Blog product reviews regulated by the FTC

More transparency coming to blog reviews under new FTC rules – Ars Technica

In another application of media law on the larger public, the FTC has asked bloggers to disclose when they are being compensated or get a “freebie” when doing product reviews. This makes perfect sense, especially given that the FTC has agreed to only investigate the most egregious cases. Still, confusion over the law may quell some speech–perhaps it’s a good thing that already I announced that “I ♥ my Mac” on Facebook a few weeks ago.

Can you retransmit info from police scanners?

Anarchist arrested after tweeting out the fuzz to protesters – Ars Technica

The FBI arrests a man for Tweeting police locations during the G20 summit, and goes on to search his home.

I’m not aware of the case/legislation history on possession of police scanners, or regarding what information can be retransmitted, but is a troubling turn of events. Journalists, for one, are quite reliant on scanners to quickly get on location as stories unfold. Other than time and intent, it’s difficult to parse their actions from those of the tweeting protester. In First Amendment terms, going down the road of intent has been traditionally viewed as a slippery slope.

The author of this article closes by remarking that “Maybe it’s time for protest organizers to start moving back to lower-tech, less trackable methods of communication.” I would instead argue that actions such as these need to be challenged.

iPhone not a computer

My iPhone ironically ate an earlier draft of this post, but I’d still like to share 2 articles that show how Apple does not see iPhones as an “open” box.

iPhones could crash cell towers
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2009/07/jailbreak

iPhone app store roulette
http://mobile.infoworld.com/device/article.php?mid=1&CALL_URL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.infoworld.com%2Fd%2Fmobilize%2Fiphone-app-store-roulette-tale-rejection-773%3Fpage%3D0%2C0

These devices can do a lot, but easy blogging is not in the list.