********* Date: Mon, 14 May 2001 19:20:46 +0800 From: John Tanner <tannerat_private> To: declanat_private Subject: Helpless governments battle slander on the Net! Hi Declan, Keeping Politech abreast of the latest Internet censorship news from this part of the world. Item 1: The Malaysian government is considering forming a Press Council to fulfill a need for "greater accountability and transparency" in reporting -- which seems to mean being able to nail publications that endanger national security by slandering the government. Judging from the quote below (from a story published in local daily The Star but by-lined by Bernama, the official state news agency), the council seems specifically geared at Internet publications: "It is an imperfect situation when only the print media is governed by laws while those who indulged in sedition, the misuse of religion or other criminal offences through cyberspace go scot free," Dr Rais [Yatim, a minister in the prime minister's department] said. http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2001/5/13/nation/1310ihni&newspage=Search ++++++++++ Item 2: Chinese dissident Wang Jinbo has been arrested for "defaming" police on the Internet, according to a report from AFP: http://english.hk.dailynews.yahoo.com/headlines/technology/afp/article.html?s=hke/headlines/010512/technology/afp/Chinese_dissident_arrested_for_defaming_police_online.html Regards, John Tanner Global Technology Editor Telecom Asia/Wireless Asia Advanstar Telecoms Group Tel: +852 2589 1328 Fax: +852 2559 7002 Email: tannerat_private URL: www.telecomasia.net ------------------------------------------------------------------------- POLITECH -- Declan McCullagh's politics and technology mailing list You may redistribute this message freely if it remains intact. To subscribe, visit http://www.politechbot.com/info/subscribe.html This message is archived at http://www.politechbot.com/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------
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