The Russian government has blocked access to material on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube in the name of protecting children, but others see it as a step toward wider Internet censorship, according to the New York Times. Full story
A San Francisco Chronicle tech writer finds hope that state or federal law will be changed to require warrants when law enforcement seeks individuals’ private emails stored by companies such as Google, Facebook and Microsoft. James Temple cites legislation in the state Senate and efforts in Congress that would hold government to tougher standards for obtaining emails. Full Story
A federal district judge ruled that a provision of a Utah law could not be enforced that allowed prosecution of website operators and content providers for posting pornography. The law was designed to protect children from adult content. -db From the Deseret News, May 18, 2012, by Dennis Romboy. Full story
French President Nicolas Sarkozy is proposing that anyone regularly visiting websites supporting terrorism or advocating hate or violence will be arrested. First Amendment Center President Ken Paulson notes that allowing despicable viewpoints is basic to American democracy and that the proposed French law on hate websites would not survive in U.S. federal courts. -db From a commentary for the First Amendment Center, March 22, 2012, by Ken Paulson. Full story
To cries of protest, Twitter announced last week that it will take a country’s laws and culture into account in conducting country-specific censorship. Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, who is also the second largest shareholder in News Corp., recently invested $300 million in Twitter. -db From the Courthouse News Service, January 27, 2012, by Adam Klasfeld. Full story