Freedom of expression

In the wake of APC’s side event on freedom of expression at the Human Rights Council’s 17th session, the UN has, for the first time, taken a major step towards defining the relationship between the internet and human rights.

Tom MacMaster’s masquerading as blogger activist “Gay Girl in Damascus” was harmful, say APC in a statement, and endangers the right to use the internet anonymously.

From the people who brought you legal marijuana, freaky sex clubs and pickled herring comes the craziest thing yet. Of course, I’m talking about the net neutrality law that just passed through Dutch parliament.

Validation! Our hard work has paid off.

On June 10 a group of 40 countries submitted a joint statement to the Human Rights Council commending the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression’s report following the initiative of the Swedish government.

The US State Department has been practically throwing money at activists and entrepreneurs in an effort to build independent internet networks for citizens of repressive regimes. This comes as part of a wider US effort to help internet users, particularly human rights activists, evade government censorship and surveillance.

So it turns out Gay Girl in Damascus, the “woman” who stole our hearts with tales of her repression in Syria, is really a man.

Spanish Radio Academy to propose to the UNESCO the founding of a “World Radio Day” within the International Days UN calendar At the request of Spain, UNESCO Executive Board will consider a proposal to declare a World Radio Day at its 187th session on 21 September – 7 October this year.