Wardman Wire Magazine

Privacy international have published a survey of the “effects of new counter-terrorism laws on media and free expression rights in European countries”.

It is a report about the extension of laws which impact on human rights and freedom from interception of communications, through freedom of expression to photography in the street.

Andrew Rawnsley on Politics Home this morning following a question to their “Expert Panel 100″ panel:

Jacqui Smith is being cast as Big Brother - though perhaps that should be Big Mother - over plans to further extend the amount of information on citizens held by the state. The terrorism watchdog is one of those concerned with the idea of a database holding information about every phone call, email and internet visit.

The Home Secretary will go ahead regardless of strong opposition.

A big majority (seventy three per cent) of the politically balanced panel think that Ministers intend to proceed anyway. Only a small minority of the panel (seven per cent) think that there will not be strong opposition to the database scheme.

About a quarter of the panel (twenty six per cent) reckon the Government will drop the plan.

Three days ago I posted about instructions given to Gawain Towler, Press Officer for UKIP (the UK Independence Party) in the European Parliament.

Gawain Towler, The Press Officer for the Independent Europe Group (essentially UKIP and sister parties) in the European Parliament, whose job is to represent this group in criticising the EU has been forced to take his personal blog down for … er … criticising the EU. He’s employed by the European Parliament, and that means that he is subject to the employment regulations.

He runs .. sorry used to run … the England Expects website. You can read the detail on the site.

The precise circumstances are that his blog has been closed down under threat of disciplinary action from within the organisation after a complaint was made about a single post - which he had already edited to remove the particular issue that had been raised with him.

The complaint escalated through the organisation, and the sky subsequently fell in.

There has been some support from Jon Worth and Nosemonkey, as well as many others of a more EU-sceptic bent.

Since then, things have changed.

Both Gawain Towler and Jon Worth appeared on the Radio 4 programme Pods and Blogs talking with Chris Vallance about the events. The clip is below.

I’m getting tired of this.

Another one, and this one is even more ironic that the Welsh Assembly case.

Gawain Towler, The Press Officer for the Independent Europe Group (essentially UKIP and sister parties) in the European Parliament, whose job is to represent this group in criticising the EU has been forced to take his blog down for … er … criticising the EU. He’s employed by the European Parliament, and that means that he is subject to regulations.

He runs .. sorry used to run … the England Expects website. You can read the detail on the site.

It has been closed down under threat of disciplinary action from within the organisation after a complaint was made about a single post - which he had already edited to remove the particular issue that had been raised with him.

The complaint escalated through the organisation, and the sky subsequently fell in.

There has been some support from Jon Worth and Nosemonkey, as well as many others of a more EU-sceptic bent.

I hear from Phil Groom that the application to make the UK charity Society of Saint Stephen the Great bankrupt at the United States Bankruptcy Court Southern District of Texas in Houston has been Dismissed with Prejudice:

Thanks to Rigorist for this update, posted August 29, 2008 at 12:11 am:

I just checked the US court system’s PACER service this afternoon (it is still afternoon on this side of the Atlantic). The bankrupcty case was dismissed at today’s hearing on the trustee’s motion.

The actual docket entry is as follows:

“Courtroom Minutes. Time Hearing Held: 11:00 am. Appearances: Mark Brewer for debtor; Randy Williams for Trustee. (Related document(s): 24 Chapter 7 Trustee’s Motion to Dismiss Case). Ellen Hickman present. Mr. Williams addressed the Court regarding the motion to dismiss. Arguments were heard by opposing parties. The Court announced its findings and dismissed the case with prejudice. (rsmi) (Entered: 08/28/2008)”

A written order with more explanation may follow, but as of right now, the bankruptcy case is dismissed.

This means that the Society of Saint Stephen the Great, a UK Charity, has been recognised (at this stage, by this Court) as not being able to be liquidated under US Bankruptcy Laws.

The “With Prejudice” dismissal means that the case is dismissed for good reason and the plaintiff is barred from bringing an action on the same claim. I can’t comment on what is possible in other courts, however.

It took a pin, a tiny pin, to prick the bluff and bluster…

(See next article)

A cartoon from Indexed.

Heave-Ho Harry’s Place

Here we go again; another random party using our atrocious Libel Laws to close down criticism and debate. In this case it appears to be Sheffield Academic Jenna Delich, or her supporters, making legal noises to intimidate the iSP hosting the blog Harry’s Place.

Harry’s Place comments:

Though we have not yet seen the complaint submitted, we assume it runs along the lines that pointing out that Ms Delich linked to the website of a known neo-Nazi figure and former Ku Klux Klan leader is defamatory.

 

This is extraordinary since Ms Delich has not denied that she circulated links to David Dukes website. There would be no point since the evidence is in the public domain.

They committed the unforgiveable sin of “publishing a fact”, which means that any Libel Case is down the toilet for a start - if my legal head is screwed-on correctly tonight. And any iSP should know that, but the law makes it easier to give in. If allegation is not correct (I think it looks fine), then they (and the rest of us) may be skewered.

Leftish imbroglios and nuances are not my strong suit - but closing down debate by running squealing to an iSP using Britain’s nonsensical Libel Laws is the best way to make yourself look ridiculous.

The actors in this case: Jenna Delich is an activist with a bee in her bonnet for the campaign for an Academic Boycott of Israel, and the UCU is one of the main Unions for staff in Higher Education.