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top :: newsletter_August_2007
Fri, 31 Aug 2007
- Australia
- Austria
- Belarus
- Brazil
- China
- Germany
- Ghana
- Greece
- Iran
- Kenya
- Kosovo
- Malaysia
- New Zealand
- Palestine
- Peru
- Phillipines
- Poland
- Russia
- Saudi Arabia
- Serbia
- Singapore
- Somalia
- Spain
- Thailand
- Turkey
- UK
- US
- Venezeula
- Yemen
- Various/Useful links
1. Australia
Contempt decision reserved - Three judges have reserved their decision on whether the editor of The West Australian, Paul Armstrong, committed a contempt of court by publishing a letter last year that resulted in a trial being aborted.
Source – The West 3.8.07
http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=77&ContentID=36444
Contempt decision reserved - Three judges have reserved their decision on whether the editor of The West Australian, Paul Armstrong, committed a contempt of court by publishing a letter last year that resulted in a trial being aborted.
Source – The West 3.8.07
http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=77&ContentID=36444
2. Austria
Austrian neo-Nazi writer arrested in Spain for denying Holocaust - An Austrian writer wanted for denying the Holocaust was arrested Thursday by Spanish police in Malaga, Spain. Gerd Honsik was convicted of neo-Nazi activities in his native Austria in 1992 and sentenced to 1 1/2 years in prison, but fled to Spain to avoid jail time.
Source – Jurist 23.8.07
http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2007/08/austrian-neo-nazi-writer-arrested-in.php
3. Belarus
Parliamentary committee refuses to reexamine article of law used to persecute media - Reporters Without Borders condemns the parliamentary human rights and media committee’s decision on 3 August to reject a request from the Belarus Association of Journalists (BAJ) that it should consider whether article 10 of the media law violates articles 33 and 34 of the constitution.
Source – Reporters sans frontiers 10.8.07
http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=23255
Austrian neo-Nazi writer arrested in Spain for denying Holocaust - An Austrian writer wanted for denying the Holocaust was arrested Thursday by Spanish police in Malaga, Spain. Gerd Honsik was convicted of neo-Nazi activities in his native Austria in 1992 and sentenced to 1 1/2 years in prison, but fled to Spain to avoid jail time.
Source – Jurist 23.8.07
http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2007/08/austrian-neo-nazi-writer-arrested-in.php
3. Belarus
Parliamentary committee refuses to reexamine article of law used to persecute media - Reporters Without Borders condemns the parliamentary human rights and media committee’s decision on 3 August to reject a request from the Belarus Association of Journalists (BAJ) that it should consider whether article 10 of the media law violates articles 33 and 34 of the constitution.
Source – Reporters sans frontiers 10.8.07
http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=23255
4. Brazil
Advisory group to prepare for internet governance forum meeting in Rio De Janeiro – The mandate of the Advisory Group for the Internet Governance Forum has been renewed in order to assist in preparations for the next meeting of the Internet Governance Forum, to be held in Rio de Janeiro from 12 to 15 November 2007.
Source – UN 20.8.07
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/pi1791.doc.htmChina
5. China
Advisory group to prepare for internet governance forum meeting in Rio De Janeiro – The mandate of the Advisory Group for the Internet Governance Forum has been renewed in order to assist in preparations for the next meeting of the Internet Governance Forum, to be held in Rio de Janeiro from 12 to 15 November 2007.
Source – UN 20.8.07
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/pi1791.doc.htmChina
5. China
Chinese ISP introduces cartoon cops – Police in China have created a cartoon depiction of the Chinese internet police force that will be displayed to users every thirty minutes whilst browsing the web. The aim of the cartoon is to be a friendly reminder to users to abide by the laws of the land and to avoid anything that could be deemed illegal in China.
Source – Big Mouth Media 30.8.07
http://www.bigmouthmedia.com/live/articles/chinese-isp-introduces-cartoon-cops.asp/4021/
New China law requires officials to provide accurate information on emergencies – China's National People's Congress passed a new law Thursday to hold officials legally accountable for providing accurate and timely information on public emergencies. The law also allows the government to revoke the business licenses of media organizations that are found to hurt public safety by publishing false reports of emergencies
Source – Jurist 30.8.07
http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2007/08/new-china-law-requires-officials-to.php
Ailing cyber-dissident Zhang Jianhong faces permanent paralysis; RSF appeals for humanitarian release - Reporters Without Borders has voiced outrage at the failure of the prison authorities to treat ailing writer and cyber-dissident Zhang Jianhong, who is also known by the pen-name of Li Hong. Imprisoned since September 2006, Zhang has been in a critical condition for the past three months and could become permanently paralysed.
Source – IFEX 10.8.07
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/85445
Source – Big Mouth Media 30.8.07
http://www.bigmouthmedia.com/live/articles/chinese-isp-introduces-cartoon-cops.asp/4021/
New China law requires officials to provide accurate information on emergencies – China's National People's Congress passed a new law Thursday to hold officials legally accountable for providing accurate and timely information on public emergencies. The law also allows the government to revoke the business licenses of media organizations that are found to hurt public safety by publishing false reports of emergencies
Source – Jurist 30.8.07
http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2007/08/new-china-law-requires-officials-to.php
Ailing cyber-dissident Zhang Jianhong faces permanent paralysis; RSF appeals for humanitarian release - Reporters Without Borders has voiced outrage at the failure of the prison authorities to treat ailing writer and cyber-dissident Zhang Jianhong, who is also known by the pen-name of Li Hong. Imprisoned since September 2006, Zhang has been in a critical condition for the past three months and could become permanently paralysed.
Source – IFEX 10.8.07
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/85445
Congress Probes Yahoo over Chinese Journalist's Jailing - A U.S. congressional committee plans to investigate whether Yahoo Inc. lied during testimony over its role in a human rights case in China that sent journalist Shi Tao to jail for 10 years. The chairman of the House of Representatives' Foreign Affairs Committee announced the probe on Friday in a statement posted on the committee's Web site, and vowed to hold the company accountable.
Source – PC World 4.8.07
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/764558/jump
Source – PC World 4.8.07
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/764558/jump
Human Rights Groups Concerned over Chinese Press Freedom – China charged with reneging on Olympic Games commitments Freedom of the press in China, where 29 Chinese journalists are in prison, is a top concern of independent press advocacy and human rights groups that have issued new reports about the matter.
Source – US State Info 8.8.07
http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2007&m=August&x=200708081551151xeneerg0.963421
http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2007&m=August&x=200708081551151xeneerg0.963421
6. Germany
Proceedings against journalists in Germany must stop, says OSCE Media Freedom Representative - The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Miklos Haraszti, called on Germany to cease criminal proceedings against the 17 journalists who published allegedly classified information.
