Freedom of speech
EDRi on child protection policy
12 September, 2012
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This article is also available in:
Deutsch: EDRi zum Thema Kinderschutz
The interests of children should be put first, even if that means allowing them to learn and adapt to online risks
An unseen threat is the scariest threat of all. An unseen threat to our children provokes our most basic protective instincts, which is exactly as it should be.
The internet is a public space and it is as safe or dangerous to allow a child to wander in its various neighbourhoods as for them to wander through any city.
Russia: Old and new in online censorship
12 September, 2012
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This article is also available in:
Deutsch: Russland: Altes und Neues in Sachen Internet-Zensur
A new Russian law intended to protect minors from “harmful” content entered into force on 1 September 2012 bringing forth confusion and, at the same time, hilarious and even dangerous results.
"The law’s vagueness and inconsistencies render its repressive provisions even more threatening and are encouraging journalists to censor themselves. The vague definition of ’harmful content’ leaves too much room for interpretation and increases the probability of overblocking.
Spanish website gets back seized domain names. After 18 months.
12 September, 2012
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This article is also available in:
Deutsch: [Spanische Webseite bekommt beschlagnahmte Domain zurück. Nach 18 Monaten.
Belarusian authorities harass online opposition groups
12 September, 2012
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Deutsch: Weißrussische Behörden drangsalieren Oppositionsgruppen im Internet
As elections in Belarus approach, independent or pro-opposition journalists and Internet users are harassed by the Belarusian authorities, pressured and even put to jail.
"The call for an election boycott by some opposition figures has joined the long list of subjects that are off limits. Those who mention the boycott, such as opposition groups on social networks, are immediately sanctioned.
ENDitorial: CleanIT: creating a safer internet...for terrorists?
29 August, 2012
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Deutsch: CleanIT – ein sichereres Internet … für Terroristen?
The “CleanIT project”, funded by the European Commission and led by the Dutch police, aims to produce a “guideline or gentleman's agreement” to fight terrorism online in a way which does not involve the use of legislation. The latest draft of its proposals was recently made available.
The intention to launch the project was first publicly announced in May 2010, during a European Commission event with the same goal and involving the same industry.
Russia looking for long prison years for hackers attacking govt sites
29 August, 2012
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A Russian senator has recently proposed a very drastic 15-year prison sentence for hackers who attack government websites.
The proposal of Senator Ruslan Gattarov, who is also Kremlin youth group organizer, comes after the hacker attack on the server of the Moscow Khamovnichesky Court of 21 August 2012.
An anonymous group seem to have admitted the responsibility for having broken the court’s site and posted some internal court documents on 21 August 2012.
Some governments want more control over the Internet via ITU
29 August, 2012
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There has lately been controversy over proposals made by several countries, such as Russia and China, to give more control over the Internet to the UN International Telecommunications Union (ITU).
Key functions of the internet as naming, numbering, addressing and identification are now carried out by ICANN, based in the US independent IANA, and national and regional agencies. Presently, ITU has some managing powers of the internet, such as promoting IPv6 awareness and coordinating international cybersecurity efforts. ITU’s international telecommunications regulations (ITRS), a treaty dating since 1988 (therefore before the existence of the web) are now under discussions to be revised and therefore, several parties have made proposals for the revision of the regulations.
Reporters Sans Frontières follows on the Wikileaks footsteps
1 August, 2012
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This article is also available in:
Deutsch: Reporter ohne Grenzen treten in die Fußstapfen von WikiLeaks
Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF) is looking to take the Wikileaks path and will start accepting the publication of censured documents in October 2012 on a new dedicated platform.
Called “We Fight Censorship”, the RSF platform will distribute censored documents received from journalists, bloggers or political dissidents in order to offer a “digital shelter” for those who, by revealing such documents, might be persecuted, condemned, imprisoned or even assassinated.
“Thanks to a digital ultra-s
