Web Of Restriction: China Will Now Require Internet Users To Register Real Names In Order To Stifle Free Speech

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2254142/China-forces-internet-browser-register-real-new-free-speech-crackdown.html China forces EVERY internet user to register their real name in new free speech crackdown New rules follow use of popular microblogs to expose official corruption Regulations could restrict access to Western sites By Daily Mail Reporter PUBLISHED: 06:27 EST, 28 December 2012 | UPDATED: 11:11 EST, 28 December 2012 The Chinese government launched […]

Tim Berners-Lee urges government to stop the snooping bill

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/apr/17/tim-berners-lee-monitoring-internet Exclusive: Extension of surveillance powers ‘a destruction of human rights’ Ian Katz guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 17 April 2012 16.34 EDT   Sir Tim Berners-Lee said that it was moves by governments to control or spy on the internet that ‘keep him up most at night’. Photograph: Sarah Lee for the Guardian The government’s controversial plans […]

Rise of Apple and Facebook is putting Internet freedom at risk, says Google co-founder

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2130338/Rise-Apple-Facebook-putting-Internet-freedom-risk-says-Google-founder.html By Daily Mail Reporter PUBLISHED: 22:26 EST, 15 April 2012 | UPDATED: 07:45 EST, 16 April 2012 The internet is facing its biggest ever threat, thanks in part of Facebook and Apple, the co-founder of Google has claimed. Sergey Brin said government attempts to control web access and the rise of the increasingly ‘restrictive’ […]

Government Surveillance Crackdown On Internet Goes Into Overdrive

http://www.infowars.com/government-sureillance-crackdown-on-internet-goes-into-overdrive/ Cyber bills legislate for mass surveillance; Former Cybersecurity Czar calls for Homeland Security data “customs inspections” Steve Watson Infowars.com April 5, 2012 In a New York Times editorial, former government cybersecurity czar Richard A. Clarke has called for the creation of customs checks on all data leaving and entering US cyberspace. Clarke makes the […]

Brazil first country to try and use Twitter’s new censorship policy to silence its citizens

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2099391/Brazil-country-use-Twitters-new-censorship-policy-silence-citizens.html By Rob Waugh Last updated at 3:41 PM on 10th February 2012 Brazil could become the first country to take Twitter up on its plan to censor Tweets at government request. The move has sparked alarm among privacy groups, who fear  governments will use the same policy to silence dissenting voices. The Brazilian government […]

Iran government cuts off internet access as hardline regime makes a stand

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2099549/Iran-government-cuts-internet-access-hardline-regime-makes-stand.html By John Hutchinson Last updated at 9:01 PM on 10th February 2012 Iran has demonstrated further evidence of its strict regime after the government cut internet links leaving millions without email and social networks. Interestingly, the shutdown comes at a time when inhabitants are preparing to celebrate the 33rd anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, […]

Twitter to restrict user content in some countries

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/27/us-twitter-idUSTRE80P28920120127 By Gerry Shih SAN FRANCISCO | Fri Jan 27, 2012 5:24am EST (Reuters) – Twitter announced Thursday that it would begin restricting Tweets in specific countries, renewing questions about how the social media platform will handle issues of free speech as it rapidly expands its global user base. Until now, Twitter had to remove […]

Wikipedia protest hits home: U.S. senators withdraw support for anti-piracy bills as 4.5 million sign petition

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2087673/Wikipedia-blackout-SOPA-protest-US-senators-withdraw-support-anti-piracy-bills.html Wikipedia back online at 5am today after 24 hour blackout 18 senators withdraw support for controversial bills Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg opposes censorship law And says internet is ‘powerful tool for creating open and connected world’ 7,000 sites across the net joined protest Founder Jimmy Wales calls the strike an ‘extraordinary action’ Hollywood movie […]

Americans Won’t Welcome Web-Piracy Crackdown: Joe Karaganis

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-19/americans-won-t-welcome-online-piracy-crackdown-joe-karaganis.html By Joe Karaganis Jan 18, 2012 7:37 PM ET This month, Congress is expected to move forward on controversial legislation, the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the House and the Protect Intellectual Property Act (PIPA) in the Senate, both aimed at halting online copyright infringement. The shorthand version of the controversy pits Hollywood […]

U.S. online piracy bill headed for major makeover

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/16/us-usa-internet-piracy-idUSTRE80F1Q320120116 By Sarah McBride Mon Jan 16, 2012 5:23pm EST (Reuters) – U.S. legislation aimed at curbing online piracy, which had appeared to be on a fast track for approval by Congress, appears likely to be scaled back or jettisoned entirely in the wake of critical comments over the weekend from the White House, people […]