Free expression in the news - Index on Censorship

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Free expression in the news

#dontspyonme Tell Europe’s leaders to stop mass surveillance #dontspyonme Index on Censorship launches a petition calling on European Union Heads of Government to stop the US, UK and other governments from carrying out mass surveillance. We want to use public pressure to ensure Europe’s leaders put on the record their opposition to mass surveillance. They […]

By Index on Censorship

26 Jul 13

In the News

#dontspyonme
Tell Europe’s leaders to stop mass surveillance #dontspyonme
Index on Censorship launches a petition calling on European Union Heads of Government to stop the US, UK and other governments from carrying out mass surveillance. We want to use public pressure to ensure Europe’s leaders put on the record their opposition to mass surveillance. They must place this issue firmly on the agenda for the next European Council Summit in October so action can be taken to stop this attack on the basic human right of free speech and privacy.
(Index on Censorship)

CHINA
Hollywood Skeptical as China Claims Relaxed Censorship Enforcement
To many in China and Hollywood, the message seemed too good to be true: In an announcement on its official online portal July 17, the Chinese government stated that its State General Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television no longer will demand that filmmakers working on projects about “ordinary topics” secure full script approval before going into production.
(The Hollywood Reporter)

INDIA
The birth of India’s film industry: how the movies came to Mumbai
There is a fascinating but little-known prequel to Indian cinema that goes right back to silent films made in the 1890s
(The Guardian)

Tim Cook: iPhone sales in India grew 400 percent last quarter
Apple CEO, Tim Cook, today announced iPhone sales in India grew over 400 percent in the last quarter over the quarter preceding it. Apart from India, iPhone sales took off in the Philippines, Turkey and Poland in the prepaid market apart from developed countries. Apple attributes it to some moves it made in the iPhone 5 and iPhone 4 space, pointing out towards the aggressive buyback schemes it launched in India with the iPhone 4.
(The Tech Gadgets)

NEW ZEALAND
Maniac Faces More Censorship Overseas
now being banned in New Zealand. Of course, the mainstream press is latching onto the fact that this is significant considering Maniac star Elijah Wood starred as Frodo in The Lord of the Rings films…which were all shot in New Zealand.
(Shock Till You Drop)

RUSSIA
Navalny, Ward, Assange, Snowden and the Attack on Free Speech
Russia does not have a functioning criminal justice system at all, in the sense of a trial mechanism aimed at determining innocence or guilt. Exactly as in Uzbekistan, the conviction rate in criminal trials is over 99%. If the prosecutors, who are inextricably an arm of the executive government, want to send you to jail, there is absolutely no judicial system to protect you. The judges are purely there for show.
(Craig Murray)

Russia legal experts warn constitutional order under threat
Russia’s constitutional order is being threatened by the current government practices, according to an open letter [text, in Russian] signed by more than 50 of Russia’s leading legal experts on Tuesday. The letter accuses the government [CSM report] of systematic rights abuses and efforts to silence political opponents and eliminate forms of legal protest.
(Jurist)

Journalist Miriam Elder Reflects on her Past Seven Years in Russia
The Guardian’s former Russian Correspondent Miriam Elder has left Russia for a new job in the US as Foreign Editor at BuzzFeed. Anchor Carol Hills speaks with Elder about her experiences reporting in Russia.
(Public Radio International (US))

LGBT Organization Calls For Boycott of Russian Vodka
A gay rights organization based in the U.S. has called for a worldwide boycott on Russian vodka in response to the country’s new gay propaganda legislation.
(The Moscow Times)

Russian Church Leaders Say Gays And Same-Sex Marriage Will Cause The Apocalypse!
Everyone! Run for your lives! It’s the Apocalypse! And it’s all the gays’ fault! As CAH-RAZY as that might sound, Russian church leader Patriarch Kirill believes every word of it.
(Perez Hilton)

Russia for Beginners: A Literary Course for Edward Snowden
Edward J. Snowden has the time, and now he has the classics. Mr. Snowden, the former intelligence contractor facing legal repercussions for the release of classified information, has been ensconced in the transit zone of Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport waiting to find out if he will be granted asylum.
(The New York Times)

TUNISIA
Tunisia In Chaos After Slaying Of Second Opposition Politician
Tunisia is heralded as the birthplace of the Arab Spring.
(Public Radio International (US))

TURKEY
Turkey’s media: A polluted landscape
As protests continue in Istanbul, journalist Yavuz Baydar calls for the media to resist government pressure to filter the news
(Index on Censorship)

Yavuz Baydar sacked after columns criticising government
Journalist Yavuz Baydar has been fired by Turkish daily newspaper Sabah, after articles he wrote criticising the government were censored
(Index on Censorship)

UNITED STATES
The Perceived Conflict Between Diversity and Free Speech
The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has made headlines after releasing a “blueprint” for campus sexual misconduct policies that broadly redefines sexual harassment, ostensibly under OCR’s authority to enforce Title IX.
(FIRE)

“Military Web Restrictions to Continue as Republican Led House Panel Passes on Amendment”
The House Rules Committee passed on an amendment that would have stopped the military from filtering news websites on its bases.
(Always Question Authority)