Access Express | 06/20/13
Intelligence officials testified before the U.S. Congress on “How Disclosed NSA Programs Protect Americans, and Why Disclosure Aids Our Adversaries.” While most questions advanced this narrative, a few members pushed back, eliciting new information.
via accessnow 
US Global Surveillance
In Germany, Obama encounters a tough crowd for defense of surveillance
Protesters in Germany criticized U.S. surveillance measures in demonstrations timed to coincide with a visit by Barack Obama; their concerns carried outsized weight online in a country where privacy rights are taken very seriously.
via techpresident
China asks U.S. to explain internet surveillance
China made its first substantive comments on Monday in response to reports of U.S. surveillance of the Internet, demanding that Washington explain its monitoring programs to the international community.
via reuters
International organizations pressure U.S. Congress to respect human rights on surveillance
A broad group of organizations, including Access, sent a letter to the U.S. Congress presenting an international response to the massive NSA surveillance program, reminding the U.S. of its responsibilities to human rights.
via accessnow
Government intrusion and privacy: some things to think about
Recent revelations of telecoms surveillance conducted by the U.S. highlight the extent to which communication is no longer private, the global dependence on U.S. internet services, and the responsibility of other countries to their citizens.
via ict-pulse
Newly revealed U.S. surveillance practices possibly illegal, clearly unconstitutional
Details of the recently revealed large-scale, secret U.S. surveillance programs are still emerging. However, it is clear that while the programs may rest on dubious legal ground, they are both unconstitutional.
via accessnow
U.S. not alone: G8 nations have patchy record on digital rights
While the G8 nations generally perform well in indicators of media freedom, digital freedom, and civil liberties more widely, there are some key weaknesses including constraints on the media, and digital surveillance.
via ifex
FISA court oversight: a look inside a secret and empty process
Top secret documents illustrate what the FISA court actually does – and does not do – when purporting to engage in "oversight" over NSA domestic spying. That process lacks many of the safeguards defenders of the NSA are claiming exist.
via guardian
In Non-Snooping News
Orphaned in US, Russia gets its own version of SOPA
The controversial Stop Online Piracy Act, or SOPA is back—this time in Russia. A Russian bill that creates similarly harsh penalties for online copyright violations is poised to become law in Russia.
via globalvoicesonline
Open Wi-Fi comes to Tunisia: former dictator's house turned into open hotspot
The Open Wireless Movement has come to Tunisia, where the home of former dictator Ben Ali is now being transformed into a space for citizens to innovate.
via eff
UPR report on Vietnam: cyber attacks on civil society a key concern
Access has helped submit a joint report on Vietnam to the United Nations' Universal Periodic Review process, highlighting the Vietnamese government’s troubling response to the recent increase in cyber attacks against civil society.
via accessnow
Securing the individual: the right way to fight a cyberattack
The Internet has increasingly become a domain for cyberattacks, online threats, and security incidents. But governments are approaching the problem from the wrong direction. Rather than a top-down strategy, they need to focus on the individual.
via forumblog
Civil society ITU proposal highlights participation and transparency as chief concerns
Access helped submitted a proposal last Monday to the governing body of the International Telecommunication Union, calling for more steps to be taken “to meet the goal of an open, transparent, and multistakeholder debate.”
via accessnow
"O Pakistan, We Stand on Guard for Thee": Netsweeper’s role in Pakistan’s censorship regime
In February 2012, Pakistan’s Ministry of Information Technology solicited proposals for a national level URL filtering system. Despite a petition by Access, a Canadian company has answered the call.
via citizenlab