#JORDAN: "Draconian" New Law Regulates Online Speech

[world politics news]

The King of Jordan approved a bill Saturday to punish online speech deemed harmful to national unity, according to the Jordanian state news agency, legislation that has drawn accusations from human rights groups of a crackdown on free expression in a country where censorship is on the rise.

The measure makes certain online posts punishable with months of prison time and fines. These include comments “promoting, instigating, aiding, or inciting immorality,” demonstrating ”contempt for religion” or “undermining national unity.”

King Abdullah II has an recent years faced increasing unrest from his subjects, and even rumblings of a coup attempt by a relative of the king that was later diffused without bloodshed.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#HONGKONG: Gov't Seeks Ban Of Pro-Democracy Song, Streaming Platforms Remove

[world politics news]

Hong Kong's Attorney General has applied for a Court order to ban a song used by protesters of the city's pro-Communist regime, saying it promotes "secession" of the region from China.

An injunction would prohibit, with the intent to incite others to commit the crime of secession, or with the intent to incite, in any manner, including on the Internet or any medium accessible online, or any Internet-based platform or medium, broadcast, perform, print, publish, sell, offer for sale, distribute, circulate, display or reproduce the song.

The government seeks to ban the content of "Glory to Hong Kong", including its tune, lyrics or lyrics, and in addition, an adaptation of the song. Those whose tunes, lyrics and/or lyrics are substantially similar to the songs concerned, especially those advocating the separation of Hong Kong from the People's Republic of China, are also prohibited.

The injunction also prohibits the dissemination of the song in any manner intended to insult the national anthem so that it is "likely to be misunderstood as the national anthem of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region" or to suggest that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is an independent country with its own national anthem.

At the same time, the restraining order will prohibit, aiding, causing, procuring, inciting, aiding and abetting others to commit or participate in the above-mentioned prohibited conduct. Knowingly authorizing, permitting or permitting others to commit or participate in any of the above acts is also prohibited.

The unofficial anthem of Hong Kong's pro-democracy protests in 2019 has been removed from streaming platforms Spotify and iTunes ahead of a court order, but remains on YouTube. A court date is set for July 24. Critics say the anticipated ban is another sign of Beijing's crackdown and efforts to stamp out dissent in Hong Kong against the central Chinese government.

[FULL STORY HERE and HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#GERMANY: Gov't Cracks Down On "Hate Speech" Against Politicians

[world politics news]

In a coordinated action, German authorities are cracking down on online hate speech directed at politicians by conducting searches and interrogating more than 100 suspects across Germany, the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) said.

The criminal offences were related to insults against nationally known politicians. Other "hate postings" contained misleading fake news and misquotes that “appear suitable for defaming and discrediting the people concerned,” the BKA noted. Two in three victims of online hate speech were female politicians.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#CANADA: Civil Liberties Groups Outraged Over Police Threats To Arrest Reporters

[world politics news]

Civil liberties and legal rights groups are expressing outrage after Ottawa Police threatened members of the media with arrest for reporting on the ongoing crackdown of peaceful protesters calling for an end to COVID-19 mandates. 

On Friday, the official Ottawa Police Twitter account warned that media attending the protest zone would be “subject to arrest.” 

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#VIETNAM: Man Gets 8-Year Jail Sentenced For Posting Gov't Criticism On Facebook

[world politics news]

A court in Vietnam has sentenced a man to eight years in prison after finding him guilty of uploading anti-state posts on his Facebook account, the security ministry said.

Despite sweeping economic reform and increasing openness to social change, Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party retains tight media censorship and tolerates little criticism.

Nguyen Quoc Duc Vuong, 29, was charged with “making, storing, spreading information, materials, items for the purpose of opposing the state” at a one-day trial in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong, the Ministry of Public Security said in a news release.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#USA: Plans To Combat Covid Vax "Misinformation" Include "Fact-Checking" Text Messages

[world politics news]

The White House is preparing to characterize “conservative opponents of its Covid-19 vaccine campaign as dangerous and extreme," reports Politico. The plan includes the possibility of "fact checking" personal text messages the government deem to be "misinformation.,"

The decision to ramp up the information war against vaccine skeptics was made after conservatives showed resistance to the Biden administration’s plan to go “door-to-door” to increase vaccination rates.

