I-WAYS, Digest of Electronic Commerce Policy and Regulation - Volume 28, issue 1

Article Type: Other

Citation: I-WAYS, Digest of Electronic Commerce Policy and Regulation, vol. 28, no. 1, pp. 2-2, 2005

Article Type: Other

Citation: I-WAYS, Digest of Electronic Commerce Policy and Regulation, vol. 28, no. 1, pp. 3-7, 2005

Article Type: Review Article

Abstract: The United Nations prepares this annual report on e-Government for consideration in a much wider context. These are the "disparities" in access to ICT-related developments that are likely to become larger at the current rate of technological advancement. The challenge for development today, the UN believes, "is to find ways and means to surmount the inequality in developments from new technologies. This requires re-visitation of the ways countries think about ICT and e-Government. It needs innovative …approaches to government and the public sector, business and the citizen, culture and society. A holistic approach is required which fully exploits the centrality of ICT for the vision of a future knowledge society." The 2004 report focuses on the question of what defines "access," that governs it and where are the countries of the world in terms of their provision of access opportunities. Presented below are excerpts from the report. The full text is available at http://www.unpan.org/e-government4.asp. Show more

Citation: I-WAYS, Digest of Electronic Commerce Policy and Regulation, vol. 28, no. 1, pp. 9-23, 2005

Article Type: Review Article

Abstract: A global database of ICT indicators is being prepared under the leadership of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). This new information, presented in the UNCTAD 2004 E-Commerce Development Report, is intended to assist developing countries in addressing their lack of reliable, internationally comparable statistical information about ICT usage, which is essential for ICT policy-making. Already known is that automating and integrating business processes through ICTs (e-business) is much less frequent …in SMEs, and E-Commerce is still rare, particularly for direct sales. This initiative is part of efforts to promote the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), the second phase due to take place in Tunis later in 2005. Another issue raised in the report is Internet Governance, that is a question receiving wide attention. Show more

Citation: I-WAYS, Digest of Electronic Commerce Policy and Regulation, vol. 28, no. 1, pp. 24-26, 2005

Article Type: Review Article

Abstract: In October 1995 the European Commission approved a Directive (95/46/EC) on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data. It restricts transfers of personal data from EU Member States to other countries outside the EU where the legal regime does not ensure an adequate level of privacy protection for natural persons. The Commission in July 2000 adopted a Decision (520/2000/EC) that allows transfers of …personal data between Europe and the United States. This recognized the Safe Harbor Privacy Principles and Frequently Asked Questions that had been issued by the US Department of Commerce as "providing adequate protection for the purposes of personal data transfers from the EU." As a result, data transfers from EU Member States to US organizations that subscribe to the Principles can take place lawfully insofar as the recipient organizations are deemed to provide an adequate level of privacy protection. This report presents excerpts from the Commission Staff Working Document (SEC (2004) 1323) of October 10, 2004 on the implementation of the Safe Harbor Decision. The full text should be consulted for extensive footnotes. Show more

Citation: I-WAYS, Digest of Electronic Commerce Policy and Regulation, vol. 28, no. 1, pp. 27-33, 2005

Article Type: Review Article

Abstract: The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and its national committees around the world approved a statement on VoIP, calling on governments to take a light-handed approach to regulating an emerging range of IP-enabled services, including VoIP. The ICC believes VoIP has the potential to serve as a catalyst for broadband development and to help governments achieve their goal of economic and social development by expanding economic activity and bringing benefits of ICT to their citizens. The …ICC Telecom Task Force that prepared the statement believes the present shift to IP networks "enables a revolutionary set of converged voice, data, and video applications for business and benefits for the information society as a whole." Show more

Citation: I-WAYS, Digest of Electronic Commerce Policy and Regulation, vol. 28, no. 1, pp. 34-37, 2005

Article Type: Review Article

Abstract: The second-year anniversary of adoption of The e-Government Act is evaluated in this report. There are many accomplishments the Office of Budget and Management (OMB) reports, however, there are some shortcomings. Most of the provisions of the Act have been successfully implemented, but OMB has failed to develop a database and website containing information about all federally funded research and development. Because the US Government is probably the largest producer and user of information, its attention …to achieving a high level of e-Government, including transactional services, is being closely observed by many countries. Show more

Citation: I-WAYS, Digest of Electronic Commerce Policy and Regulation, vol. 28, no. 1, pp. 39-43, 2005

Article Type: Review Article

Abstract: The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), composed of 23 economies has designed an e-APEC strategy, through the assistance of the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC). This strategy has been endorsed by conferences of senior level officials that agreed the region must fully embrace the emerging technologies and integrate them into the region's economic life. Their goal is to ensure that every APEC economy could be more productive, better prepared to compete in global markets and provide a …higher quality of life and better living standards for their people. This report reviews accomplishments and shortcomings of the e-APEC program since it was initiated. Show more

Citation: I-WAYS, Digest of Electronic Commerce Policy and Regulation, vol. 28, no. 1, pp. 45-57, 2005

Article Type: Review Article

Abstract: The European Council and Commission have recognized the centrality of e-Government to Europe's future and designed strategies and operational programs for more than 5 years. Authorities clearly recognized in the Lisbon strategy that Europe's public sector was at a crossroads, facing challenging economic and social conditions, institutional change and the profound impact of new technologies. However, within the public sector, administrations face challenges to improving efficiency, productivity and quality of their services …within limited budgets. Major challenges have been reduction of barriers to the internal market for services and mobility across Europe, effective implementation of national policies and regional or local government. The eEurope 2005 Action Plan and Ministerial declaration confirmed commitments to making e-Government a reality in Europe. An output of Commission initiatives following the adoption of the Action Plan was a Communication that analyzes the current state of play in e-Government, identifies key issues and barriers and presents a coherent set of actions that reinforce e-Government within the eEurope 2005 context. The Communication from the Commission to the Council on the Role of e-Government for Europe's Future (COM(2003)567 final) reflects progress on a number of implementation initiatives that are designed to achieve eEurope 2005. Excerpts from this document published in this In-Focus article provide a number of websites and other source materials that can be important resources for government planners and researchers. Show more

Citation: I-WAYS, Digest of Electronic Commerce Policy and Regulation, vol. 28, no. 1, pp. 59-68, 2005