Internet Law Commons^™

Cybercrime Deterrence And International Legislation: Evidence From Distributed Denial Of Service Attacks, Kai-Lung Hui, Seung Hyun Kim, Qiu-Hong Wang

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

In this paper, we estimate the impact of enforcing the Convention on Cybercrime (COC) on deterring distributed denial of service (DDOS) attacks. Our data set comprises a sample of real, random spoof-source DDOS attacks recorded in 106 countries in 177 days in the period 2004-2008. We find that enforcing the COC decreases DDOS attacks by at least 11.8 percent, but a similar deterrence effect does not exist if the enforcing countries make a reservation on international cooperation. We also find evidence of network and displacement effects in COC enforcement. Our findings imply attackers in cyberspace are rational, motivated by economic …

When Punches Fly In Cyberspace, Singapore Management University

Research@SMU: Connecting the Dots

Professor Gary Chan examines how legal practice has changed in response to the Internet and technology.

See his papers:

• Case Comment: Golden Season Pte Ltd and others v Kairos Singapore Holdings Pte Ltd and another [2015] SGHC 38
• Reputation and defamatory meaning on the Internet: Communications, contexts and communities;
• Defamation via hyperlinks: More than meets the eye

See his books:

• Tort of defamation before the Singapore Courts, 1965-2015: A comparative and empirical study
• The law of torts in Singapore
• Ethics and social responsibility: Asian and Western perspectives
• The legal system of Singapore: Institutions, principles and practices

Making Sense Of Virtual Assets, Singapore Management University

Research@SMU: Connecting the Dots

Professor Kelvin Low’s research shows that the legal rights of people who own some intangible assets are sometimes remarkably ill-defined and poorly studied.

See the papers:

• Carbon credits as EU like it: Property, immunity, tragiCO2medy?
• Legal risks of owning cryptocurrencies

Private Lawmaking In Commercial Cyberspace, Eliza Mik

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

No discussion of “Law and Technology” would be complete without at least one essay centred on the Internet. While the Internet no longer captures our imagination with the same force as it did 20 years ago, we cannot assume that it no longer creates (or perpetuates?) multiple legal problems. When we talk about the Internet we must, however, refrain from the popular “Internet metanarrative” that often leads to superficial arguments and unhelpful generalisations.1 We must always remain aware of the multiplicity of the Internet’s technical applications and the wide range of legal contexts in which the term gains significance. Discussing …

Multi-Stakeholder Approach Needed To Tackle Cyberthreats, Tan K. B. Eugene

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

Being a hyper-connected society, our national security is also increasingly being redefined by threats in the cyberspace. Cyberattacks have evolved from a nontraditional security threat to a new domain of intense conflict, involving deception and sabotage.

Reputation And Defamatory Meaning On The Internet: Communications, Contexts And Communities, Gary Kok Yew Chan

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

The determination of the appropriate scope of protection of reputation in the tort of defamation is crucially dependent on the construction of defamatory meaning. With the continuing rise of Internet publications, it is important to assess the impact of the various modes of Internet communications such as Internet websites, hyperlinking, blogs, emails, Twitter, Facebook and other forms of social media on defamatory meaning. Such defamatory meaning is being constructed based on the unique contexts and social expectations that have been generated by the various modes of Internet communications. The potential impact on defamatory meaning can also be assessed from the …

Whither The Future Of Internet Streaming And Time-Shifting? Revisiting The Rights Of Reproduction And Communication To The Public In Copyright Law After Aereo, Cheng Lim Saw, Warren B. Chik

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

New forms of communication technology often pose challenges to the copyright regime and have necessitated the rewriting of the scope of the exclusive rights and exceptions by the legislature, and, in some cases, by the courts in common law countries (as well as the Court of Justice of the European Union). These issues have arisen in different categories of digital technology, albeit with the same objective of streamlining and simplifying the delivery of copyright works to consumers. These categories include file storage and transfer operations offered by Peer-to-Peer technology, the space- and time-shifting functions of the early video and audio …

Terms Of Use: Reflections On A Theme, Eliza Mik

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

The paper presents multiple perspectives on the unpopular but omnipresent terms of use (or "ToUs"), i.e. terms and conditions contained in a link at the bottom of many websites. ToUs serve different functions: from governing the transaction taking place on a website, (e.g. contracts of sale) to the very act of browsing. Accordingly, every browsing experience has both a commercial and a legal tint. On a theoretical level ToUs raise concerns with regards to their validity as legally binding contracts as well as to their incorporation. Both formation and incorporation converge on the presence and quality of contractual intention. The …

