Access Express | 08/22/13
New Zealand passes law allowing broad domestic spying
After being caught engaged in illegal domestic spying, New Zealand changed its laws. Despite opposition, the parliament passed legislation allowing the country's Government Communications Security Bureau broad permission to spy on residents and citizens.
via globalpost 
Staff Picks
Thailand wants to monitor conversations on popular messaging and social media sites
Thailand is pressing ahead with more internet control, targeting the popular messaging app LINE. The government announced plans to “monitor” LINE and other social media sites such as Facebook and WhatsApp to remove “threats” to national security.
via globalvoicesonline
NSA broke privacy rules thousands of times per year, audit finds
The U.S. National Security Agency has broken privacy rules or overstepped its legal authority thousands of times each year since 2008, according to an internal audit and other top-secret documents.
via washingtonpost
From the Access Community
Will the NSA scandal lead to concrete E.U. privacy reform?
Global response to the NSA surveillance scandal has highlighted the differences between privacy expectations in the U.S. and the E.U. However the question still remains: will these disclosures and ensuing outcry lead to concrete E.U. reforms on privacy?
via accessnow
Gambian government warns of massive crackdown on online freedom
The government of The Gambia announced it is ready to implement a recently-passed law intended to restrict online freedom, which imposes a jail term of 15 years and/or a fine of $90,000 on those who criticize government officials through the Internet.
via ifex
The Guardian defied U.K. government, destroyed hard drives of leaked files
A threat of legal action by the government that could have stopped reporting on the files leaked by Edward Snowden led to a symbolic act at the Guardian's offices in London.
via theguardian
Ominous cybercrime law cleared by Bangladesh government
The Bangladesh cabinet approved a draft of an amendment which allows for arrest without warrant and a maximum sentence of 14 years for crimes such as online publication of material which is false, vulgar, or can tarnish the image of the state.
via thejakartapost
In Latin America, your government is watching you, too
While many eyes are currently fixed on the surveillance activities of the United States, citizens across Latin America are also at risk of abuses by their own national governments. Programs in Colombia, Mexico and Panama provide just a few examples.
via globalvoicesonline
In the U.S., facial recognition is making gains as a surveillance tool
The U.S. government is developing a surveillance system that would pair computers with video cameras to scan crowds and automatically identify people by their faces, according to newly disclosed documents and interviews with those working on the project.
via nytimes
NSA swept up thousands of U.S. e-mails as part of unconstitutional program
A newly released 2011 ruling by the U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court found the NSA's ongoing e-mail and data-collection program illegal and decried government's "substantial misrepresentation" of scope of NSA activities.
via news
In the U.K., using 'terror' to erode free speech and privacy
David Miranda, the partner of Guardian journalist Glenn Greenwald, was detained in London for almost nine hours of questioning, and his laptop, phone, and camera were seized, highlighting the imperiled state of privacy and free expression in Britain.
via privacyinternational
Mesh networks seek to offer new digital spaces, free from government spying
Across the world, digital freedom activists and nonprofits are working on improving the reliability and usability of mesh networking tools, in order to build "blackout resilient" networks, free from government snooping.
via motherjones
Chinese activists suing Cisco in human rights case get a boost
Chinese activist suing networking technology provider Cisco on the basis of claims the company sold technology to the Chinese government that facilitated human rights abuses got a boost from an amicus brief from the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
via zdnet
Data for international development: the new conflict resource?
The international development community has a a new cure: data. But despite promises that open data can transform the world, very little attention is being paid to the possible risks - exclusion, discrimination, persecution, and violations of privacy.
via privacyinternational
Three questions about Facebook’s vague plan to expand internet access
Mark Zuckerberg’s plan to expand internet access in the developing world raises the fundamental question: are these plans good for everyone, or just Facebook? Shouldn't we expect tech companies to be trying to expand their market?
via businessweek
This week's Express was curated by Lee Gensler. Have a tip for a story, or suggestion for an article? Let us know! Contact us at: express@accessnow.org.