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Free expression in the news

22 Jul 2013 | In the News

INDEX EVENTS
NSA, surveillance, free speech and privacy
Edward Snowden’s leaks about the US’s international mass surveillance programmes has prompted perhaps the definitive debate of our age: How free are we online? Can we ever trust technology with our personal details?
25 July, Time 6.30pm, Free, but RSVP required. Space is limited.
Doughty Street Chambers, WC1N
(More information)

EUROPEAN UNION
EU justice chief vows new data protection laws
A Pakistani human rights organisation has called for an investigation into an alleged “secret censorship deal” between the country’s government and Facebook. Sara Yasin reports
(Business Recorder)

CHINA
A good lesson in Hong Kong on the value of free speech
Mike Rowse sees a civics lesson in two recent debates of public issues
(South China Morning Post)

INDIA
Mysore MP questions credentials of people who misuse freedom of expression
Mysore MP A H Vishwanath on Sunday said freedom of expression is not intended to insult or undermine the historic personalities and litterateurs, media people and film producers should desist from using the names of great personalities to market their produces.
(Times of India)

LIBYA
Libya moves step closer to new constitution amid boycott by minorities
Abusahmain signs law on election of committee to draft new permanent constitution for Libya as ethnic minorities announce boycott.
(Middle East Online)

Hardliners’ pressure forces Libyan women’s football team to stop playing tournaments during Ramadan
Abusahmain signs law on election of committee to draft new permanent constitution for Libya as ethnic minorities announce boycott.
(truthdive)

RUSSIA
Russia’s Anti-Gay Crackdown
RUSSIA’S president, Vladimir V. Putin, has declared war on homosexuals. So far, the world has mostly been silent.
(The New York Times)

TUNISIA
Tunisia lifts travel ban on blogger
A Tunis judge lifted the travel ban against blogger and journalist Olfa Riahi, Tunisie Numerique reported on Saturday (July 20th).
(Magharebia)

TURKEY
In Turkey, Media Bosses Are Undermining Democracy
THE protests that convulsed Istanbul and other Turkish cities last month exposed, among many other things, the shameful role of Turkey’s media conglomerates in subverting press freedom.
(The New York Times)

Turkey bars protestors’ wedding party at park
Police on Saturday fired water cannon and tear gas in downtown Istanbul to disperse anti-government demonstrators after barring them from entering a park where they had hoped to celebrate the wedding of a couple who met during last month’s widespread protests.
(Missoulian)

Turkey loses guest of honor status to Vatican at Turin book fair
Turkey will not be the guest of honor at next year’s Turin International Book Fair, which will instead host the Vatican in an unexpected move by the fair’s organizers, Turkish news agencies reported over the weekend.
(Missoulian)

UNITED STATES
Diversionary Theatre’s Freedom of Speech: One Woman’s Cross Country Journey to Find Out What’s Going On
An artist in the complete sense, Eliza Jane Schneider, can do practically anything on stage-from singing, to playing an instrument, to doing a 180 from one character to the next. Showcasing her many talents, Schneider opened Freedom of Speech on July 11th at the Diversionary Theatre. It is a Moxie Theatre presentation, directed by Delicia Turner Sonnenberg.
(San Diego Free Press)

Free expression in the news

19 Jul 2013 | In the News

CANADA
Guest Post: Hate speech laws in Canada: one step back, two steps forward?
This year has seen significant developments in Canada’s hate speech legislation, say attorneys Ryder Gilliland and Adam Lazier.
(Index on Censorship)

PAKISTAN
Facebook allegedly has “secret censorship deal” with Pakistan
A Pakistani human rights organisation has called for an investigation into an alleged “secret censorship deal” between the country’s government and Facebook. Sara Yasin reports
(Index on Censorship)

RUSSIA
US and UK condemn Navalny conviction
The American ambassador to Russia and the British Foreign Secretary have reacted strongly after a Kirov court today sentenced Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny to five years in a penal colony, Sara Yasin reports
(Index on Censorship)

TURKEY
Journalist Ahmet Altan Receives 11 Months of Prison
Journalist Ahmet Altan received 11 months and 20 days of prison for insulting PM Erdoğan in his article “State Complicity and Morality”. While the sentence was commuted to a fine of 2,800 euros, Altan’s advocate found the verdict against European Convention on Human Rights.
(bianet)