E-Commerce Regulation: Necessity, Futility, Disconnect, Eliza Mik

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

Existing e-commerce regulations constitute a premature and unnecessary interference in the natural evolution of commercial practices and technologies. I question not just their quality, mainly attributable to the technological ignorance of the regulator, but their very necessity. I observe the practical futility of drafting effective regulatory instruments in areas subject to continuous and unpredictable technological change. I criticize the overly homogenous approach to "everything Internet" (i.e. everything involving the Internet requires new law) as well as the creation of new regulatory spheres and legal categories. Some might claim that it is too early for a critical retrospective of this subject. …

Is The Invocation Of Inherent Jurisdiction The Same As The Exercise Of Inherent Powers? Re Nalpon Zero Geraldo Mario [Case Note], Siyuan Chen

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

In Re McC (A Minor), Lord Bridge of Harwich remarked that few words have been ‘used with so many different shades of meaning in different contexts’ and ‘have so freely acquired new meanings’ as the word ‘jurisdiction’. The definitional conundrum deepens when ‘jurisdiction’ is combined with the adjective ‘inherent,’ yet common law courts around the world routinely claim to invoke inherent jurisdiction for a wide array of purposes in civil and criminal matters, ranging from the reception of evidence to the ensuring of a fair trial, and this necessarily raises questions about the limits of such an exercise.

Certainty At Last?: A "New" Framework For Electronic Contracting In Singapore, Eliza Mik

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

Singapore is the first Asian country to accede to the UNCITRAL Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts (“CUECIC” or “Convention”). Upon accession, the Singaporean Electronic Transactions Act (“ETA” or “Act”) was repealed and re-enacted in a modified version, with effect from 1 July 2010. The modified ETA retains the framework of the original ETA but adds or amends certain provisions dealing with electronic contracting to align domestic e-commerce regulations with the Convention. Accordingly, Singapore is not only the first Asian nation to accede to the CUECIC but also the first nation to implement some of its …

Mistaken Identity, Identity Theft And Problems Of Remote Authentication In E-Commerce, Eliza Mik

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

The problem of mistaken identity in e-commerce transactions brings together seemingly unrelated issues: privacy, network security, digital signatures – and classic contract law. The technological characteristics of the Internet have a tendency to turn traditional legal doctrines on their head, or, at least expose flaws in existing legal arguments. Combining an academic exercise with the practical implications of the insecurity of the Internet, this paper draws some unexpected conclusions regarding cases of mistaken identity. The latter must be analysed afresh with a number of factors in mind: the more widespread use of fictitious identities in on-line transactions, the higher incidence …

Defamation Via Hyperlinks: More Than Meets The Eye, Gary Kok Yew Chan

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

Hyperlinks make the World Wide Web go round. They find and connect information and content from a wealth of sources on the web including, from time to time, defamatory material. Newton, the owner and operator of a website in British Columbia, posted an article entitled “Free Speech in Canada”. The article itself was not alleged to be defamatory of Crookes, a politician. However, it incorporated hyperlinks to other internet websites that contained defamatory material. Notwithstanding requests from Crookes and his lawyer, Newton refused to remove the hyperlinks. Did Newton’s act of hyperlinking to internet websites constitute “publication” of the defamatory …

The Future Of Digital Lockers, Warren B. Chik

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

This article discusses the legalissues and legitimacy of changing online data storage and delivery facilities.

From Clay Tablets To Ajax: Replicating Writing And Documents In Internet Transactions, Eliza Mik

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

This article addresses the absence of paper and the challenges of transposing the traditional legal concepts of “writing” and “document” into an environment consisting of interactive and interconnected files. Both “writing” and “documents” are concepts that rely on tangible carriers, such as paper. [FN1] Accordingly, legal principles involving either concept presume not only a certain durability, but also the stability and confinement of the information conveyed. What happens when writing is no longer contained on paper? Can writing exist without documents? Is it correct to speak of a “document” if its contents are transient and its scope is difficult to …

Google’S China Problem: A Case Study On Trade, Technology And Human Rights Under The Gats, Henry S. Gao

