Italian court deals setback to Google and internet freedom

Three Google executives were convicted of violating Italy’s privacy laws and responsible for posts by third parties, a blow to world internet freedom and particularly destructive to Italy’s participation in e-commerce. -db The New York Times February 25, 2010 By Rachel Donadio ROME — Three Google executives were convicted of violating Italian privacy laws on [...]

British lawmakers urge laws curtailing libel tourism

A British parliament committee said it is time to change the country’s liberal libel laws to discourage citizens of other countries from bringing libel suits in British courts. The committee said changes are needed to eliminate the chilling effect of libel cases on free speech. -db Telegraph.co.uk February 24, 2010 By Gordon Rayner Britain’s defamation [...]

Federal judge rules that Department of Justice must release memos for terrorist trial

In the case of the first Guantanamo detainee to be moved from military commission system to Article III court for trial on terrorism charges, a federal judge ruled that the Department of Justice must release their memos pertaining to the transfer of the accused terrorist. -db New York Law Journal February 25, 2010 By Mark [...]

Prop. 8 trial could still find the airwaves

San Francisco Bay Area federal judges are again floating a plan to allow cameras in federal courtrooms just weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court, in a rare intervention, rejected a similar plan. If approved this time, it is possible that the final arguments in the Prop. 8 could be telecast. -db The San Francisco Chronicle [...]

Drug cartel chief gets 25 years in secret proceeding

A federal district judge sentenced one of the most feared drug lords to 25 years in prison in a proceeding closed to the public, a rare occurrence for a sentencing phase. The judge offered no explanation for the secrecy. -db Houston Chronicle February 24, 2010 By Dane Schiller and Jacquee Petchel Behind armed guards and [...]

Citizen committee completes draft of open government law for Berkeley

The Citizen’s Sunshine Review Committee finished its work in February on a sunshine ordinance which was written to encourage compliance with California sunshine laws. -db The Berkeley Daily Planet February 25, 2010 By Dean Metzger Sadly the sun is setting on the printed Berkeley Daily Planet, but happily the sun could rise on open government [...]

Health board claims secret meeting violated no laws

The Del Puerto Health Care District board met once secretly in 2008 but claims the meeting violated no California open govenment laws. -db Patterson Irrigator February 25, 2010 By Kendall Wright A majority of the Del Puerto Health Care District met once secretly in 2008, but the head of the district claims the meeting violated [...]

San Diego county school board cancels meeting to comply with open meeting law

The Grossmont Union High School District cancelled a special meeting to consider a threatened lawsuit after the media were not given adequate notice of the meeting. -db East County Magazine February 23, 2010 CAJON, Calif. – In response to a request by East County Magazine, the Grossmont Union High School District has announced cancellation of [...]

Panelists praise government agencies for open government initiatives

At an event sponsored by Government Executive, panelists said that there were some promising practices in the push for government transparency including expanded employee blogging, expanded use of the social media and well-attended online forums. -db NextGov February 24, 2010 By Emily Long Agencies continue to innovate in response to the Obama administration’s open government [...]

Scholastic free press: Parents object to student sex poll

A California institute is challenging the administration of Ventura High School for allowing students to complete the questions of a campus sex survey without parent permission. Reporters from the student newspaper had conducted the survey on campus but outside the classroom. -db Ventura County Star February 23, 2010 By Marjorie Hernandez Pacific Justice Institute officials [...]

Vague standards challenge Supreme Court in decisions on cases involving “material support” to terrorists

In deciding cases challenging the law forbidding support for terrorist organizations, the Supreme Court must consider that laws should provide clarity about which acts are illegal. -db The New York Times Commentary February 23, 2010 By John Farmer Jr. Notwithstanding the finger-pointing (and judicial head-shaking) since the Supreme Court’s decision last month on corporate speech, [...]

Federal judge scraps provisions of San Diego’s campaign-finance laws

In accordance with the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision in the Citizens United case, a federal judge struck down several provisions of San Diego’s campaign-finance law and particularly a ban on contributions from political parties and a $500 cap on donations to independent expenditure committees. -db Courthouse News Service February 23, 2010 By Annie Youderian (CN) [...]

Supreme Court hears First Amendment case over right to talk with terrorist groups

The Supreme Court heard arguments over a challenge to laws fobidding “training,” “service” or “expert advice or assistance” to terrorist groups. A retired lawyer is seeking the right to provide support for the nonviolent activities of a Kurdish party and a Tamil group both classified as terrorist organizations. -db The New York Times February 23, 2010 [...]

Are Myths Killing the Newspaper Business?

