Free Expression Digest: Mon., June 22
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PEN’s Free Expression Digest brings you the latest news and developments on censorship, mass surveillance, and other challenges to free expression worldwide. Subscribe to the Free Expression Digest to receive a daily curated email of the most important free expression-related stories from around the web. *This mailing list is currently in BETA. Daily emails will start once we reach a critical mass of subscribers. Please send your feedback to [email protected].
British spy agency’s surveillance of two human rights groups ruled illegal by tribunal
GCHQ’s covert surveillance of two international human rights groups was illegal, the judicial tribunal responsible for handling complaints against the intelligence services has ruled. The UK government monitoring agency retained emails from the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights and the South African non-profit Legal Resources Centre. THE GUARDIAN
Germany releases Al Jazeera journalist Ahmed Mansour
German authorities have released Al Jazeera journalist Ahmed Mansour, who had been detained at Berlin airport at the request of the Egyptian government. AL JAZEERA ENGLISH
Obama administration gagged Google over surveillance of Wikileaks volunteer
The Obama administration fought a legal battle against Google to secretly obtain the email records of a security researcher and journalist associated with Wikileaks. The Justice Department won an order forcing Google to turn over more than one year’s worth of data from the Gmail account of Jacob Appelbaum, and gagged the company from disclosing the order. THE INTERCEPT
Rwandan journalist arrested in Burundi freed
A Rwandan journalist arrested and charged with “spying” in neighboring Burundi earlier this month has been released and has returned home. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Mexico investigates journalist’s killing in in southern state
Mexican authorities on Friday were investigating the murder of a journalist in the southeastern state of Tabasco, as a prominent press watchdog group expressed concern over the killing and urged transparency in the probe. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Burma backslides on Freedom of the Press
Over the past few months, however, the tide seems to be turning for Burma’s newly self-assertive press. Reporters are complaining of growing pressure from the authorities. Journalists are landing in jail or facing lawsuits from disgruntled officials. FOREIGN POLICY
Arrests over India journalist murdered
Police in central India have arrested three men suspected of kidnapping a journalist and burning hum to death. BBC NEWS