A UAE regulator has withdrawn its threat to suspend BlackBerrys mobile communication services. In August, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority said it would ban BlackBerry’s messenger, e-mail and web-browser services on October 11. It...
CATEGORY: minipost
Burma: Thousands of prisoners to be released before election
Unconfirmed reports suggest the ruling military junta in Burma plans to release of thousands of prisoners early to allow them to vote in November's elections. The total number of detainees set for release is reportedly 11,000. It is not yet clear...
Australia: PM backs new internet filter
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has renewed her support for a controversial new web filter, saying the measure was driven by a "moral question". The proposed filter will block access to material such as rape, drug use, bestiality and child...
Sarkozy calls for web censorship
In a recent visit to the Pope, President of France Nicolas Sarkozy remarked that greater regulation of the internet was needed. President Sarkozy stated that "regulating the internet to correct the excesses and abuses that arise from the total...
Iran: Two journalists arrested, another expelled
Two men, a reporter and a photographer said to be from Germany’s Bild am Sonntag newspaper, have been arrested by Iranian officials. They were detained whilst interviewing the son of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani in the city of Tabriz. Mrs Ashtiani’s...
Boliva: anti-racism law passed despite media outcry
On Friday Bolivian President Evo Morales signed a bill into law which gives the government the ability to shut down or fine newspapers which are racist. This bill was passed amidst protesting last week by media sources, who were concerned the bill...
UK: ICO opens consulatation on draft data sharing code
The Information Commissioner's office in the UK announced on Friday that it was opening a consultation period on the first UK code of practice on data sharing. The 40 page code details good practice for organizations in private, public and third...
Libya: threat to .ly domains
State-owned Libya Telecom and Technology has forced the shutdown of vb.ly, a “link shortening” website run from San Francisco. It claimed that the content of the site was“against Sharia law". Domain names with the suffix “.ly”, which are owned by...
New Zealand: TV presenter resigns over race row
A breakfast show anchor for Television New Zealand has resigned after being accused of racist behaviour. Paul Henry was shown laughing at the mispronunciation of the name of the Delhi Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, which should sound more like...
Turkey: Journalist faces 9 charges, 79 years in prison
Turkish journalist Ismail Saymez could be jailed for 79 years if convicted of charges related to newspaper articles he has written. He has been charged with "violating the secrecy of an investigation" for his reporting on the Ergenekon trials. He...