07 Aug 09 | Digital Freedom, Index Index, minipost
Max Kelly, chief security officer at Facebook, told technology website CNET News that denial-of-service internet attacks which disrupted Twitter, Facebook and Live Journal services yesterday were targeted specifically at a Georgian blogger known as Cyxymu. “It was a simultaneous attack targeting him to keep his voice from being heard,” he told the website. The blogger has told the Guardian that he blames the attack on the Kremlin. Today marks one year since the war between Russia and Georgia over the South Ossetia region. Read more here
05 Aug 09 | Index Index, minipost
The US marine corps have banned the use of social networking sites, after officials expressed concern about potential security risks. An order sent out to marines on 4 August informed them that they could no longer use sites including Facebook, MySpace and Twitter in case enemy groups used the information they contained to their advantage. The move is being seen by some as a signal that the Pentagon could enact a blanket ban on social networks across the entire military system. Last year the Pentagon used a fresh tactic to try and control the flow of information by launching TroopTube — a military-sponsored version of YouTube that allows serving personnel to share videos with only their friends and family members. All videos placed on the site must be checked by a Department of Defense worker before they are approved.
27 Jul 09 | Uncategorized
Committe to Protect Journalists will be collecting signatures until 31 July on a Facebook petition in support of Maziar Bahari, Newsweek’s Tehran correspondent, who is being held without charge in Iran.
Bahari, who is also an internationally acclaimed filmmaker, was detained on 21 June as part of Iran’s post-election crackdown on the media. More than 100 prominent journalists from around the world signed a letter calling for Bahari’s release on 15 July.
You can sign the Facebook petition here. Please remember to ask your Facebook friends to sign as well.
19 Jun 09 | Index Index, Middle East and North Africa, minipost
In light of the situation in Iran, search giant Google has stepped up work to release a tool that will translate Farsi into English and Facebook will be launching a Persian version. Both companies stress privately that there is no political motivation in what and that their main goal is to facilitate communication and the flow of information. Read more here
