· July, 2013

Stories about Law from July, 2013

MERCOSUR and the Future of the Internet in Latin America

  15 July 2013

Last Friday, Latin American government leaders issued a strong statement against the mass surveillance of their citizens by the US government at an emergency meeting of MERCOSUR. Activists, academics and NGOs from Latin America wrote an open letter to the regional alliance, inviting leaders to consult with civil society in building human rights-protective Internet policies for the region.

Nigerian Government to Ramp Up Internet Surveillance?

  12 July 2013

In April, Nigerian news site Premium Times revealed government plans to purchase equipment that would allow it to conduct online surveillance on an unprecedented scale. The government reportedly had contracted with Israeli company Elbit Systems Ltd to advance the Internet and computer-based gathering of Nigerian citizens' personal data.

Journalist Charged With Sedition in Zambia

  11 July 2013

Zambian journalist Thomas Zgambo was arrested and charged with sedition on Tuesday. Another journalist, Clayson Hamasaka, was arrested but released without charges. Advocates suspect that both events were triggered by the journalists' association with the Zambian Watchdog, an independent citizen media outlet that has faced numerous threats from government officials in the past.

Philippine Online Harassment Bill Could Threaten Speech

  10 July 2013

In an effort to protect women and children against online abuses, Philippine Senator Nancy Binay has filed a bill called Electronic Violence Against Women. Some are worried that the measure, if passed into law, would be used to strictly regulate social media.

Why Would Edward Snowden Want to Go to Ecuador?

  8 July 2013

The future of Edward Snowden is uncertain. The young American is reportedly sheltered in Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport, and he has requested asylum from 20 countries. Although it remains unknown where he will go from here, many wonder: Why might Snowden want to go to a country like Ecuador, where restrictions on press freedom appear to be on the rise?