Access Express | 05/09/13
Malaysian political content subject to network interference over election weekened
The internet became a target in the runup to last Sunday's historic elections. Opposition websites and independent media suffered significant network interference, with political content often unavailable to Malaysian users.
via accessnow 
Staff Picks
Escape from Bahrain: blogger Ali Abdulemam is free
After more than two years in hiding, Ali Abdulemam, the globally renowned Bahraini blogger and free-speech advocate, is free in Europe after fleeing Bahrain.
via theatlantic
Syria back online after internet blackout
Activists and watchdogs blame Assad regime as internet in war-torn nation resumes after two days without service.
via aljazeera
From the Access Community
Indian government can snoop on citizens SMS and online chats
Last month the Indian government began rolling out the Central Monitoring System, a project that gives it access to everything on India's telecommunications network—including online activities, phone calls, text messages and social media conversations.
via economictimes
Azerbaijan debates legislating civility on the internet
Azerbaijan's legislature is considering a measure that would punish profanity or libel on the Internet with up to three years in prison, fines of up to 1,000 manats ($1,274), or a community service sentence.
via netprophet
Cyberdefence to become cyber-attack as France gets ready to go on the offensive
The French government has produced a whitepaper calling cyberspace "a field of confrontation in itself", with recommendations that the government scale up "offensive capabilities" and integrate them into its traditional military capacities.
via zdnet
Nigerian Representatives call to $40m communications surveillance contract 'unconstitutional'
Members of the House of Representatives have described an alleged $40m contract from the Federal Government awarded to an Israeli firm for monitoring Nigerians internet communications as 'unconstitutional.'
via punchng
Vietnamese police use violence against bloggers at human rights picnics
In cities across Vietnam, police attacked and detained bloggers and netizens participating in picnics in public parks that had been organized on Facebook for the purpose of discussing human rights.
via trust
Recognizing ongoing struggles on World Press Freedom Day
Last Friday was World Press Freedom Day, a celebration of the fundamental principles of independent media. But while celebrating, WPFD marks an opportunity to raise awareness about the attacks on press freedom around the world.
via accessnow
U.S. FBI doesn't think it needs a warrant to read citizens' email
Americans may think their email is private, but federal investigators may not agree. Documents uncovered by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) suggest the FBI is using subpoenas, not warrants, to read email.
via thinkprogress
Google’s National Security Letter suit offers window into global use
If Google's motion before the Northern District of California to “set aside”--or in plain language, defer--National Security Letters is successful, it offers an opportunity to pull back the curtain on their use at a global scale.
via accessnow
Kyrgyzstan news site unblocked, though still illegal
Last year parliamentarians in Kyrgyzstan voted to ban a leading independent news site, Fergana News. Following a high profile public fight, the site is now unblocked but remains illegal.
via eurasianet
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