Australia's Web filter criticised

Both Yahoo and Google have criticised Australia's proposal for a mandatory Internet filter, reports the Associated Press.

Communications minister Stephen Conroy says the filter would block access to sites that include child pornography, sexual violence and detailed instruction in crime.

"Some limits, like child pornography, are obvious,” writes Google in the submission. “But moving to a mandatory ISP-level filtering regime with a scope that goes well beyond such material is heavy-handed and can raise genuine questions about restrictions on access to information."

A legal dispute between Microsoft and Pixart in Argentina alleges the software giant used its Windows Starter Edition to dominate the country's operating system market, writes eWeek.

Pixart says the market share of its Debian-based Linux distribution Rxart has been undermined by uncompetitive pricing practices from Microsoft. It cites the installation base of 320 000 units in 2005 has been gradually eroded by the existence of Windows Starter Edition.

“It is a suit filed in the National commission for Fair Trading, for an alleged abuse of dominant position,” says Dr Uriel Blustein. “The Commission in is the process of deciding whether the trial will take place.”

Insurance policy holders could face price increases on premiums or have claims rejected due to people advertising their whereabouts on social networks, states Sourcewire.

Legal & General says consumers shouldn't broadcast vacation plans as thieves scour social networking sites for potential targets and empty homes. The problem lies in that not all Web pages are protected from external view and are easily accessed by strangers.

Twitter users were recently put in the spotlight after www.pleaserobme.com provided real-time updates of empty homes from people using Foursquare to update their location, claiming they highlighted people's willingness to broadcast sensitive information such as postcodes.