Tunisian rapper Weld El 15 (real name Alaa Yaacoubi) walked free from Tunis’s Court of Appeal today after his jail sentence for “insulting” police was reduced from two years to a six month suspended sentence, Padraig Reidy writes
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CANADA
Canada: Land of the Free
Canada is far from American stereotypes of socialism, centralization and obeisance, at least in relative terms. By almost any measure, Canada is a freer country than the U.S.A.
(Daily Caller)
RUSSIA
Russian Police Arrest 60 Pride Protesters As Putin Signs Anti-Gay Censorship Bill Into Law
On Saturday, police in St. Petersburg, Russia arrested all 60 participants in a gay pride parade. Many of them were badly beaten by anti-gay counter-protesters, who threw eggs, smoke flares, and stones. Among those arrest were five same-sex couples who applied for marriage licenses on Friday in a historic legal move.
(Think Progress)
Russian NGOs Used as ‘Front for Illicit Activity’ – Official
A Russian justice ministry official on Monday claimed that controversial spot checks on NGOs are needed as many operate as a “front” for illicit activity.
(Ria Novosti)
Snowden drops Russia asylum request, in transit area: Kremlin
Former U.S. spy agency contractor Edward Snowden has withdrawn a request for political asylum in Russia after President Vladimir Putin said he should stop “harming our American partners”, the Kremlin said on Tuesday.
(Reuters)
TUNISIA
Free speech under threat in Tunisia
As Tunisian lawmakers resume debating the draft constitution on Monday (July 1st), legal and media experts are criticising the document for failing to protect freedom of expression and access to information.
(The Daily Beast)
TURKEY
Turkey’s Violent Homophobia
For a brief moment, Istanbul’s Taksim Square was transformed yesterday. The riot police, clouds of tear gas, and barricade-building protesters that characterized the past month’s unprecedented unrest were gone. Instead, a mass of rainbow flags, garish makeup, and neon clothing and face paint gleamed in the afternoon sunshine ahead of the city’s 10th LGBT pride march.
(Magharebia)
UNITED KINGDOM
Libel letter disowned by Nazeing Parish Council
A HOAX letter opposing a planning application by travellers has been distributed in Nazeing claiming to be from the parish council.
(Hertfordshire Mercury)
UNITED STATES
Edward Snowden’s statement released through WikiLeaks
The NSA whistleblower, currently in Moscow, has released a statement through the freedom of information group WikiLeaks
(The Guardian)
Planned Parenthood Sues Kan. Over Free Speech Violation
In June, two different lawsuits were filed in Kansas over a new state abortion law. But the lawsuit that Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri filed on June 20 isn’t about the freedom to perform abortions. It’s about freedom of speech.
(KCUR)
Pro-Life Group Charged $650 for ‘Free Speech’ on University Campus
A pro-life student group filed a federal lawsuit Friday against the University at Buffalo for charging the group unconstitutional fees in order to exercise its freedom of speech.
(Charisma News)
Fox’s Starnes fears Facebook censorship
Fox News Radio personality Todd Starnes and the hosts of “Fox & Friends” think Facebook may be censoring conservatives after a weekend incident involving Starnes’s page.
(Politico)
Atheists File Lawsuit Following Alleged ‘Censorship’ of Material Attacking Christianity
An atheist activist group is suing one of the country’s largest public school districts after officials allowed some materials to be distributed, but prohibited items of a more controversial and explicit nature.
(Christian News Network)
Previous Free Expression in the News posts
July 1 | June 28 | June 27 | June 26 | June 25 | June 24 | June 21 | June 20 | June 19 | June 18 | June 17
INDEX POLICY PAPER
Is the EU heading in the right direction on digital freedom?
While in principle the EU supports freedom of expression, it has often put more emphasis on digital competitiveness and has been slow to prioritise and protect digital freedom, Brian Pellot, digital policy advisor at Index on Censorship writes in this policy paper
(Index on Censorship)
BRAZIL
Brazil protesters: Is common ground really necessary?
