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Internet's 'heroes' and 'villains' to be named and shamed
ISPA prepares to hand out award that's rarely collected in person...

By Will Sturgeon

Published: Tuesday 13 December 2005

The Internet Service Providers Association (ISPA) has named and shamed the candidates for its internet hero and villain awards.

In the firing line for the villain's gong are Russia, for failing to crack down on cyber crime, the UK presidency of the EU for attempting to push through data retention laws and the EC for meddling in intellectual property law.

There is also a self-serving nomination from ISPA for commissioner Reding, for the revision of the TV without Frontiers Directive which "threatens ISPs by extending the scope of broadcasting regulation to content delivered via the internet", according to the industry body.

But surely the bookies' favourite will be Sony BMG who shocked the security world and appalled customers with the inclusion of rootkit software on its music CDs which exposed users to a heightened risk of hacks and online attacks.

Among those nominated for the hero award are the All Party Internet Group, for its dogged determination to see the UK's computer misuse act renewed; Roger Darlington, outgoing chairman of the Internet Watch Foundation; two nominations for Ofcom; and the Independent Office of the Telecommuncations Adjudicator, for "helping to develop new local loop unbundling products and processes".

ISPA today also announced the nominees for the Internet Watch Foundation Award for Developments in Online Safety.

Despite the fact it was an initiative which saw ISPA clash with the National Hi-Tech Crime Unit, there is a nomination for the heavily criticised Get Safe Online campaign.