netizen's --> Lambda Bulletin 2.11 <-- contents + Short-circuits in Burma + Medical privacy and PGP + New York's CDA on tracks * * * * * SHORT-CIRCUITS IN BURMA The military regime in Burma decided last month to ban information technology use and possession, in order to sustain its new iron fist on dissidents and members of the National League for Democracy. Among other news here's a message sent through the mailing list of the US organisation CyberPOLIS. ---fwd message---
From: George Sadowsky <George.Sadowsky@nyu.edu> Subject: Re: Burma Bans modems
RANGOON, BURMA, 1996 SEP 27 (NB) -- Burma has made owning, using, importing or borrowing a modem or fax machine without government permission a crime, punishable by up to 15 years in jail, according to a report by United Press International.
Burma's military government has imposed what's called "The Computer Science Development Law" which empowers the Ministry of Communications, Posts and Telegraphs to specify what exactly can be restricted, UPI reports.
UPI quotes the government-run newspaper New Light of Myanmar as saying the same punishment is prescribed for anyone who sets up a link with a computer network without the prior permission of the ministry, or who uses computer network and information technology "for undermining state security, law and order, national unity, national economy and national culture, or who obtains or transmits state secrets."
UPI reports that in July a diplomat, Leo Nichols, died in prison after he was sentenced to a lengthy term for illegal possession of fax machines.
It's clear from this action that the SLORC, i.e. the "State Law and Order Restoration Committee" (sic!) understands full well the benefits and importance of the Internet and other forms of electronic communication to open societies, and is determined to deny these benefits to its citizens. Given its recent history and the quasi-imprisonment of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, this new action is perfectly consistent with the government's previous abysmal record.
Countries who would deny open Internet access to its citizens might well pause to consider if they wish to be associated with the current government of Myanmar in doing so. ... c y b e r P O L I S
C o m m u n i c a t e T h i s C u l t u r e ( Christopher D. Frankonis -- baby-x@cyberpolis.org ) ---end of fwd message--- ------------------- FURTHER INFOS According to other sources--international press reports and electronic forums like Usenet's *soc.culture.burma*--it turns out that Ms Aung San Suu Kyi, 1991 Nobel Peace Prize and NLD leader, saw her telephone line cut on Friday, Sept. 28 on the evening. That was the beginning on a widespread crackdown on dissidents and a ban of NLD meetings. University Street, where Ms Suu Kyi lives, was blocked to avoid demonstrations. Hundred of citizens and NLD supporters were detained, some were released by mid-October. The Web site http://freeburma.org is a well known relay for the Burmese diaspora, especially the daily newsletter BurmaNet, which offers a rich compilation of dissidents' communiqués and Western newspapers articles and editorials. Ms Suu Kyi writes a daily letter from her home in Rangoon which is published in the Japanese newspaper Mainichi Shimbun (in japanese, http://www.mainichi.co.jp) - a translation appears daily in soc.culture.burma. It seems that the letter (surely copied on an audio tape) continues to be shipped ouside the country to be published in the Tokyo-based newspaper. Furthermore, other reports claimed that Burma doesn't have any official connection to the Internet. It seems to be true, but a Burmese and US resident found that the domain name "mmnic.net" (mm for Myanmar) was reserved by the Burmese governement in February, 1994. The operation was made possible with the help of the Internet provider Asia Pacific NIC based in Tokyo, Japan. A spokesman confirmed he reserved the domain on the behalf of Burma's State, and that it was dedicated to a future Internet connection. * * * * * MEDICAL PRIVACY AND PGP ---fwd message---
Sender: dfickeisen@cpsr.org (Duane Fickeisen) Subject: cr> Health Info Database Misused
An AP story from Tampa Bay appearing in the Palo Alto Daily News asserts that a public health worker took a laptop and disks with confidential lists of people with AIDS and HIV home and to a gay bar to check out the HIV status of potential dates and offered to look up names of people his friends were interested in dating. One person asserted that he had warned friends away from potential dates, telling them that their names were "on the list." Another claimed that people interested in dating him backed away after the health worker talked to them. The County Health Department has fired him, although he claims he did nothing wrong. The former health worker also owns and lives in a funeral home. The state had permitted such databases to be removed from offices and taken home until they changed their internal rules two weeks ago.
Raises anew questions about privacy and confidentiality of records, security, and misuse/abuse of information for personal and private gain. This ought to be raised up as an example of abuse in response to the announced plans for a national health information database.
Duane H. Fickeisen, Interim Director Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility
---end of fwd message--- As far as I can remember, Phil Zimmermann, speaking during the international encryption conference in Paris on Sept. 25, mentioned this story to explain how easy it was to have his privacy on personal medical records beached. And that to encrypt this sensitive information may be the ultimate solution. Zimmermann is president of PGP Inc., which develops computer security software based on his popular program Pretty Good Privacy (http://www.pgp.com). * * * * * NEW YORK's CDA ON TRACKS ---fwd message---
============== VTW BillWatch #61
VTW BillWatch: A newsletter tracking US Federal legislation affecting civil liberties. BillWatch is published about every week as long as Congress is in session. (Congress is in session)
BillWatch is produced and published by the Voters Telecommunications Watch (vtw@vtw.org)
Issue #61, Date: Thu Oct 17 01:17:52 EDT 1996
...
FREE NOV. 3RD SEMINAR ON NY STATE INTERNET CENSORSHIP BILL
To learn more about this free cybercast seminar see http://www.vtw.org/speech/
New York state recently passed a bill that criminalizes expression online that is currently legal in print. When it goes into effect on November 1, World Wide Web pages, Usenet postings, and email lists that fall under the law may become subject to criminal prosecution, as might the Internet providers that host them.
But don't panic! VTW and the Netly News (http://www.pathfinder.com/Netly/) are putting on a seminar to educate you on the history of the bill, the ins and outs of it and what you should ask your own lawyer, as well as the status of any pending legal challenges.
Who should attend? ------------------ Anyone who publishes information on the Internet, including through World Wide Web pages, Usenet, Email lists, or interactive chats. Attorneys whose clientele include any of the above. Journalists whose beat include the Internet or online services. ....and you!
...
Who will be there? ------------------------------- Speakers marked as "invited" have told us they intend to come, but have informed us of potential conflicts that same day that might interfere with their attendance.
Live speakers . Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) invited: Opening remarks . Shabbir J. Safdar, President (VTW Center for Internet Education) . Steve Barber, Legislative Counsel (VTW): How will this bill affect you, and what you should ask your own attorney . Ann Beeson, Litigation Staff (ACLU) invited
Speakers available online through interactive chat Diana Jarvis, Staff Counsel (VTW Center for Internet Eduation) Stephen Filler, Law Offices of Stephen C. Filler invited
...
Where and when is this seminar? -------------------------------
The seminar will be held at Outernet, Inc, home of bway.net at,
Outernet, Inc. 626 Broadway, Suite 3-A (Very close to the Broadway/Lafayette stop on the F train)
... ---end of fwd message--- -------------------------------- the lambda bulletin, 2.11 http://www.freenix.fr/netizen =+= the lambda bulletin -> www.freenix.fr/netizen =+= =-= Jerome Thorel, Journalist, Paris (Planete Internet Editor) =-=