· February, 2011

Stories about TOPICS from February, 2011

Saudi women demand their rights, on Twitter

  24 February 2011

It is season for change in the Middle East and Arab world and Saudi women don't want to be left behind. They are now taking their demand for equality online-at Twitter, Facebook, on forums and blogs. Deborah Amos at Georgia Public Broadcasting reports that recent events have stirred political passions...

Syrian Blogger Ahmad Abu al-Khair Arrested This Morning

  20 February 2011

Close friends of Syrian blogger Ahmad Abu al-Khair reported that he was arrested this morning at 5:00 am local time on his way back to Damascus from the coastal city of Banias. Security forces allegedly have also confiscated his personal computers. His whereabouts are currently unknown.

Human Rights Video, Privacy and Visual Anonymity in the Facebook Age

  17 February 2011

The successful nationwide organizing and subsequent protests in Egypt to oust the 30-year regime of President Hosni Mubarak have in part been facilitated by Facebook. But as media and technology commentators and human rights activists alike are noting, using Facebook for activism is fraught with risks.

Advocacy Recap: Part II

  15 February 2011

Last week, we looked back at the US government's handling of  G20 summit protesters and pro-democracy bloggers in Vietnam facing persecution. Now let us talk about the Purdue University Professor who faced intense criticism for his views on homosexuality and Turkey's YouTube ban. Professor Bert Chapman, a Government Information and Political...

Thailand: Free speech on trial – day five

  12 February 2011

Day Five – Police scientist testifies for prosecution ((Please also read day one, day two, day three and day four trial.) The fifth day of trial continued on Friday for independent news portal Prachatai’s webmaster, Chiranuch Premchaiporn independent news portal Prachatai’s webmaster in Bangkok’s Criminal Court. Chiranuch is charged with...

Thailand: Free speech on trial – day four

  11 February 2011

Day four: MICT and police lawyers testify (Please also read day one, day two and day three trial) The trial of Chiranuch Premchaiporn, independent news portal Prachatai’s webmaster continued Thursday in Bangkok’s Criminal Court. Two further prosecution witnesses were called to testify. The morning session was devoted to MICT lawyer...

Thailand: Free speech on trial – day three

  9 February 2011

Day Three – MICT’s legal advisor testifies: “Freedom has its limits.” (Day one and day two trial) The third day for prosecution witnesses in the trial of Prachatai webmaster Chiranuch Premchaiporn opened in Bangkok’s Criminal Court Wednesday. We have written that Chiranuch is facing 50 years on ten charges under...

Thailand: Free speech on trial (day two)

  9 February 2011

Day Two: Thailand’s chief censor continues in Prachatai trial (Day one trial see) The second day in the lèse majesté trial against Chiranuch Premchaiporn, webmaster of Thai independent news portal, Prachatai, using the Computer Crimes Act began Tuesday. Chiranuch, nicknamed Jiew, was charged over ten comments to Prachatai’s public webboard...

China: Censorship instructions in January 2011

  9 February 2011

In China, censorship instructions are issued by a number of government and CCP authorities. The China Digital Times has translated a number of censorship instructions issued in January 2011 to outline the magnitude of censorship practice in China. The selected instructions are issued by the State Council Information Office, the...

Advocacy Recap

  7 February 2011

After blogging about free speech issues and dangers faced by bloggers and reporters in various parts of the world, I think it would be nice to look back and check on them. On October 20, 2009; I discussed about how the  city of Pittsburg-hosting G20 summit, harassed protesting activists and even tried...

Thai webmaster facing 50 years for lèse majesté postings

  5 February 2011

The trial of Chiranuch Premchaiporn, nicknamed Jiew, opened on Friday at Bangkok’s Criminal Court, the venue changed to Courtroom 701. A larger courtroom was needed due to an unprecedented number of observers from numerous Thai and foreign NGOs, local and international media, and foreign embassies.

Malaysia too wants to monitor the bloggers

  3 February 2011

Following Saudi Arabia's decision to closely monitor bloggers and online news sites, Malaysia is proposing guidelines to reign in the blogosphere. The Malay Mail said on January 27,2011, Yesterday, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz announced the drawing up of new guidelines, which are to be...

As International Privacy Day is Celebrated, Governments Continue to Chip Away at Privacy Rights

  3 February 2011

“Effective data protection is vital for our democracies and underpins other fundamental rights and freedoms.” – Viviane Reding, Vice-President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship. Last Friday, privacy advocates and government officials in countries across the world celebrated the 5th annual International Privacy Day...