UNITED KINGDOM
Pippa Middleton and Britain’s parody problem
Pippa Middleton is reported to have threatened legal action against a spoof twitter account and book. But a recent study claims that parody has cultural and economic benefits for Britain, and the government is set to loosen copyright laws, allowing people to freely use others’ creations for comedy. Padraig Reidy reports
(Index on Censorship)

UNITED STATES
Indiana Gov Sought To Ban Howard Zinn from Classrooms
Shortly after assuming his position as president of Purdue University last January, former Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels (R) established his commitment to free speech in an open letter to “the people of Purdue.” In a section titled “Open Inquiry,” he declared, “A university has failed its special mission if it fails to protect free and open debate. … The ensuring of free expression is paramount.”
(In These Times)

Photos of bloodied Boston bombing suspect published in response to ‘Rolling Stone’ cover
Fighting free expression with free expression, an officer with the Massachusetts State Police who, like many Americans, was upset with Rolling Stone magazine’s new cover treatment of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, has published a series of photos in Boston Magazine that he believes more accurately represent Tsarnaev’s actions and character.
(The Verge)

Judge Upholds Law Meant to Keep Minors out of Porn
A federal law requiring pornography producers to verify performers are at least 18 years of age withstood an industry challenge Thursday after a federal judge rejected arguments the measure imposes burdensome record-keeping requirements that chill free speech.
(ABC News)

Fear: The greatest threat to free speech
At various times, every American likely has wished for less of some things that the First Amendment protects. Less hateful speech. One less noisy protest group. Or maybe even the swift departure of a media outlet or personality whose stance or voice is just grating on a personal level.
(The Daily Herald)

S.C. Supreme Court Rules FOIA Does Not Infringe on Free Speech of Public Bodies
The S.C. Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that the non-profit state Association of School Administrators can’t argue the Freedom of Information Act infringes on its 1st Amendment right to speech and association.
(Southern Political Report)

Free expression in the news

18 Jul 2013 | In the News

INDEX EVENTS
18 July New World (Dis)Order: What do Turkey, Russia and Brazil tell us about freedom and rights?
Index, in partnership with the European Council on Foreign Relations, is holding a timely debate on the shifting world order and its impact on rights and freedoms. The event will also launch the latest issue of Index on Censorship magazine, including a special report on the multipolar world.
(More information)

19 July: What surveillance means to YOU
Join us 19 July for a live Google hangout with Index on Censorship as Trevor Timm of the Electronic Frontier Foundation and Rebecca Mckinnon of Gloval Voices discuss what mass surveillance means to all of us as individuals. Hosted by Padraig Reidy of Index, the hour-long event will delve in the issues around government surveillance of innocent civilians.
(More information)

ASIA
Internet Censorship is Taking Root in Southeast Asia
Every time Le Anh Hung starts to write he thinks of his three young children. The 38-year-old has already been imprisoned twice for blogging about human rights and corruption from his home in Hanoi and lives half-expecting another fateful knock at the door. And yet “I’m not scared,” he says, “I know what I choose to do is risky but I accept the fight.”
(Time)

BRAZIL
Brazil protesters hope for Pope’s backing during visit
Young Brazilians who marched in June to demand more funding for health and education are hoping Pope Francis will back their cause when he visits Rio next week. But organizers ruled out a resumption of the street protests during the pontiff’s week-long stay to attend World Youth Day (WYD), a major Catholic gathering expected to draw 1.5 million people.
(AFP)

CHINA
China says it’ll relax film, TV censorship; directors unimpressed
Chinese authorities said Wednesday they would relax some restrictions on film, TV and radio productions, though the immediate impact of the changes was unclear and several prominent movie directors said they did not believe the reforms were game-changers.
(Los Angeles Times)

ISRAEL
Israel’s Plague of Self-Censorship
The affair surrounding Edward Snowden, former employee of the United States National Security Agency (NSA) who leaked information about NSA surveillance programs, reminded me of a personal story from more than 30 years ago.
(The Times)

LIBERIA
Newspaper Slapped With U.S $1.5 Million Libel Ruling
Liberia’s Supreme Court has ruled that a $1.5 million verdict against the FrontPage Africa newspaper should be enforced.
(All Africa)

UNITED KINGDOM
An unpleasant odour is rising from Northern Ireland’s libel law
The recently passed Defamation Act 2013 will introduce much-needed reform of an area of the law that has become an anachronistic, obscure and unjustifiable fetter on freedom of speech. It comes into force later this year. But not in Northern Ireland. The reluctance of Northern Ireland politicians to adopt the 2013 Act will, as a libel lawyer would say, lower them in the estimation of right-thinking people.
(The Times)