“Biden allied groups, including the Democratic National Committee, are also planning to engage fact-checkers more aggressively and work with SMS carriers to dispel misinformation about vaccines that is sent over social media and text messages,” states the report.

The report will be seen as a chilling and dystopian government response by civil rights groups and conservatives alike.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#CANADA: Trudeau Proposes Online "Anti-Hate" Bill

[world politics news]

The Justin Trudeau administration is proposing legal changes in an attempt to crack down on online hate speech in Canada.

The new bill — known as Bill C-36 —would make it easier for victims of hate speech to file complaints against those publishing offensive material online. 

Canadians posting hate speech could also be ordered to pay victims up to $20,000, or they could face fines of up to $50,000 if they refuse to stop.

Civil Libertarians and critics of the Trudeau Administration alike have it raised concerns about the bill's effect on the freedom of expression.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#THAILAND: Woman Sentenced To Jail For Insulting The Monarchy

[world politics news] 

A Thai woman convicted of insulting the royal family has been jailed for more than 43 years, a legal rights group said, the harshest punishment ever handed out under the country’s strict lese majeste laws.

The verdict comes as Thailand ramps up its use of the controversial legislation against democracy protesters, whose demands include reforms to the ultra-powerful monarchy.

The woman was charged with 23 counts, which brought a sentence of 87 years in prison. Reports say this sentence was reduced after she confessed.

[FULL STORY HERE] 

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world. 

 

#GERMANY: Merkel Calls Trump Ban From Twitter "Problematic"

[world politics news] 

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has concerns that Twitter's “problematic” suspension of Donald Trump's account, in the wake of last week's assault on the Capitol, is an encroachment on freedom of opinion, her spokesman said.

Steffan Seibert said on Monday that it was right for social media companies not to “stand back” when content inciting violence was posted online, such as by ‘flagging’ it, as Twitter has previously done to several of the US president's tweets.

Merkel’s spokesman stressed, however, that the right to freedom of opinion is a “fundamental right of elementary importance,” which can be interfered with through the law and legislation, “not according to the decision of the management of social media platforms.”

“From this point of view, the chancellor considers it problematic that the accounts of the US president have been permanently blocked,” he told reporters in Berlin.

Merkel's office made the comments despite her and several other European leaders having a troubled and complicated history with Trump, who often bluntly attack them for not paying their fair share in NATO.

Other world leaders also spoke out on the Twitter ban, for instance French president Emmanuel Macron also expressed reservations.

Mexico’s president criticized the social media censorship of President Trump.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador slammed the blocking of President Trump online. He noted everyone has the right to free speech on social media.

“I don’t like anyone to be censored and for them to have their right taken away to send a message on Twitter or on Facebook," he said.

Perhaps the most honest, and humorous, response came from the son of Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil’s president, Eduardo Bolsonaro, who called Twitter “authoritarian” and tweeted: “A world where Maduro is on social media, but Trump is suspended cannot be normal.”

On Sunday, he announced that he would be “permanently” using Trump’s profile picture for his own account.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#POLAND: Bill Would Fine Social Media Giants For Removing Content Legal In Poland

[world politics news]

 

Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro has announced a legal initiative aimed at enabling internet users to file complaints against the removal of online posts as well as the creation of a special court for freedom of speech.

Ziobro said the aim of the bill is to give internet users the feeling that their rights are protected and that their posts cannot be arbitrarily removed from online platforms.

Under its provisions, social media services can be fined if they remove content or block accounts if the content on them does not break Polish law.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#SOLOMONISLANDS: Cabinet Votes To Ban Facebook

[world politics news] 

The Cabinet of the Solomon Islands has agreed to ban Facebook, citing a need for stricter cybercrime legislation and regulation.

The Communications Minister, Peter Shanel Agovaka, confirmed the decision to the Solomon Times newspaper, saying public misuse of the platform was the main concern.

He said country was lacking legislation on internet usage and cybercrime which was particularly worrying when it came to what children were accessing and being exposed to.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#HONGKONG: After Pressure From Beijing Gov't, Four HK Lawmakers Removed

[world politics news] 

The Hong Kong government has disqualified four pro-democracy lawmakers after Beijing’s top legislative body passed a resolution to oust legislators who promote or support Hong Kong independence, appeal to foreign governments to “interfere,” refuse to accept China’s rule over the city or endanger national security.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#UK: Police Questioning Of Conservative Commentator Raises Free Speech Issues

[world politics news] 

Conservative commentator Darren Grimes has been asked to attend a police station to be interviewed, after he was accused of a public order offense of "stirring up racial hatred."

