Software architect Vint Cerf, considered one of the founding fathers of the Internet, believes that the Web, for all its chaos and efficiency, is a reflection of society. And he says it should not be regulated like other media beyond what's clearly illegal (i.e. sexual predators), because that would place the Net on a "slippery slope" toward limiting freedom of expression. "If it's not illegal, it raises a rather interesting question about where you do draw the line," he said, which is why self-regulation should be encouraged. Cerf's comments come after the UK's Conservative Party suggesting curbing the …

Cyber-slacking off at work? You're not alone, according to a Reuters report. Citing various studies, the report says that employees on average spend about aone-fifth of their time at work not working. The Web is by far their favorite (and easiest to access) time waster. In many ways, it's the ultimate temptation, says Patricia Wallace, a professor at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. A recent survey from the firm Salary.com showed that six in 10 workers admitted to wasting time at work, while 34 percent listed the Web as the leading time waster. Boredom, long hours, being underpaid and …

There may be some 135.5 million Americans watching online video, but no one is cashing in on the phenomenon. Even with 89 percent growth this year, eMarketer predicts that online video spending will represent just 3.6 percent of the Internet ad pie, or $775 million. By 2011, the Web research firm expects the market to expand to $4.3 billion, but that would still only be around 10 percent of the greater market. Web video has a long way to go before it rivals search marketing, much less the huge numbers racked up by television advertising. Judging by its numbers, …

Google's mobile phone operating system is getting ready for a formal unveiling, possibly next month, according to their sources. The tech blog has christened the Linux-based system the "Gphone OS," which it says is a long time in coming. Google in 2005 acquired the mobile software company Android, whose former president and CEO Andy Rubin has been spearheading big G's OS project. Apparently, Rubin's team is currently shopping the program around to handset makers and carriers, whose various agreements Google needs to establish distribution. Engadget expects an OS announcement with distribution partners to come sometime after Labor Day. …

The subprime lending fallout will soon affect certain Internet companiess. Remember the ubiquitous ads for Experian's LowerMyBills.com? Indeed, lending companies are now having to drastically cut back on spending aimed at consumers with lower credit; in fact, some analysts suggest the fallout heralds the end of cheap credit altogether. This will affect Web advertising. According to Nielsen/NetRatings, some 16% of online spending comes from financial-services firms. In July, mortgage lenders Countrywide, Low Rate Source, Experian Group (including LowerMyBills.com) and Privacy Matters were among the top 10 biggest U.S. advertisers on the Web. The subprime fallout could …

Congress may be mulling over the matter, but the federal government is unlikely to allow state and local taxes on Internet service--at least for a while. While speculation in Washington was rife that Congress would let the current Internet tax ban expire on Nov. 1, a glut of new bills on the horizon make that unthinkable. One new bill proposed by Senators Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) aims to extend the measure through 2011. Others would suspend the issue indefinitely. It boils down to a state's-rights issue. Congress has often taken a hands-off approach to state …

Hackers have unlocked Apple's iPhone, which means they've discovered a way to open up the $500-$600 device to any wireless network. Bad news for AT&T, which had to fight hard for an exclusive iPhone contract that runs through 2009. It's not so exclusive anymore. In fact, 17-year-old George Hotz, who claims to be the first person to successfully unlock the device, has just joined a cell-phone refurbishing company called CertiCell, which plans to sell unlocked iPhones. AT&T will no doubt sue the company, but if Hotz and co. can clear up the murky legal air surrounding the practice …

The press, still flush with love for Facebook, has declared that social networking is the Next Big Thing for business, too. Thousands of business professionals now use Facebook for business; targeted professional groups are sprouting up, too. But it's not just Web professionals online. Doctors are congregating at sites like Sermo.com to share information about their various specialties, which in some instances can even lead to diagnoses. INMobile.org is a new social network for the wireless industry. LinkedIn, of course, is the granddaddy of professional networking, although it's used more for growing contact lists and for job recruitment …

Last week, at the Second Life Community Convention, founder Philip Rosedale boldly declared that his virtual world would be "something that everybody on Earth is going to use," that it would someday be "bigger than the Web." Marketers, on whose presence the site partially depends, are starting to disbelieve the hype. The audience Rosedale addressed may have been full of Second Life denizens, but much of his hyperbole was reserved for the media. Like Rosedale's opening keynote, CNET's Caroline McCarthy said panel discussions at the event, (consisting of business, education, social networking and virtual world animation, or machinima), …

Facebook's plan for a new ad targeting system received lots of attention, but News Corp.'s MySpace--social networking's former media darling--actually launched a beta version of a similar platform, and almost nobody noticed. That's not to say that MySpace and Facebook aren't making money, but monetization is still the No. 1 concern for most social networks. To that end, MySpace is doing a far better job than Facebook; Google's search partnership is certainly one of the main reasons, but Pali Research's Richard Greenfield predicts that "the industry powerhouse" has "a huge advertising opportunity in front of it" with its new …