ICANN Announces Surprise Termination of Domain Name Expansion Program; Plans Own Dissolution

MARINA DEL REY, California (ZAP) -- In a stunning and unexpected announcement, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has announced the immediate termination of its controversial and much criticized plan for a vast expansion of generic top-level Internet domain names (gTLDs), and has set an aggressive timetable for the dissolution of ICANN itself. [more]

Thanks, Lauren Weinstein!

Google Nude View

Also reported by the EFF:

Google's New "Nude View" Program Raises Privacy Concerns

Privacy advocates are calling foul on a new partnership between Google and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) that would index the backscatter x-ray images taken at airline security checkpoints. "This will help singles get a first look even before the first date," said a Google spokesman. "Google Nude View," as the program is called, represents the first major initiative for the company since it changed its venerable slogan from "Don't Be Evil" to "Mwahahaha!" 

Creativity Murder

The EFF reported on April 1, 2012:

MPAA Announces Kickstarter Campaign for Film Decrying Internet's Impact on Creative Works

In a statement posted on its Wordpress blog this week, the MPAA announced that it will respond to the Internet's "destructive" effect on creative works with a new PSA, to be funded on the crowd-funding platform Kickstarter. "Rampant content theft -- or as we call it, creativity murder -- makes it impossible to promote ideas online," according to a Tweet from MPAA chairman Chris Dodd. "For a pledge of $50, backers will receive an exclusive DVD copy of 'Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked' in 3D." 

Blog from the Afterlife

The BBC reports: The Earth has exploded, killing everyone.

Freenode to keep logs for 5 years

Freenode announces:

"In accordance with ACTA [...] All channels on the network will be logged and stored for a period of five (5) years. These logs will be made available to network staff and authorized governement [sic] officials [...] Beginning April 31st [...]"

Review of April Fool's Day Transactions

Kind of didn't get around to recording what went on in 2011, but I have just learned of the esteemed Review of April Fool's Day Transactions, which I heartily recommend ;) They have been publishing a review since 2006. I am hard put to decide which one I like best.