While the majority of us don’t ever think about our freedoms when it comes to our web browsing practices, new government site filtering plans may force us to. These freedoms are of huge concern to groups that lobby against governments trying to control them. One of these groups, known as the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is on the front lines when it comes to advocating and defending free speech, innovation, privacy, and consumer rights across the World Wide Web.

A recent issue that has come under the spotlight and attracted much criticism from this organisation and the concerns of informed UK citizens is the British government’s plan to include the filtering of internet sites that itself and the Mothers’ Union consider to be offensive or harmful to the population. According to sources, Prime Minister David Cameron plans to implement the filtering strategy in co-operation with four of UK’s major Internet Service Providers (ISP’s) Sky, BT, TalkTalk, and Virgin to block access to websites containing pornographic, gambling, self-harm and other blacklisted content related websites.

This notion is completely unacceptable to the Electronic Frontier Foundation who clarifies that it cannot be made mandatory for ISP’s to completely block websites and ultimately the choice of viewing the content will come down to the consumer. Furthermore it advocates that the lack of transparency of the proposed plan, the vague descriptions of the categories which may face blocks as well as the lack of information pertaining to how the list of sites contained therein originated are unacceptable. According to the group, the categories mentioned contain legal content and could lead to legitimate websites being unfairly blocked.

The EFF has also stated that customers on the TalkTalk network are monitored even when opting out. This was confirmed by Richard Clayton of the University of Cambridge security research department who said that “this provider scans all domains that its customers visit regardless of whether they have opted-in to the service.”

Obviously privacy concerns are a major issue for internet users because even the option to opt out is ignored. So it might be time to give up complacency and fight for your rights alongside groups like the EFF, because once your rights are revoked they are lost forever and the government will become the “net nanny” for adults who, according to most constitutions, have the right to freedom of choice and should be old enough to decide for themselves which content they wish to consume.

The untimely death of Steve Jobs last week was one that saddened the world and drew eulogies from societies most highly regarded personalities like US President Obama and Bill Gates to those who simply use and enjoy Apple products. Facebook condolences and Tweets about Jobs’ life and contribution to changing the way we use and view technology are everywhere, and his untimely passing is one that will definitely leave an impact for many years to come.

The mobile gambling industry also has a tribute to pay to Steve Jobs because even though indirectly, he was the main figure behind the rise of mobile gaming and made a significant impact on the way we gamble. Apple’s iPhone was first introduced to the market in 2007 and its advanced capabilities changed the face of the online gaming industry by allowing players to access casinos, poker rooms and sportsbooks directly from their mobile phones. Three years later, Apple launched the iPad, a tablet device that had many of the same capabilities as both the iPhone but added the functions of a laptop in a way that was more portable, easy to use and very convenient. Just a few month’s after its launch, leading online gaming operators designed apps for the iPad, and with the launch of the iPad2 in 2011 even more casino and betting applications are available, like the one from Jackpot City Casino.

While there is much speculation over the direction Apple will take now that the position of CEO has been handed over to Tim Cook, many seem positive and believe that TV devices maybe next on the company’s list for a revamp. No matter what the future holds for Apple, Steve Jobs’ legacy will surely live on in the spirit of innovation that has become an integral part of the company’s success.

There may be good news for Full Tilt poker patrons on the horizon, that is if the proposed takeover by Groupe Bernard Tapie of the troubled poker room proceeds.

Full Tilt Poker recently announced the possible purchase of the organisation and its assets by the French owned company just one day after the Alderney Gambling Control Commission revoked its license. According to reports, the takeover deal would include the full repayment of all players awaiting withdrawals from Full Tilt. The deal does however hinge on a favourable outcome with the US Department of Justice’s case against Full Tilt.

The Tapie Group is owned and operated by one of France’s most prominent and controversial businessmen, Bernard Tapie who is famous for purchasing Adidas in 1990 and years of experience in acquiring and keeping financially distressed operations in business while managing them to back to prosperity. Like Full Tilt Poker, Bernard Tapie has quite a colourful past including prosecution for tax fraud and a six month prison stint in 1997 for football match fixing between Olympique Marseille (a team he owned from 1986-1994) and Valenciennes.

Nevertheless, Tapie seems confident in his new venture and his son Laurent Tapie recently stated that the group would not have undertaken the Full Tilt Poker take over if they did not believe in its potential.

The outcome of the proceedings against Full Tilt by the US DOJ are yet to be finalised but there may be a small sliver of hope for poker players waiting to get paid so watch this space!