Source – OSCE 9.8.07
http://www.osce.org/item/25893.html
http://www.osce.org/item/25893.html
7. Ghana
FOI Conference Opens - An African Regional Conference on Freedom of Information (FOI) opened on Monday in Ghana's capital city of Accra. The two-day conference, attended by delegates from all over Africa, was to among other things hear implementation experiences from the few African countries.
Source – All Africa 1.8.07
http://allafrica.com/stories/200708010720.html
http://allafrica.com/stories/200708010720.html
Freedom of information conference opens - An African Regional Conference on Freedom of Information (FOI) opened on Monday in Ghana's capital city of Accra. The two-day conference, attended by delegates from all over Africa, was to among other things hear implementation experiences from the few African countries that are presently implementing FOI laws, review a proposed model FOI law for African countries and adopt a regional-based FOI advocacy strategy.
Source – All Africa 1.8.07
http://allafrica.com/stories/200708010720.html
http://allafrica.com/stories/200708010720.html
8. Greece
New radio licensing law in Greece restricts minority media, says OSCE media freedom watchdog - Miklos Haraszti, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, expressed his concern today about a new Greek radio licensing law that endangers pluralism by putting a high threshold for minority, community or low-cost broadcasters.
Source – OSCE 27.7.07
http://www.osce.org/item/25793.html
New Greek media law threatens Turkish radio - A new law adopted by the Greek government to regulate the activities of private radio stations in the country has led to concerns among radio stations broadcasting in Turkish in Western Thrace.
Source – Today’s Zaman 3.8.07
http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=118129&bolum=103
http://www.osce.org/item/25793.html
New Greek media law threatens Turkish radio - A new law adopted by the Greek government to regulate the activities of private radio stations in the country has led to concerns among radio stations broadcasting in Turkish in Western Thrace.
Source – Today’s Zaman 3.8.07
http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=118129&bolum=103
Trial of Kostas Plevris and "Eleftheros Kosmos" for anti-Semitism on 5 September 2007 - Greek Helsinki Monitor (GHM) on the occasion of today’s day announces that Kostas Plevris and the newspaper “Eleftheros Kosmos” have been referred to trial before the 2nd Three-Member Misdemeanor Appeals Court of Athens on 5 September 2007, for violation of article 1 paragraph 1 and article 2 of the anti-racism law 927/79.
Source – Greek Helsinki Monitor (GHM) 12.8.07
http://cm.greekhelsinki.gr/uploads/2007_files/ghm914_katigoritirio_plevri_elkosmou_english.doc
Source – Greek Helsinki Monitor (GHM) 12.8.07
http://cm.greekhelsinki.gr/uploads/2007_files/ghm914_katigoritirio_plevri_elkosmou_english.doc
9. Iran
Iran confirms two Kurdish journalists sentenced to death - Iran's judiciary on Tuesday for the first time confirmed that two Iranian Kurdish journalists have been sentenced to death for being "enemies of God." Rights groups had reported that Adnan Hassanpour and Abdolvahed "Hiva" Botimar were sentenced to death on July 16 by a revolutionary court in Marivan, in Iran's northeastern Kordestan province.
Source – Yahoo 31.7.07
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070731/wl_mideast_afp/irankurdspressrights_070731104756
Iran confirms two Kurdish journalists sentenced to death - Iran's judiciary on Tuesday for the first time confirmed that two Iranian Kurdish journalists have been sentenced to death for being "enemies of God." Rights groups had reported that Adnan Hassanpour and Abdolvahed "Hiva" Botimar were sentenced to death on July 16 by a revolutionary court in Marivan, in Iran's northeastern Kordestan province.
Source – Yahoo 31.7.07
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070731/wl_mideast_afp/irankurdspressrights_070731104756
10. Kenya
Protests Against a Law Aimed at the Heart of the Media - Members of the media in Kenya took to the streets Wednesday in a silent protest against a law that would compromise press freedom by forcing them to divulge sources. Passed by parliament earlier this month, the Media Council of Kenya Bill is now awaiting presidential assent.
Source – IPS 16.8.07
http://www.ipsnews.net/africa/nota.asp?idnews=38918
Protests Against a Law Aimed at the Heart of the Media - Members of the media in Kenya took to the streets Wednesday in a silent protest against a law that would compromise press freedom by forcing them to divulge sources. Passed by parliament earlier this month, the Media Council of Kenya Bill is now awaiting presidential assent.
Source – IPS 16.8.07
http://www.ipsnews.net/africa/nota.asp?idnews=38918
Protests Against a Law Aimed at the Heart of the Media - Members of the media in Kenya took to the streets Wednesday in a silent protest against a law that would compromise press freedom by forcing them to divulge sources. Passed by parliament earlier this month, the Media Council of Kenya Bill is now awaiting presidential assent.
Source – IPS 16.8.07
http://www.ipsnews.net/africa/nota.asp?idnews=38918
Kenyan president refuses to sign proposed media law – The Kenyan president refused Wednesday to approve legislation that has widely been condemned as an attack on independent media because it would allow Kenyan courts to compel reporters to reveal their sources.
Source – International Herald Tribune 22.8.07
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/08/22/africa/AF-GEN-Kenya-Media.php
Source – IPS 16.8.07
http://www.ipsnews.net/africa/nota.asp?idnews=38918
Kenyan president refuses to sign proposed media law – The Kenyan president refused Wednesday to approve legislation that has widely been condemned as an attack on independent media because it would allow Kenyan courts to compel reporters to reveal their sources.
Source – International Herald Tribune 22.8.07
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/08/22/africa/AF-GEN-Kenya-Media.php
Ploy to gag press is plot to stab democracy - The National Security Committee in tandem with the police Crime Management Committee is persuading cabinet to institute measures that will curtail the work of journalists and stifle press freedom and freedom of speech. The police’s Media and Political Squad has been instructed to swing in action and pounce on those members of the public who make “irresponsible and criminal utterances against government and the person of the president.”
Source – Daily Monitor 16.8.07
http://www.monitor.co.ug/oped/oped08143.php
Source – Daily Monitor 16.8.07
http://www.monitor.co.ug/oped/oped08143.php
Controversial Press Law Requiring Journalists to Reveal Sources Approved - The media industry in Kenya has been thunderstruck by the surprise enactment of a media law that will require journalists to disclose the identities of their sources in court. A last minute amendment introduced in the final stages to the Media Council of Kenya Bill by a pro-government Member of Parliament was adopted and passed)on Thursday, August 4, 2007.
