Britain's Spy Chief Says US Tech Firms Aid Terrorism

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: New GCHQ director Richard Hannigan accuses some Silicon Valley companies of becoming 'the command and control networks of choice' for terrorists

Technology giants such as Facebook and Twitter have become "the command and control networks of choice" for terrorists and criminals but are "in denial" about the scale of the problem, the new head of GCHQ has said.

Robert Hannigan said that Isil terrorists in Syria and Iraq have "embraced the web" and are using it to intimidate people and inspire "would-be jihadis" from all over the World to join them.

He urged the companies to work more closely with the security services, arguing that it is time for them to confront "some uncomfortable truths" and that privacy is not an "absolute right".

He suggested that unless US technology companies co-operate, new laws will be needed to ensure that intelligence agencies are able to track and pursue terrorists. » | Steven Swinford, Senior Political Correspondent | Monday, November 03, 2014

British Woman 'Sentenced to 20 Years in Iran for Facebook Posts'

Roya Saberi Hegad Nobakht

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Iranian court sentences British woman and seven others to up to 20 years in jail for 'anti-regime propaganda' posted on Facebook

An Iranian court has sentenced a British woman and seven others to up to 20 years in jail for crimes including posting comments on Facebook, an opposition website said yesterday.

Roya Saberi Negad Nobakht was arrested during a visit to Shiraz last autumn for comments she had made on her Facebook page, and was last week sentenced to 20 years in jail, the Kaleme website said.

Kaleme, which did not cite a source for its report, said the sentences were delivered last week.

Ms Nobakht, who was said to be "devastated", has dual British-Iranian nationality and had been living with her husband in Stockport, according to media reports.

"She is not doing well," a source said according to The Times. "She is just a housewife and is not an activist. » | Telegraph’s Foreign Staff | Friday, May 30, 2014

Iranian Women Post Pictures of Themselves without Hijabs on Facebook

THE GUARDIAN: Campaign set up by London-based Iranian journalist Masih Alinejad attracts more than 130,000 likes on social media site

Thousands of Iranian women are taking off their veils and publishing pictures of themselves online, igniting a debate about the freedom to wear or not wear the hijab.

A Facebook page set up by London-based Iranian journalist Masih Alinejad 10 days ago has attracted more than 130,000 likes, with women across Iran sending unveiled pictures taken in parks, at the seaside and in the streets.

"My stealthy freedom while driving in the streets of Tehran," wrote Maryam alongside an image showing her behind the wheel. "I like to feel the wind blowing on my face." » | Saeed Kamali Dehghan | Monday, Monday 12, 2014

Iran Bans WhatsApp After Facebook Purchase because Zuckerberg "Is an American Zionist"

THE INDEPENDENT: Iranian censors have reportedly banned popular messaging app WhatsApp because Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, whose company recent bought the app, is an “American Zionist”.

The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that the ban has triggered “an open dispute” within the Iranian government, especially in the light of President Hassan Rouhani’s recent shift towards more moderate policies for the Islamic Republic.

The ban was announced by the secretary of the Committee for Determining Criminal Web Content Abdolsamad Khorramabadi who has been quoted as saying that "the reason for this is the adoption of WhatsApp by the Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, who is an American Zionist." » | James Vincent | Wednesday, May 07, 2014

HAARETZ: Rohani rejects Iranian WhatsApp ban: Iranian president orders a stop to the proposed ban by the Iranian censorship committee. » | JTA | Wednesday, May 07, 2014

Inside Story: Facebook at 10: Hip or Has-been?

After more than a billion Likes, is the love affair with Facebook fading?

Indian Clerics Tell Muslim Girls Not to Post 'Selfies' on Facebook

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Clerics in India have denounced "Facebook selfies" as un-Islamic and forbidden Muslim girls from posting pictures of themselves on social networks.

Two leading helplines for young Muslims seeking guidance have warned teenagers that in Islam the only men who should see their faces are close relatives and their husbands.

Their edict will be difficult to enforce within India's growing ranks of middle class Muslims among whom social networking is as popular as it is in the West.

Sunni and Shia clerics have warned them, however, that true relationships and friendships cannot be made over the internet and that it is wrong for girls to project their charms online. » | Dean Nelson, South Asia editor | Monday, August 12, 2013

Saudi Arabia[n] Court Jails Seven Facebook Cyber Activists
BBC: A court in Saudi Arabia has sentenced seven cyber activists to between five to 10 years in prison for inciting protests, mainly by using Facebook.

The men were arrested in September last year, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW), and their trial began in April.

They were charged with posting online messages to encourage protests, although they were not accused of directly taking part in demonstrations.

