Editing 2003 (section)

=== Technology ===
[[Intel]] and [[AMD]] released [[64-bit computing|64-bit]] processors in 2003, popularizing what was previously a niche hardware amid the more common [[32-bit computing|32-bit]] systems.<ref name=":162" />{{Rp|page=483}} [[Broadband]] internet and [[Cable modem|cable modems]] gained popularity at the expense of [[Dial-up internet access|dial-up]] and [[DSL modem|DSL modems]]. [[Wi-Fi hotspot|Wi-Fi hotspots]] became more common, and they were increasingly found in businesses for customers' use.<ref name=":52" />{{Rp|page=165}}

Computing was the subject of multiple legal and philosophical disputes in 2003. The [[European Commission]] considered legalizing [[software patents]], triggering strong [[Software patents and free software|backlash]].<ref name=":162" />{{Rp|page=481}} [[SCO–Linux disputes|A dispute]] began between [[SCO Group]] and [[IBM]] over the [[open source]] status of [[UNIX]], triggering [[SCO Group, Inc. v. International Business Machines Corp.|a lawsuit]] in March. The [[State Council of China]] required that government ministries move away from software developed by [[Microsoft]] in favor of locally produced software.<ref name=":162" />{{Rp|page=482}} Approximately 55 percent of emails sent in 2003 were [[Spamming|spam emails]], which led to the implementation of the [[Privacy and Electronic Communications Directive 2002|Privacy and Electronic Communications Directive]] in the European Union and the [[CAN-SPAM Act of 2003|CAN-SPAM Act]] in the United States.<ref name=":162" />{{Rp|page=483}} The United Nations [[World Summit on the Information Society]] took place in December to organize the expansion of internet access throughout the world.<ref name=":162" />{{Rp|page=484}}

The [[SQL Slammer]] worm was among several major malware programs to spread during the year through vulnerabilities in Microsoft operating systems. Its effects included the disabling of all 13,000 [[Bank of America]] ATMs in the United States and days of internet outage for customers of [[KT Corporation]] in South Korea.<ref name=":162" />{{Rp|page=484}} The [[Welchia]] worm was created to download a patch that countered the malicious [[Blaster (computer worm)|Blaster]] worm but caused its own inadvertent system issues. The [[Sobig]] virus, transmitted through email, became the world's fastest spreading virus.<ref name=":52" />{{Rp|page=163}}

[[Camera phones]] became widespread in 2003 as millions were sold.<ref name=":15" />{{Rp|page=88}} The original [[Volkswagen Beetle]], the most widely produced car ever designed, ended production with a final run of 3,000 cars for collectors.<ref name=":15" />{{Rp|page=92}} The [[Concorde]] supersonic airliner ended services on October 24 after operating for 27 years.<ref name=":15" />{{Rp|page=93}} The United Kingdom installed the first rotating underwater turbine in June to generate tidal power.<ref name=":162" />{{Rp|page=488}}