Stories from November, 2012
Egypt To Block Porn Sites… Again
On Wednesday, November 7, the Egyptian Public Prosecutor decided that online pornography was “inconsistent with Egyptian traditions and values.” He ordered a general ban of all porn sites in Egypt.
Netizen Report: Baku Edition
This week's Netizen Report begins at the Internet Governance Forum in Baku, Azerbaijan, which is a UN-sponsored event to discuss major Internet governance issues. It comes just weeks before the World Conference on International Communications starts in Dubai, which could alter the structure of the Internet, according to online free speech advocates. From there, we move to Russia, whose Telecom Minister has asserted the government does not intend to censor the Internet in response to criticisms over a new law to protect children online. From there, we move to Pakistan, China and beyond.
Azerbaijan: “A Country that Portrays Social-Networkers as Mentally Ill”
While all eyes were on the presidential election in the United States, a major international conference started on Tuesday in Baku, the capital of the former Soviet Republic of Azerbaijan. The 7th United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF) claims to bring “all stakeholders” as equal partners to discuss major issues relating not only to the future of the Internet but also to matters of policing, management, and of course, freedom of expression online.
Chile: Why do we Need Exceptions to Copyright?
We have already explained how copyright can clash with freedom of expression. But are there legal alternatives in a copyright system that is increasingly restrictive? If all works are always an interpretation of other works, can we have access to them without necessarily becoming “delinquents”? The good news is that yes, we can, although there are limitations. We have released a new video in the #NoTemasaInternet (Don’t fear the Internet) campaign and will soon upload more material about this issue.
Protecting the Open Web: Net Activists Unite
Netizens around the world are coordinating advocacy on the upcoming conference of the International Telecommunication Union, where member states will decide whether or not the ITU should cover Internet-policy matters—leaked treaty documents include proposals for global regulations that could place limitations on online privacy, free expression, access to information and ICT use around the world. Find out how you can get involved in the effort.
Azerbaijan: Open Letter to President Aliyev Ahead of International Governance Forum in Baku
The Internet Governance Forum (IGF) is a UN-sponsored conference which aims to “bring[ ] together all stakeholders in the internet governance debate.” This year it is held in Baku, the capital of the former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan where, starting on Tuesday, government officials, representatives of the private sector, the...
China: Cyber Cafe Owner Sentenced to 8 Years for Organizing a Chat Group
According to New York Times’ report on November 1, 2012, a 27-year-old Internet Cafe Owner, Cao Haibo, was sentenced to 8-year imprisonment under the charge of “state subversion” on 31 of October 2012 in Kunming, Yunnan Province. The latest development as reported by 64 Tianwang is that Cao lawyer Ma...
Netizen Report: Cyber-Police Edition
This week's Netizen Report begins in the Netherlands, where the government is encouraging legislation that would enable greater police surveillance online. From there, we move to Canada, where legislation has been proposed granting police greater online monitoring power. Then, we move to the United Nations, United Kingdom and beyond.
Spain: Journalists Fined After Revealing Corruption in Catalonia
Marta Sibina and Albano Dante, editors of the citizen media magazine Cafè amb Llet, have been fined 10,000 euro for libel. They uploaded to YouTube a video strongly criticizing the lack of transparency in public healthcare financing in Catalonia, implicating Josep Maria Via, president of Barcelona MAR Health Park Consortium and healthcare advisor to Catalan President Artur Mas.
Six Month Jail for Insulting Bahrain King on Twitter
One of four Twitter users, detained in Bahrain and reportedly charged with insulting the country's king, was sentenced to six months in prison today. Bahraini lawyer Mohammed Abdulameer tweets [ar]: @wastilawyeR: One of those accused of insulting the King of Bahrain was sentenced by the Criminal Court to six months...
EU to Tighten Rules on Surveillance Technology Exports
“It is unacceptable that regimes in Syria and Iran can use European technologies to violate human rights”. Marietje Schaake Activists have been fighting the battle against technology exports to repressive countries for years. To track and surveil citizens online, regimes such as Mubarak´s in Egypt or Assad´s in Syria have relied...