Source – All Africa 7.8.07
http://allafrica.com/stories/200708080271.html
President urged to reject law requiring journalists to reveal sources – Kenyan media were "thunderstruck" by the surprise passage of a media law that would require journalists to disclose their sources in court, according to the Nairobi-based Media Institute. On 4 August 2007, fewer than 30 of 222 members of parliament adopted a last-minute amendment to the Media Council of Kenya Bill
http://allafrica.com/stories/200708080271.html
President urged to reject law requiring journalists to reveal sources – Kenyan media were "thunderstruck" by the surprise passage of a media law that would require journalists to disclose their sources in court, according to the Nairobi-based Media Institute. On 4 August 2007, fewer than 30 of 222 members of parliament adopted a last-minute amendment to the Media Council of Kenya Bill
Source – IFEX
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/85546
LSK Vows to Fight Media Law in Court - The public outrage over the controversial Media Bill continued to mount yesterday, with the Law Society of Kenya vowing to go to court to stop the implementation of the proposed law if President Kibaki assents to it. LSK chairman Okong'o O'Mogeni said the basis of their challenge would be on a constitutional matter as the Bill, arguing that it was in conflict with other laws such as the Witness Protection Act.
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/85546
LSK Vows to Fight Media Law in Court - The public outrage over the controversial Media Bill continued to mount yesterday, with the Law Society of Kenya vowing to go to court to stop the implementation of the proposed law if President Kibaki assents to it. LSK chairman Okong'o O'Mogeni said the basis of their challenge would be on a constitutional matter as the Bill, arguing that it was in conflict with other laws such as the Witness Protection Act.
Source – All Africa 7.8.07
http://allafrica.com/stories/200708061768.html
http://allafrica.com/stories/200708061768.html
11. Kosovo
OSCE Mission in Kosovo condemns unprofessional, irresponsible journalism by local daily - The OSCE Mission in Kosovo has observed a worrying development of increased unprofessional and irresponsible reporting by the daily Infopress. "On 9 March, Infopress published an article entitled "Squad in Gracanica" about the conflict in Kosovo together with a list of names of Kosovo Serbs from that village
Source – OSCE 7.8.07
http://www.osce.org/item/25872.html
http://www.osce.org/item/25872.html
12. Malaysia
Malaysia cracks down on bloggers - The Malaysian government has warned it could use tough anti-terrorism laws against bloggers who insult Islam or the country's king. The move comes as one of Malaysia's leading online commentators has been questioned by police following a complaint by the main governing party.
Source – BBC 25.7.07
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6915002.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6915002.stm
13. New Zealand
Appeal Court lifts ban on book alleging sex abuse - The Court of Appeal has lifted a ban on a book about a woman's allegations that she was sexually abused by a health professional. The book focuses on allegations by "W" against her therapist, "A", who she says sexually abused her during therapy. He was later found not guilty of the charges at a criminal trial.
Source – New Zealand Herald 7.8.07
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=134&objectid=10456145
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=134&objectid=10456145
14. Palestine
Hamas bans Palestinian TV from Gaza - The Islamist Hamas movement has banned Palestinian public television from making or broadcasting any programmes in Gaza, which has been under Hamas control since mid-June, an official said. ”
Source – Media Network Weblog 2.8.07
http://blogs.rnw.nl/medianetwork/?p=8535
15. Peru
Public Information of the Ministry of Justice is now accessible - The Press and Society Institute (IPYS) has achieved, in the way of an habeas data, that the Ministry of Justice reduces the costs of reproduction of the public documents in their possession considering that those were exceeding even the price of market. Since August 15 every copy has passed of costing 56 cents de Nuevo Sol, to 7 cents de Nuevo Sol adapting the procedure of access to information to the stipulations of the Peruvian FOI Act.
By means of this process (Exp. N º 9125-2006-HD-TC) IPYS has achieved to set as a valid jurisprudential criterion of reference to detect illegal costs of reproduction, if they exceed the value of market. The Constitutional Court has supported IPYS criterion, relying on a report of the Defensoría del Pueblo -Peruvian ombudsman- emitted to our request.
Source – IPYS
www.ipys.org
Former Supreme Court President sues journalist for defamation - On 14 August 2007, Trujillo’s Second Unipersonal Criminal Tribunal, in charge of Judge Carlos Merino Salazar, opened proceedings against journalist Luis Bahamonde, head of the Investigations Unit of the newspaper Correo in Trujillo, after accepting the suit filed against him in May by the former president of Perú’s Supreme Court, Walter Vásquez Bejarano, for defamation and slander.
The suit is the response to a series of investigations published by Correo during 2005 and 2006, in which the journalist accused Vásquez Bejarano – currently a member of the Supreme Court – of using his position to benefit those close to him in several trials.
Judge Merino requested that the journalist present the documents that confirm the published investigations.
Source – IPYS
www.ipys.org
16. Philippines
New anti-terror law challenged in court - More than 20 petitions have been filed before the Philippines Supreme Court questioning the constitutionality of a new anti-terror law that came into effect on 15 July, reports the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR). The Human Security Act includes provisions for phone tapping suspects and detaining them for three days without charge.
Source – IFEX 31.7.07
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/85222
Hamas bans Palestinian TV from Gaza - The Islamist Hamas movement has banned Palestinian public television from making or broadcasting any programmes in Gaza, which has been under Hamas control since mid-June, an official said. ”
Source – Media Network Weblog 2.8.07
http://blogs.rnw.nl/medianetwork/?p=8535
15. Peru
Public Information of the Ministry of Justice is now accessible - The Press and Society Institute (IPYS) has achieved, in the way of an habeas data, that the Ministry of Justice reduces the costs of reproduction of the public documents in their possession considering that those were exceeding even the price of market. Since August 15 every copy has passed of costing 56 cents de Nuevo Sol, to 7 cents de Nuevo Sol adapting the procedure of access to information to the stipulations of the Peruvian FOI Act.
By means of this process (Exp. N º 9125-2006-HD-TC) IPYS has achieved to set as a valid jurisprudential criterion of reference to detect illegal costs of reproduction, if they exceed the value of market. The Constitutional Court has supported IPYS criterion, relying on a report of the Defensoría del Pueblo -Peruvian ombudsman- emitted to our request.
Source – IPYS
www.ipys.org
Former Supreme Court President sues journalist for defamation - On 14 August 2007, Trujillo’s Second Unipersonal Criminal Tribunal, in charge of Judge Carlos Merino Salazar, opened proceedings against journalist Luis Bahamonde, head of the Investigations Unit of the newspaper Correo in Trujillo, after accepting the suit filed against him in May by the former president of Perú’s Supreme Court, Walter Vásquez Bejarano, for defamation and slander.
The suit is the response to a series of investigations published by Correo during 2005 and 2006, in which the journalist accused Vásquez Bejarano – currently a member of the Supreme Court – of using his position to benefit those close to him in several trials.
Judge Merino requested that the journalist present the documents that confirm the published investigations.
