Access Express | 05/30/13
Russia's top social network under fire
Russia's largest social network, VKontakte.ru, appeared briefly on the country's government banned websites blacklist last week, prompting concerns among bloggers that government censors were sending a threatening message to the Russian online community.
via eurasianet 
Staff Picks
Surveillance tech middleman fined for sale to Syria
The U.S. Department of Commerce fined Computerlinks FZCO, the Middle East/North African division of the multinational Computerlinks AG, for acting as the middleman between surveillance service Blue Coat and the Syrian government.
via eff
Latin American civil liberties groups urge Europe to protect privacy
This week civil liberties groups from across Latin America sent a letter to the European Parliament, urging the Committee working on the Data Protection Regulation to protect the privacy of citizens around the world.
via accessnow
From the Access Community
India phone snooping scandal sparks privacy storm
Revelations that mobile network operators in the Indian state of Gujarat handed over data records on more than 93,000 phone numbers to police has created a public outcry.
via asiancorrespondent
Cuban 'cybersalons' to offer a costly glimpse of the web
Cuban authorities said Tuesday that they would begin offering public Internet access at more than 100 cybersalons across the island, where residential access is greatly restricted.
via nytimes
Tunisian blogger faces military court for critical posts
Tunisian blogger Hakim Ghanmi is being tried by military court for “undermining the reputation of the army”, “defamation of a public official” and “disturbing others through public communication networks” after he published a letter online.
via amnesty
French authorities want to tap (and tax) Skype
Despite repeated requests, Skype has refused to classify itself as an electronic communications operator in France. Doing so could allow French police to intercept all Skype communications, while levying taxes.
via techpresident
Details emerge in fight over U.S. secret national security wiretaps
The U.S. digital civil liberties group EFF summarizes its Kafkaesque journey through the secret U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court in their attempt to access documents on the US illegal wiretap program.
via eff
Danish police admit that data retention hasn't helped at all
Something's useless in the state of Denmark: legally mandated data retention. After half a decade of strict data retention laws, Danish police reveal that it has not helped them solve crimes.
via techdirt
Algeria's emerging internet culture: hackers and visionaries
Global Voices excerpts interviews with young tech activists in Algeria, finding drive and vision slowed only by the snail pace of internet connection in the country.
via globalvoicesonline
Network operators continue to undermine European net neutrality
More than 20% of European network operators include provisions for restricting services to customers. And despite ample evidence of ongoing discrimination, European regulators continue to take a 'wait and see' approach.
via accessnow
French report recommends dumping 'three strikes' copyright law
French President Francois Hollande made it a campaign promise to eliminate the 'three strikes' copyright program. A new report, which suggests eliminating the HADOPI agency, opens the way for this to happen.
via broadbandreports
British service provider BT dumps Yahoo! email after hacking claims
The British telco and ISP giant BT has decided to shift its six million customers from Yahoo! webmail following ongoing security challenges. Despite efforts by both companies, users continued to experience compromised accounts and spam emails.
via telegraph
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