From: Robert Horvitz [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 15 October 2003 14:11
To: j.armitage
Subject: 3 items from yesterday's GIPI blog
"Uncontrolled" Internet surveillance in Ukraine
http://gipi.typepad.com/internetpolicy/2003/week42/index.html#a0000404
461
The Ukrainian Internet Association (InAU) told a meeting of the OSCE's
Human Dimension Implementation meeting in Warsaw yesterday about the
"uncontrolled" surveillance of Internet users by Ukraine's Security
Service. According to Interfax-Ukraine, "InAU referred to [the]
existence of binding requirements to the [Internet] operators...which
were set in force by the Ordinance of the State Committee of
Communications and Informatization of Ukraine No. 122 as of June 17,
2002. One of the requirements listed in the Ordinance is installation
of monitoring equipment in spite of the fact...that 'the legislation
of Ukraine does not make any provisions for information monitoring [or
for] limitations on the right to privacy of correspondence under such
monitoring. As a result of illegal monitoring, Security Service of
Ukraine receives full uncontrolled access to Internet information
flows, including confidential information and private correspondence.
Internet Association of Ukraine regards such violation of the
Declaration of Human Rights as impermissible.'”
Belarus' media crackdown reaching the Internet
http://gipi.typepad.com/internetpolicy/2003/week42/index.html#a0000404
389
Belarus' Charter 97 Human Rights Centre posted a note on their website
last week informing visitors that they are suspending their news
updates in English due to a lack of money to pay translators. However,
their reports about increasing repression in the runup to the next
presidential election continue to be posted in Russian. They note that
"'the internet is the only source of information not under the control
of the authorities... Today many of those who lost sources of
information following a shutdown of dozens of independent newspapers,
are navigating [the] Internet in search of truthful and quick
information on the country's life, as proven by the constant rise in
the number of users of the independent news sites. The authorities
can't ignore that tendency. So we have plenty of grounds to suppose
that shortly they will embark on certain measures to restrict the
freedom of speech in Internet."
A new draft media law is expected to reign in e-publishers. According
to Vera Rich (Index for Free Expression), the law will likely define
the Internet as a 'global media organ' so that anyone wishing to
create a website in Belarus must obtain prior court approval and the
slightest infraction might cause that approval to be revoked.
Preparing for the possibility that their website will be forced
offline, Charter 97 is appealing for hosting services outside Belarus
to "mirror" their content, and they have launched email lists in
English and Russian for delivery of news updates. Information about
these precautionary services can be found here.
Report on China's Internet Media Forum
http://gipi.typepad.com/internetpolicy/2003/week42/index.html#a0000404
249
"The 2003 China Internet Media Forum opened in Beijing [last] Friday,
calling for local Internet media to take more responsibility in
dealing with online ethical issues. Diverging from the previous two
forums in 2001 and 2002, which mainly focused on the development of
the Internet in China, this year the topic turned to 'social
responsibility of the Chinese Internet media.' Cai Mingzhao, deputy
director of the Information Office of the State Council, said in a
keynote speech at the opening ceremony that the Internet should
contribute to China's social progress... While offering a quick access
to information, the Internet also can expose people to pornography,
violence, superstition and evil cults, Cai said. He urged local
Internet portals, the 150 approved news publishing portals in
particular, to bear more social responsibility... The two-day forum is
co-sponsored by the All-China Journalists' Association and major
Chinese news portals like those run by People's Daily, Xinhua News
Agency and China Daily." (Xinhua via China Daily)
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Robert Horvitz, Project Manager
Global Internet Policy Initiative
Slavikova 11
120 00 Prague 2
Czech Republic
Email: [log in to unmask]
Tel/fax: +420 222 725 688
http://www.internetpolicy.net/
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