The United Persons

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• 

  mazsa 16:05 on June 29, 2011 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Corporation ( 22 ), Definition ( 11 ), Free speech, Person ( 69 ), Property ( 30 ), United States ( 144 )   

  

  So What If Corporations Aren’t People? “Corporate participation in public discourse has long been a controversial issue, one that was reignited by the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United v. FEC, 130 S. Ct. 876 (2010). Much of the criticism of Citizens United stems from the claim that the Constitution does not protect corporations because they are not “real” people. While it’s true that corporations aren’t human beings, that truism is constitutionally irrelevant because corporations are formed by individuals as a means of exercising their constitutionally protected rights. When individuals pool their resources and speak under the legal fiction of a corporation, they do not lose their rights. It cannot be any other way; in a world where corporations are not entitled to constitutional protections, the police would be free to storm office buildings and seize computers or documents. The mayor of New York City could exercise eminent domain over Rockefeller Center by fiat and without compensation if he decides he’d like to move his office there. Moreover, the government would be able to censor all corporate speech, including that of so-called media corporations. In short, rights-bearing individuals do not forfeit those rights when they associate in groups. This essay will demonstrate why the common argument that corporations lack rights because they aren’t people demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of both the nature of corporations and the First Amendment.” http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1873158

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• 

  mazsa 06:44 on March 4, 2011 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Constitution ( 79 ), Corporation ( 22 ), Free speech, Law ( 88 ), Person ( 69 ), United States ( 144 )   

  Critique of The Story of Citizens United v. FEC: Annie Leonard released a video titled “The Story of Citizens United v. FEC,” an eight-and-a-half-minute criticism of http://theunitedpersons.org/blog/420

  Lee Doren made his own video critique above in response to Ms. Leonard’s offering.

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• 

  mazsa 21:03 on January 28, 2011 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Free speech, Freedom ( 16 ), Internet ( 150 ), Privacy ( 83 ), Security ( 113 )   

  

  6 Ideas For Those Needing Defensive Technology to Protect Free Speech from Authoritarian Regimes and 4 Ways the Rest of Us Can Help https://www.eff.org/wp/surveillance-self-defense-international

  Pdf: https://www.eff.org/files/eff-surveillance-self-defense.pdf

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• 

  mazsa 14:52 on January 5, 2011 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Censorship ( 17 ), European Union ( 53 ), Free speech, Freedom ( 16 ), Hungary ( 51 ), Security ( 113 )   

  Rightwing populist Viktor Orban is the last person in Europe suited to hosting the EU rotating presidency [...] Hungary, now effectively under one-party rule, can be populist, isolationist and poor, or it can seek foreign investment. But it cannot do both. [...] Criticism from Europe may not frighten the prime minister, but the spotlight is now on his whole country.

  The Guardian, Editorial

   
• 

  mazsa 09:43 on December 30, 2010 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Free speech, Freedom ( 16 ), Internet ( 150 )   

  

  “[...] Consider the recent furor over whether WikiLeaks leader Julian Assange is a journalist, or can be prosecuted for espionage. I don’t know who initially asked this question. [...] Note that this question presupposes that First Amendment protection applies only to journalists! There is no legal precedent for this that I’m aware of; yet if people spend enough time debating whether Julian Assange is a journalist, they will have unknowingly convinced themselves that ordinary citizens have no First Amendment rights.” http://lesswrong.com/lw/3hs/dark_arts_101_using_presuppositions/

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• 

  mazsa 19:45 on December 29, 2010 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Flashmob, Free speech, Freedom ( 16 ), Hungary ( 51 )   

  Flashmob against censorship in Hungary [video] 

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• 

  mazsa 10:25 on December 27, 2010 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Free speech, Hungary ( 51 )   

  some governments have kept quiet, preferring not to stir up yet another controversy in the crisis-plagued E.U. That’s the wrong approach. Europe cannot allow a member government to flout fundamental freedoms without consequence. Some ready leverage is available: Hungary is due to host a European Union summit meeting in Budapest in May, with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton expected to attend. Mr. Orban should be given a choice between curbing his concentration of power and amending the media laws – or suffering the humiliation of having the European Union and the United States move or boycott his summit.

  The Washington Post, Editorial: The Putinization of Hungary

   
• 

  mazsa 10:05 on December 27, 2010 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Free speech, Hungary ( 51 )   

  

  A possible logic behind censorship in Hungary: “In articulating preferences, individuals frequently tailor their choices to what appears socially acceptable. In other words, they convey preferences that differ from what they genuinely want. Kuran calls the resulting misrepresentation “preference falsification.” In his 1995 book, Private Truths, Public Lies, he argues that the phenomenon is ubiquitous and that it has huge social and political consequences. These consequences all hinge on interdependencies between individual decisions as to what preference to convey publicly. A person who hides his discontent about a fashion, policy, or political regime makes it harder for others to express discontent.

  One socially significant consequence of preference falsification is thus widespread public support for social options that would be rejected decisively in a vote taken by secret ballot. Privately unpopular policies may be retained indefinitely as people reproduce conformist social pressures through individual acts of preference falsification.

  In falsifying preferences, people hide the knowledge on which it rests. In the process, they distort, corrupt, and impoverish the knowledge in the public domain. They make it harder for others to become informed about the drawbacks of existing arrangements and the merits of their alternatives. Another consequence of preference falsification is thus widespread ignorance about the advantages of change. Over long periods, preference falsification can dampen a community’s capacity to want change by bringing about intellectual narrowness and ossification.

