The Battle for Net Freedom Continues

Google's Sergey Brin has warned that web freedom is facing the greatest threat ever. In an article Battle for the Internet by Ian Katz of The Guardian, causal factors include threats range from governments trying to control citizens to the rise of Facebook and Apple-style 'walled gardens'.

According to that article:

The principles of openness and universal access that underpinned the creation of the internet three decades ago are under greater threat than ever, according to Google co-founder Sergey Brin.

In an interview with the Guardian, Brin warned there were "very powerful forces that have lined up against the open internet on all sides and around the world". "I am more worried than I have been in the past," he said. "It's scary."

The threat to the freedom of the internet comes, he claims, from a combination of governments increasingly trying to control access and communication by their citizens, the entertainment industry's attempts to crack down on piracy, and the rise of "restrictive" walled gardens such as Facebook and Apple, which tightly control what software can be released on their platforms.

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CLICK HERE TO EXPLORE THE OTHER ARTICLES IN THE SEVEN-DAY SERIES ON BATTLE FOR THE INTERNET.

Report Finds Voter Rolls Are Rife With Inaccuracies

The New York Times featured an article today on how America's voter registration rolls are in disarray. This is according to a report released Tuesday by the Pew Center on the States. The problems have the potential to affect the outcomes of local, state and federal elections.


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Crackdowns Now In China!

China has detained top activists and deployed heavy security in large cities after the launch of a web campaign calling for protests echoing popular uprisings in the Arab world, campaigners said on Sunday.

Up to 100 leading Chinese rights lawyers and activists have disappeared since Saturday with police also descending onto protest sites around the nation, ready to put down any unrest, campaigners said.

The government appeared to be censoring Internet and text messages calling for the demonstrations, revealing deep-seated concerns among Chinese leaders over the possibility of Arab-style protests spreading to China.

Story continues AT THIS LINK.

We did it OUR way

Democracy is government based on faith, not religious faith but faith that ordinary citizens, when well-educated and free to choose, will choose their leaders wisely, being persuaded by logical argument rather than swayed by emotional rhetoric.

In a democracy everyone, male, female, rich, poor, are equal before the law. They are free to express their opinions and criticise their leaders.

It's impossible for any government to satisfy everyone all the time, thus in a democracy there is lots of disagreement and discussion that may be misinterpreted as chaos by people who do not understand the central premise of democracy; faith in the people to make wise choices of leadership.

People in democracies, because of their freedoms, are able to freely collaborate, brainstorm and crowdsource to solve problems.

People in a democracy can sack a dysfunctional government and replace it.

Dictatorships lack the advantages of many minds, millions of minds, working together to solve problems.

Dictatorships lack flexibility to respond to changes in economies and societies.

Look at how during the past 20 years various countries have prospered following the collapse of the USSR.

Look at the track records of dictatorships compared to democracies. You will find democracies are not perfect but they are much better than dictatorships.

Dictatorship's main focus is to perpetuate themselves, not ensure national prosperity.

I have faith that Malaysians will choose wisely when choosing leaders
and a system of government. The future and fate of everyone in Malaysia, including that of my children, depends on the choices made by my fellow Malaysians.

Together we can achieve much more than any one of us alone.

Of that I am certain.

Later, we can say, "We did it OUR way".

Written by Pakac Luteb

BAD NEWS FOR DEMOCRACY AND BLOGGERS AS WELL

There must have been mixed feelings at the Times newspaper last week when an organisation that partially bases its brand and reputation on protecting sources' anonymity unmasked an anonymous police blogger. It was the kind of judicial intervention usually visited on the media by the constabulary, not the other way round.

The injunction obtained by Richard Horton against the Times revealing him as the author of the NightJack blog was toppled by "Mr Privacy" Justice Eady. The issues here are pretty nuanced - one set of competing freedom of expression rights rubbing up against another. But the verdict of the web on this occasion had little room for considered argument, with everyone from Jean Seaton, chair of the Orwell Prize, to commenters on its own legal blog criticising the Times. From the outside it looks a bizarre choice of resource allocation on the part of the paper - you spend money on establishing a precedent which is likely to be used against you in the future. It seems flawed both ethically and strategically.

It is natural enough for a newspaper to want to overturn an injunction when it sees one, but in this case what may have seemed like a reasonable case to pursue "in the public interest" has resulted in the closure of a blog and the disciplining of Horton by the force. The public appeared unimpressed by the outcome, and strangely ungrateful that their interests have been nobly protected. As the net result is that they can theoretically no longer publish anonymously if they so wish, they might legitimately be quite annoyed.

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MANSOR WINS SO WHAT IS THE WRITING ON THE WALL?

As expected by many, unofficial results coming from Penanti seem to show that PKR's Mansor Othman is heading for a whopping victory in the by-election.

