CyberLaw Blog

Archive for February 7th, 2010

European court pulls plugs on terror stop and search: “

Another clumsy fail for the Home Office

The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that the UK police’s use of stop and search powers granted under terrorism legislation is illegal.…

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(Via The Register – Public Sector.)

Is it art or is it pr0n? Australia decides it’s ALL filth: “

Won’t someone think of the pictures of children?

Australian painters and photographers may soon need to watch their step, as an overhaul of child pornography laws in New South Wales looks set to remove the defence of ‘artistic merit’ from the statute books.…

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(Via The Register – Public Sector.)

China throws rotten tomatoes at IMDb: “

Online movie bible blocked

China this week appears to have blocked access to the Internet Movie Database (IMDb.com), giving rise to speculation that it is stepping up its war on websites that allow user-generated content.…

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(Via The Register – Public Sector.)

E-commerce law update includes ISP hate speech exemption: “

Dispensation granted for ‘mere conduits’

The Government has published Regulations that will absolve internet service providers (ISPs) and other digital service providers of responsibility for religion or sexuality-related hate speech transmitted over their networks.…

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(Via The Register – Public Sector.)

New Labour bring old Nuremberg Laws to Britain: “

Police may act unlawfully when ‘only obeying orders’

Police officers could find themselves on the wrong end of a citizen’s arrest if they follow advice issued by Home Secretary, Alan Johnson, after the European Court of Human Rights slapped the UK’s stop and search laws.…

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(Via The Register – Public Sector.)

UK.gov moves to block Hamas kids site: “

Incites hatred, says MP

The Home Office is considering blocking a childrens’ website run by the Palestinian group Hamas following suggestions it incites hatred of Jews.…

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(Via The Register – Public Sector.)

UK BitTorrent admin acquitted on fraud charge: “

Happy as a pig in sh*t

Updated Alan Ellis, the former admin of music BitTorrent tracker OiNK, was acquitted of conspiracy to defraud by a Middlesbrough court today.…

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(Via The Register – Public Sector.)

ACLU challenges US laptop border searches: “

Civil liberties assessment still pending

Privacy campaigners are continuing a legal challenge against random laptop border searches by US customs amid concerns there may be a racial bias in those delayed and inconvenienced by stop and search powers introduced as part of the war on terror.…

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(Via The Register – Public Sector.)

UN issues call for international privacy agreement: “

Countering counter-terror powers

A UN watchdog has called for a new international agreement on privacy following a review of the expanding global array of surveillance measures and databases advanced by governments in the cause of counter-terrorism.…

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(Via The Register – Public Sector.)

German court finds parent liable for child’s file-sharing: “

Someone’s going straight to bed

Parents can be legally responsible for the unlawful behaviour of their children using home internet connections, a German court has ruled. It said that a woman had a duty to monitor the use to which her internet connection was put.…

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(Via The Register – Public Sector.)