He published an interview on his podcast on July 2 in which his interviewee, the historian David Starkey, said slavery was not genocide because there are "so many damn blacks."

The charges against him have caused a serious backlash among those seeking to protect freedom of the press and freedom of speech in the UK. Home Secretary Priti Patel has signalled her support for Darren Grimes, saying "it's important the law protects freedom of speech."

The Home Secretary said the right was a "general principle" which should not be violated.

Starkey has lost his job and a book deal since the comments were broadcast.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#HONGKONG: Gov't Dismisses Concerns Over New Security Law

[world politics news]

Hong Kong's leader Carrie Lam has said other countries "have no place" interfering in the territory, as she robustly defended a controversial national security law planned by China.

The law would ban treason, secession, sedition and subversion. Critics say it would limit the city's freedoms. Many fear it would be the end of the "One Nation, Two Systems" arrangement made between the city-state and the Communist Chinese mainland in 1997 when it was handed back by the British.

But in her weekly press conference, Ms Lam said it was a "responsible" move to protect the law-abiding majority.

She denied that the law would curtail the rights of Hong Kongers.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#CHINA: People's Congress To Consider Law To Ban Dissent In Hong Kong

[world politics news]

Pro-democracy activists say they fear "the end of Hong Kong", after China announced plans for a new security law.

The US said the move could be "highly destabilising" and undermine China's obligations on Hong Kong's autonomy.

China's National People's Congress will on Friday debate the law, aimed at banning "sedition and subversion," which many fear will be broadly defined as any type of dissent against the Communist Party in mainland China.

Supporters say it is needed to tackle the violence in political protests that erupted last year, broadly disrupting normal life for many.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#RUSSIA: Parliament Votes To Allow Bloggers, Journalists, To Be Labeled "Foreign Agents"

[world politics news]

The lower house of Russia's parliament, the State Duma, has overwhelmingly passed legislation that would allow the government to label journalists, bloggers, and social media users as foreign agents.

The bill, which still needs approval from the Federation Council, the upper chamber, and President Vladimir Putin’s signature to become law, expands on existing “foreign agent” measures already targeting select foreign media and Russian Non-Governmental Organizations..

The laws have been criticized by human rights groups as highly restrictive but lauded by Kremlin loyalists as essential to protect Russian sovereignty.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#SINGAPORE: Law Gives Gov't Sole Discretion To Define, Ban, "Fake News"

[world politics news]

Singapore's Parliament has voted 72 to 9, with three abstentions, to pass the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill.

Heated debate focused primarily on the definition of what constituted as false or true, with critics such as the Asia Internet Coalition saying the legislation gave the government "full discretion" and this level of "overreach" poses as a significant risk to freedom of expression in Singapore.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#HONGKONG: Four Leaders Of 2014 Umbrella Protest Movement Jailed

[world politics news]

Hong Kong reopened one of the most emotional and divisive chapters in its history this week as four of nine democracy leaders and key activists convicted on public nuisance charges over the 2014 Occupy protests were jailed for up to 16 months.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#EU: Critics Say New European Copyright Law Endangers Internet Freedom

[world politics news]

Amid widespread protests, online and off, the European Union approved a controversial new copyright directive on Tuesday. The legislation is intended to give copyright holders more control over their work, but critics say it could hand more power to tech giants, stifle the free flow of information, and even prevent memes from being shared online.

European Parliament passed the copyright directive in a vote with 348 votes in favor, 274 against, and 36 abstentions. The new guidelines are the EU’s first major update to its copyright laws since 2001.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#OMAN: Social Media Legislation Aimed At "Attacks On Private Persons, The Country, Groups"

[world politics news]

A new law being prepared by the Shura Council, Oman's 86-member lower house of parliament, will not limit a person's ability to say his or her opinion, according to Council Member H.E. Ali al Maashani. "We are not thinking of limiting a person's ability to speak their opinion, given that the opinion is headed in a positive direction. We are only talking about the ethical implications of attacking either a private person, the country, or a group of individuals," said al Maashani, who heads the council's Media and Culture committee. Currently, Oman's Penal Law contains legislation designed to protect individuals from personal attacks.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.