Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul loses bid for identities of those posting online spoof

A federal judge ruled that Republican presidential contender Ron Paul could not force YouTube and Twitter to provide the identities of whoever uploaded videos with a spoof of Ron Paul bashing former candidate Jon Huntsman for being a Chinese agent. It is unusual for a candidate to sue in these matters given the courts’ tolerance [...]

Public has options in dealing with Twitter’s new country-specific censorship

After Twitter announced last week they would engage in country-specific censorship, EFF’s Eva Galperin says there are ways to fight the plan including checking to see if Twitter makes use of the Chilling Effects Project which publishes a country’s censorship orders and puts it in an archive. Galperin also says that a user can circumvent [...]

Twitter censorship plan provokes outrage

To cries of protest, Twitter announced last week that it will take a country’s laws and culture into account in conducting country-specific censorship. Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, who is also the second largest shareholder in News Corp., recently invested $300 million in Twitter. -db From the Courthouse News Service, January 27, 2012, by Adam [...]

Appeal in the works in Twitter/WikiLeaks case

The American Civil Liberties Union and the Electronic Frontier Foundation are set to file an appeal concerning the U.S. government’s attempts to obtain Twitter records in their investigation of WikiLeaks. The ACLU and EFF are seeking to prevent the government from sealing records of their efforts to obtain private information of Internet users without a [...]

Free speech: School district struggle to regulate student-teacher contact on social media

As the social media becomes a useful tool for teachers to contact students about work or to help reluctant or shy students, abuses have surfaced with teachers making inappropriate contact leading in some cases to sexual abuse. Citing free speech issues, a Missouri judge recently threw out a new law banning contact on the social [...]

Free speech: Kansas governor admits screwup in complaining to school about student’s tweet

A Kansas high school student refused to accede to a demand from her prinicpal to apologize to Governor Sam Brownback for a derogatory tweet made during his speech. The Governor had ratted her out to the principal. After the Governor apologized for telling on her, the student raised the ante by saying the apology was [...]

Chinese protesters use comic subterfuge to evade government censors

With the Chinese government employing more than 50,000 censors to monitor the Internet for politically deviant opinion, bloggers are using humor and satire to get their message across before the censors close in. There is always a strong element of fear and uncertainty for the bloggers as they never know where the line is between [...]

Free speech: Los Angeles policeman posts photo of dead boy on Twitter

When a Los Angeles police detective posted a photo of a murder victim on Twitter, questions arose about the propriety of the post and the policeman’s free speech rights. Even though the Los Angeles Police Department does not have a policy on the use of social media, they asked the detective to forego posting details [...]

Expert panel says too early to assess role of social media in Arab spring

Panelists at the U.S. Institute of Peace addressed the role of social media in recent uprisings in the Arab world with some saying that the use of social media was part of a power shift from nation states to smaller groups. Others said the information about the social media is still too mixed and scattered [...]

Mexican citizens held for ‘Twitter terrorism’

Two Mexican citizens were arrested in Veracruz for  reporting on Twitter something they heard,  that a drug gang had attacked a primary school and conducted a kidnapping. It turns out that the report was untrue and caused a panic and over twenty car accidents as parents rushed to get their kids out of class. The [...]

Opinion: Google and others can perform a great public service by identifying online ‘journalism’

Writing in ZDNet, Sam Diaz says that Google, Facebook and Twitter have the information that could enable them with the help of the analysis of real journalists to identify which blog sites, tweets and news outlets should be labeled “journalism.” Diaz says “news” is different from “journalism” and the latter must be identified and labeled [...]

Twitter refuses to close London rioters’ accounts to protect ‘freedom of expression’

Twitter is refusing to shut down rioters’ accounts amid reports that the British government going online to identify those inciting violence and disorder in London. A Twitter spokesperson said, “Some tweets may facilitate positive change in a repressed country, some make us laugh, some make us think, some downright anger a vast majority of users. [...]

Journalists beware: Tweets can be libelous

Contrary to common-held belief that Tweets are ephemeral and not subject to libel law, statements on Twitter are fair game for libel suits say legal experts. So far there have been few suits, but as public use and awareness of Twitter increases, libel cases are expected to increase. So far observers could only come up [...]

EFF argues anti-stalking law a threat to online speech

The Electric Freedom Foundation issued a press release arguing that using the federal anti-stalking law to prosecute people for criticizing public figures on Twitter threatens First Amendment rights to online free speech. The  federal law was  enacted to criminalize traveling across state lines for the purpose of stalking but now is being to stifle speech. [...]

