Stories about News from August, 2009
United States:Google at the center of online free speech debate
Google is at the center of online free speech debate once again. The search engine giant is being sued by blogger Rosemary Port after they released her identity following a court order. Port criticized former model Lasuka Cohen in her blog-often using harsh words. A Manhattan Supreme Court Judge ordered...
Egyptian Government utilizes Electronic Media
Despite its attacks on online activists, especially on bloggers, in an attempt to combat utilizing electronic media for human rights and politics, the Egyptian government has begun using the same electronic tools, but for its own interests. Mr. Gamal Mubarak, son of current President Hosni Mubarak and the General Secretary...
Malaysia: Racism Rears Its Ugly Head – Or Is It Just Politics?
The state government of Perak in Malaysia mulls if it should “take action” against two bloggers who purportedly insulted the Perak royalty and the sanctity of Islam through their writings recently. The (new) Menteri Besar, or Chief Minister for the state, Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, was reported to have said that...
Egypt: Security Officers continuous confiscating Digital Devices
The Security Officers escalates their attacks on online activists, specifically bloggers. Today 08 August 2009, the Egyptian Blogger Wael Abbas was stopped while his coming back from Beirut, and confiscated his CDs, flash memories and camera memory cards. It should be mentioned that this is the second time for Abbas...
Malaysia: A Step Closer To Internet Censorship?
The Malaysian government is looking into the feasibility of installing an Internet filter to block “undesirable websites”, along the lines of the People's Republic of China's abandoned “Green Dam” software. The reason for this new move is so that racial harmony in multicultural Malaysia is maintained, according to news site...
United States: Online free speech debate
Should a school be able to curb a student's speech online because the content is available on campus? A case in the 3rd U.S Circuit Court of Appeals sets a precedent in protecting off-campus online speech of a student. According to ThinkFree “In 2005, while a high school senior in...
Moroccan blogger Hassan Barhon released
Moroccan blogger Hassan Barhon has been released on August 1st, 2009. He got a full royal pardon after spending 5 months in jail. Hassan Barhon was arrested on February 25th for exposing a corruption case involving the prosecutor-general for the king of Morocco at Tetouan’s court of appeals. He was...
Iran: A leading blogger's trial begins
Mohammad Ali Abtahi, a leading blogger and reformist politican, was arrested several weeks ago after the protest against the 12th of June presidential election erupted. Abtahi, is one of leading reformist politicians whose trial begins today in Tehran.
