Tighter privacy laws would only serve the rich and powerful
The report by MPs on privacy talks of the importance of free expression, but the measures it proposes fly in the face of that aim, says Index’s John Kampfner
Swaziland: Social media lese majeste law planned
Swaziland’s justice minister has told the country’s senate that the government is finalising a law that would make it illegal to criticise the King Mswati III on social media networks. “We will be tough on those who write bad things about the king on Twitter and Facebook,” Mgwagwa Gamedze said. Internet penetration is low in Swaziland, Africa’s last absolute monarchy, but social networks have been used to organise public demonstrations, including a student protest last Monday against funding cuts. Last week Swazi senator Thuli Msane claimed online activism was spiralling out of control and disrespecting Mswati III.
UK: Ex-cricketer wins Twitter libel case
Former New Zealand cricket captain Chris Cairns has won his High Court libel case and been awarded £90,000 in damages after allegations on Twitter that he was involved in match-fixing. Lalit Modi, former chairman of the Indian Premier League, had accused Cairns of having a “past record” in match fixing after being forced to leave the Indian Cricket League in October 2008. In today’s judgment, Mr Justice Bean said Modi “singularly failed to provide any reliable evidence that Cairns was involved in match fixing or spot fixing.”
Bangladesh: Facebook pages shut for blasphemy
A Bangladesh court last week ordered government authorities to shut down five Facebook pages and a website for blasphemous content. Judges at the high court in Dhaka ordered the telecommunications regulator, home ministry officials and police to block the offending content after two university lecturers filed a lawsuit complaining that the pages and the site were hurting people’s religious sentiments. The pages were deemed to contain “disparaging remarks and cartoons” about the Prophet Mohammed, Jesus, the Koran, Lord Buddha and Hindu gods. In 2010, Facebook was temporarily blocked on charges of malicious propaganda against the Prime Minister and hurting religious feelings.