04 Aug 11 | Asia and Pacific, China
Beijing district police last month enforced regulations requiring café owners and other businesses to install web monitoring software. The software costs businesses around 20,000RMB (2,000 GBP), and provides public security officials the identities of customers logging on to the wireless service, while monitoring their online activity. Since this fee is costly for most cafés, a solution chosen by many has been to stop providing free Wi-Fi. The result? A Wi-Fi drought in some of the busiest – and most touristy – areas in Beijing, say regular users who are unhappy about the new rules.
It remains unclear how strictly these rules will be enforced, with districts across the city receiving different orders. Eastern areas such as Chaoyang have reportedly not been subject to any regulations, while Wudaoying Hutong, a spot with bars and boutique cafés in Dongcheng district frequented by the technology savvy Chinese youth, has. While authorities might not always know how to control the surfing habits of China’s new Mac-owning, cappuccino-swilling generation, they certainly keep trying.
21 Jun 11 | Digital Freedom, Uncategorized
Western policymakers must proceed with caution when considering online surveillance and web-blocking; their actions impact on human rights abroad, argues Cynthia Wong
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26 Jul 10 | Index Index, minipost, News and features
BlackBerrys could be banned or monitored in the UAE after officials announced on 26 July, that they do not conform with national laws. The region’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority said that “BlackBerry operates beyond the jurisdiction of national legislation” and warned that its misuse could cause “serious social, judicial and national security repercussions.” The Blackberry smart phone, developed by Research in Motion, was released prior to the enactment of safety emergency and national security legislation in 2007. Particular concern relates to the use of internal encrypted networks for email and instant message services, making it difficult for the authorities to track. In 2009, the government was subjected to widespread criticism after encouraging Blackberry customers to download an “upgrade”, which transpired to be surveillance software enabling officials to read and store user’s emails.
26 May 10 | Index Index, minipost
Newcastle Upon Tyne local authority has been deemed the worst offender in Britain for covert surveillance operations, according to a study this week. Under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act, local authorities have carried out over 8,500 covert surveillance and bugging operations over the last two years. With 231 checks in two years, Newcastle local authority has the worst record of spying on residents in the UK. With Ripa authorisation, the council carried out surveillance to check on the activities of Newcastle residents, ranging from fly-tipping to sick pay claims. Over a dozen councils have used Ripa to punish dog-fouling. Of the 8,500 national covert surveillance, a little under 4.5 per cent have resulted in prosecution.