Source – IPYS
www.ipys.org
16. Philippines
New anti-terror law challenged in court - More than 20 petitions have been filed before the Philippines Supreme Court questioning the constitutionality of a new anti-terror law that came into effect on 15 July, reports the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR). The Human Security Act includes provisions for phone tapping suspects and detaining them for three days without charge.
Source – IFEX 31.7.07
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/85222
17. Poland
Poland's continuing prosecution of journalists violates international standards, says OSCE media freedom watchdog - The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Miklos Haraszti, has condemned the sentencing of Gazeta Wyborcza journalist Jacek Brzuszkiewicz, and urged Poland to decriminalize press offences.
Source – OSCE 6.7.07
http://www.osce.org/item/25867.html
Source – OSCE 6.7.07
http://www.osce.org/item/25867.html
18. Russia
OSCE media freedom representative asks Russian authorities to review extremism laws restricting free reporting - The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Miklós Haraszti, asked the Russian authorities today to re-examine the legal framework on extremism, especially the parts that touch upon the media's right to report on controversial issues.
Source – OSCE 27.7.07
http://www.osce.org/item/25791.html
Putin signs in Draconian anti-extremism measures - Russian President Vladimir Putin has hastily passed into law legislation to combat "extremism" the effect of which will be to muzzle critical voices, several IFEX members say. The package of amendments expands the definition of extremism to include public discussion of such activity, and gives the authorities the power to
suspend media outlets that do not comply with the new restrictions.
Source – IFEX 31.7.07
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/85225/
19. Saudi Arabia
Saudi media discuss creation of second MSI - group of media personnel gathered here this week to discuss the state of the media in the Kingdom. This nongovernmental effort by media people in Saudi Arabia, along with the US-based international organization IREX, aimed at creating the second so-called Media Sustainability Index, or MSI, for Saudi Arabia.
Source – Arab News 27.7.07
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=98981&d=27&m=7&y=2007&pix=kingdom.jpg&category=Kingdom
Saudi media discuss creation of second MSI - group of media personnel gathered here this week to discuss the state of the media in the Kingdom. This nongovernmental effort by media people in Saudi Arabia, along with the US-based international organization IREX, aimed at creating the second so-called Media Sustainability Index, or MSI, for Saudi Arabia.
Source – Arab News 27.7.07
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=98981&d=27&m=7&y=2007&pix=kingdom.jpg&category=Kingdom
20. Serbia
OSCE condemns publishing of mutilated body photos, calls for application of ethics code - The Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia, Ambassador Hans Ola Urstad, called on Serbian media today to show respect for the deceased and their families when reporting on victims of tragic events.
Source – OSCE 23.8.07
http://www.osce.org/item/25975.html
21. Singapore
OSCE condemns publishing of mutilated body photos, calls for application of ethics code - The Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia, Ambassador Hans Ola Urstad, called on Serbian media today to show respect for the deceased and their families when reporting on victims of tragic events.
Source – OSCE 23.8.07
http://www.osce.org/item/25975.html
21. Singapore
"No political films, please, we're Singaporeans" - is the blog of Martyn See,
a Singaporean videographer who spent 15 months under police investigation
for making "Singapore Rebel", a short film on leader of the opposition
Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) Chee Soon Juan. Not surprisingly, the film
was banned in Singapore, but See's words live on through his blog,
Source - Google Blog Alert
http://singaporerebel.blogspot.com/
a Singaporean videographer who spent 15 months under police investigation
for making "Singapore Rebel", a short film on leader of the opposition
Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) Chee Soon Juan. Not surprisingly, the film
was banned in Singapore, but See's words live on through his blog,
Source - Google Blog Alert
http://singaporerebel.blogspot.com/
22. Somalia
New media law to be discussed in Parliament - The new media law issued by the transitional government has been put forward on Thursday before the parliament based in Baidoa, 250km northwest of the Somalia capital Mogadishu to discuss it and consider its adoption.
Source – Somali Net 17.8.07
http://somalinet.com/news/world/Somalia/12361
New media law to be discussed in Parliament - The new media law issued by the transitional government has been put forward on Thursday before the parliament based in Baidoa, 250km northwest of the Somalia capital Mogadishu to discuss it and consider its adoption.
Source – Somali Net 17.8.07
http://somalinet.com/news/world/Somalia/12361
23. Spain
No death in the afternoon: state TV axes bullfights - Spanish broadcaster says coverage not possible at children's viewing timesGiles Tremlett in Madrid Tuesday August 21, 2007. GuardianIt was once, along with football matches featuring Real Madrid, the lifeblood of Spain's public television. In the late afternoon bars with television sets would fill up, families would settle down together in their living rooms, and the country's most famous television presenter would appear on the screen to announce the day's star attraction - the bullfight.
Source – The Guardian 21.8.07
http://www.guardian.co.uk/spain/article/0,,2152994,00.html
24. Thailand
Thailand lifts YouTube ban put in place after 'insulting' video of king - The Thai government said Friday that it has lifted a five-month ban on the popular video-sharing website YouTube, now owned by Google after YouTube's site operator agreed to prohibit offensive videos from appearing on the site.
Source – Jurist 31.8.07
http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2007/08/thailand-lifts-youtube-ban-put-in-place.php
No death in the afternoon: state TV axes bullfights - Spanish broadcaster says coverage not possible at children's viewing timesGiles Tremlett in Madrid Tuesday August 21, 2007. GuardianIt was once, along with football matches featuring Real Madrid, the lifeblood of Spain's public television. In the late afternoon bars with television sets would fill up, families would settle down together in their living rooms, and the country's most famous television presenter would appear on the screen to announce the day's star attraction - the bullfight.
Source – The Guardian 21.8.07
http://www.guardian.co.uk/spain/article/0,,2152994,00.html
24. Thailand
Thailand lifts YouTube ban put in place after 'insulting' video of king - The Thai government said Friday that it has lifted a five-month ban on the popular video-sharing website YouTube, now owned by Google after YouTube's site operator agreed to prohibit offensive videos from appearing on the site.
Source – Jurist 31.8.07
http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2007/08/thailand-lifts-youtube-ban-put-in-place.php
25. Turkey
Various journalists detained, released, on trial for allegedly insulting authorities in articles - Two journalists of "Söz" TV and newspaper in Diyarbakir, in south-eastern Turkey, have been put on trial on charges of insulting local authorities in print. In a separate case, the director of the local newspaper "Emirdag" in Afyonkarahisar, in central Anatolia, is being tried for insulting an officer on duty.
Source – IFEX
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/85566
Various journalists detained, released, on trial for allegedly insulting authorities in articles - Two journalists of "Söz" TV and newspaper in Diyarbakir, in south-eastern Turkey, have been put on trial on charges of insulting local authorities in print. In a separate case, the director of the local newspaper "Emirdag" in Afyonkarahisar, in central Anatolia, is being tried for insulting an officer on duty.
