censorship

After Outcry, ASU Lifts Blocking of Change.org

Stevie Converse — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:03:43 -0500

Full article: Free Press
On Friday night, Arizona State University responded to thousands of complaints from ASU students and Free Press activists and stopped blocking student access to the popular petition website Change.org. This kind of problem likely isn't limited to ASU. As Internet censorship becomes a growing problem in the United States and abroad, America's educational institutions should be setting an example by defending the open Internet and the First Amendment.

Media Minutes: January 20, 2012

Candace Clement — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:31:07 -0500

Thanks to the participation of thousands of websites in a well-publicized protest against SOPA and PIPA, the bills finally began making headlines on TV news programs — and changing minds in Congress. And many traditional and new media outlets are sending predominantly male staff on the campaign trail, despite the fact that 53 percent of voters are women.

Media Minutes: January 13, 2012

Candace Clement — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:34:09 -0500

TV news programs are ignoring controversial legislation that could end the Internet as we know it. And residents of California’s eastern Coachella Valley finally have reporters they can rely on to produce hard-hitting investigative media: youth journalists.

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.

News Networks Ignore Controversial SOPA Legislation

Stevie Converse — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 08:18:24 -0500

Full article: Media Matters for America
Ben Dimiero
Controversial legislation that the co-founder of Google has warned "would put us on a par with the most oppressive nations in the world" has received virtually no coverage from major American television news outlets during their evening newscasts and opinion programming.

Manager's Amendment of SOPA Doesn't Fix What's Ailing This Bill

Stevie Converse — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 08:16:02 -0500

Full article: Public Knowledge
Sherwin Siy
Monday afternoon, the House Judiciary Committee released its planned manager's amendment to SOPA, claiming that it eliminated significant concerns with the bill. While it does fix some of the current version's outrageous proposals, it leaves some of the most dangerous provisions largely intact.

What Journalists Need to Know About SOPA

Stevie Converse — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 07:20:50 -0500

Full article: Poynter Institute
Tracie Powell
The Online News Association came out strongly against sweeping federal legislation aimed at curbing illegal copying and distribution of content online, adding its voice to a growing chorus of those opposing SOPA, including the American Society of News Editors.

Hackers Plan Space Satellites to Combat Censorship

Stevie Converse — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 07:38:36 -0500

Full article: BBC
David Meyer
Computer hackers plan to take the internet beyond the reach of censors by putting their own communication satellites into orbit. The scheme was outlined at the Chaos Communication Congress in Berlin. The project's organizers said the Hackerspace Global Grid will also involve developing a grid of ground stations to track and communicate with the satellites.

Beijing Set to Roll Out Massive Free Public Wi-Fi Network -- but There's a Catch

Lindsy Embree — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 11:55:54 -0400

Full article: TechCrunch
Rip Empson
At the end of this month, China's capital city will begin rolling out free Wi-Fi service in various hotspots across the city. The "My Beijing" wireless network, as it is to be called, is backed by three of the country's largest telecom companies. Of course, as is often the case, there's a catch.

House Takes Senate's Bad Internet Censorship Bill, Tries Making It Worse

Lindsy Embree — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 09:27:24 -0400

Full article: Ars Technica
Nate Anderson
Imagine a world in which any intellectual property holder can, without ever appearing before a judge or setting foot in a courtroom, shut down any website's online advertising programs and block access to credit card payments. The credit card processors and the advertising networks would be required to take quick action against the named website; only the filing of a "counter notification" by the website could get service restored. This is the world envisioned by Rep. Lamar Hunt (R-Texas) with the introduction of the Stop Online Piracy Act.