  The first of these consequences is driven by people’s need for social approval, the second by their reliance on each other for information. [...]” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timur_Kuran#Preference_Falsification

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• 

  mazsa 09:55 on December 26, 2010 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Free speech, Freedom ( 16 ), Hungary ( 51 ), Internet ( 150 )   

  

  International press coverage of the new media law in Hungary
  edited by “Szól a Rádió” group and Gábor Hraskó
  2010/12/25 08:20

  ENGLISH
  ———————————

  FINANTIAL TIMES (2010/12/24)
  EU presses Hungary on media law

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-057

  THE AUSTRALIAN (2010/12/24)
  Hungary censured over gag law

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-033

  WORLD SOCIALIST WEB SITE (2010/12/24)
  The demolition of press freedom in Hungary

  http://www.wsws.org/articles/2010/dec2010/hung-d24.shtml

  AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL (2010/12/23)
  Sweeping new media law threatens freedom of expression in Hungary

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-019

  UK REPRESENTATION TO THE EU (2010/12/23)
  Hungary and media freedom

  http://ukeu.fco.gov.uk/en/news/?view=News&id=509962682

  COUNCIL OF EUROPE (2010/12/23)
  Markku Laukkanen calls for limits on new media authority in Hungary

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-031

  THE ECONOMIST (2010/12/23)
  All eyes on Orbán

  http://www.economist.com/blogs/easternapproaches/2010/12/hungarys_media_law

  EURACTIVE (2010/12/23)
  EU speechless over Hungary’s contentious media law

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-025

  DAILY MAIL (2010/12/23)
  Hungary gags media and throws its EU presidency into doubt with
  Communist-style measure

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-024

  THE TIMES (2010/12/23)
  Press Ganged

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-026

  RAIDIÓ TEILIFÍS ÉIREANN (2010/12/23) Ireland
  Hungary criticised over new media control laws

  http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/1223/hungary.html

  OSCE (2010/12/22)
  Hungarian media law further endangers media freedom, says OSCE media
  freedom representative

  http://www.osce.org/item/48262.html

  EUROPEAN COMMISSION (2010/12/22)
  Midday press briefing – Hungary media law

  http://ec.europa.eu/avservices/player/streaming.cfm?type=ebsvod&sid=172030

  EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE BLOG (2010/12/22)
  Hungary’s media law raises eyebrows and concerns

  http://www.eesc.europa.eu/?i=portal.en.vice-president-communication-amd-blog.13823

  NASDAQ (2010/12/22)
  German Government Closely Watching Hungarian Media Law Changes

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-001

  BLOOMBERG BUSINESSWEEK (2010/12/22)
  Hungary Approves ‘Chilling’ Media Law Over Protests

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-029

  THE EUROPEAN LIBERAL YOUTH (2010/12/22)
  LYMEC alarmed by Hungary’s media gagging

  http://lymec.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=804

  CNBC (2010/12/21)
  Hungary passes contentious new media law

  http://www.cnbc.com/id/40768558

  BBC NEWS (2010/12/21)
  Hungary to create new media watchdog

  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12051665

  DEUTCHE WELLE (2010/12/21)
  Hungarian parliament passes controversial law to oversee media

  http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,6362238,00.html

  REUTERS (2010/12/21)
  Hungary passes law boosting government control of media

  http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6BK6KF20101221

  NATIONAL POST (2010/12/21) Canada
  Hungary’s media law is a direct assault on press freedoms

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-027

  THE WALL STREET JOURNAL (2010/12/21)
  Hungary Approves Controversial Media Law

  http://blogs.wsj.com/new-europe/2010/12/21/hungary-passes-controversial-media-law/

  EUOBSERVER (2010/12/21)
  Hungary leads EU attacks on press freedom, watchdog says

  http://euobserver.com/9/31562

  NEWS DAILY (2010/12/21)
  Hungary passes law boosting government control of media

  http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/tre6bk6kf-us-hungary-media/

  BLOGGINGPORTAL (2010/12/21)
  European Blog Action against Censorship in Hungary

  http://www.bloggingportal.eu/blog/european-blog-action-against-censorship-in-hungary/

  THE NEW AGE (2010/12/21) South Africa
  Hungary”s parliament approves a controversial media bill

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-028

  EURONEWS (2010/12/20)
  Hungary’s new media law branded “heavy-handed”

  http://www.euronews.net/2010/12/20/hungary-s-new-media-law-branded-heavy-handed/

  FINANCIAL TIMES (2010/12/19)
  Hungary protesters fight media regulations

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-030

  FREEDOM HOUSE (2010/12/13)
  Proposed Hungarian Media Law Would Threaten Freedom

  http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=70&release=1292

  GUARDIAN (2010/06/25)
  Protests at new media law in Hungary

  http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/greenslade/2010/jun/25/press-freedom-hungary

  DEUTCHE WELLE (2010/06/23)
  Critics say proposed Hungarian media reform stifles press freedom

  http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5723651,00.html

  HÜRRIET (2010/06/20) Turkey
  Hungarian journalists oppose new media law

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-055

  GERMAN
  ———————————

  SPIEGEL ONLINE (2010/12/24)
  Orbán poltert gegen Merkel& Co.

  http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/0,1518,736506,00.html

  WELT ONLINE (2010/12/23)
  Der Führerstaat Ungarn gefährdet die EU

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-003

  SPIEGEL ONLINE (2010/12/23)
  Ungarns Knebelgesetz spaltet Europa

  http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/0,1518,736422,00.html

  AUSWARTIGES AMT (2010/12/23)
  Staatsminister Werner Hoyer im SWR-Tagesgespräch zur ungarischen
  Mediengesetzgebung (video)

