25 Oct 10 | Index Index, minipost
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), Britain’s privacy watchdog, has reopened its investigation into Google Street View after the company admitted it copied personal data. Google is facing similar pressures from privacy watchdogs in other countries, including Spain, Germany, and Canada. In May, the ICO had investigated revelations that Google had gathered unprotected information but it concluded that no “significant” personal details had been collected. The renewed scrutiny stems from Google’s admission, following analysis by other privacy bodies, that they had harvested more information than previously thought.
07 Oct 10 | Index Index, minipost
Think tank MigrationWatch has released a statement saying that it no longer intends to sue political commentator Sally Bercow for libel. It was revealed by Index on Censorship last week that Mrs Bercow had been threatened with legal action over comments she made about a Daily Express story on migration and unemployment. Mrs Bercow said that the story, which quoted figures from a MigrationWatch study, grossly oversimplified the migration debate, and that such oversimplification was “dangerous propaganda”. The think tank’s statement says that they are “strongly in favour of free speech”.
06 Oct 10 | Index Index, minipost
The organiser of an exhibition of anti-death penalty posters has cancelled the event, because he feels it has been censored. Herve Matine said that councillors wanted to split up the collection, placing the more graphic images in a separate room with limited access. He was told that around a third of the posters, some of which depict hangings, would be moved because they could influence young people. DUP councillor Brian Kingston called the exhibition “disturbing”, but Matine stressed the importance of “public awareness”.
21 Sep 10 | Index Index, minipost
Footballer Wayne Rooney has launched legal action against the Daily Mirror for breach of privacy. Rooney is suing the newspaper after it published articles making fresh allegations about his sex life. He is claiming for invasion of privacy and breach of the Data Protection Act. Last month the England player sued the Sun for libel over the suggestion that he booked a holiday before his team were knocked out of the World Cup.
