Brazil’s online crossroads between authoritarianism and democracy
Despite Brazil’s democratic accomplishments, laws used to regulate websites date from the 1960s, giving arbitrary power to the state. A proposed ‘Marco Civil da Internet’ has the capacity to change this, writes Marcos Todeschini.
Can Google’s algorithm slander a politician’s wife?
Type 'Bettina Wulff', the name of a former German president’s wife, into Google and the autocomplete function will add 'escort'. Is this algorithmic addition a form of defamation? Sebastian Huempfer explores the case.
The topless duchess
Judith Bruhn explores the theory and practice of privacy in Europe and whether a court injunction was enough to salvage the Duchess of Cambridge's privacy.
Orlando Figes and the anonymous poison pen
What exactly was wrong with a historian publishing caustic anonymous reviews of his competitors' books on Amazon? Katie Engelhart explores the issues raised by a tragic-comic case.
Katalin Barsony on empowering Roma with technology
Romedia Foundation aims to disseminate an insider's view of Romani issues, empower Romani activists and challenge stereotypes through new media.
China’s human flesh search engines
While China's human flesh search engines can help reveal government corruption they can also be used to humiliate ordinary citizens, writes Judith Bruhn.
Zuma and his spear
A South African art gallery removed an explicit painting of President Jacob Zuma after pressure from the African National Congress, write Nimi Hoffmann and Maryam Omidi.
Landmark libel bill falls short of expectations
The new defamation bill fails to address some of the most important issues, including restrictions on the ability of corporations to sue for libel, writes Jonathan Heawood, director of English PEN.
The Mexican journalist and the “alcoholic” president
Mexican journalist Carmen Aristegui was fired for publicly calling on President Felipe Calderón to clarify rumours that he suffered from alcoholism, writes Felipe Correa.
Max Mosley on privacy
The former head of Formula One racing's governing body talks about the difficulty of countering sensational claims made in a globally reported tabloid story, and draws a distinction between privacy and reputation.
Dominique Strauss-Kahn’s “perp walk”
Was it right to make Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the former managing director of the IMF, do the "perp walk" after he was charged with sexually assaulting a hotel maid in New York? Clementine de Montjoye argues no.