Source – IFEX
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/85566
Supreme Court affirms earlier court decision to drop case against writer Orhan Pamuk for "degrading Turkishness" - The Supreme Court of Appeals has affirmed the decision of the Sisli 2nd Penal Court to drop the case against writer Orhan Pamuk. Pamuk was prosecuted at the Sisli 2nd Penal Court for "degrading Turkishness" (Article 301), over an interview given to the Swiss weekly "Das Magazin" in February 2005, in which he said, "One million Armenians and 30,000 Kurds have been killed on this soil."
Source – IFEX 7.8.07
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/85445/
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/85445/
26. UK
Dispatches footage will be given to police - The high court today ordered Channel 4 to hand over untransmitted footage from its controversial Dispatches documentary Britain Under Attack to police. The Metropolitan police asked for the court order after Channel 4 refused to voluntarily hand over the footage and research materials.
Source – The Guardian 21.8.07
http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcast/story/0,,2153366,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=4
Dispatches footage will be given to police - The high court today ordered Channel 4 to hand over untransmitted footage from its controversial Dispatches documentary Britain Under Attack to police. The Metropolitan police asked for the court order after Channel 4 refused to voluntarily hand over the footage and research materials.
Source – The Guardian 21.8.07
http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcast/story/0,,2153366,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=4
MoD to impose gagging order on blogs written by army personnel - The Ministry of Defence has imposed a ban on members of the armed forces using modern technology to communicate about their experiences. Soldiers, sailors and other members of the armed forces will be barred from blogging, which has taken off in army circles in recent years and in some cases led to investigations, including on practices in Iraq.
Source – The Independent
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article2851504.ece#2007-08-10T01:32:00-00:00
Source – The Independent
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article2851504.ece#2007-08-10T01:32:00-00:00
Press Complaints Commission issues video ruling - The Press Complaints Commission (PCC) has made its first ruling on the use of video footage by a newspaper. The ruling comes after the John Ogilvie High School's Parent Teacher Association lodged a complaint over video of an unruly maths class that was posted on the website of the Hamilton Advertiser.
Source – VNUNET 15.8.07
http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2196705/pcc-makes-first-video-ruling
See also - http://www.pcc.org.uk/cases/adjudicated.html?article=NDY2MA
http://www.pcc.org.uk/cases/adjudicated.html?article=NDY2MQ==
http://www.pcc.org.uk/cases/adjudicated.html?article=NDY2Mg==
http://www.pcc.org.uk/news/index.html?article=NDMyMg==
http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2196705/pcc-makes-first-video-ruling
See also - http://www.pcc.org.uk/cases/adjudicated.html?article=NDY2MA
http://www.pcc.org.uk/cases/adjudicated.html?article=NDY2MQ==
http://www.pcc.org.uk/cases/adjudicated.html?article=NDY2Mg==
http://www.pcc.org.uk/news/index.html?article=NDMyMg==
Harry Potter author JK Rowling loses kid-pic privacy bid - Harry Potter author JK Rowling today failed in a legal bid to ban publication of a photograph of one of her children which was taken in the street. The picture, showing Rowling and her husband with son David in a buggy, was taken by a photographer using a long-range lens and appeared in the Sunday Express magazine to illustrate an article about her approach to motherhood and family life.
Source – Press Gazette 7.8.07
http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=38408&c=1
Web child fight videos criticised - Police chiefs have urged websites to remove violent video footage of children fighting, following an investigation by the BBC. Panorama found that films showing brutal fights between children are regularly uploaded to sharing websites.
Source – BBC 29.7.07
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6920817.stm
http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=38408&c=1
Web child fight videos criticised - Police chiefs have urged websites to remove violent video footage of children fighting, following an investigation by the BBC. Panorama found that films showing brutal fights between children are regularly uploaded to sharing websites.
Source – BBC 29.7.07
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6920817.stm
Legal victory for press in battle over secret Bush memo - Media organisations scored a partial victory today in a court claim that they should be free to publish the contents of a confidential memo detailing talks between George Bush and Tony Blair which was at the centre of an Official Secrets Act trial at the Old Bailey.
Source – Press Gazette 31.7.07
http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=38378&c=1
http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=38378&c=1
Cambridge U. Press Seeks to Destroy All Copies of Book on Terrorism to Settle Libel Lawsuit by Saudi Businessman - Cambridge University Press announced this week that it would pulp all unsold copies of the 2006 book Alms for Jihad: Charity and Terrorism in the Islamic World, in response to a libel claim filed in England by Khalid bin Mahfouz, a Saudi banker.
Source – The Chronicle of Higher Education 1.8.07
http://chronicle.com/temp/reprint.php?id=tyybws69sk7jkhqtyj2phvr1bq9rtfwm
Source – The Chronicle of Higher Education 1.8.07
http://chronicle.com/temp/reprint.php?id=tyybws69sk7jkhqtyj2phvr1bq9rtfwm
27. US
Man convicted for posting nude MySpace photo - A Florida teen who posted a nude photo of his younger ex-girlfriend on her MySpace page was sentenced to 30 days in jail.
Anthony D. Rich, 19, was 17 when he posted the photo on the social networking Web site after he and his then 15-year-old girlfriend broke up.
Source – MSN 30.8.07
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20514201/
Pa. Court: Viewing Child Porn on Computer Enough for Possession - The Pennsylvania Superior Court isn't buying the argument that a man who viewed child pornography on his computer, but didn't save the images, couldn't be charged with possession of child pornography.
Source – Law.com 24.8.07
http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1187859734533
CNET reporters sue HP for invasion of privacy - The fallout from Hewlett-Packard's boardroom leak scandal continued Wednesday as three CNET News.com reporters sued the computer maker, alleging that its investigation tactics amounted to an invasion of privacy and a violation of state rules on business practices.
Source – CNET 15.8.07
http://news.com.com/CNET+reporters+sue+HP+for+invasion+of+privacy/2100-1014_3-6202836.html?tag=nl.e496
Man convicted for posting nude MySpace photo - A Florida teen who posted a nude photo of his younger ex-girlfriend on her MySpace page was sentenced to 30 days in jail.
Anthony D. Rich, 19, was 17 when he posted the photo on the social networking Web site after he and his then 15-year-old girlfriend broke up.
Source – MSN 30.8.07
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20514201/
Pa. Court: Viewing Child Porn on Computer Enough for Possession - The Pennsylvania Superior Court isn't buying the argument that a man who viewed child pornography on his computer, but didn't save the images, couldn't be charged with possession of child pornography.