The bus fare hikes that sparked widespread Brazilian protests have been reversed, but protests continue. Can they last?
(The Christian Science Monitor)
BURMA
Burma censors Time Magazine for coverage of radical Buddhists
Reporters Without Borders condemns the decision by Burmese magazine distributor Inwa Publications not to sell Time Magazine’s July issue, which has cover story about the Burmese Buddhist monk Ashin Wirathu headlined “The Face of Buddhist Terror.”
(Thailand Business News)
CHINA
Rethinking the Firewall as a One-Way Mirror
Maybe he should be known for hanging China’s One-Way Mirror instead constructing its Great Firewall. That’s the message Chinese Internet users are sending as the nation’s best-known censorship engineer, Fang Binxing, said he was retiring. Known as the father of China’s Great Firewall for helping develop tools that keep Internet users in the country from surfing websites available elsewhere, Mr. Fang is facing a fresh line of criticism in the wake of allegations by former U.S. defense contractor Edward Snowden that American intelligence agencies regularly compromised Chinese servers.
(Wall Street Journal)
CANADA
Bill to end ‘hate speech’ portion of human rights law gets mixed reviews but Senate approval
A contentious section of Canadian human rights law, long criticized by free-speech advocates as overly restrictive and tantamount to censorship, is gone for good.
(The Province)
EUROPEAN UNION
Post-Prism leaks, where does the EU stand on digital freedom?
The EU needs to develop a coherent and comprehensive digital freedom strategy. Brian Pellot writes
(Index on Censorship)
HUNGARY
Can free expression survive in Hungary?
Funding has been removed from projects not deemed to be in keeping with the official view of Hungarian culture.
(New Statesman)
SUDAN
Sudanese journalist targeted for allegedly insulting the military
When three journalists were invited to accompany a military official to a town supposedly recaptured from rebels, they did not expect to end up caught in crossfire. One journalist is being targeted after an anonymous and more honest account of the incident appeared online. Reem Abbas reports
(Index on Censorship)
TUNISIA
Tunisian court sets free Femen activists
Three European women who were sentenced to four months in jail for staging a topless protest in support of a detained Tunisian Femen activist have arrived in Paris after being freed a day earlier by a Tunisian court, French media has reported.
(France 24)
TURKEY
Angela Merkel warns Turkey European democratic values ‘non-negotiable’ for EU entry
GERMAN Chancellor Angela Merkel said she welcomed an agreement to reopen talks with Turkey about joining the European Union but warned in the light of the crackdown on Turkish anti-government protests that democratic values were non-negotiable.
(Irish Independent)
Turkey heads for Twitter showdown after anti-government protests
The Turkish government is heading towards a showdown with Twitter after asking it to set up a “representative office” inside the country. The move could presage censorship of the microblogging service it has accused of helping stir weeks of anti-administration protests.
(The Guardian)
UNITED KINGDOM
British media ‘may leave Belfast over province’s refusal to change libel laws’
British media groups may pull out of Northern Ireland because the province is refusing to implement changes to antiquated libel laws, the House of Lords has been warned.
(The Daily Mail)
Wealthy are gagging the media: Nesbitt
The UUP leader and a retired part-time judge yesterday told MLAs that the wealthy and powerful are using the current libel laws in an attempt to “control” the media.
(News Letter)
Libel lawyer: I did not lobby DUP to block bill
Belfast’s most prominent libel lawyer has said that he did not lobby DUP Finance Minister Sammy Wilson to block British libel reforms extending to Northern Ireland.
(News Letter)
Free Speech or Hate Speech? Britain Bans U.S. Anti-Muslim Bloggers
A British decision to bar a visit by two prominent American anti-Islam activists has prompted righteous indignation from the targets of the ban as well as a more measured debate about the limits of free speech.