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-034

  AUSWARTIGES AMT (2010/12/23)
  Ungarische Mediengesetzgebung wirft kein gutes Licht auf die kommende
  EU-Ratspräsidentschaft

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-035

  TAGESSCHAU (2010/12/23)
  Zunehmende Kritik an ungarischem Mediengesetz (video)

  http://www.tageschau.de/multimedia/video/ondemand100_id-video830600.html

  TAZ.DE (2010/12/22)
  Auf dem Weg zur Diktatur

  http://www.taz.de/1/debatte/kommentar/artikel/1/auf-dem-weg-zur-diktatur/

  ZDF (2010/12/22)
  Pressefreiheit auf ungarisch

  http://blog.zdf.de/zdfdasblog/2010/12/pressefreiheit-auf-ungarisch.html

  DIE WELT (2010/12/22)
  Berlin warnt Ungarn vor Missachtung der EU-Werte

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-005

  WELT ONLINE (2010/12/22)
  Führerstaat Ungarn

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-009

  WELT ONLINE (2010/12/22)
  EU-Parlamentarier geißeln Ungarns Medienzensur

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-015

  WELT ONLINE (2010/12/22)
  Ungarn – Eine Schande für die Europäische Union

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-038

  WELT ONLINE (2010/12/22)
  “Autoritäre Fäulnis” in Ungarns Mediengesetz

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-054

  SPIEGEL ONLINE (2010/12/22)
  Ungarns Medien-Maulkorb alarmiert die EU

  http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/0,1518,736064,00.html

  TAGESSCHAU (2010/12/22)
  Merkel warnt Ungarns Regierung

  http://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/ungarn210.html

  KLEINE ZEITUNG (2010/12/22)
  Mediengesetz in Ungarn stößt in Europa auf Kritik

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-006

  FOCUS (2010/12/22)
  EU-Abgeordnete kritisieren neues Mediengesetz

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-008

  METRONAUT (2010/12/22)
  Zensur in Ungarn: China mitten in Europa

  http://www.metronaut.de/media/zensur-ungarn-china/

  DEUTSCHE WELLE (2010/12/22)
  Vernichtende Kritik an Ungarns Pressezensur

  http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,6363386,00.html

  DEUTSCHE WELLE (2010/12/22)
  Merkel warns Hungary to maintain EU values on press freedom

  http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,14730956,00.html

  STERN (2010/12/22)
  Merkel prangert Ungarns Medienmaulkorb an

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-037

  ZEIT ONLINE (2010/21/22)
  Die Nachrichten werden gleichgeschaltet

  http://www.zeit.de/politik/ausland/2010-12/ungarn-interview-inotai

  JUNGE WELT (2010/12/22)
  Medien unter Kontrolle

  http://www.jungewelt.de/2010/12-22/062.php

  ONLINE FOCUS (2010/12/22)
  Ungarn: Neues Mediengesetz stößt in Europa auf Kritik

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-039

  DER TAGESSPIEGEL (2010/12/22)
  Brüssel kritisiert Ungarns Mediengesetz

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-052

  KURIER (2010/12/22)
  Der Führerstaat des Viktor Orban

  http://kurier.at/kultur/2059782.php

  NETZPOLITIK (2010/12/21)
  Hintergründe zum ungarischen Mediengesetz

  http://www.netzpolitik.org/2010/hintergrunde-zum-ungarischen-mediengesetz/

  ZEIT ONLINE (2010/12/21)
  Ungarn führt die Zensur ein

  http://www.zeit.de/politik/ausland/2010-12/ungarn-mediengesetz-orban

  ARTE (2010/12/21)
  Ungarn: Pressefreiheit adieu? (video)

  http://videos.arte.tv/de/videos/ungarn_pressefreiheit_adieu_-3606308.html

  FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE (2010/12/21)
  Scharfe Kritik an Ungarns Regierung

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-002

  FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE (2010/12/21)
  Ungarn führt Sanktionen für Medien ein

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-032

  SPIEGEL ONLINE (2010/12/21)
  Rechtskurs in Budapest: Ungarns Medien-Maulkorb alarmiert die EU

  http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/0,1518,736064,00.html

  SPIEGEL ONLINE (2010/12/21)
  Ungarischer Presse droht Maulkorb

  http://www.spiegel.de/kultur/gesellschaft/0,1518,735895,00.html

  TAGESSCHAU (2010/12/21)
  Pressefreiheit im EU-Land Ungarn in Gefahr

  http://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/ungarn200.html

  DER STANDARD (2010/12/21)
  Orban bringt Medien auf Kurs

  http://derstandard.at/1292462312146/Orban-bringt-Medien-auf-Kurs

  DER STANDARD (2010/12/21)
  Ungarn: Grünes Licht für umstrittenes Mediengesetz

  http://derstandard.at/1292462315332/Ungarn-Gruenes-Licht-fuer-umstrittenes-Mediengesetz

  HANDELSBLATT (2010/12/21)
  Ungarn setzt die Pressefreiheit außer Kraft

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-016

  EVANGELISCH.DE (2010/12/21)
  Heftige Proteste gegen die Mediengleichschaltung in Ungarn

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-036

  SUEDOSTSCHWEITZ.CH (2010/12/21) Switzerland
  Ungarn schränkt mit Gesetz Pressefreiheit ein