Source – Law.com 24.8.07
http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1187859734533
CNET reporters sue HP for invasion of privacy - The fallout from Hewlett-Packard's boardroom leak scandal continued Wednesday as three CNET News.com reporters sued the computer maker, alleging that its investigation tactics amounted to an invasion of privacy and a violation of state rules on business practices.
Source – CNET 15.8.07
http://news.com.com/CNET+reporters+sue+HP+for+invasion+of+privacy/2100-1014_3-6202836.html?tag=nl.e496
EFF Preserves Your Rights: Patriotism At Its Finest – At a packed San Francisco hearing today, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) defended your Fourth Amendment rights and urged the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to let our class-action
lawsuit against AT&T go forward.
lawsuit against AT&T go forward.
Source – Evol’s Blog
http://www.theimagelab.com/blog/
http://www.theimagelab.com/blog/
Federal judge issues permanent injunction against California violent video game law - US District Court Judge Ronald Whyte issued a permanent injunction Monday against a 2005 California law restricting the sale or rental of violent video games to minors, agreeing with the Video Software Dealers Association and the Entertainment Software Association that the law was an unconstitutional infringement on the industry's First Amendment free speech rights.
Source – Jurist 7.8.07
http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2007/08/federal-judge-issues-permanent.php
House Judiciary Committee approves journalist shield law - The US House Judiciary Committee approved new legislation on Wednesday shielding reporters from being compelled to disclose confidential sources. Under the bill, journalists could not be forced by prosecutors to reveal their informants unless a court determined that the public interest in disclosure outweighed the public interest in news gathering.
Source – Jurist 2.8.07
http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2007/08/house-judiciary-committee-approves.php
Daily Sound Ordered to Surrender Photos - The Santa Barbara Daily Sound will face contempt-of-court charges if the newspaper refuses to turn over unpublished photographs taken in the aftermath of this spring’s fatal gang melee in front of Saks Fifth Avenue in downtown Santa Barbara. The photos were subpoenaed by Public Defender Karen Atkins to help the defense of her client, 14-year-old Ricardo Juarez, who is accused of murdering 15-year-old Luis Angel Linares.
Source – Santa Barbara Daily Sound 2.8.07
http://www.independent.com/news/2007/aug/02/emdaily-soundem-ordered-surrender-photos/
House panel approves legal shield for bloggers – congressional panel on Wednesday voted, against the Bush administration's wishes, to shield journalists including advertising-supported bloggers from having to reveal their confidential sources in many situations.
Source – Jurist 7.8.07
http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2007/08/federal-judge-issues-permanent.php
House Judiciary Committee approves journalist shield law - The US House Judiciary Committee approved new legislation on Wednesday shielding reporters from being compelled to disclose confidential sources. Under the bill, journalists could not be forced by prosecutors to reveal their informants unless a court determined that the public interest in disclosure outweighed the public interest in news gathering.
Source – Jurist 2.8.07
http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2007/08/house-judiciary-committee-approves.php
Daily Sound Ordered to Surrender Photos - The Santa Barbara Daily Sound will face contempt-of-court charges if the newspaper refuses to turn over unpublished photographs taken in the aftermath of this spring’s fatal gang melee in front of Saks Fifth Avenue in downtown Santa Barbara. The photos were subpoenaed by Public Defender Karen Atkins to help the defense of her client, 14-year-old Ricardo Juarez, who is accused of murdering 15-year-old Luis Angel Linares.
Source – Santa Barbara Daily Sound 2.8.07
http://www.independent.com/news/2007/aug/02/emdaily-soundem-ordered-surrender-photos/
House panel approves legal shield for bloggers – congressional panel on Wednesday voted, against the Bush administration's wishes, to shield journalists including advertising-supported bloggers from having to reveal their confidential sources in many situations.
Source – CNET 2.8.07
http://news.com.com/2100-1028_3-6200188.html
Second Life's Virtual Gamblers Told to Fold - All bets are off in Second Life this week. The casinos of the virtual world have closed shop after a decision by its founders to forbid gambling in their online society. "Because there are a variety of conflicting gambling regulations around the world we have chosen to restrict gambling in Second Life."
Source – Washington Post 1.8.07
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/31/AR2007073101693.html
Music body joins YouTube battle – A major US music industry body has joined other businesses in seeking to sue video-sharing website YouTube. The National Musical Publishers' Association says some songwriters are not being properly compensated when their music appears on the site.
Source – BBC 7.8.07
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6935168.stm
Bush urges Congress to update surveillance law - US President George W. Bush said Saturday in his weekly radio address that he wants to modernize the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) [text; JURIST news archive] to meet threats from terrorists who can now use cell phones and the Internet to communicate. Bush urged Congress to pass new legislation, saying:
Source – Jurist 29.7.07
http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2007/07/bush-urges-congress-to-update.php
Google to filter copyright videos by September – YouTube will launch a system in September designed to prevent pirated material from going up on the site, a Google lawyer said in court on Friday. Google plans to generate a library of digital video fingerprints that would be used by a computer system to screen clips being uploaded to YouTube
Source – CNET 27.7.07
http://news.com.com/8301-10784_3-9751232-7.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1023_3-0-5
http://news.com.com/2100-1028_3-6200188.html
Second Life's Virtual Gamblers Told to Fold - All bets are off in Second Life this week. The casinos of the virtual world have closed shop after a decision by its founders to forbid gambling in their online society. "Because there are a variety of conflicting gambling regulations around the world we have chosen to restrict gambling in Second Life."
Source – Washington Post 1.8.07
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/31/AR2007073101693.html
Music body joins YouTube battle – A major US music industry body has joined other businesses in seeking to sue video-sharing website YouTube. The National Musical Publishers' Association says some songwriters are not being properly compensated when their music appears on the site.
Source – BBC 7.8.07
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6935168.stm
Bush urges Congress to update surveillance law - US President George W. Bush said Saturday in his weekly radio address that he wants to modernize the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) [text; JURIST news archive] to meet threats from terrorists who can now use cell phones and the Internet to communicate. Bush urged Congress to pass new legislation, saying:
Source – Jurist 29.7.07
http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2007/07/bush-urges-congress-to-update.php
Google to filter copyright videos by September – YouTube will launch a system in September designed to prevent pirated material from going up on the site, a Google lawyer said in court on Friday. Google plans to generate a library of digital video fingerprints that would be used by a computer system to screen clips being uploaded to YouTube
Source – CNET 27.7.07
http://news.com.com/8301-10784_3-9751232-7.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1023_3-0-5
28. Venezuela
Venezuela's RCTV Defies Government, Supreme Court Allows Broadcast - Venezuelan private television channel RCTV barely avoided being taken off of cable TV today, when the country’s Supreme Court granted an injunction that allows its continued broadcast, despite RCTV's defiance of a government ultimatum for the channel to register itself as a national broadcaster.
