phonographic Industry) is accusing the British Pirate Party of running its TPB proxy. The copyright outfit is going to sue the British Pirate Party because it refused to take its proxy for The Pirate Bay tracker offline.

The British Phonographic Industry asked the Pirate Party to close down the site, but the outfit had to quickly turn to threats when it didn’t get its way. The Pirate Party leader claimed that the party will stand behind its principles, which could result in an expensive legal battle.

After the High Court ordered a number of British Internet service providers to block their subscribers’ access to the largest BitTorrent tracker earlier in 2012, millions of users began using the British Pirate Party’s proxy service. Frankly speaking, it’s currently one of the most popular sites in the country.

Metallica on Spotify

One of the most famous rock bands – Metallica – finally joined Spotify this December. For a long time the band remained “the poster child of not doing things on the Internet”. Daniel Ek, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Spotify, confirmed that the music streaming service is making available Metallica’s music catalog during a presentation to introduce new features in New York.

Previously, Metallica was firm in its refusal to stream its music, but now metalheads will be provided with access to 30 years of recordings from the legendary rock band. Metallica’s official website announced that the band was beyond excited to confirm that music from every single Metallica album was now available on

McAfee Got out of Jail

If you follow the fate of anti-virus guru and Intel brand, turned outlaw, John McAfee, you might be surprised to know that he has been let out of a Guatemalan detention center. Local media has reported that McAfee had been fighting deportation to Belize where the local authorities wanted to question him about his neighbor being shot in the back of the head. McAfee recently admitted that it was ok in his cell, with PC and coffee and everything.

Apparently, judge Judith Secaida has decided that John’s detention was unlawful and ordered him released with providing him with 10 days to put his immigration situation in order. Thus far, it is unclear whether McAfee could get a kind of temporary or transit visa which