China: Microbloggers defy censorship in relaying facts of high-speed train crash

Chinese censors are failing to contain the flood of online messages about the wreck of a high-speed train outside Wenzhou that killed 40 people and injured 191. Messages total 26 million. Citizens began the posts right after the accident and in many instances foiled the manipulations of government officials. In Wenzhou, officials ordered lawyers not to [...]

Pittsburgh Steeler sues for right to make controversial statements on Twitter

A Pittsburgh Steeler football player Rashard Mendenhall  filed a $1 million freedom of speech lawsuit against Hanes underwear which dropped his endorsement contract in reaction to his controversial comments on Twitter. One of the Tweets in dispute was his objection to people celebrating the death of Osama bin Laden. “What kind of person celebrates death? [...]

Obama to hold first Twitter town hall this week

President Barack Obama will hold a Twitter town hall at 2 p.m. EST on July 6 by answering questions on his Twitter account submitted by Twitter users. From The Washington Post, July 1, 2011, by Hayley Tsukayama. Full story

Commentary: Critic wrong in claiming Twitter has made traditional journalism obsolete

Writing for GigaOM, Mathew Ingram argues that a journalism professor was wrong to claim that traditional news stories on events such as the Missouri tornado are unnecessary as Twitter carries the necessary information. Ingram says that the sheer volume of information coming from such sources as Twitter makes it even more important for journalists to [...]

Ferment of new sportswriting invading web

Writing for the Nieman Journalism Lab at Harvard University, Tim Carmody describes current sports reporting on the internet as innovative and exciting. He notes a number of recent aggregations, blogs and other presentations including the literary that allow the reader faster, more convenient access and promise an even richer involvement in the sports scene. Carmody [...]

United Kingdom: Courts battle social media in flap over soccer star’s alleged affair

A British soccer star obtained a court order forbidding the traditional news media from publishing details of his alleged affair with a “Big Brother” contestant, but the effect 0f the injunction waxed small in the wake of some 75,00o weekend postings about the affair on the social media. The judge stubbornly reaffirmed the need for [...]

Multiple sources including those on Twitter pose challenges for journalists

As one journalist described it, he has “a personalized wire service” of over 2,000 sources on Twitter who provide him with tips and on-location news reports. While this sort of access is of inestimable value, it present immense difficulties as well. Writing in GigaOM, Mathew Ingram says that with gathering so much information on the [...]

Citizen who tweeted raid on bin Laden compound provides challenge to traditional definition of journalist

In GigaOM, Mathew Ingram says the Pakistan computer programmer in Abbottabad who live-tweeted the U.S. raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound deserves the label of “citizen journalist.” As mainstream journalists have done in reporting live events, the man answered questions, sought and shared news reports, traded what he knew with others to find out what [...]

Twitter scoops traditional media in reporting bin Laden raid

Twitter carried reports of the raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound and his death before it was reported by cable news and print media. A Pakistani who says he is an IT professional and coffee shop owner tweeted the attack live. The Twitter phenomenon has prompted concerns that sensitive information such as the plans for [...]

Website for using social media to build stories open to public

The website Storify that allows users to accumulate information from the social media to build stories is now available to the public. Users can combine content with commentary and also add their own text. Reporters have used the tool to report on the Middle East uprisings and the shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Gifford. -db From [...]

Facebook offering resources to journalists to help them make greater use of the social network

Following Twitter’s example, Facebook has plans to help journalists use the network to greater advantage. It wants to provide more information on its service to make it more than just a social site. Facebook has launched a page that will be a resource for journalists with “best practices” showing how reporters have used Facebook effectively [...]

Microblogging pushes new voices to news forefront

Writing in Benzinga, Laura Hlebasko assesses the role of microblogging on Twitter and Tumbir in creating news. She quotes observers who say traditional blogging is challenged by microblogging that makes news more personal and immediate. But traditional news outlets still have a vital role in synthesizing information and interpreting events. And primary sources are still [...]

Political turmoil: Social media face challenges in remaining neutral

Social media sites are struggling to achieve the right balance in remaining neutral during the Middle East and North Africa uprisings and allowing freedom of expression. A recent case in which Flickr removed photos of officers from Egypt’s state security force demonstrated the difficulties. Is it feasible in some instances to remain neutral when people [...]