Are newspapers dead, dead, dead? If you can believe everything you read in them, apparently so. Hal Fuson, a veteran of 44-years in the news business, didn’t think those obituary writers had their stories straight. In fact, they were reporting myths about the dire state of the industry as though they were facts. When Fuson, [...]

Apple bans apps with adult content

Concerned about keeping the content of apps appropriate for the large number of children and teenagers using iPod Touch and expected to buy the new iPad due soon, Apple has responded to parents’ complaints and removed certain apps from its App Store. -db The New York Times February 23, 2010 By Jenna Wortham Apple has [...]

Federal government agencies: Transparency watch group assesses open data web pages

OMB Watch designated “leaders and laggards” after it conducted a study of government web pages designed to give citizens access to crucial information. -db OMB Watch February 23, 2010 Complying with requirements of the Open Government Directive (OGD), federal agencies launched transparency pages on their websites Feb. 6. The content and functionality of the pages [...]

YouTube removes work with artistic nudity claiming it fails to conform with community standards

The Electronic Frontier Foundation and the National Coailtion Against Censorship is asking YouTube to restore the work of renowned video artist Amy Greenfield to YouTube. YouTube removed her work with some nudity claiming it failed to satisfy YouTube Community Guidelines. -db Electronic Frontier Foundation Commentary February 22, 2010 By Kurt Opsahl Today EFF and the [...]

FBI investigating school district for activating webcams in student’s home

After a high school administrator accused a student of “inappropriate behavior,” it came out that, without the knowledge of the student or his parents, the administrator obtained a photo of the behavior at the student’s home from a webcam in a laptop issued by the school. -db The Pittsburgh Channel.com February 19, 2010 A law-enforcement [...]

San Diego planning task force accused of violating California’s open government law

Community members involved in planning for San Diego have expressed concerns about an advisory committee with a large representation of builders and developers. They claim the committee’s meetings were not adequately publicized. -db San Diego Uptown News February 20, 2010 By David Harvey At the San Diego City Council’s Land Use and Housing (LU&H) committee [...]

Federal archivist calls for reform on declassification policy and procedure

According to Michael J. Kurtz, Assistant Archivist at the National Archives, the backlog of records awaiting declassification will continue to grow until classification policies are changed. -db Secrecy News American Federation of Scientists Opinion February 22, 2010 By Steven Aftergood Executive branch agencies have spent more than a billion dollars on declassification of government records [...]

White House tech officer challenges Tea Party activists to join transparency movement

The White House technology officer has challenged Republicans and Tea Party activists to a competition to establish greater transparency in government. -db The Hill February 22, 2010 By Kim Hart In an ironic twist, the White House is inviting the Tea Party movement to challenge it on government transparency. White House Chief Technology Officer Andrew [...]

San Francisco Bay Area: East Bay journalists dominate awards

The Society of Professional Journalists’ Northern California Chapter has announced the winners of its Annual James Madison Freedom of Information Awards. The winners include three journalists from the Bay Area News Group-East Bay. -db Contra Costa Times February 19, 2010 By Josh Richman Three Bay Area News Group-East Bay journalists are among winners of the 25th [...]

Huffington Post establishes college newspaper forum

College journalists will see their work on a national forum as The Huffington Post begins its college-focused section on its Web site on February 22. -db Student Press Law Center February 19, 2010 By Laura Dobler NEW YORK, NY — On Monday, college journalists across the country will have a new opportunity for their work [...]

California court throws out attorney’s case as SLAPP

The First District Court of Appeal has dismissed a San Francisco attorney’s suit saying the claims against an opposing lawyer of fraud and intentional infliction of emotional distress was in conflict with the lawyer’s protected free speech rights. -db Metropolitan News-Enterprise February 16, 2010 By a MetNews Staff Writer The First District Court of Appeal [...]

Federal judge refuses to dismiss defamation claim against Dallas radio host

A U.S. district judge refused to dismiss an airport security guard’s defamation suit filed after radio personality Rickey Smiley called him “gay” on his radio show. -db Courthouse News Service February 22, 2010 By Leigh Sanders DALLAS (CN) – Comedian and radio host Rickey Smiley may have defamed an airport security guard by calling him [...]

Transparency: Environmental Protection Agency launches model web site

Transparency activists are expressing their approval of the EPA’s new site, the Rulemaking Gateway, that provides information about regulatory actions such as the control of greenhouse gas emissions in large vehicles. -db NextGov February 19, 2010 By Aliya Sternstein As more agencies deploy online score cards that publicly chart the progress of specific missions, the [...]

Student protests at speech of Israeli ambassador at California campus raise free speech issues

After eleven students at UC Irvine were arrested Feb. 8 for repeatedly interrupting a speech by the Israeli ambassador to the United States, debate centered on the question of whose free speech rights should prevail, those of the hecklers or that of the invited speaker. -db Inside Higher Ed February 17, 2010 By Scott Jaschik [...]

