29 June 2004

"WAR ON TERRORISM" CURBS INTERNET FREE EXPRESSION: RSF REPORT


More than two years after the 11 September 2001 attacks on the United States, the fight against terrorism has compromised free expression on the Internet, leading to stricter monitoring of Internet traffic in both democratic countries and authoritarian regimes, says a new global survey by Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF).

"Internet Under Surveillance" tracks the state of Internet freedom in more than 60 countries and finds that the rights of Internet users and online journalists have been substantially restricted since 9-11. "Democratic countries have chipped away at the liberties of their citizens" in the name of tightening national security, introducing laws that give governments expanded powers to spy on Internet users and detain suspected terrorists, says RSF. The United States and France have led the way in passing anti-terrorism laws.

However, authoritarian regimes have taken their cue by using national security as an excuse to further repress political dissidents and independent journalists and writers, RSF notes. "A dictator just needs to boast he's fighting terrorism and the eyes of the international community stop seeing his arrests of cyber-dissidents and censorship of websites," the group says.

Meanwhile, an increasing number of governments are employing sophisticated technologies to deny their citizens access to information on the Internet. China has installed Internet filters that prevent users of the Google search engine from finding information about controversial topics, such as human rights. In Uzbekistan, authorities are using "modified mirrors" - doctored versions of controversial websites that look like the original sites but actually contain altered information.

Of all countries surveyed in the report, China continues to be the number one jailer of Internet users. Sixty-three are currently in prison. Vietnam ranks second with seven jailed cyber-dissidents, followed by the Maldives with three and Saudi Arabia with two.

RSF has launched 26 petitions on its website calling for the release of jailed cyber-dissidents around the world.

To sign the petitions, go to:
http://www.rsf.org/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=26
Read the full report here:
http://www.rsf.org/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=433


Also from the Communiqué, 30 June 2004

MEXICO: IFEX MEMBERS CONDEMN JOURNALIST'S MURDER 1 July 2004 BANGLADESH: VETERAN JOURNALIST ASSASSINATED 1 July 2004 THAILAND: ''BERLUSCONI-STYLE" TACTICS THREATEN PRESS FREEDOM 1 July 2004 ALGERIA: IFJ TO RELAUNCH PRESS-FREEDOM MONITORING CENTRE 1 July 2004 CUBA: JOURNALISTS RELEASED FROM PRISON 1 July 2004 INTERNATIONAL: TAKE ACTION! CHINA: SIGN PETITION TO FREE JAILED INTERNET DISSIDENT 1 July 2004 RUSSIA: ARTICLE 19 LAUNCHES GUIDE TO DEFAMATION LAW IN RUSSIA 1 July 2004 INTERNATIONAL: ALFRED FRIENDLY PRESS FELLOWSHIPS 1 July 2004 INTERNATIONAL: THOMAS J. DODD PRIZE IN INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS 1 July 2004