Source – Venezuela Analysis 1.8.07
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news.php?newsno=2370
Venezuela's RCTV Defies Government, Supreme Court Allows Broadcast - Venezuelan private television channel RCTV barely avoided being taken off of cable TV today, when the country’s Supreme Court granted an injunction that allows its continued broadcast, despite RCTV's defiance of a government ultimatum for the channel to register itself as a national broadcaster.
Source – Venezuela Analysis 1.8.07
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news.php?newsno=2370
Telecomm commission: Venezuela's RCTV must follow Venezuelan law - Venezuela’s Telecommunications Commission stated this week that the private TV channel RCTV must continue to follow Venezuelan media regulations, even though its new headquarters are in Miami.
Source – Venezuela Analysis 25.7.07
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news.php?newsno=2362
29. Yemen
MWF meets to propose amendments to press laws - The Media Women Forum has announced plans to hold the second meeting of the Media Law Working Group on Sunday, August 19-20, 2007, to discuss proposals, priorities and means to reform Yemen’s press law. The meeting will examine the legal aspects of reforming the press law, and figure out how the most effective reforms can be made.
Source – Venezuela Analysis 25.7.07
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news.php?newsno=2362
29. Yemen
MWF meets to propose amendments to press laws - The Media Women Forum has announced plans to hold the second meeting of the Media Law Working Group on Sunday, August 19-20, 2007, to discuss proposals, priorities and means to reform Yemen’s press law. The meeting will examine the legal aspects of reforming the press law, and figure out how the most effective reforms can be made.
Source – Yemen Observer 18.8.07
http://www.yobserver.com/local-news/10012779.html
http://www.yobserver.com/local-news/10012779.html
MWF meets to propose amendments to press laws - The Media Women Forum has announced plans to hold the second meeting of the Media Law Working Group on Sunday, August 19-20, 2007, to discuss proposals, priorities and means to reform Yemen’s press law. The meeting will examine the legal aspects of reforming the press law, and figure out how the most effective reforms can be made.
Source – Yemen Observer 18.8.07
http://www.yobserver.com/local-news/10012779.html
Source – Yemen Observer 18.8.07
http://www.yobserver.com/local-news/10012779.html
Restrictions to freedom of expression in the name of the fight against terrorism - The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) wishes to convey its concern about the multiplication of assaults on freedom of the press throughout Yemen. A recent series of condemnation and trials appear to form part of an orchestrated clamping down on freedom of expression and opinion, under cover of the protection of the "national security".
Source – FIDH 29.7.07
http://www.fidh.org/article.php3?id_article=4521
http://www.fidh.org/article.php3?id_article=4521
30. Various/Useful Links
a) Human Rights Fellows Program for Angola and Mozambique
http://www.justiceinitiative.org/about/positions?preprint=1
b) Open Society Transparency and silence available in Spanish
http://www.justiceinitiative.org/db/resource2?res_id=103818
c) Ethics and human rights in information society
http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID=24772&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html
d) DENMARK: Decision regarding complaint from the Radio and Television Supreme Council
http://www.roj.tv/index/Press/roj_tv_afgoerelse_engelsk.pdf
a) Human Rights Fellows Program for Angola and Mozambique
http://www.justiceinitiative.org/about/positions?preprint=1
b) Open Society Transparency and silence available in Spanish
http://www.justiceinitiative.org/db/resource2?res_id=103818
c) Ethics and human rights in information society
http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID=24772&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html
d) DENMARK: Decision regarding complaint from the Radio and Television Supreme Council
http://www.roj.tv/index/Press/roj_tv_afgoerelse_engelsk.pdf
7. Various/Useful Links
a) Justice Initiative - Human Rights Fellows Program for Angola and Mozambique (2008-2010 Session)http://www.justiceinitiative.org/db/resource2?res_id=103833
b) Broadcasting legislation resourcehttp://www.epra.org/content/english/authorities/medialegislation.html
c) Decision regarding complaint from the Television and Radio Supreme Council http://www.roj.tv/index/Press/roj_tv_afgoerelse_engelsk.pdf
d) In re St Peter and St Paul, Chingford
Arches Court of Canterbury: Cameron QC, Dean of the Arches, Kaye QC and Tattersall QC Chh: 14 August 2007
In carrying out the balancing exercise necessary in considering whether or not to grant a faculty for the installation of telecommunications equipment it was necessary to differentiate between the effect of the installation of equipment on children and the effect on adults. Mobile phone operators had to ensure a reasonable response to countering the risk to children from pornography over the mobile phone network. In respect of the risk to adults, to bar something which would be of benefit to the public generally because there was a risk that some adults would be able to privately access material which many Christians and others deplored was to take an unbalance approach.
The Arches Court of Canterbury so held in a reserved judgment, allowing the appeal by the petitioners, QS4 Ltd and the rector and churchwardens of the parish of St Peter and St Paul Chingford (Reverend Tom Page, Ted Cooke and Gordon Hughes), against the decision of Pulman QC Ch given in October 2006 in the Chelmsford Consistory Court to refuse a faculty for the installation of a mobile telephone base station and antennae in the parish church tower to be operated by a single mobile phone company, T-Mobile, for the purposes of their 3G network coverage. Stephen Turner, a resident of the parish, was the party opponent to the petition. The chancellor had refused the faculty on the grounds that some of the material to be transmitted through the antennae was not consistent with the use of the church as a place of Christian worship and that it was no part of the work or the mission of the church to facilitate the transmission of pornography whether from the
internet or privately created, whether lawful or unlawful.
CAMERON QC, Dean of the Arches, giving the judgment of the court, said that the task of the chancellor was to conduct a balancing exercise taking into account all relevant factors, bearing in mind that the church had to be treated in a reverent and seemly manner consistent with its use as a place of worship. A cautious approach needed to be adopted in permitting something which might reflect adversely on the Church and such safeguards as were reasonable and proper had to be put in place. The chancellor, in reaching his decision, had not heard evidence on the filtering techniques available to prevent unlawful and inappropriate transmission of material by mobile telephone and had not therefore taken into account all the relevant factors in reaching his decision and it had therefore been appropriate for the Arches Court to hear expert evidence, examine further documentation and consider whether a faculty should be granted. In balancing the relevant factors
it was necessary to note that the 3G technology was different from the 2G technology in that it enabled fast access to the internet and so the case law which dealt with 2G mobile phones was not of particular assistance in relation to a petition for a faculty in relation to the use of 3G mobile phones. In relation to the application it was necessary to differentiate between the effect of the installation of equipment on children and the effect on adults. The major consideration was the risk to children from using a mobile phone to access pornography on the internet. The mobile phone operators had introduced filtering techniques for those under 18 and there was continuous monitoring of websites by the Internet Watch Foundation. Those steps were a reasonable and welcome public response to counter the risk to children. Furthermore it was incumbent on parents and teachers to educate children in the use of the internet; a cautious parent could place a block
on the use of the internet on their child's mobile phone. As far as adults were concerned the risk was that some adults benefitting from the improved transmission in the Chingford area might somewhere use a mobile phone to access pornography which was not classed as unlawful by the criminal law. To bar something which would be of benefit to the public generally because there was a risk that some would be able privately to access material which many Christians and others deplored, was to take an unbalanced approach. The appeal would therefore be allowed and a faculty granted subject to conditions.