UNITED STATES
Federal Campus Sexual Harassment Policy Draws Free Speech Concerns
The federal government is facing pressure from civil-liberties advocates to back down from a policy meant to curb sexual harassment at colleges and universities — just as sexual-assault survivors demanded in a protest this week that the Education Department do more to punish colleges that fail to address campus assaults.
(Huffington Post)

Student Who Disagrees With Homosexuality Wins Free Speech Lawsuit Against Teacher
A federal district judge ruled in favor of a Michigan student who was removed from the classroom by his teacher for expressing his religious beliefs against homosexuality. The judge said punishing the student for his freedom of expression violated his First Amendment rights.
(Christian Post)

The Attack on Free Speech and the Press
Over the past three years, we have seen an assault on free speech and freedom of the press by those in power. Campaign finance laws have always been used less as a restriction on money in politics and more as a restriction of freedom of speech.
(Texas GOP Vote)

Free expression in the news

17 Jul 2013 | In the News

BURKINA FASO
Burkina Faso state media journalists protest censorship
In Burkina Faso, tens of journalists from state media today held a sit-in in front of the Ministry of Communications in the capital Ouagadougou to protest what they deem to be excessive government censorship of news coverage.
(CPJ Blog)

CHINA
Censorship in China is Deeper and More Insidious Than You Think
Despite a free-wheeling micro-blogging scene, traditional media sources still operate under heavy government constraints.
(The Atlantic)

JAPAN
Former premier sues Shinzo Abe for libel over Fukushima disaster
Prime minister says Kan’s instructions to dampen nuclear emergency were ‘made up’
(South China Morning Post)

LIBYA
Libya moves a step closer to new post-Gaddafi constitution
Libya’s national assembly passed a law on Tuesday providing for the election of a committee to draft a new constitution following the overthrow of dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
(Reuters)

RUSSIA
Russian senator officially demands ‘measures’ against ‘flagrant’, ‘privacy-breaching’ Google
A high-profile Russian lawmaker has lodged an official request with the general prosecutor to investigate Google’s activities in Russia, saying the web services company’s privacy policy “gravely violates the Russian constitution.”
(RT)

SRI LANKA
Sri Lankan film ban halts French festival, sparks anger
The Sri Lankan government’s decision to ban the acclaimed film, “Flying Fish” and halt the French film festival, where it was screened has sparked outrage in a country that’s no stranger to threats to free speech.
(France 24)

TURKEY
Turkey regulator to appoint two board members to Turkcell
Turkey’s Capital Markets Board will appoint two board members to Turkcell Iletisim Hizmetleri AS soon, Chairman Vahdettin Ertas told Turkish TV channel CNBCe Tuesday, after a series of failed annual shareholder meetings amid the long-running dispute over control of Turkcell.
(Total Telecom)

UNITED STATES
Emails show ex-Gov. Daniels sought to quash political opposition in Ind. schools
Former Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels pledged to promote academic freedom, not stifle it, when he became president at Purdue University in January.
(AP via Daily Reporter)

Advice column is free speech; Ky. psychology board overreaches
What do the Westboro Baptist Church, Larry Flynt and John Rosemond have in common? All have turned to federal courts to protect their First Amendment rights. Westboro and Flynt prevailed at the Supreme Court which ruled that, no matter how noxious or crude, protests at military funerals and Hustler satire are constitutionally protected forms of expression.
(Lexington Herald-Leader)

Terror Supporter May Have Free Speech Case
A man convicted of aiding al-Qaida can pursue claims that Uncle Sam has cut off his speech in prison, but he’ll face a heavy burden of proof, a federal judge ruled.
(Courthouse News)

‘Veterans’ Free Speech Trial Ends in Guilty Verdict, Followed by Dismissal of Charges
Judge Robert Mandelbaum covered all his bases with his verdict July 12 in the case of 12veterans and their allies arrested last Oct. 7 at New York City’s Vietnam Veterans Memorial Plaza.
(The Indypendent)

‘US citizen has no right to free speech?’ State Dept spokesperson
During a daily press briefing State Department spokeswoman, Jen Psaki was given a thorough grilling on the Snowden affair by journalists, including AP’s Matthew Lee and CNN’s Elise Labott and was left lost for words at almost every turn.
(RT)

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