UK Online Safety Bill Passed; Critics Fear Impact on Free Speech
The UK’s Online Safety Bill (OSB), targeting social media companies’ user safety, has been passed after six years of deliberation. The legislation mandates platforms to protect from harmful content and remove illegal material. Critics argue it curtails free speech and gives excessive power to tech giants and regulators. Companies face fines up to £18m for […]
China Utilizes Global Shipping for Massive Surveillance and Intelligence Gathering
China has significantly expanded its influence in the global maritime trade, which accounts for 90% of worldwide trade, over the past three decades, now controlling a large portion of foreign ports and manufacturing most shipping containers and ship-to-shore cranes. This dominance enables China to gather strategic data globally, a move that blurs the lines between […]
Australian Politicians Urge U.S. to Drop Assange Prosecution Ahead of PM Visit
Australian politicians are heading to Washington, D.C. to persuade U.S. officials to halt Julian Assange’s prosecution, highlighting concerns over journalistic freedoms and the First Amendment. The case, a central issue in Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s imminent state visit, is criticized globally. Despite recognizing the potential repercussions on the U.S. press, the Biden administration persists with […]
Two Turkish Individuals Arrested in Greece for Alleged Espionage at Naval Base Using Drone
Two Turkish individuals were arrested and testified in Piraeus on espionage charges after being caught using a drone to monitor a naval base in Poros, Greece. Following a search that extended to the Peloponnese region due to suspicions they fled there, the individuals were located and arrested in a Monemvasia hotel by police and the […]
New EU-US Data Transfer Agreement Faces Legal Challenges in EU Court
French MEP Philippe Latombe, backed by German Bundestag members, has initiated legal actions against the recent EU-US data transfer agreement, aiming to overturn it due to perceived inadequacies in US data protection standards, a stance supported by critics including FDP’s Maximilian Funke-Kaiser. The ongoing dispute underscores a history of unstable data transfer agreements between the […]
EFF: Warrantless Drone Surveillance Violates Fourth Amendment
The EFF has filed an amicus brief with the Michigan Supreme Court in the Long Lake Township v. Maxon case, urging the court to restrict warrantless drone surveillance, which they argue violates the Fourth Amendment and the Michigan Constitution. The EFF countered this argument, emphasizing the unique capabilities of drones to silently gather extensive data […]
Porn Censorship: India/Kerala High Court Rules Watching Porn in Private Not an Offence; Emphasizes Importance of Parental Supervision
India: The Kerala High Court has ruled that watching pornography in private is not a crime according to Section 292 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which addresses the distribution and public display of obscene materials. This landmark ruling emphasizes the right to privacy, stating that personal choices in private spaces should not be legally […]
Iran intensifies its crackdown on dissent ahead of the anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death.
As the anniversary of Mahsa Jina Amini’s death nears, Iran is ramping up its crackdown on civil society, aiming to suppress public commemoration of Amini, a symbol of the government’s systematic oppression, particularly against women. The educational sector is also facing repercussions with university instructors being dismissed and students facing disciplinary actions for their activism. […]
Chinese Espionage Scandal Shocks UK Political Establishment
The UK is reeling from the arrest of a parliamentary researcher accused of spying for China, an event that media outlets are calling an unprecedented escalation by China, although some believe this reaction might be exaggerated. This incident has spotlighted China’s extensive global espionage activities, which have intensified since 2012 under Xi Jinping’s directive of […]
39 Groups Demand Bangladesh Release Rights Defenders Khan, Elan”
39 international organizations are calling on the Bangladesh government to release human rights defenders Adilur Rahman Khan and ASM Nasiruddin Elan, associated with the Odhikar group, who are facing imprisonment and fines over accusations of falsifying a 2013 report on extrajudicial killings. The groups criticize the government’s sustained harassment of the duo and other human […]