Category «Civil Liberties»

Bloggers Under Fire "tracks instances of bloggers, Internet users being threatened, arrested, harassed, harmed

Bloggers Under Fire: “As activists and ordinary citizens around the world are increasingly making use of the Internet to express their opinions and connect with others, many governments are increasing their surveillance and censorship capabilities and taking legal or extrajudicial actions against bloggers and social media users. The threats to netizens are increasing. The Committee …

Subjects: Blogs, Censorship, Civil Liberties, Free Speech

Senate Cmte. on Foreign Relations Report: Latin American Governments Need to "Friend" Social Media

Latin American Governments Need to “Friend” Social Media and Technology, by Carl Meacham, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee staffer for Latin America and the Caribbean, October 5, 2011 “In 2011, social media usage is booming and will likely continue to do so in the coming years. Earlier this month, it was reported that Facebook now …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Congress, Government Documents, Internet

Military Leadership Diversity Commission Report – From Representation to Inclusion: Diversity Leadership for the 21st Century Military

Today the Military Leadership Diversity Commission (MLDC) released its final report, From Representation to Inclusion: Diversity Leadership for the 21st Century Military. Executive Summary Press Release: “Military women, particularly soldiers, will see more than 14,000 new job or assignment opportunities because of policy changes the Defense Department announced today. The changes are included in a …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Government Documents

CRS – Detention of U.S. Persons as Enemy Belligerents

Detention of U.S. Persons as Enemy Belligerents, Jennifer K. Elsea, Legislative Attorney, February 1, 2012. “P.L. 112-81, affirm that the Authorization to Use Military Force (AUMF), P.L. 107-40, in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, authorizes the detention of persons captured in connection with hostilities. The Act provides for the first time …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Government Documents, Legal Research, Legislation

Reporters Without Borders – World Press Freedom Index 2011-2012

World Press Freedom Index 2011-2012 – “Syria, Bahrain and Yemen get worst ever rankings – “This year’s index sees many changes in the rankings, changes that reflect a year that was incredibly rich in developments, especially in the Arab world,” Reporters Without Borders said today as it released its 10th annual press freedom index. “Many …

Subjects: Censorship, Civil Liberties, Free Speech, Internet

Twitter announces new policy to withhold tweets in specific countries

Via CDT: “Earlier this week, Twitter announced that it will begin making certain Tweets inaccessible to users in countries where the content of those Tweets is illegal. In announcing its new policy, Twitter was acknowledging the challenge that all global social media sites face: governments ask tech companies to comply with local content laws and …

Subjects: Censorship, Civil Liberties, Free Speech, Internet

Human Rights Watch World Report 2012

“This 22nd annual World Report summarizes human rights conditions in more than 90 countries and territories worldwide in 2011. It reflects extensive investigative work that Human Rights Watch staff has undertaken during the year, often in close partnership with domestic human rights activists. The introductory essay examines the Arab Spring, which has created an extraordinary …

Subjects: Civil Liberties

Essay – The global war against baby girls

The Global War Against Baby Girls, Nicholas Eberstadt “Over the past three decades the world has come to witness an ominous and entirely new form of gender discrimination: sex-selective feticide, implemented through the practice of surgical abortion with the assistance of information gained through prenatal gender determination technology. All around the world, the victims of …

Subjects: Civil Liberties

2012 Index of Economic Freedom

“Heritage and the Wall Street Journal released the 2012 Index of Economic Freedom on January 12, 2012, ranking 179 countries on 10 benchmarks that gauge their economic success. The Index covers 10 freedoms – from property rights to entrepreneurship – in 184 countries. This year Heritage introduced a new interactive feature that gives you the …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Government Documents

EPIC – FOIA Documents Reveal Homeland Security is Monitoring Political Dissent

“As the result of EPIC v. DHS, a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, EPIC has obtained nearly thee hundred pages of documents detailing a Department of Homeland Security’s surveillance program. The documents include contracts and statements of work with General Dynamics for 24/7 media and social network monitoring and periodic reports to DHS. The documents …

Subjects: Blogs, Civil Liberties, Legal Research, Privacy

EPIC Sues DHS Over Covert Surveillance of Facebook and Twitter

“EPIC has filed a Freedom of information Act lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security to force disclosure of the details of the agency’s social network monitoring program. In news reports and a Federal Register notice, the DHS has stated that it will routinely monitor the public postings of users on Twitter and Facebook. The …

Subjects: Blogs, Civil Liberties, Free Speech, Freedom of Information, Privacy