CyberLaw Blog

Archive for June, 2008

Obscenity, paranoia? She is lucky she is not reported to the police for a child pornography offence!

Store censors photo of baby on cake because of nudity: “A mother who wanted to give a birthday cake to her son featuring a photo of him as a baby is forced to have it censored.”

(Via BBC News.)

Licensed to hug (Civitas Blog): “« A small step, but where’s the giant leap? | Main
Licensed to hug

The dramatic escalation of child protection measures has succeeded in poisoning the relationship between the generations and creating an atmosphere of suspicion that actually increases the risks to children, according to a new study released today by Civitas.

In Licensed to Hug Frank Furedi, Professor of Sociology at the University of Kent, argues that children need to have contact with a range of adult members of the community for their education and socialisation, but ‘this form of collaboration, which has traditionally underpinned intergenerational relationships, is now threatened by a regime that insists that adult/child encounters must be mediated through a security check’ (p.xii).

The scope of child protection has become immense. Since its formation in 2002 the Criminal Records Bureau has issued 15 million disclosures, but the whole operation has now been ratcheted up several notches by the passage of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006. This has led to the creation of the Independent Safeguarding Authority which, when it is rolled out in October 2009, will require CRB checks of 11.3 million people - over one quarter of the adult population of England.”

(Via .)

Public Comment Period Opens for Proposed Porn-Free Wireless Net: “A two-week public comment period commenced today for the proposed establishment of a free national wireless Internet that would filter out content considered harmful to teens and adolescents.”

(Via XBIZ.com | News & Articles.)

Laptop Searches in Airports Draw Fire at Senate Hearing: “Advocacy groups and legal experts told Congress that it was unreasonable for federal officials to search the laptops of United States citizens when they re-enter the country from traveling abroad.

(Via NYT > Technology.)

Crucial vote on internet’s future: “The net could see its biggest change in decades if plans to open up the address system are approved.”

(Via BBC News.)

Pending FISA Spy Bill Redefines WMDs: “The new Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act update (the one that lets telecom companies skate for snooping on your phone calls and e-mails) includes a new definition for ‘weapons of mass destruction.’ The definition is a lot more broad — and vague — than the atomic-bomb-scale weapons originally described by the United Nations.

(Via Wired News.)

This is an article from: TorrentFreak

Joss Stone: Piracy is Brilliant, Music Should be Shared:

Joss Stone, who won a Grammy last year, loves music, but hates the the music industry. In a recent interview she said that - unlike herself - most artists are brainwashed by the industry, and she encouraged people to share her music.

After the show a reporter asked her what she thinks of piracy, and people who download her songs off the Internet. Her response baffled the reporter, as she simply told him: ‘I think it’s great…’ There was an awkward silence for a few seconds, the reporter probably expected to hear something else from her. ‘Great?,’ he said.

‘Yeah, I love it. I think it’s brilliant and I’ll tell you why,’ Stone continued. ‘Music should be shared. [...] The only part about music that I dislike is the business that is attached to it. Now, if music is free, then there is no business, there is just music. So, I like it, I think that we should share.’

‘It’s ok, if one person buys it, it’s totally cool, burn it up, share it with your friends, I don’t care. I don’t care how you hear it as long as you hear it. As long as you come to my show, and have a great time listening to the live show it’s totally cool. I don’t mind. I’m happy that they hear it.’

Stone went on to say that most artists have probably been ‘brainwashed’ by the record labels, when they discourage their fans from downloading music. Of course, Stone is not the only artist who actually wants people to share their work. Last year rapper 50 Cent made some positive remarks about filesharing, and Nine Inch Nails takes it even further, as they upload their music onto BitTorrent sites themselves.

These artists are spot on, in fact, several studies have shown that artists actually benefit from filesharing. The more music people share, the more CDs they buy and the more concerts they visit.

Anna Barriball - About 60 miles of beautiful views. | Transport for London:

Anna Barriball’s minimal typographic artwork ‘About 60 miles of beautiful views.’ is the latest commission by Art on the Underground to go on display on the Tube network.

FOXNews.com - Spain Arrests 41 in Crackdown On Child Pornography

Associated Press, Wednesday, June 25, 2008

MADRID, Spain — Spain’s Interior Ministry says police have arrested 41 people accused of possessing child pornography videos and sharing them over the Internet.

The ministry says the suspects were arrested last week in 30 Spanish provinces and include farmers, architects, civil servants, electricians and computer technicians.

The ministry said in a statement issued Wednesday that the arrests stemmed from tip-offs by Internet users.

It said some of these users reported that while trying to download music or games from the Internet they ended up with files containing video of adults having sex with minors.

FOXNews.com - Girl, 12, Charged With Distributing Nude Pic of Classmate

Associated Press, Tuesday, June 24, 2008

WESTPORT, Conn. — A 12-year-old Westport girl has been charged with distributing a nude photo of a classmate to fellow students.

The investigation began on May 12 when the incident was reported to Westport police after word circulated throughout Coleytown Middle School that a nude snapshot was taken during a video chat and distributed to others.

The girl is being referred to Juvenile Court in Norwalk on a charge of second-degree breach of peace, which involves the distribution of offensive and indecent material. Her name is not being released because of her age.

“In light of how sensitive this case is for all the families involved, I don’t feel it’s appropriate to comment at this time,” said Mark Sherman, an attorney for the girl.

The arrest comes amid growing worries among parents about teenagers snapping naked pictures of themselves on their cell phones and sending them to their boyfriends and girlfriends. Many of the pictures are falling into the wrong hands or being posted on the Internet, leading to criminal charges.

In Castle Rock, Colo., 18 middle school students sent around nude pictures of themselves last year.

Similar cases have been reported in New Jersey, New York, Alabama, Utah, Pennsylvania and Texas.