Judge allows suit to go forward on student Facebook posting

A Florida student is suing her principal for suspending her after she posted a Facebook page calling her Advanced Placement teacher “the worst teacher I’ve ever met.” -db The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press February 17, 2010 By Amanda Becker A federal magistrate said this week that a former Florida high school student [...]

Seattle: Photographer falls into legal soup with photo of public art

You would think that a sculpture commissioned with public funds and displayed in a public place could be photographed and the photo published, but Mike Hipple found himself sued by the sculptor who claims the exclusive right to reproduce the work and create derivative work from it. -db Suffolk Media Law Commentary February 17, 2010 By [...]

Local education activist sues Alameda unified schools

The founder of Alameda Concerned Parents is suing the Alameda Unified School District for violations of the state’s open government law, the Brown Act. -db San Francisco Chronicle Opinion February 18, 2010 By Susan Davis This just in — Kerry Cook, founder of Alameda Concerned Parents, which protested Lesson 9 last spring and fall — [...]

Open meetings a work in progress in Victorville

An open government activist says there are still gross violations of the state’s open government law, the Brown Act, after the City Council had taken steps to conduct business in a more open manner. -db Victorville Daily Press February 15, 2010 By Brooke Edwards VICTORVILLE, Calif. – After continued rumblings from citizens and the Daily Press [...]

Counselor sues Yuba college district over closed door session concerning salary hike

A counselor at the Yuba Community College District is suing the district for rescinding her salary raise in closed session. The superior court judge has allowed Yuba college officials to testify in a closed court session. db Appeal-Democrat February 18, 2010 By Ryan McCarthy Three Yuba Community College District trustees are among witnesses an employee [...]

TV cable broadcasts of city council meeting in Norwalk censored

During broadcasts of its meetings on a government access cable channel, the Norwalk City Council blacks out public comments. Legal experts says the practice is legal but express dismay that the council feels it’s necessary to censor the public. -db The Los Angeles Times February 20, 2010 By Jeff Gottlieb Like most towns, Norwalk broadcasts [...]

Half Moon Bay officials plan private meeting to discuss safety issues of surfing contest

Half Moon Bay public safety agencies are meeting to air concerns about safety issues concerning the Mavericks Surf Contest but don’t want to open it to the public in the interests of encouraging an open and frank discussion. The editor of the Half Moon Bay Review argues that to close the meeting is not only [...]

Poll: 80% of Americans oppose SCOTUS campaign finance ruling

A new Washington Post-ABC News poll finds that nearly 80% of Republicans, Democrats, and Independents are  united in their opposition to the recent Supreme Court ruling that opens the door for corporations, labor unions, and other organizations to spend money directly from their general funds to influence campaigns. Left and right united in opposition to [...]

Feisty Berkeley newspaper goes exclusively online

Citing among other things advertising woes, the bad economy and a campaign by pro-Israel “zealots”, the owner of the Berkeley Daily Planet announced it would shut down its print edition to become a Web-only publication. -db The San Francisco Chronicle February 12, 2010 By Matthai Kuruvila The Berkeley Daily Planet, a weekly newspaper with an [...]

Hurricane expert claims he was fired for criticizing Corps of Engineer’s work on New Orleans levees

A hurricane expert says he was fired by Lousiana State University because the university feared losing federal funding for the expert’s criticism of the Army Corps of Engineers mistakes that caused breaks during Hurricane Katrina in the levees protecting New Orleans. -db Courthouse News Service February 12, 2010 By Sabrina Canfield BATON ROUGE (CN) – [...]

Democrats propose plan in response to Supreme Court ruling on campaign spending

To, in their words, close “the floodgates of big corporate money that would otherwise drown out the voices of American citizens,” Democrats in the Congress have proposed new restrictions on campaign spending through enacting a series of small steps starting with banning spending by foreign corporations. -db The Fresno Bee February 11, 2010 By William [...]

Special-ed teacher fired for objecting to paddling of autistic student

A federal district court ruled that because her speech was work-related, a special-ed teacher could be fired for opposing the paddling of one of her autustic students for disruptive behavior. -db First Amendment Center February 12, 2010 By David L. Hudson Jr. A special-education teacher in Booneville, Miss., who complained about corporal punishment of an [...]

Pennsyvania court fires on local agency for withholding names of Homeland Security contractors

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review will have access to the identities of contractors who supplied first responder equipment to local agencies. In making the records public, the commonwealth court said it found no reasonable public safety argument in favor of withholding the names. -db The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press February 11, 2010 By Cristina [...]

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