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Iran Clamps Down on Internet Use

Stevie Converse — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 09:32:34 -0500

Full article: Guardian
Saeed Kamali Dehghan
Iran is clamping down heavily on Web users before parliamentary elections in March, with draconian rules on cybercafes and preparations to launch a national Internet. The moves have prompted fears among its online community that Iran intends to withdraw from the global Internet.

BART’s Interference in Subway Protests a Step in the Wrong Direction for Digital Freedoms

Stevie Converse — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 08:48:02 -0400

Full article: TechCrunch
Rip Empson
San Francisco's BART transit system has been on the receiving end of quite a bit of criticism over the last 24 hours. The criticism stems from BART temporarily interfering with cell service in four of its stations in order to stifle potentially violent protests that centered on an earlier shooting by a BART police officer.

Verizon, Free Press Duel over Tethering Complaints

Stevie Converse — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 12:31:24 -0400

Full article: Broadband Reports
Karl Bode
The FCC formally acknowledged the Free Press complaint against Verizon for blocking tethering services. Verizon responded that it has not violated conditions placed on its spectrum. The company is banking on sliding through loopholes in the FCC rules.

AT&T Cracks Down on Free Tethering and Hotspots

Stevie Converse — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 11:10:50 -0400

Full article: PCWorld
Jared Newman
AT&T is putting the boot down on customers who tether their smartphones or turn them into Wi-Fi hotspots without paying extra for the service. Several users are being kicked off their unlimited data plans for using free tethering apps and automatically switched to a $45 per month DataPro plan. And AT&T isn't the only carrier that's taken a hard stance against free tethering. Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile has also strong-armed Google into hiding free tethering apps from the Android Market — but only on smartphones sold by those carriers.

Verizon Wireless Falls Flat in Response to Free Press App-Blocking Complaint

Stevie Converse — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 08:23:44 -0400

Full article: Free Press
Verizon Wireless called for dismissal of Free Press' complaint about the carrier's decision to block subscribers from accessing "tethering" applications on their 4G phones. But Verizon's arguments in favor of blocking don't hold water. Its decision to block tethering applications is an anti-consumer practice that chills innovation and punishes subscribers who already pay a lot for data. And it violates Verizon's specific license obligations.

Facebook's 'Too Much, Maybe, Free Speech' Problem

Stevie Converse — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 09:26:48 -0400

Full article: Washington Post
Alexandra Petri
Facebook has begun a long and potentially sordid flirtation with China and its regime of online censorship. But isn't Facebook a house built on the premise that there is no such thing as too much, maybe, free speech? Facebook is a site based on the principle that nobody should be required to shut up, ever. Facebook won't gain any friends by simply joining the group for Censors of Online Content.

US National Science Foundation Blocks Global Voices Advocay Website

Stevie Converse — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 09:02:34 -0400

Full article: Ethan Zuckerman Blog
The National Science Foundation has blocked a website devoted to Internet freedom. The censorship prevents scientists from learning about a debate about Internet freedom tools the U.S. State Department and the Broadcasting Board of Governors are spending taxpayer money to support and promote.

Facebook Thinks There Is Too Much Free Speech in the World

Stevie Converse — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 09:02:30 -0400

Full article: TechEYE.net
Nick Farrell
Social networking outfit Facebook is starting to think that giving free speech to countries which are not used to it is a bad idea. The company's Washington lobbyist said that Facebook could block content in some countries because there has been "too much, maybe, free speech." It seems that rather than being happy in its role in removing autocratic regimes in the Middle East, Facebook is worried that its free speech policy might be locking it out of the lucrative Chinese market.

Will Facebook Censor for a Shot at the Chinese Market?

Stevie Converse — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 07:57:06 -0400

Full article: Global Spin
Austin Ramzy
In a story about Facebook's efforts to expand its lobbying efforts in Washington, the <em>Wall Street Journal</em> quotes a lobbyist saying the company may censor some content overseas.

Putin Says No Plans to Crack Down on Internet

Stevie Converse — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 11:52:03 -0400

Full article: Reuters
Thomas Grove
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said he had no plans to crack down on the Internet ahead of 2012 elections, seeking to play down concerns over recent hacker attacks on a blogging website. "My personal opinion is that I don't think it is possible to limit anything," said Putin, answering a question from a lawmaker after his annual address to parliament.