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-017

  KURIER (2010/12/21) Austria
  Ungarn: Orbáns Mediengesetz beschlossen

  http://kurier.at/kultur/2059570.php

  WELT ONLINE (2010/12/21)
  In Ungarn entsteht ein skrupelloser Führerstaat

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-040

  FRANKFURTER RUNDSCHAU (2010/12/21)
  Ungarn führt Zensur ein

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-018

  DER BUND (2010/12/21)
  Katastrophe für Europa

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-041

  ZDF (2010/12/21)
  Scharfe Kritik an Ungarns Mediengesetz (video)

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-053

  N-TV (2010/12/21)
  Ungarn schränkt die Presse ein

  http://www.n-tv.de/politik/Ungarn-schraenkt-Pressesfreiheit-ein-article2204086.html

  TAGES ANZEIGER (2010/12/20)
  Ungarns Regierung schafft die Demokratie ab

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-007

  RUSSIAN
  ———————————

  BALTINFO (2010/12/22)
  Оппозиция Венгрии призывает президента не принимать закон о СМИ

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-058

  RFI (2010/12/14) France
  Венгрия голосует за строгий Закон о прессе

  http://www.russian.rfi.fr/evropa/20101214-vengriya-golosuet-za-strogii-zakon-o-presse

  POLISH
  ———————————

  GAZETA WYBORCZA (2010/12/21)
  Do przyjaciół Węgrów

  http://wyborcza.pl/1,76842,8848799,Do_przyjaciol_Wegrow.html

  POLSKIE RADIO DLA ZAGRANICY (2010/12/21)
  Polish editor criticises Hungary’s new media law

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-046

  VPOLITYCE (2010/12/21)
  Wiktor, trudne chwile przed tobą…

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-047

  SPANISH
  ———————————

  EL PAIS (2010/12/21)
  Criticas internacionales al control total de los medios de prensa en Hungría

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-004

  EL MUNDO (2010/12/21)
  Hungría refuerza el control del Gobierno sobre todos los medios de comunicación

  http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2010/12/21/internacional/1292926050.html

  EL MUNDO (2010/12/21)
  Hungría aprueba una ley que refuerza el control del Gobierno sobre los medios

  http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2010/12/21/comunicacion/1292924946.html

  FRENCH
  ———————————

  LE FIGARO (2010/12/21)
  En Hongrie, Orban resserre le contrôle des médias

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-049

  PRESSEUROPE (2010/12/21)
  Le gouvernement met la presse en coupe réglée

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-014

  NOUVELOBS (2010/12/21)
  La Hongrie vote une loi renforçant le contrôle des médias

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-050

  ARTE JOURNAL (2010/12/20)
  Hongrie : quelle présidence pour l’Union ?

  http://www.arte.tv/fr/Comprendre-le-monde/arte-journal/NAV/3606796.html

  ITALIAN
  ———————————

  LE FIGARO (2010/12/21)
  En Hongrie, Orban resserre le contrôle des médias

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-011

  CORRIERE DELLA SERA (2010/12/21)
  Ungheria: libertà di stampa a rischio Media sotto controllo del governo

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-013

  ANSA (2010/12/20)
  Ungheria: approvata ‘legge bavaglio’

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-010

  CZECH
  ———————————

  LIDOVKY (2010/12/23)
  Schwarzenberg: Zákon o médiích v Maďarsku odporuje demokracii

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-020

  CESKÉ NOVINY (2010/12/23)
  Schwarzenberg kritizoval maďarský mediální zákon

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-021

  REGIONY IMPULS
  Maďarsko podle Orbána nechce měnit sporný mediální zákon

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-022

  ZPRAVY ROZHLAS (2010/12/21)
  Maďarská vláda má kontrolu nad obsahem zpravodajství

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-048

  SLOVAK
  ———————————

  PRAVDA (2010/12/24)
  Ani nápad, Orbán o zmene mediálneho zákona neuvažuje

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-023

  PRAVDA (2010/12/21)
  Orbán priškripol médiá

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-045

  ROMANIAN
  ———————————

  ADEVARUL (2010/12/22)
  Ungaria a pus pumnul în gura jurnaliştilor

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-042

  SLOVENIAN
  ———————————

  TIMES.SI (2010/12/21)
  Sporni zakon: Si skuša madžarska vladajoča stranka podrediti medije?

  http://www.times.si/read/f07916c3a8/20b841eab5/index.html

  TIMES.SI (2010/12/21)
  Na Madžarskem sprejeli sporni medijski zakon

  http://www.times.si/read/f07916c3a8/8347adecdb/index.html

  SERBIAN
  ———————————

  BLIC ONLINE (2010/12/24)
  Cenzura na mađarski način

  http://www.blic.rs/Vesti/Svet/225700/Cenzura-na-madjarski-nacin

  RADIO-TELEVIZIJA VOJVODINE (2010/12/22)
  OEBS: Ugrožena sloboda medija u Mađarskoj

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-043

  B92 (2010/12/03)
  Nezadovoljni mađarski mediji

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-051

  CROATIAN
  ———————————

  H-ALTER.ORG (2010/12/22)
  Državni udar na slobodu medija

  http://www.h-alter.org/vijesti/mediji/drzavni-udar-na-slobodu-medija

  VIJESTI (2010/12/21)
  Mađarska postrožila nadzor nad medijima

  http://www.tportal.hr/vijesti/svijet/102540/Madarska-postrozila-nadzor-nad-medijima.html