(The New York Times)
Free Speech Dies in UK: Robert Spencer, Pamela Geller Banned from Entering
“U.S. Bloggers banned from Entering the UK.” That’s how a BBC headline broke the news that authors Pamela Geller and Robert Spencer were denied entry to the country that gave the world the Magna Carta.
(PJ Media)
UNITED STATES
Kickstarter’s Choice: How free should speech be on the web?
“No problem. I don’t want you to do anything you aren’t comfortable with.” Memorize that line. It is your go-to when faced with resistance. Say it genuinely, without presumption. All master seducers are also masters at making women feel comfortable. You’ll be no different. If a woman isn’t comfortable, take a break and try again later.”
(The New Yorker)
Another ‘Free Speaker’ Jailed for Views
Speaking one’s mind in American police state becoming an increasingly dangerous proposition
(American Free Press)
Virginia-based appeals court reinstates NC dietary advice blogger’s free-speech lawsuit
A federal appeals court has reinstated a North Carolina blogger’s lawsuit claiming state officials violated his free-speech rights. The North Carolina Board of Dietetics/Nutrition last year told Stanley resident Steve Cooksey to take down or modify parts of his website offering dietary advice to fellow diabetics. The board said it had received a complaint that Cooksey was operating as a dietician without a state license.
(The Washington Post)
For Censoring Websites, the Muzzle Award Goes to Rhode Island Public Schools
Over the past two decades, the Internet has become a crucial tool in public education, opening schoolchildren to the broader world. Yet concerns about sex, violence, and other inappropriate content has led many school districts to impose draconian restrictions limiting kids’ access to even the most innocuous material.
(WGBH Boston)
Previous Free Expression in the News posts
June 27 | June 26 | June 25 | June 24 | June 21 | June 20 | June 19 | June 18 | June 17
INDEX POLICY PAPER
Is the EU heading in the right direction on digital freedom?
While in principle the EU supports freedom of expression, it has often put more emphasis on digital competitiveness and has been slow to prioritise and protect digital freedom, Brian Pellot, digital policy advisor at Index on Censorship writes in this policy paper
(Index on Censorship)
BRAZIL
Freedom of expression, an unfulfilled promise in Brazil
Brazil’s media is characterized by oligopolistic ownership and certain opinions dominate. Journalists and human rights activist call for new laws and regulations to safeguard freedom of speech and access to information in the host country of the 2014 World Cup.
(Journalism in the Americas)
Brazil president Dilma Rousseff proposes referendum on political reforms to try and quell protests
President Dilma Rousseff has announced a referendum on political reform along with £14 billion for public transport after more than a million took to the streets to protest in Brazil.
(The Telegraph)
BURMA
Literature needs freedom – and freedom needs literature
At this weekend’s session of the Edinburgh World Writers’ conference in Kuala Lumpur, the eminent Burmese writer – imprisoned under censorship laws for more than five years – used her own experience to reflect on censorship and imagination.
(The Guardian)
CANADA
Free speech integral to campus life
Opinion: University presidents must uphold the right of students to express unpopular opinions during peaceful protests
(Vancouver Sun)
CHINA
China Is Unblocking Some Search Terms — But Censorship Still Thrives Online
The Communist Party’s efforts to restrict political speech on the Internet have become increasingly sophisticated.
(The Atlantic)
EGYPT
Rights group condemns lawsuits against free speech
Lawsuits against media and opposition groups must stop says Arab Network for Human Rights Information
(Daily News Egypt)
G8
G8 governments sign Open Data Charter
During its summit in Northern Ireland, the G8 issued a declaration and signed an Open Data Charter on June 18, stating their intent to promote machine readable and publicly-available government data.
(Fierce Government IT)
IRAN
Internet Throttling Is Evidence of Iranian Censorship
One of the growing concerns for human rights campaigners is the increasing evidence of Internet censorship in many repressive regimes around the world. During the Arab spring, for example, Egyptian leaders “switched off” the Internet in an attempt to prevent activists from organizing protests or communicating with the outside world. The Syrian leadership appears to have done a similar thing on several occasions during the current civil war.
