Bloggers Rights Campaign updates and links

dublin | rights, freedoms and repression | news report

Friday March 09, 2007 10:59

by C Murray

The Irish Situation............................................

In the context of the 'Reporters Without Borders' report on Press intimidation, violence and Political Repression of Bloggers, web designers and film activists:-

This a short article with updated links on the issues of Traffic Data Retention globally and the peculiar Irish 'spin' on those rights. The graphic and links at the bottom of the page have info and petitions on current online campaigns.

The Reporters without borders 2007 report indicates that citizen journalists and bloggers are now being imprisoned, with a report of 60 activists now imprisoned (globally) In Mexico web-designers, independent film-makers and human rights writers and activists are currently being brutally repressed.

Blue Ribbon Campaign

The Irish situation is unique- The TDR or Traffic Data Retention act was only legislated for after The Minister for juctice was threatened with legal action for the illegal retention of mobile phone/ internet data for a three year period. The story was covered by Karen Lillington in the business pages of the Irish Times. Minister Mc Dowell had, on gaining his job retained a cabinet approved 'Communication's Directive' introduced by Mary O Rourke, which allowed for the post 9/11 political repression and terrorism laws to be introduced into Ireland.

They were not legislated for quite a period, and the information commissioner threatened a case against the Dept of Justice, Equlaity and Law Reform on the basis of TDR without legislation.

So, we in Ireland- a 'Neutral" state have the longest TDR retention period in the whole of the EU, The House of Commons threw out similar legislation in Britain.

http://www.digitalrights.ie/lobby :- has info on the Irish situation.

http://www.rsf.org :- has the reports on the 60 citizen journalists, web designers
and bloggers currently imprisoned.

http://www.eff.org/br :- has the links to the Blue ribbon campagn (seen in the graphic).

http://www.iwmf.org :- has info on women reporters and writers.