Category: Access & Censorship

One journalist, who was on vacation, had his home raided in the early morning by the police. Others were called in to their bosses’ offices last week and fired, with little explanation. Dozens of reporters have had their press credentials revoked.

A pro-government newspaper, meanwhile, published a list of names and photographs of journalists suspected of treachery.

They had a lot to say: They worried that news organizations and industry groups are failing to keep up with digital FOI developments, trends in government secrecy and the imperial way technology companies handle news and information.

Currently the report finds that at least a quarter of all local and state police departments have access to a facial recognition database—either their own or another agency’s—and law enforcement in more than half of all states can search against the trove of photos stored for IDs like drivers’ licenses

“That was unconstitutional,” he said. “If you exclude reporters from briefings that they otherwise have a right to attend because you don’t like their reporting, then you have engaged in viewpoint discrimination.” Viewpoint discrimination by the government in a public forum is almost always unconstitutional.

A federal judge on Friday struck down Utah’s so-called “ag gag” law, siding with animal-rights activists that the statute — which prohibits unauthorized filming of agricultural operations — violates free speech rights.

And thus we confront one of the contemporary conundrums of images and culture. More than any time in the history of photography, images and metadata provide incredibly powerful ways to increase transparency and uncover “truth.” But the potential for malicious or misuse is high. And ironically, publicizing these incidents often brings attention to fringe ideologies.

The photographer in question, however, apparently went to great lengths to capture images of Macron and his wife. The photographer reportedly used a motorbike to follow Macron and his wife “on several occasions despite repeat warnings from security staff, and sometimes did so in a risky and perilous manner,” the French government tells the Telegraph.

Sterne pointed to an unsympathetic statement released by ASH Antifa Seven Hills that incorrectly suggests journalists must get people’s consent before filming, despite journalists having a legal right to record public gatherings without the demonstrators’ consent.