  BOSNIA AND HERCEGOVINA
  ———————————

  BUKA ONLINE (2010/12/22)
  Mađarski zakon o medijima – na tragu Berlusconija i Lukašenka

  http://www.buka.ba/zakon-o-medijima-madjarska

  SWEDEN
  ———————————

  SVT (2010/12/22)
  EU-storm mot Ungern efter ny medielag

  http://svt.se/2.22584/1.2278453/eu-storm_mot_ungern_efter_ny_medielag

  MAGYAR
  ———————————

  AMERIKAI NÉPSZAVA (2010/12/24)
  Orbánnak esze ágában sincs megváltoztatni a médiatörvényt

  http://tinyurl.com/freepress-012

  PARAMETER blog (2010/12/24)
  Feljegyzések az utolsó padból

  http://www.parameter.sk/rovat/paramagyar/2010/12/24/feljegyzesek-az-utolso-padbol

  ÚJ SZÓ (2010/12/13)
  Mindenható sajtóbíróság

  http://ujszo.com/online/velemeny-es-hatter/2010/12/13/mindenhato-sajtobirosag

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• 

  mazsa 04:56 on December 24, 2010 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Free speech, Germany ( 18 ), Hungary ( 51 ), Internet ( 150 ), Politics ( 73 )   

  

  PM Orban: “Far be it from us to change the new media law. I’m not trembling from fear of the arguments in the Parliament and the echoes from the west. As far as the poor Chancellor Merkel concerned, she was falsely accused. Poor Chancellor didn’t say anything at all. The deputy spokesman of the German government said that [...]” http://www.hirtv.hu/?tPath=/view/videoview&videoview_id=11793 [in Hungarian], 8pm, 23 December 2010

  Cf. 10am 23 December 2010 http://www.ardmediathek.de/ard/servlet/content/3517136?documentId=6126594 : “German deputy foreign minister Werner Hoyer said the passage of the media law does not bode well for the EU as Hungary takes over the 27-nation bloc’s rotating presidency for six months on Jan. 1. Hoyer also said that Germany welcomes the investigation by the commission on whether the law violates the EU’s legal standards.” http://amexrap.org/fal/staatsminister-hoyer-zur-ungarischen-mediengesetzgebung

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  admin 04:49 on December 24, 2010 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Free speech, Hungary ( 51 )   

  Freedom of the press is at the heart of a free society. We hope that the Hungarian Government will soon resolve this issue satisfactorily and that it will not impact adversely on the successful delivery of the Hungarian EU Presidency.

  Foreign Office (GB)

   
• 

  mazsa 15:34 on December 23, 2010 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Free speech, Hungary ( 51 ), Politics ( 73 )   

  

  Germany welcomes EU investigation on new Hungarian media law: “German deputy foreign minister Werner Hoyer said the passage of the media law does not bode well for the EU as Hungary takes over the 27-nation bloc’s rotating presidency for six months on Jan. 1.

  Hoyer also said that Germany welcomes the investigation by the commission on whether the law violates the EU’s legal standards.

  “It is a reason for serious concern if there’s only the smallest suspicion that media freedom in a member state of the European Union is subject to a control of its content,” Hoyer said.

  In a reference to the EU’s motto, he added the measures “certainly do not represent the idea of a union that is built on unity in diversity.

  “As incoming EU president, Hungary bears a special responsibility to represent Europe’s values and interests in the world,” he said.” http://ca.news.yahoo.com/germany-welcomes-eu-investigation-hungarian-media-law-20101223-050758-807.html

  Original: Staatsminister Werner Hoyer im SWR-Tagesgespräch zur ungarischen Mediengesetzgebung http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/sid_EF8BE2FED1EDE0A4AF4E4FBA94638DB6/DE/Mediathek/mediathek_podcasts_node.html

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  mazsa 12:15 on December 22, 2010 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: European Union ( 53 ), Free speech, Freedom ( 16 ), Germany ( 18 ), Hungary ( 51 ), Luxembourg   

  The plans [the new media law of Hungary approved yesterday] clearly violate the spirit and the letter of EU treaties. It raises the question whether such a country is worthy of leading the EU. It’s a direct danger for democracy. The state will control opinion. Until now Lukashenko was considered to be the last dictator in Europe. When the law takes effect, that won’t be the case any more. / Die EU-Kommission muss unverzüglich gegen die Pläne vorgehen. Sie verstoßen gegen den Geist und die Worte der EU-Verträge. Es stellt sich die Frage, ob ein solches Land würdig ist, die EU zu führen.

  Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn

   
• 

  mazsa 12:12 on December 22, 2010 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: China ( 8 ), European Union ( 53 ), Free speech, Freedom ( 16 ), Hungary ( 51 ), Letter, Politics ( 73 )   

  

  ”
  ———- Forwarded message ———-
  From: Mázsa Péter [...]
  Date: 2010/12/21
  Subject: Freedom of speech in Hungary as of 21st December 2010
  To: jintao@blog.hu.com
  Cc: Philip Barker [...],

  Dear Mr. Hu Jintao,

  We are writing this letter to you not to address you in your role as
  the Chinese Premiere, but to address you as if one private individual
  were speaking to another.

  We would like to purchase your website, which can be found at the
  following address http://blog.hu.com .

  Please allow us to explain this request”: http://amexrap.org/fal/dear-mr-hu-jintao

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• 

  mazsa 12:01 on December 15, 2010 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Free speech, leak ( 2 ), Transparency ( 18 )   

  Which are your favorite Wikileaks-keywords? 