Well, this by-election has certainly made headlines in a different way.

Firstly, it is historically the only election with such a low turnout of only 46.15%. Statistically, out of a total of 15,384 registered voters in the constituency, a total of 7,100 people had cast their votes.

At the point of typing this post, counting is taking place in ten polling districts - Guar Perahu, Kuala Mengkuang, Telok Wang, Mengkuang, Sungai Lembu, Penanti, Kubang Ulu, Sungai Semambu, Tanah Liat and Berapit Road.

According to unoffical statistics compiled by Penang PKR, with about 40 percent of votes counted so far - PKR's Mansor Othman had 6,052 votes while Nai Khan Ari won 494 votes while our infamous Madam-Record-Every-Conversation-Aminah Abdullah miraculously managed to secure 392 ( I expected a double digit figure!!!) while Kamarul Ramizu Idris secured 56 votes.

In the 2008 elections, the Election Commission announced a 82.13% voter turnout.

Secondly, it is the only election with tight security and deployed Light Strike Force units armed with batons and shields outside the polling centres where most voters trickled in.

Any ordinary citizen would probably opine that such heavy police presence is quite ridiculous, incurring unnecessary expenses and can be perceived as scaring would-be voters from coming out to vote and also defying international norms.

Thirdly, the Aminah CD distribution of allegations of recorded conversations obviously did not convince voters to vote for her and instead, transformed her into a comedy act.

Fourthly, campaigners may have to be watchful about what they say during ceramahs if we take into consideration what has happened to MP Lim Kit Siang and MP Gobalakirshnan who are being investigated by the cops regarding what they said during their speeches.

PKR may have won this battle but the sad news is, there is a bigger battle to be fought and the outlook seems to be quite dismal. It is now up to the rakyat and the parliamentarians and elected assemblymen to rise to the occasion. A new strategy, a new approach and more caution and wisdom are definitely needed. What say you?

PUSH HARDER

ANOTHER ARTICLE WRITTEN BY PAKAC LUTEB

The recent crackdowns on various bloggers, including RPK, the police report against commentators in Malaysia Today, the arrests of people holding anti-ISA vigils and numerous similar cases show how desperate the BN/UMNO regime is in their bid to stifle the freedom of expression.

In addition to making a mockery of the claim by the bn/umno regime that "Malaysia is a democracy", the crackdown shows that the BN/UMNO government's promise to "not censor the internet" was merely empty words, merely "saying the right thing" to attract foreign ICT
companies to invest in the multimedia super corridor (MSC).

The BN/UMNO government has exhausted its credibility, whatever it does, whatever reforms it may implement, is "too little too late".

The BN/UMNO crackdowns on freedom of expression only serve to demonstrate how important it is to completely oust BN/UMNO from the government.

The harder BN/UMNO pushes the rakyat, the harder the rakyat will push back.

Maybe we should all wear Tshirts with the inscription "Push Harder".

WHY YOU MUST VOTE

Sometimes we take life for granted..sometimes we even take voting for granted...

Do you know that voting is one of the crucial processes that is instrumental in the success of a democracy.

Imagine this conversation:

"The Government is useless, there is nothing they can do to make our lives better, the rising prices, the unemployment, the escalating crime rate…they have no answers", said Ah Meng.

"Well, if you are really concerned about all these things, you should have voted Mikey!", said Joven. "May be a better candidate would have won, and may be he would have taken some effective measures for improvement…Unless you vote you just can’t blame the government, because you have failed your duties!"

Well if you are one of those people who think voting is a waste of time and keep on complaining about how the government is a complete failure; then it is time you realize the importance of voting, and do your bit towards enhancing the government functioning! Here are some reasons why people should vote…

1. Be it an election for a county commissioners, governor, state officials, legislators or the president - it is these people who have the rights to formulate policies that will affect :

*your town
* your job
* your children and descendants
* your country
* your taxes
* your entire life and that of your loved ones and friends.

2. Voting ensures that your opinion is taken into account while appointing the person who holds the reins of power.

3. People who are elected have the power to formulate educational policies which are instrumental in shaping the future of children and hence the future of the nation itself.

4. Health care, highways, jobs, taxes or even food, the elected representatives have the power to take decisions over some of the most vital issues in our life.

5. So would you be comfortable in letting "anybody" take over these powers, without exercising your right to vote?

6. Voting is one of the fundamental processes, which is instrumental in the development of a healthy democracy.

7. If you are a registered voter for the three by-elections in either BATANG AI, BUKIT GANTANG OR BUKIT SELAMBAU, exercise your right to opinion. Your right to vote is your right to expression and opinion. Do not take your right for granted.

8. Take leave to go back to your hometown no matter how inconvenient.

9. Try and appreciate the power of voting by exercising it!

You can make the difference. VOTE!!!