· February, 2013

Stories about Law from February, 2013

GVA: Promoting User Rights at the UN

  22 February 2013

Next week, hundreds of Internet technology and policy experts will gather in Paris for the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), where they will discuss and debate some of the most pressing Internet policy issues of the moment. Global Voices staff will attend the conference in an effort to voice the concerns and interests of rights-conscious Internet users in our community and around the world.

Insult or Injury? Exploring Online Defamation

  21 February 2013

In many countries, the line between the right to free expression and a person's right to protect his or her reputation is a blurry one. In the Internet age, the issue has become even more complex. The Internet has created infinite new opportunities for individuals to express their own opinions, but this does not come without limits. One way in which online speech is commonly curtailed is through laws against defamation.

Egypt: Court Orders YouTube Ban

  13 February 2013

On Saturday, February 9, an administrative court ordered a 30-day ban on YouTube and all websites linking to an anti-Islam film, "The Innocence of Muslims". The movie sparked turmoil in the Middle East when it was first published last year. The ruling may not be enforced immediately and it is likely to be appealed.

It's Time for Transparency Reports to Become the New Normal

  6 February 2013

Surveillance is a growth industry: every existing report shows that the number of government requests for user data is rising, and this trend shows no sign of abating. Transparency reports are essential to helping users understand the scope of Internet surveillance and make informed decisions about storing their sensitive data or engaging in private communications. Companies should not wait until their users are clamoring for clarification. It is time for transparency reports to become the new normal.

Chinese Hackers Spy on Journalists to Track Sources

  5 February 2013

In January, the New York Times reported that its computers had been under constant attack by Chinese hackers over the past four months. Shortly thereafter, the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post also reported that they were targeted by Chinese hackers. The story is familiar to Chinese journalists, who, together with citizen reporters from mainland China, are very vulnerable to hacking and online harassment compared to their peers overseas.