India’s laws and controls over its massive collection, storage and use of biometric data are hugely deficient, writes Ram Mashru
Is India’s biometric benefits database trampling privacy?
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CATEGORY: News and features
Ireland’s RTE under fire for apology to Iona Institute
Irish state-run television broadcaster RTE has come under heavy criticism after offering a full apology and possible financial compensation to the Iona Institute, a conservative Catholic lobby groups declared “homophobic” by a talk show guest
Pakistan’s politics thwart launch of Malala book
Peshwar University found itself at the centre of a controversy surrounding the launch of I Am Malala when police refused to provide security for the event. Zofeen Ebrahim reports
Indian films at mercy of new censor board CEO — and his five-year-old daughter
The new CEO of India’s censor board has described his objection to some of India’s recent blockbusters based on the reactions of his wife and five year old daughter. Mahima Kaul reports
Authordoxy: Faith and free speech
With a special report on religion in the winter edition of the Index on Censorship magazine, Index, along with the Three Faiths Forum, brought together a panel of different religions (and one non-religious) to discuss and debate why their world view is the truly liberating one.
LGBT panel attacks global homophobia
A historical discussion by LGBT activists occurred at the recent World Economic Forum but who they picked to scrutinise was unexpected. Alice Kirkland reports
Turkey’s internet law following nebulous drafting process
Some freedom of speech activists insist that the most effective resistance to censorship will be promoting internet security, writes Catherine Stupp
Limits on surveillance: A global right to privacy
The revelations by Edward Snowden last June about massive, unaccountable surveillance by the US National Security Agency (NSA) and its British counterpart GCHQ have raised one vital question. Is there a global right of privacy? Binoy Kampmark writes
United Arab Emirates targets HRW for critical report
The United Arab Emirates stand accused of blocking criticism over their human rights record, according to international monitoring group Human Rights Watch. Alastair Sloan reports
Victory for free speech as Bible comedy ban overturned
Northern Irish town will host Reduced Shakespeare Company play, Padraig Reidy writes