On Tuesday, a UN report outlined how state and corporate surveillance undermine freedom of expression and privacy. Today, the news turned to how far governments have gone to spy on their citizens,
Brian Pellot writes
CATEGORY: Digital Freedom
‘Mass surveillance is never justified’
Index on Censorship is appalled at the reports of alleged US mass surveillance programmes sweeping up data from internet and communications firms.
Jordan blocks over 200 ‘unlicensed’ websites
The Jordanian government began blocking over 200 websites on Sunday for failing to obtain licenses under a strict set of new guidelines, Ruth Michaelson reports.
Birthday wishes for Bassel Khartabil
Software engineer and open-source advocate Bassel Khartabil spent his second birthday in prison yesterday. Index calls on the Syrian government to release Khartabil.
• Bassel’s second birthday in prison
Stockholm Internet Forum: Balancing rights and security
Does surveillance and monitoring chill free expression? Is population-wide mass surveillance always a bad idea? Amongst many questions and debates at today’s Stockholm Internet Forum, the answers to these two questions are surely obvious – yes to both, writes Index on Censorship CEO Kirsty Hughes from Sweden.
Today is Bassel’s second birthday in prison
Software engineer and open-source advocate Bassel Khartabil will spend his second birthday in prison today. On his birthday and the 799th day of Syria’s conflict, Index calls on the Syrian government to release Khartabil. We’ve asked friends of Bassel from around the world to share their birthday messages to him with us.
India’s plan to monitor web raises concerns over privacy
The Indian government has been implementing a system to track and access calls, texts and online activities. Mahima Kaul reports from Delhi that the Central Monitoring System will be used by tax authorities and India’s National Investigation Authority to fight terror-related crimes. But digital freedom activists are worried.
Azerbaijan extends libel law to web speech
Index on Censorship and partner organizations have strongly condemned moves by Azerbaijan’s government on Tuesday to criminalise online slander and abuse in the run-up to the country’s October Presidential election.
Digital freedom, internet governance on agenda at two key meetings
Two key meetings being held in Geneva this week are exploring digital expression and internet governance, Brian Pellot writes.
Internet outage in Syria
Syria appears to be cut off from internet access, according to reports from web monitoring groups. Google's transparency report shows that access to its services has been cut off in the country since 22:00 local time on Tuesday. Similarly, web...