  

  Write them here anonymously: http://pad.telecomix.org/kulcsszavak
  and/or set up an alert to monitor them: http://cablesearch.org/?page_id=17 (Number of cables:
  1477 Still to go in Wikileaks 99%)

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• 

  mazsa 10:57 on December 15, 2010 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Free speech, Freedom ( 16 ), Hungary ( 51 ), Politics ( 73 )   

  

  Joint IPI/SEEMO Fact-finding Mission to Hungary To Be Held 15-16 December 2010: “The International Press Institute (IPI) and its affiliate, the South and East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), will hold a press freedom fact-finding mission to Hungary on 15-16 December 2010. [...]

  SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic said: “For the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) this visit is very important. We aim to obtain clear feedback from media and state representatives about the media situation, problems, and developments in Hungary.”

  IPI Press Freedom and Communications Manager Anthony Mills said: “We have in recent months repeatedly expressed our concern at the deteriorating press freedom situation in Hungary. The legislation currently being discussed in parliament is further evidence of an attempt to limit the scope of press freedom in the country. That’s why missions like this are so important.” [...]” http://www.freemedia.at/singleview/5242/

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• 

  mazsa 17:48 on December 14, 2010 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Free speech, Freedom ( 16 ), Hungary ( 51 ), Politics ( 73 )   

  Proposed Hungarian Media Law Would Threaten Freedom 

  

  “[...] The law, which is expected to be passed shortly, would provide the National Media and Communications Authority’s (NMHH) Media Council with the authority to impose fines on private newspapers, websites, broadcasters, and other content providers that have violated press rules on “balanced” coverage as well as immoral reporting (such as content involving sex, violence, and alcohol). Fines could be as much as $934,000 for radio and television stations, $120,000 for daily newspapers and online news outlets, and approximately $47,000 for weeklies. Outlets could also be suspended or shut down. The new law, in essence, subjects private media organizations to the rules and regulations that govern public and state-run media and imposes potentially severe penalties for content-related violations.

  “This legislation, combined with other troubling moves against the media, will be a major setback for press freedom in Hungary,” said Karin Karlekar, Managing Editor of Freedom House’s annual Freedom of the Press index. “Of particular concern is the wording of the supposed ‘violations’ which is very is broad, creating an environment conducive to significant misuse, especially given the extremely polarized political environment in the country.” [...]

  Prime Minister Viktor Orban, the leader of the ruling Fidesz party, appointed a former Fidesz politician as the director of the NMHH’s Media Council for a nine-year term, and the remaining four seats on the Council were filled by Fidesz supporters following a parliamentary vote in October. The new Media Council has been given enhanced regulatory powers and considerable control over all forms of media. In November, additional legislation was adopted that forces journalists to reveal their sources in articles concerning national security or public safety issues. [...]

  Hungary is ranked Free in Freedom in the World 2010, Freedom House’s survey of political rights and civil liberties, and Free in Freedom of the Press 2010.” http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=70&release=1292

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• 

  mazsa 23:50 on December 10, 2010 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Free speech, Internet ( 150 ), Privacy ( 83 ), Security ( 113 )   

  Wikirebels – The Documentary:

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• 

  admin 23:16 on December 10, 2010 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Free speech, Freedom ( 16 ), Internet ( 150 ), Russia ( 8 ), Security ( 113 ), United States ( 144 )   

  If it is full democracy, then why have they hidden Mr. Assange in prison? That’s what, democracy? So, you know, as they say in the countryside, some people’s cows can moo, but yours should keep quiet. So I would like to shoot the puck back at our American colleagues, the pot calling the kettle black.

  Vladimir Putin

   
• 

  mazsa 16:38 on December 7, 2010 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Free speech, Internet ( 150 ), Security ( 113 )   

  Wikileaks founder Assange wrote this Op-Ed for The Australian today: http://blogs.theaustralian.news.com.au/mediadiary/index.php/australianmedia/comments/julian1/

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• 

  admin 16:56 on December 3, 2010 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Free speech, Internet ( 150 )   

  http://213.251.145.96/

  wikileaks

   
• 

  mazsa 21:06 on November 1, 2010 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Constitution ( 79 ), Corporation ( 22 ), Free speech, Law ( 88 ), Person ( 69 ), United States ( 144 )   

  U.S. Supreme Court declines to review SpeechNow.org free speech case 

  

  1.: http://theunitedpersons.org/blog/speechnow-org-v-fec

  2.: https://www.campaignfreedom.org/newsroom/detail/us-supreme-court-declines-to-review-speechnoworg-free-speech-case

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• 

  mazsa 22:04 on October 6, 2010 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Constitution ( 79 ), Corporation ( 22 ), Free speech, Law ( 88 ), link ( 126 ), Person ( 69 ), United States ( 144 )   

  

  Speechnow.org v. FEC: “In Citizens United v. FEC [cf. http://theunitedpersons.org/blog/420 , http://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/citizens-united-v-federal-election-commission ], this Court held that the government cannot require a corporation to speak through a political committee or “PAC” as an alternative to banning the corporation’s speech outright. In direct conflict with that holding, the D.C. Circuit held that SpeechNow.org – an unincorporated group that makes only independent expenditures and thus poses no risk of corruption or its appearance – must organize as a political committee in order to speak.