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

Trade and human rights have long had a troubled relationship. The advent of new technologies such as internet further complicates the relationship. This article reviews the relationship between trade, technology and human rights in light of the recent dispute between Google and China from both theoretical and practical perspectives. Starting with an overview of the internet censorship regime in China, the article goes on to assess the legal merits of a WTO challenge in this case. First, the article discusses which service sector or subsectors might be at issue. Second, the article analyzes whether and to what extent China has …

The Google Conundrum: Perpetrator Or Facilitator On The Net? - Forging A Fair Copyright Framework Of Rights, Liability And Responsibility In Response To Search Engine 2.0 - Part Ii: The Google Books Search Project, Warren B. Chik

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

Is Google in its quest for search engine optimization through the creation of new technologies, which not only improves its search algorithms but also refines its search functions for users, doing it in a manner that makes it a perpetrator of primary copyright infringement or an invaluable facilitator for Internet functionality? How should the balance of interests in the treatment of creative works be recalibrated in the face of changes in search engine technology and operations, and the disputes that have arisen within the last decade in the context of the digital age and its needs? Using Google as a …

The Google Conundrum: Perpetrator Or Facilitator On The Net? - Forging A Fair Copyright Framework Of Rights, Liability And Responsibility In Response To Search Engine 2.0 - Part I: The Google Images Search Engine, Warren B. Chik

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

Is Google in its quest for search engine optimization through the creation of new technologies, which not only improves its search algorithms but also refines its search functions for users, doing it in a manner that makes it a perpetrator of primary copyright infringement or an invaluable facilitator for Internet functionality? How should the balance of interests in the treatment of creative works be recalibrated in the face of changes in search engine technology and operations, and the disputes that have arisen within the last decade in the context of the digital age and its needs? Using Google as a …

The Unresolved Legality Of Online Gambling In Singapore, Siyuan Chen

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

This article addresses what appears to be a hitherto (legislatively and judicially) unresolved issue in a country where gambling is an established sub-culture – the legality of online gambling. The existing legislation does not provide direct answers, and as a result, the courts have not been given the opportunity to answer the question directly either. The police have previously made a few statements to the press and the media, but what should we make of them? While placing bets with unauthorised bookies (including those who operate their own website or use others’ websites) is clearly outlawed, leaving the offender with …

The Unimportance Of Being "Electronic" Or Popular Misconceptions About “Internet Contracting”, Eliza Mik

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

Existing e-commerce literature abounds with misconceptions regarding both technology and contract law. Long-standing legal concepts are adorned with “e-” or “cyber-” to appear more exciting. The traditional contractual regime issupplanted with new principles instead of being supplemented with technological considerations. It is one thing, to include technology in legal analyses, it is another to create separate, technology-specific categories. Separate categories justify the departure from traditional principles. Most, if not all, alleged “challenges” created by new communication scenarios fit within the existing legal framework, technological complexity and novelty of the Internet notwithstanding. Most “challenges” are also unrelated to the fact that …

Hart V Finnis: How Will Positivism And Natural Law Account For The Socio-Legal Paradigm In Wikipedia, Siyuan Chen

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

There is little doubt that Wikipedia is one of the world’s most influential websites today – and its sphere of influence is set to grow in days to come. The evidence for this is strong. As of December 2010, Wikipedia is the Internet’s 6th most popular website (by virtue of the Alexa Traffic Rank), and it is also the most popular "general reference" site in cyberspace, with almost 4 million articles in the English language edition. It has been and will continue to be the flagship of Web 2.0, with every single edit being potentially scrutinised by a global audience, …

Some Technological Implications For Ascertaining The Contents Of Contracts In Web-Based Transactions, Eliza Mik

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

This paper points out some unexpected relationships between specific aspects of contract law and specific Internet-related technologies. The discussion is not about the interplay between “Law” and “Technology,” or the “Law” and the “Internet.” The aim is modest: to identify some theoretical chokepoints created by the technologies involved in web-based commerce and to point out the legal uncertainties persisting in this area. The analysis is confined to the process of contract formation, not to matters of substantive law. It is during this process that parties assume their contractual obligations and the contents of a contract crystallize.

