The law of unintended consequences

The internet continues to be a working example of the law of unintended consequences. We’ve seen how the global reach of internet publications can result in a defamation action in London brought by an American against other Americans regarding an article on an American website. These days, not only can we buy goods from all … Continue reading The law of unintended consequences →

Why the US bugging Merkel’s phone will cost you money

The American decision to bug Chancellor Merkel’s private mobile has several consequences. All of them will affect us – by which I mean business decision makers – sooner, and more thoroughly, than we’d like. The obvious part is that our compliance costs are about to go up. We already knew that the European General Data … Continue reading Why the US bugging Merkel’s phone will cost you money →

PRISM: will the cure be worse than the disease?

Now here’s a thing. As a private citizen, are you horrified or reassured by the revelations that the American NSA has been intercepting and monitoring internet traffic wholesale? I suspect you’re closer to appalled than comforted. Certainly, this is the public mood. The Europeans have been particularly vocal in expressing their concern at governmental level, … Continue reading PRISM: will the cure be worse than the disease? →