First Amendment News

Google, Yahoo, Microsoft and others have agreed to a common set of principles for dealing with foreign governments that restrict speech, limit privacy protections, and sensor search results. The principles, which spell out “best practices” for American technology companies doing business in China, Vietnam and other foreign countries that censor the Internet, were adopted in the shadow of Congressional threats to impose standards by law. Wall Street Journal By JESSICA E. VASCELLARO Oct. 28–Google Inc.,

Steve Aftergood of Secrecy News predicts Obama administration to be more FOI-friendly. He notes that John Podesta, head of the OBama transition team, testified in Congress in favor of withdrawing a key Bush administration executive order curtailing access under the FOIA. Secrecy News Steve Aftergood The possibilities for significant changes in government secrecy policy are starting to attract official attention as the presidential transition process begins. “I know things are going to change,” one executive

Holbrook High School has been sued by journalism students contesting the closure of the student newspaper following school administrators’ efforts to withhold publication of two articles. The suit, filed on behalf of the students by the ACLU, characterizes the school’s actions as censorship. The case will test the impact of a California state law that gives students the same First Amendment rights that adults have in a nonschool environment. North County Times Tuesday, November 11,

The State Compensation Insurance Fund, an obscure agency with control over a huge budget, is now subject to open-government rules. Once exempt from open-meeting will laws, the agency, following a criminal investigation, is exempt no more. Los Angeles Times By Marc Lifsher October 20, 2008 Next month, a little-known state agency that doubles as a $20-billion insurance company will hold its first public board of directors meeting in 94 years. After years of secrecy, questionable

California Superior Court judges have been told to adopt security procedures that assure that courtrooms will not be closed to the press and public. The directive from the California Judicial Council responds to an incident last summer in which reporters and the public were barred from a Yolo County court hearing in a case involving the murder of a police officer. At the time, the Yolo County judge, while not defending the closure, said the