  The question presented is whether, under the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment, the federal government may require an unincorporated association that makes only independent expenditures to register and report as a political committee [despite the fact that a more narrowly tailored means of disclosing its independent expenditures exists in 2 U.S.C. § 434(c)].”

  http://sblog.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Brief-10-05-10-101303.pdf @ http://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/speechnow-org-v-fcc/

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  U.S. Supreme Court declines to review SpeechNow.org free speech case « The United Persons is discussing. Toggle Comments

   
• 

  mazsa 07:37 on September 21, 2010 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Data ( 28 ), Free speech, Iceland ( 7 ), Infrastructure ( 128 ), International taxation ( 42 ), Internet ( 150 ), Jurisdiction ( 23 ), Law ( 88 ), quote ( 18 ), Tax ( 72 ), United States ( 144 )   

  Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act [with quotations] 

  

  Lawmakers introduced legislation yesterday that would let the Justice Department seek U.S. court orders against “piracy” websites anywhere in the world, and shut them down through the sites’ domain registration:

  “[...] the court may issue a temporary restraining order, a preliminary injunction, or an injunction against the domain name used by an Internet site dedicated to infringing activities to cease and desist from undertaking any infringing activity in violation of this section [...]” pp. 3-4.

  “The Attorney General may commence an in rem action against any domain name used by an Internet site in the judicial district in which the domain name registrar or domain name registry is located [...]” p.4.

  “(2) DOMAINS FOR WHICH THE REGISTRY OR REGISTRAR IS NOT LOCATED DOMESTICALLY.— [...] the in rem action may be brought in the District of Columbia to prevent the importation into the United States of goods and services offered by an Internet site dedicated to infringing activities if
  (i) the domain name is used to access such Internet site in the United States; and
  (ii) the Internet site
  (I) conducts business directed to residents of the United States; and
  (II) harms intellectual property rights holders that are residents of the United States.” pp. 5-6.

  “The Attorney General shall maintain a public listing of domain names that, upon information and reasonable belief, the Department of Justice determines are dedicated to infringing activities but for which the Attorney General has not filed an action under this section. [...] the individual may obtain judicial review of such determination in a civil action commenced not later than 90 days after notice of such decision [...] A civil action for such judicial review shall be brought [...] in the District Court of the United States for the District of Columbia.” pp. 12-13.

  http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/threatlevel/2010/09/CombatingOnlineInfringementAndCounterfeitsAct1.pdf

  Cf. http://theunitedpersons.org/blog/tag/iceland

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  mazsa 06:34 on August 30, 2010 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Constitution ( 79 ), Corporation ( 22 ), Free speech, Law ( 88 ), link ( 126 ), Person ( 69 ), United States ( 144 )   

  “Recently, President Obama took aim at the Kochs’ political network. Speaking at a Democratic National Committee fund-raiser, in Austin, he warned supporters that the Supreme Court’s recent ruling in the Citizens United case—which struck down laws prohibiting direct corporate spending on campaigns—had made it even easier for big companies to hide behind “groups with harmless-sounding names like Americans for Prosperity.” Obama said, “They don’t have to say who, exactly, Americans for Prosperity are. You don’t know if it’s a foreign-controlled corporation”—or even, he added, “a big oil company.””

  

  http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/08/30/100830fa_fact_mayer?currentPage=all

  Cf. http://theunitedpersons.org/blog/420

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• 

  mazsa 09:59 on June 21, 2010 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Book ( 8 ), Download ( 4 ), Free speech, Freedom ( 16 ), link ( 126 ), Market ( 16 )   

  

  About: http://www.amazon.com/Machinery-Freedom-Guide-Radical-Capitalism/product-reviews/0812690699
  Download: http://daviddfriedman.com/The_Machinery_of_Freedom_.pdf
  Source: http://daviddfriedman.blogspot.com/2010/06/machinery-of-freedom-is-webbed.html
  Via: http://www.facebook.com/foldiak

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• 

  mazsa 10:18 on June 16, 2010 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Congratulations, Data ( 28 ), Free speech, Iceland ( 7 ), Jurisdiction ( 23 ), Law ( 88 ), Politics ( 73 ), post ( 18 )   

  The Icelandic Modern Media Initiative’s parliamentary resolution proposal has passed unanimously 

  

  The WikiLeaks advised parliamentary resolution proposal to build an international “new media haven” in Iceland, with the world’s strongest press and whistleblower protection laws, and a “Nobel” prize for Freedom of Expression [cf. http://theunitedpersons.org/blog/tag/iceland ] has passed through a vote at Alþingi and was accepted today at 8:54am with a unanimous vote.

  50 votes were cast in favor, zero against, one abstained. Twelve members of parliament were not present. Vote results are available at http://www.althingi.is/dba-bin/atkvgr.pl?nnafnak=43014

  One of the inspirations for the proposal was the dramatic August 2009 gagging of Iceland’s national broadcaster, RUV by Iceland’s then largest bank, Kaupthing.

  Two changes were made to the proposal from its original form as per the opinion of the parliament’s general affairs committee [ http://www.althingi.is/altext/138/s/1329.html ]. The first of these altered slightly the wording of the first paragraph so as to widen the arena for research. The second of these added two new items to the list of tasks for the government:

  • That the government should perform a detailed analysis, especially with respect to operational security, for the prospect of operating data centers in Iceland.

  • That the government should organize an international conference in Iceland regarding the changes to the legal environment being caused by expansion of cloud computing, data havens, and the judicial state of the Internet.

