Suchergebnisse

The tenth of a new, well-received, and highly acclaimed series on critical infrastructure and homeland security, Communications Sector Protection and Homeland Security is an eye-opening account and an important reference source about a complex sector.

Transport and communications is a key sector in the overall strategy of attaining regional integration and economic cooperation among SADCC countries. Projects in this sector should therefore aim at reducing economic dependence of the member states and the enhancement of genuine and equitable regional integration. The issues discussed in this book include, inter alia, the following: an assessment of the donor preferences in the funding of regional projects; the role of the Southern Africa Transport and Communication Commission (SATCC); a discussion of the major SADCC interstate rail lines, air and road transport and port capacities; regional operational coordination and the efficacy of training and manpower development programmes. (DÜI-Hff)

This research is concerned with identifying the benefits of Continuous Professional Development for the Visual Communications sector in Ireland, with the aim of establishing what benefits exist for both the employee and employer. Research is undertaken to identify CPD programmes that currently exist in other industries in Ireland for the purpose of establishing commonalities and how this may apply to the Visual Communications sector. This is achieved through a combination of literature review, desk research, surveys of employees and employers in the Visual Communications sector and a number of semi-formal interviews with representatives from various industry sectors with established CPD programmes such as Design Ireland, Engineers Ireland and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland. The main points of the literature review include defining the term Visual Communications and elaborating on sectorial breakdown and comparing the Irish sector with international markets. The term Continuing Professional Development is also defined and existing CPD programmes in Ireland are identified and discussed in context of their relevance to the Visual Communications sector. Main issues regarding CPD are outlined, in terms of models of CPD, the benefits for industry and barriers that hinder participation. Government and Education policy on CPD is also investigated. The primary research data is gathered in the form of semi-formal interviews and surveys. Through careful analysis this information is used to validate the information and data uncovered from the literature review and offers a number of perspectives into the benefits of CPD in various industry sectors in Ireland. The main points regarding benefits to participation in CPD are outlined and recommendations are made for encouraging grater participation are made and the need for partnership between industry and education in developing a meaningful CPD programme is discussed.

After 11 September 2001, the protection of national security became a high-stakes issue in Australia and internationally. The Australian Government commenced a far-reaching legislative agenda to update its national security laws. Described by a former attorney-general as 'an unfinished canvas', the national security legislative framework included communications–sector specific legislation, directed at the national interest obligations of communications industry stakeholders. This thesis examines the governance of national security in the Australian communications sector, with the aim of contributing to legal knowledge by examining the entrenched governance networks, structures and processes for coordinating national security law and policy in the Australian communications sector and accurately characterising the compact—some might call it the 'accord'—between industry and government. A normative concern relating to the fate of democratic scrutiny in the specified context is investigated. The thesis draws on a governance theory perspective and uses a multiple case study approach. The thesis concludes that the coordination of national security law and policy in the Australian communications sector is best understood as corporatist governance. The research reimagines the Australian industrial relations Accord of the 1990s by framing the relationship between the state and industry as corporatist. The implications, both practical and abstract, of this relationship for liberal democratic institutions and democratic scrutiny are considered. The thesis concludes that, whereas co-regulatory and self-regulatory mechanisms may be efficient and effective, corporatist governance poses a threat to democratic scrutiny when the accord between industry and government is wholly functional and operating in its natural state of exclusivity, confidentiality and secrecy, under the cloak of national security. Corporatist governance is least risky to democratic scrutiny when the accord is not fully formed, or is easily broken—then, the strong democratic traditions of the 'fourth estate', the rule of law, parliamentary scrutiny and judicial oversight, may play a role in the coordination of national security law and policy in the Australian communications sector.

This report assesses the state of data access in the communications sector, with a specific focus on data-intensive products and services. Recognising that consumers are becoming increasingly concerned about their personal data, we decided to ask a simple question: can we access our data? The research team tried to access data from social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter),online companies (Google), telecommunications companies (Optus, Vodafone, Telstra) and fitness wearables (Fitbit, Apple Watch).We found that access processes were convoluted and diverse and there was no clear standard across each product [i.e. wearables] and/or service category [i.e. telecommunications providers].While we could get access to some sort of data, the provision of data was not comprehensive in many cases and the data that was provided came in a variety of formats. Australia is about to introduce a Consumer Data Right (CDR), which aims to simplify and standardise the process of accessing and transferring data. Our findings have shown that such a reform is needed. We recommend the introduction of the Consumer Data Right. Our other central recommendation is that Australia needs an equivalent to the General Data Protection Right (GDPR). The European Union has introduced a foundational reform that provides citizens with a range of rights, including a right to be forgotten and a right to access data. While the CDR is an important reform, it is narrowly targeted. It introduces a new definition of consumer data that is broader than the existing definition of 'personal information' in the Privacy Act 1988. It also introduces additional legislative obligations. However, these new definitions and obligations only relate to data access and transfer. As a result, Australians will only have a very limited set of rights in relation to their data. Moreover, a range of other government bodies are conducting reviews of privacy related issues or proposing privacy reforms, alongside the CDR process. This has resulted in a series of overlapping reform agendas. We recommend that the Australian Government should wait until these reports are complete rather than engaging in patchwork reform. The CDR should form part of a broader suite of rights that update Australian privacy law for a data-driven economy. The rollout of the right has been delayed until February 2020. Subsequently, we have offered a series of more specific recommendations relating to the CDR and Australia's broader data policy framework in Chapter 8. The consultation process has finished and the Bill is likely to be introduced as it stands. However, we hope that this analysis can inform the ongoing improvement of the right into the future.

This report provides a comprehensive assessment of the road construction projects and the implementation capability of the project execution agencies. Both public and private sector performance in the provision of roads and road transport have been covered. (DÜI-Hff)

'Globalization, Liberalization and Policy Change: A Political Economy of India's Communication Sector,' by Stephen D. McDowell, is reviewed.