Report Of The Law Reform Committee On Online Gaming And Singapore, Joyce A. Tan, Aqbal Singh, Yee Fen Lim, Wai Yee Wan, Warren B. Chik,

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

The terms “gaming” and “gambling” are fairly wide and they refer to a wide range of activities. Traditionally, the term “gambling” has been used to cover lotteries, wagers and casino-style games. “Gaming” has also been used traditionally in some literature to cover not only activities involving gambling but also games of skill or games predominantly of skill. However, in recent times, certain jurisdictions such as the United States (“US”) and Australia have drawn a distinction between “online gaming” and “online gambling”. The former is used to refer to games played in an online environment which do not have the elements …

Internet Intermediaries And Copyright Law In Singapore, Warren B. Chik, David Yong

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

Thisarticle discusses Practice Direction No 2 of 2010 issued by the SubordinateCourts concerning the "ADR Form". It also reviews other jurisdictions’approaches towards encouraging the use of mediation.

‘Customary Internet-Ional Law’: Creating A Body Of Customary Law For Cyberspace. Part 2: Applying Custom As Law To The Internet Infrastructure, Warren B. Chik

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

The shift in socio-economic transactions from real space to cyberspace through the emergence of electronic communications and digital formats has led to a disjuncture between the law and practices relating to electronic transactions. The speed at which information technology has developed require a faster, more reactive and automatic response from the law that is not currently met by the existing law-making framework. This paper suggests the development of special rules to enable Internet custom to form legal norms to fulfill this objective. In Part 2 of this article, I will construct the customary rules to Internet law-making that are applicable …

'Customary Internet-Ional Law': Creating A Body Of Customary Law For Cyberspace. Part 1: Developing Rules For Transitioning Custom Into Law, Warren B. Chik

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

The shift in socio-economic transactions from realspace to cyberspace through the emergence of electronic communications and digital formats has led to a disjuncture between the law and practices relating to electronic transactions. The speed at which information technology has developed require a faster, more reactive and automatic response from the law that is not currently met by the existing law-making framework. This paper suggests the development of special rules to enable Internet custom to form legal norms to fulfill this objective. In Part 1, I will describe the socio-economic problems and stresses that electronic transactions place on existing policy and …

Updating The Electronic Transactions Act? Australia's Accession To The Un Convention On The Use Of Electronic Communications In International Contracts 2005, Eliza Karolina Mik

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

This article discusses the Australian Government’s proposal to accede to the United Nations Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts as well as certain amendments to existing Australian electronic transactions legislation, i.e. the Electronic Transactions Act (Commonwealth) 1999 (”ETA”) and its state equivalents. Without going into a detailed discussion of all suggested amendments, this article focuses on those recommendations, which affect the area of contract formation, in particular: the use of automated systems in on-line transactions and the determination of the time the contract comes into existence. A critical review of the proposed changes reveals that their …

Evaluating The Impact Of The Un Convention On The Use Of Electronic Communications In International Contracts On Domestic Contract Law: The Singapore Example, Eliza Mik

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

The United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts (CUECIC or Convention) was adopted on 23 November 2005. Its essential objective is to establish uniform rules intended to “remove obstacles to the use of electronic communications in international contracts, including obstacles that might result from the operation of existing international trade law instruments, with a view to enhancing legal certainty and commercial predictability.” The Convention relies on the UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Commerce (MLEC), which constitutes an e-commerce flagship project dating back to 1995. It also resembles UNCITRAL’s Convention …

The Effectiveness Of Acceptances Communicated By Electronic Means, Or – Does The Postal Acceptance Rule Apply To Email, Eliza Mik

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

The ‘traditional’ classi?cation into ‘instantaneous’ and ‘non-instantaneous’ methods of communication must be abandoned. As all Internet transmissions are instantaneous, the choice between the principle of receipt and the postal exception must be based on other criteria. The focus must be shifted from communication devices to the characteristics of the communication process. The latter resembles either dealings face-to-face or dealings at a distance. This simple division should remain the basis for all analyses. Instantaneity and control are two of many characteristics of face-to-face dealings and are not the only factors to be taken into account when making the choice between the …

The Networked Electorate: The Internet And The Quiet Democratic Revolution In Malaysia And Singapore, Hang Wu Tang

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

This paper is intended to be a contribution to the literature on claims of the democratising effect of the Internet. The paper begins by setting out the arguments and also critiques of claims of the democratising power of the Internet. In order to test the validity of these arguments, the author will undertake a comparative study of the impact of the Internet on recent general elections in Malaysia and Singapore. The study will demonstrate that in the case of Singapore, the Internet has merely exerted some pressure on the pre-existing laws and state-imposed norms governing free speech; in contrast, in …