  Video footage from the proposal’s vote will be available at:

  http://www.althingi.is/altext/hlusta.php?raeda=rad20100616T033127&horfa=1

  http://www.althingi.is/altext/hlusta.php?raeda=rad20100616T033306&horfa=1

  A more detailed press release will follow.

  For details of the proposal and press contacts, please see http://www.immi.is

  ___
  The United Persons: Congratulations!)

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  Iceland Modern Media Initiative « Full Mental Straightjacket and mazsa are discussing. Toggle Comments

   
  • 

    mazsa 21:03 on June 20, 2010 Permalink | Reply

    from Smári McCarthy
    to announce@immi.is
    date 20 June 2010 21:07

    On June 16th the Icelandic Parliament unanimously passed a proposal
    tasking the government to intoduce a new legislative regime to protect
    and strengthen modern freedom of expression, and the free flow of
    information in Iceland and around the world. There is full government
    support for the initiative and its objectives.

    Birgitta Jonsdottir, the chief sponsor in parliament of the IMMI
    proposal said: “Iceland will become the inverse of a tax haven; by
    offering journalists and publishers some of the most powerful
    protections for free speech and investigative journalism in the world.
    Tax havens aim is to make everything opaque. Our aim is to make
    everything transparent.” she said.

    Highlights from the proposal:

    • the Icelandic Prize for Freedom of Expression
    • Protection from “libel tourism” and other extrajudicial abuses
    • Protection of intermediaries (internet service providers)
    • Statute of limitations on publishing liabilities
    • Virtual limited liability companies
    • Whistle-blower protections
    • Source protection
    • Source-journalist communications protection
    • Limiting prior restraint
    • Process protections
    • Ultra-modern Freedom of Information Act

    Because of the complexity of the legislative changes required, the final
    legislation will not pass through Parliament at the same date, at least
    13 laws need to be changed and improved in 4 ministries. The Ministry of
    Education, Science and Culture that will have an overall responsibility
    of implementing the laws.

    Estimated time for the entire IMMI package to be completed is about a
    year. The creators of the IMMI hope by Iceland’s bold steps in the
    direction of creating a haven for freedom of information, speech and
    expression, that it will inspire other nations to follow suit by
    strengthening their own laws in favor of the fundamental cornerstones
    that are the base of democracies and thwart the trending of gagging,
    legal harassment and destruction of historical records.

    This proposal was created by international collaboration of activists,
    lawyers, politicians and organizations, including the Icelandic Digital
    Freedoms Society, The Sunshine Press (Wikileaks) and Index on
    Censorship. The group of people involved share a comprehensive
    understanding about how the current status of affairs are in our world
    in regard of serious attacks on freedom of information and expression,
    and possess a vast understanding of the legal measures that have been
    employed to counteract these attacks and how they can be applied.

    The Icelandic Modern Media Initiative is based on turning the tax-haven
    concept on its head. Instead of pulling together asset hiding and
    secrecy laws from around the world in order to shelter corruption and
    financial crime, the IMMI pulls together the best transparency enabling
    legislation, to create a stronghold for investigative journalists,
    internet publishers, transparency watchdogs and the public.

    The global support for the IMMI underlines the need for a robust
    environment that supports the world’s best journalism and the activities
    of transparency groups. The flow of information has no borders and most
    of the media is moving to the Internet. That is why the time has come
    for a modern legislative regime that can promote and defend global
    freedom of expression, in principle and in practice.

    _______________________________________________

• 

  mazsa 14:30 on June 4, 2010 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Free speech, Iceland ( 7 ), Jurisdiction ( 23 ), Law ( 88 ), post ( 18 )   

  

  Iceland new media haven bill before parliament in days. We NEED statements of endorsement NOW or NEVER to core@immi.is http://twitter.com/wikileaks/statuses/15399523963

  Iceland: we http://theunitedpersons.org need you NOW or NEVER:)

  Cf. http://immi.is/?l=en&p=endorsements

  http://theunitedpersons.org/blog/the-legislative-initiative-outlined-he

  http://theunitedpersons.org/blog/icelandic-modern-media-initiative-video

  Via stef

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• 

  mazsa 10:15 on May 17, 2010 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Free speech, Hacking ( 9 ), Hardware ( 11 ), Infrastructure ( 128 ), Internet ( 150 ), Jurisdiction ( 23 ), P2P ( 19 ), Privacy ( 83 ), Security ( 113 ), Spectrum ( 4 ), Strategy ( 15 ), United States ( 144 ), Vision ( 10 )   

  

  Should Obama Control the Internet? – A new bill would give the President emergency authority to halt web traffic and access private data. http://motherjones.com/politics/2009/04/should-obama-control-internet

  Cf.

  “Netsukuku is the name of an experimental peer-to-peer routing system, developed by the FreakNet MediaLab (Italian), born to build up a distributed network, anonymous and censorship-free, fully independent but not necessarily separated from Internet, without the support of any server, ISP and no central authority. It does not rely on a backbone router, or on any routing equipment other than normal network interface cards.”

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netsukuku

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• 

  mazsa 17:28 on April 23, 2010 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Free speech, Iceland ( 7 ), Jurisdiction ( 23 ), Law ( 88 ), link ( 126 ), Open ( 37 ), Strategy ( 15 )   

  “The idea behind Icelandic Modern Media Initiative is simple but it’s ambitious: bring together some of the most progressive media laws from many different countries to create one holistic law that will position Iceland at the forefront of the battle to protect journalists, whistleblowers and their sources from oppressive liability laws.” (via http://immi.is )

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