ZDNet - Internet founder worried over EU cybercrime plans . Cerf, a founding father of today's Internet, said on Thursday that European Union plans for new rules to fight crime on the Web risked clashing with existing EU privacy regulations. Cerf, who helped develop the Internet in the early 70s shortly after graduating from Stanford University and now works for WorldCom, said more secure network systems were an immediate priority for the successful development of the ubiquitous Web. He told Reuters in an interview that Internet traffic should be retained only for billing purposes and was too cumbersome to be stored for police investigations. If we're going to restrict Web links, we must tread softly.
Problems typically arise when a site owner seeks to stop links that the owner deems objectionable.
Part Two on the Legalities of Linking Serious legal issues remain about whether linking without permission will be tolerated or provoke litigation. In a prior discussion , I identified express and implied licenses as being fair game for avoiding liability in most instances. Technology Review - Web Behind Walls . At stake is the future and form of the Internet for millions of Americans whose access to the online world comes through the set-top portals of cable television. Instead of the multivaried pathways of the World Wide Web, these users will be provided easy access to a much smaller subset of items and options that reflect the network owner's online programming, as well as the offerings of its content partners.