Appearances: Charles George QC and Philip Petchey (Lee Bolton & Lee) for the petitioners; the party opponent in person; Mark Bishop (Winckworth Sherwood) as a friend of the court.
e) Shell Fellowship at PCMLP: closing date for applications Friday 31 August 2007
f) Press Complaints Commission - Strathspey & Badenoch Herald Casehttp://www.pcc.org.uk/cases/adjudicated.html?article=NDY1Nw==?oxid=2e93599ec361d21a789edb6ed57d14b1
g) UNESCO Report - New Media : The Press Freedom Dimension http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0015/001520/152017e.pdf
h) OSCE- ODIHR: Implementation Conferencehttp://www.osce.org/conferences/hdim_2007.html
i) Submit Comments to ICANN about New gTLDs
http://www.keep-the-core-neutral.org/action1
j) OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting in Warsaw 24.9.07 – 5.10.07http://www.osce.org/documents/html/pdftohtml/25845_en.pdf.html
k) The informal Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) seminar on Human Rights aims to promote better mutual understanding and co-operation between the countries of Asia and Europe in the area of political dialogue, particularly on human rights issues, between government officials, academics and civil society participants of the 43 ASEM countries.
The Informal Seminar on Human Rights was launched in 1998 and has since provided governments and civil society organisations an arena for non-confrontational debate on human rights issues.
This September, 104 representatives from Asian and European governments and civil society organisations will convene in Siem Reap, Cambodia for the 8th Informal ASEM Seminar on Human Rights, to discuss issues on “Freedom of Expression”We would like to encourage IMLA members to submit materials to incorporate in the weekly newsletter.
The series of Informal ASEM Seminars on Human Rights are co-organised by Asia-Europe Foundation, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Sweden.
Visit the website at http://www.asef.org/index.php?option=com_project&task=view&id=1047.
l) Shell Fellowship at PCMLP – deadline for applications 31 August 2007. See http://www.csls.ox.ac.uk/vacancies.shtml
m) For comments: Nepal, right to information draft bill, see http://www.internationalmedialawyers.org/cgi-bin/blog/blosxom.cgi#rti_nepal.html
http://www.keep-the-core-neutral.org/action1
j) OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting in Warsaw 24.9.07 – 5.10.07http://www.osce.org/documents/html/pdftohtml/25845_en.pdf.html
k) The informal Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) seminar on Human Rights aims to promote better mutual understanding and co-operation between the countries of Asia and Europe in the area of political dialogue, particularly on human rights issues, between government officials, academics and civil society participants of the 43 ASEM countries.
The Informal Seminar on Human Rights was launched in 1998 and has since provided governments and civil society organisations an arena for non-confrontational debate on human rights issues.
This September, 104 representatives from Asian and European governments and civil society organisations will convene in Siem Reap, Cambodia for the 8th Informal ASEM Seminar on Human Rights, to discuss issues on “Freedom of Expression”We would like to encourage IMLA members to submit materials to incorporate in the weekly newsletter.
The series of Informal ASEM Seminars on Human Rights are co-organised by Asia-Europe Foundation, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Sweden.
Visit the website at http://www.asef.org/index.php?option=com_project&task=view&id=1047.
l) Shell Fellowship at PCMLP – deadline for applications 31 August 2007. See http://www.csls.ox.ac.uk/vacancies.shtml
m) For comments: Nepal, right to information draft bill, see http://www.internationalmedialawyers.org/cgi-bin/blog/blosxom.cgi#rti_nepal.html
n) URGENT MEDIA LAW AND REGULATION EXPERT NEEDED FOR PARTICIPATION IN SEMINAR IN SYRIA IN SEPTEMBER 2007
Contact Gerd Greune, Director of IFIAS, re. the Syria Project by IFIAS http://www.ifias.net/ If you contact IFIAS please mention that you saw this on the IMLA newsletter.
Contact Gerd Greune, Director of IFIAS, re. the Syria Project by IFIAS http://www.ifias.net/ If you contact IFIAS please mention that you saw this on the IMLA newsletter.
o) House of Lords Select Committee report on the Chairmanship of the BBChttp://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200607/ldselect/ldcomuni/171/171.pdf
p) Hate speech and the Internet: When is censorship necessary?http://www.ijnet.org/Director.aspx?P=DiscussionArticle&ID=306568&LID=1
q) Freedom of Information Around the World 2006: A Global Survey of Access to Government Information Laws has been fully translated into Russian. http://www.privacyinternational.org/foi/foisurvey2006rus.pdf
The English version, an Arabic translation of the 2004 survey and an
updated version of the global map are also available at:
http://www.privacyinternational.org/foisurvey
http://www.lawreports.co.uk/WLRD/2007/HLPC/aug0.2.htm
http://www.lawreports.co.uk/WLRD/2007/HLPC/aug0.2.htm
http://www.lawreports.co.uk/WLRD/2007/HLPC/aug0.2.htm
r) New media: the press freedom dimension, challenges and opportunities of new media for press freedomhttp://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID=25143&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html
s) The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) seeks three programme officers http://www.mediaforfreedom.com/ReadArticle.asp?ArticleID=2990
t) European Human Rights Advocacy Centre (EHRAC) seeks lawyer for its Moscow office http://www.ocha.ru/index.php?m=31&op=view&id=2088&arc=1&_lang=rus&PHPSESSID=92a184f465cee5d284d961a4953082ad
u) The Shell Fellowship in Media Law and Policy at the University of Oxford: deadline for applications extended until 31 August 2007http://www.csls.ox.ac.uk/vacancies.shtml
v) VII International Human Rights Colloquium – Sao Paulo, Brazil 3-10 November 2007http://www.conectas.org/coloquio/home_en.html
w) Governing the Internet – OSCE Report http://www.osce.org/publications/rfm/2007/07/25667_918_en.pdf
x) Vacancy - The Shell Fellowship in Media Law and Policy at PCMLP, University of Oxford – deadline Friday 10 August 2007http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/ps/oao/arrs/arrs674j.shtml
Posted: Aug 31 2007, 16:42 (/newsletter_August_2007) [ Return to top ]
Synchronicity