Federal judge orders Twitter to release user records in WikiLeaks inquiry

A federal judge ordered Twitter to release records of three of its users in a U.S. government investigation of WikiLeaks. In an article in PC Magazine, Chloe Albanesius quotes Elecronic Frontier Foundation legal director Cindy Cohn on the implications of the order, “We’re disappointed that the court did not recognize that people using digital tools [...]

Texas governor tries to block selected members of media from his Twitter account

Texas Governor Rick Perry has blocked Dallas News’ Tom Benning from access to his Twitter account along with two other Texas journalists. In AllTwitter, Lauren Dugan notes that to get to the Twitter account, the blocked journalists can simply use someone else’s account. But Twitter users are upset that Perry is violating Twitter’s open spirit. [...]

Egypt shuts down Internet in record time

Los Angeles Times January 29, 2011 With a few phone calls to the likes of YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, the Egyptian government  stymied the social media, effectively limiting its role in organizing the demonstrations against President Hosni Mubarak. -db

Internet a battleground in Tunisia

Wired Commentary January 14, 2011 By Nate Anderson of Ars Technica Citizens are using the social media in quest to oust the corrupt government in Tunisia, and the government is fighting back, blocking websites and using the Internet to identify activists. -db

Courtney Love defamation trial looms

Courthousehouse News Service January 12, 2011 By Chie Akiba A California court will hear some spirited argument in the upcoming defamation trial of Courtney Love for an online message calling a fashion designer an “asswipe nasty lying hosebag thief.” Love’s attorneys will argue that the message was protected opinion and also true in its essence [...]

Wired magazine commentator commends Twitter for First Amendment stand in WikiLeaks subpoena case

Wired Analysis January 11, 2011 By Ryan Singel Writing in Wired, Ryan Singel said Twitter made a wise move that upheld the First Amendment after receiving a federal government subpoena for records of a number of people connected to WikiLeaks. Twitter went to court to get the gag order lifted then informed the people their [...]

Hackers wage war on behalf of WikiLeaks

Hackers have disrupted the Web sites and services of a number of companies including MasterCard, Visa and PayPal for withdrawing services in support of WikiLeaks. -db New York Times December 8, 2010 By Ashlee Vance and Miguel Helft A hacking free-for-all has exploded on the Web, and Facebook and Twitter are stuck in the middle. [...]

Free speech: Teachers sue Florida school district for social media policy

Some Florida teachers are suing their district in state court on the grounds that a proposed Manatee school district policy violates their free speech rights by prohibiting social media postings of negative comments or photos about the district, employees or students from home or work computers. -db Bradenton Herald November 13, 2010 By Richard Dymond [...]

Media law expert questions college ban on athletes’ tweets

Public and private universities are increasingly limiting players’ use of social media that one expert says constitutes in most cases illegal prior restraint and a violation of their free speech rights. -db Citizen Media Law Center Commentary November 9, 2010 By Eric P. Robinson An exercise we did Friday at University of Nevada, Reno’s High School [...]

Tweets against Senator Harry Reid not reflected in vote

Tweets were 54 percent against Senator Harry Reid and only 12 percent against his opponent, tea party hopeful Sharron Angle, but Reid still won the Nevada senate race by four or five percentage points. -db Los Angeles Times Commentary November 3, 2010 By Patrick Goldstein There’s nothing quite as much fun as watching the election [...]

Judge orders Google to reveal name of YouTube cyberbully

Google has 15 days to reveal the identity of a person who posted comments calling a Columbia MBA graduate a “whore,” “a shank,” and “an old hag.” -db New York Daily News October 15, 2010 By Jose Martinez Columbia MBA graduate Carla Franklin went after Google in August in an attempt to unmask her online [...]

Florida school board considers restricting teachers’ online speech

The Manatee County School Board in Florida is debating a policy that prohibits teachers from posting comments on sites such as Facebook or Twitter that would put the district, students and teachers in a “negative, scandalous or embarrassing light.” -db Student Press Law Center September 28, 2010 By Chelsea Keenan FLORIDA — The Manatee County [...]

Twitter becoming powerful, pervasive news platform

Twitter is not only allowing journalists to broadcast news instantaneously to thousands of people but it also puts the means of publishing in anyone’s hands. -db GigaOM Commentary September 8, 2010 By Mathew Ingram There’s been plenty of debate lately about whether Twitter has become “mainstream” or not, but examples continue to pile up of how [...]

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