(Mashable)
NEW ZEALAND
Peters blasts ‘Orwellian’ censorship over stand on migrants
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has compared the country to an Orwellian state because he feels he is being censored for remarks on Chinese immigration to New Zealand.
(The New Zealand Herald)
TAIWAN
After Public Outcry, Taiwan Backs Off For SOPA Like Censorship
Freedom on the Internet is a far fetched idea but citizens are not giving up easily either. Recently we had shared that the Taiwan Intellectual Property Office (IPO) had proposed an amendment to its Copyright Act, a proposal that is similar to the United States Bill, Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). The good news is that Taiwan has temporarily stopped the bill.
(Business 2 Community)
TUNISIA
Tunisian rapper jailed for anti-police song
Tunisian rapper Alaa Yacoub has been sent two prison for two years for an anti-police song. Sara Yasin reports
(Index on Censorship)
TURKEY
Obama, Erdogan discuss Turkish protests
President Barack Obama spoke to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday about the importance of free expression, following days of violence in anti-government demonstrations.
(News24)
BBC reporters ‘intimidated’ by Turkey
The BBC says it is “very concerned” by a campaign by the Turkish authorities to “intimidate its journalists”.
(BBC)
In Turkey’s pious heartland, protests seem world away
“This Nation Is With You” declares a small billboard in the centre of this conservative central Turkish city, the words emblazoned on an image of Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and a sea of his flag-waving supporters.
(EuroNews)
UNITED KINGDOM
Mass surveillance threatens freedom of expression
Index on Censorship is extremely concerned about the reported extent of mass surveillance of both meta data and content, resulting from the alleged tapping into underwater cables that carry national and international communications traffic.
(Index on Censorship)
Don’t turn Pamela Geller and Robert Spencer into free speech martyrs
The anti-fascist campaign group Hope Not Hate (HNH) has written to the home secretary Theresa May urging her to stop Pamela Geller and Robert Spencer from entering the UK to speak at an English Defence League rally on Saturday 29 June.
(Left Foot Forward)
UNITED STATES
US needs to protect whistleblowers and journalists
Index on Censorship calls upon the US government to uphold the First Amendment. Whistleblowers such as Edward Snowden — as well as journalists reporting on the Prism scandal, who have come under fire — should be protected under the first amendment, not criminalised.
(Index on Censorship)
Link Between Gun Violence and Video Games is Flawed, Says Media Coalition
The discussion about whether playing violent video games causes real-life gun violence has been raging for years. A new report today by Media Coalition Inc. is bound to fuel that fire, claiming that the harm of violent video games has “skewed the debate and fuels misguided calls for censorship.” Although the report’s headline focuses on “media,” its content focuses on violent videogames, and the Coalition’s press release was promoted by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), which is responsible for the E3 video game trade show.
(Daily Game)
Shirt Focus of Free-Speech Fight
In West Virginia, the love of freedom is ingrained more directly in the fabric of the state’s legacy than in most places. It broke away from Virginia at the outset of the Civil War over slavery, becoming the 35th state in the Union 150 years ago this week. But even before that, West Virginia’s forbidding geography had stamped itself on the character of its people.
(Real Clear Poltics)
An important ruling for groups’ free speech rights
A Supreme Court decision rightly prevents the government from requiring certain stances by organizations receiving public funds.
(The Mercury)
Floyd Abrams Talks First Amendment Law At Google
The First Amendment is incredibly important in the Internet age. It’s frequently at the center of many debates on what constitutes free speech online. Now, one of the foremost First Amendment scholars of our time – Floyd Abrams – stopped by Google to talk about his new book, “Friends of the Court: On The Front Lines With The First Amendment”
(WebPro News)
U.S. presses Russia as mystery over Snowden deepens
The United States increased pressure on Russia on Monday to hand over Edward Snowden, the American charged with disclosing secret U.S. surveillance programs, and said it believed he was still in Moscow.
(Reuters)
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