Latest posts by Bhumika Ghimire
India's Information Technology Rules 2011 Has Many Fuming
Is India following China's lead when it comes to user generated content online? Many will answer yes, following newly released Information Technology Rules 2011. The Economic Times reports that the rules are “…evoking the ire of internet community in India and chiefly from the largest search engine firm Google, which...
Nepal: Facebooking Revolt and Censorship
Arab spring has brought winds of change into Nepal. On Saturday, May 7, group of young people gathered near Maitighar area of capital Kathmandu demanding speedy resolution to the current deadlocke caused by delay in formulating new constitution. Inspired by a Facebook page Show up, Stand up, Speak up, they conducted peaceful protest and...
Azerbaijan Deports Swedish Television Crew
The Commitee to Protect Journalists reports that Azerbaijan has deported a Swedish television crew which had arrived to film a documentary on human rights situation in the country. “According to CPJ sources and local press reports, plainclothed men detained journalists My Rohwedder Street, Charlie Laprevote, and Charlotta Wijkström at a protest...
Bahrain: Pro-Government Activists are Blogging too
Demands for change in Bahrain and recent incidents of violence against those demanding reform is being chronicled by number of bloggers. They present struggle within the country and also how external forces are influencing events. Adding another dimension to the discussion, pro-government and pro-establishment bloggers are also making their side heard online. Suhail...
Middle East Feels Threatened by Bloggers
Such has been the role of bloggers and citizen journalists in fueling the region's season of fury against dictatorship, they are being seen as a threat to status quo. Now a campaign of arrest, intimidation and harassment is being launched against them. In Bahrain, cyber activists and bloggers are facing...
Liberal Jewish Blogger Under Attack
Richard Silverstein, a liberal Jewish blogger, has come under attack from right wing nationalists and religious hard liners. In his blog Tikun Olam, Silverstein has posted a statement sent to his lawyer from David Yerushalmi-who accusing him of libel. “I am reluctantly forced to revisit the statements your client, Richard...
What is in name? A Lot Says Facebook
Facebook is now in the middle of scandal that has exposed the flimsiness of its no pseudonym policy. Andrea Petrou at Techeye.net says, “The complaint against the company comes from a well-known Chinese commentator – Michael Anti – who has accused it of insulting him by closing his account. He hasn't been reported...
Is Urging Suicide Free Speech?
A developing case in Minnesota raises serious questions on what free speech. According to Emily Gurnon at Pioneer Press, “Former nurse William Melchert-Dinkel, 48, of Faribault has been charged with two felony counts of encouraging, advising or assisting another in committing suicide. After oral arguments Thursday morning, Rice County District...
Saudi women demand their rights, on Twitter
It is season for change in the Middle East and Arab world and Saudi women don't want to be left behind. They are now taking their demand for equality online-at Twitter, Facebook, on forums and blogs. Deborah Amos at Georgia Public Broadcasting reports that recent events have stirred political passions...
Advocacy Recap: Part II
Last week, we looked back at the US government's handling of G20 summit protesters and pro-democracy bloggers in Vietnam facing persecution. Now let us talk about the Purdue University Professor who faced intense criticism for his views on homosexuality and Turkey's YouTube ban. Professor Bert Chapman, a Government Information and Political...
Advocacy Recap
After blogging about free speech issues and dangers faced by bloggers and reporters in various parts of the world, I think it would be nice to look back and check on them. On October 20, 2009; I discussed about how the city of Pittsburg-hosting G20 summit, harassed protesting activists and even tried...
Malaysia too wants to monitor the bloggers
Following Saudi Arabia's decision to closely monitor bloggers and online news sites, Malaysia is proposing guidelines to reign in the blogosphere. The Malay Mail said on January 27,2011, Yesterday, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz announced the drawing up of new guidelines, which are to be...
Campus Free Speech: University of Massachusetts’ Policy Criticized
Free speech issue is a hot button issue on campuses in the United States, and a post at Huffington Post has re-ignited the debate once again. In 2009, we talked about Butler University and its handling of criticism by a student blogger Jess Zimmerman. Now it is about a policy...
Saudi policy on blogging criticized
Saudi Arabia has for long faced criticism and scrutiny for not allowing the country's press and the people to express themselves without any fear of reprisal. The criticism is sure to get louder now that the government has decided to require bloggers and e-news sites to obtain a license before...
Taiwan restricting the press?
Reports suggest Taiwan is restricting the press and Freedom House has downgraded the island nation in its annual global free press report. According to The Christian Science Monitor, “Freedom of speech and press are among the most lauded achievements of Taiwan’s democratic transition since martial law was lifted more than two decades...
Hungary introduces press censorship
Press censorship is a common occurrence in many parts of the world, but one does not associate a democratic nation in middle of Europe to go this route. Well, Hungary wants to change that. According to The Raw Story, “Hungary's recently elected right-wing government has introduced a law demanding —...
First Amendment and cyber bullying
In schools across America, cyber bullying is a growing problem. The case of a Missouri teenager who committed suicide after being bullied online has brought the problem into national debate. Lori Drew, a mother, along with her daughter and an employee created a hoax MySpace profile and harassed Megan Meier....
2009 a bad year for bloggers and freelance journalists
Freelance journalists and bloggers did not have a good year in 2009. According to Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) ” At least 60 freelance journalists are behind bars worldwide, nearly double the number from just three years ago. CPJ research shows the number of jailed freelancers has grown along with...
United States: Justice Department's illegal “fishing expedition”
Philadelphia-based Indymedia.us was sent a subpoena by the Justice Department, demanding details of visitors on a certain day. Declan McCullagh at CBS News says that the Department also asked that the website not to disclose the existence of the subpoena. “The subpoena from U.S. Attorney Tim Morrison in Indianapolis demanded...
Purdue Professor facing criticism for his blog
After Butler University, another Indiana university is now embroiled in online free speech debate. This time it is a Purdue University Professor who is facing lot of criticism for his blog post-which he maintains on his own time and using his own resources, where he stated his views against homosexuality....