The Citizen Lab is an interdisciplinary laboratory based at the Munk Centre for International Studies at the University of Toronto, Canada focusing on advanced research and development at the intersection of digital media and world civic politics.
A "hothouse" that brings together social scientists, filmmakers, computer scientists, activists, and artists, the Citizen Lab sponsors projects that explore the cutting-edge of hypermedia technologies and grassroots social movements, civic activism, and democratic change within an emerging planetary polity.
Roots of surveillance standoff go back decades
Posted May 09, 2008 in Surveillance by sarahb.
In the old days, everyone was linked to a lug nut, and Jim Kallstrom liked it that way.
It was 1985, a simpler time for a cop like Kallstrom, who was in charge of setting telephone wiretaps on suspected drug dealers and mobsters for the FBI's New York City field office. From GovExec.com
House panel chair offers network neutrality bill
Posted May 08, 2008 in LawandPolicy by sarahb.
The chairman of the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday introduced legislation that would bar network providers from discriminating against some Internet content. From Reuters
Our surveillance society goes online
Posted May 07, 2008 in Surveillance by sarahb.
The potential for computers to read and understand data places our privacy under threat. From TheGuardian
Government steps up Internet censorship, blocking access to collaborative news website and filtering email
Posted May 07, 2008 in by sarahb.
Reporters Without Borders condemns the Tunisian government’s censorship of the international French-language news website Come4news (http://www.come4news.com/), to which access has been blocked in Tunisia since 10 March. From ReportersWithoutBorders
House Takes Up Net Neutrality Bill
Posted May 06, 2008 in LawandPolicy by sarahb.
While the Senate seems content to let network neutrality slide for another two years, House members are pushing ahead with a hearing May 6 to turn the Federal Communications Commission's principles on the issue into law. From eWeek.com
Bill would penalize companies for aiding Internet censorship
Posted May 02, 2008 in Censorship by sarahb.
US-based companies could be held liable for helping officials in other countries censor the Internet, if a bill proposed by House Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ) is approved. From arstechnica
International Public Opinion Says Government Should Not Limit Internet Access
Posted May 01, 2008 in Censorship by sarahb.
A new poll of nations around the world finds worldwide support for the principle of media freedom and broad opposition to government having the right to limit access to the Internet. From WPO
Ian Kerr . Searching for the right balance
Posted May 01, 2008 in LawandPolicy by sarahb.
Last Friday, the Supreme Court of Canada released two important privacy-related decisions, both addressing an increasing trend in which Canadian law enforcement agencies use police dogs to conduct random searches of public spaces. From OttawaCitizen
Ottawa should follow same personal privacy rules as business: commissioner
Posted May 01, 2008 in Privacy by sarahb.
The federal privacy commissioner is seeking a wider mandate to inform and educate Canadians about how their personal information is used or abused by government departments and agencies. From CanadianPress
Uproar in Italy after Web publishes earning levels
Posted May 01, 2008 in Privacy by sarahb.
As part of a crack-down on tax evasion, the outgoing centre-left government made public every citizen's declared taxable income on the state's tax website, a decision attacked by consumer groups and some politicians. From Reuters