It is seen as the country's latest move against online political dissent. » | Sunday, June 30, 2013

Tory Councillor Suspended for Posting a Facebook Picture Which 'Compared Muslim Children in Burkas to Bin Bags' Defends It as 'Blokeish Banter'

MAIL ONLINE: Enfield councillor Chris Joannides suspended by Conservative Party / Asked friends to send him football scores during meetings and complained about missing his favourite TV shows

A local councillor has been suspended for posting a comment on Facebook comparing Muslim children wearing burkas to bin bags.

Chris Joannides also messaged friends during meetings with his constituents asking for updates on football scores and complaining about missing his favourite television programmes.

The Conservative councillor for Enfield, in north London, has denied being Islamophobic and defended his comments as 'blokeish banter'.

Mr Joannides posted a photo showing a woman and child dressed in burkas standing next to two bin bags.

He wrote underneath: 'I saw her standing there and I told her she had three beautiful children. She didn't have to get all p***ed off and threaten me. It was an honest mistake!' » | Hugo Gye | Thursday, February 07, 2013

Mark Zuckerberg Thanks Facebook Employees, Supporters at IPO Launch
May 18 - At the launch ceremony of Facebook's IPO, CEO Mark Zuckerberg tells employees and supporters to stay focused as the company enters a new phase as a publicly traded company. Rough Cut (no reporter narration).

Australian Energy Company CEO Stands Down after Slew of Racist Remarks on Facebook

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: An Australian energy company has lost contracts and had its ties with a football club cut after its CEO made a slew of offensive remarks on Facebook about Aborigines, Asians, Jews, Muslims and women.

The comments were described by Julia Gillard, Australia's Prime Minister – who was herself the target of some remarks – as "very nasty". But the company boss, Ben Polis, denied he was "like a neo-Nazi racist", saying he once dated a half-Aboriginal woman and employed an Asian cleaner.

Mr Polis, 30, stood down from his position as chief executive of the company he founded, EnergyWatch, today after a meeting with the senior managers.

His comments were deemed "abhorrent" by the Aussie Rules football club, Melbourne Demons, which terminated its £1.3 million annual deal with the company, its major sponsor. A football club, Melbourne Victory, and a rugby club, Melbourne Rebels, also terminated their sponsorship deals. » | Jonathan Pearlman in Sydney | Thursday, April 05, 2012

Log Off! As Facebook Plans a $5bn Stock Market Float, One Trenchant Sceptic Describes How the Social Network Is Ruthlessly Selling Your Soul
MAIL ONLINE: Log off! As Facebook plans a $5bn stock market float, one trenchant sceptic describes how the social network is ruthlessly selling your soul

The announcement that Facebook, the social media giant, is planning a $5bn float on the stock market – valuing the company at $100bn – has led to a frenzy of speculation about the fortunes its young founders will rake in. There will be hundreds of new millionaires, we hear, and several new billionaires, too.

But in all this hysteria about the vast sums involved, has anyone thought to question what exactly Facebook is selling? The answer is both obvious and sinister: You.

Terrifyingly, the social networking site turns you into a product. It makes your friendships, marriages and children into a product.

Facebook tells its users: ‘It’s free and always will be.’ Now consider this bit of wisdom: ‘If you’re not paying, you’re not the customer; you’re the product.’

The site — founded by famously low-key American Mark Zuckerberg — has always presented itself as a sort of altruistic social service. Its tagline reads: ‘Facebook helps you connect and share with the people in your life.’

Now that sounds fairly harmless. What sort of curmudgeon could object to connecting and sharing?
In actual fact, though, Facebook is a gigantic, and really quite frightening, advertising scam. Its business model is to collect information about individual consumers (you) and sell that information back to advertisers. » | Tom Hodgkinson | Friday, February 03, 2012

Digital ‘Right to Be Forgotten’ Will Be Made EU Law
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Embarrassing, inaccurate or simply personal data will have to be deleted from the internet and company databases if consumers ask, under a new set of European laws.

The move will mean that social networks such as Facebook or Twitter will have to comply with users' requests to delete everything they have ever published about themselves online. It will also mean that consumers will be able to force companies that hold data about them, such as for Tesco's Clubcard, to hand it over or remove it.

The changes, which could take more than two years to implement, also include a new EU power to fine companies up to 2 per cent of their global turnover if they breach the rules. Read on and comment » | Matt Warman, Consumer Technology Editor | Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Egypte: 3 ans de prison pour blasphème sur Facebook
TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: JUSTICE ÉGYPTIENNE | Trois ans de prison assortis de travaux forcés: voilà ce à quoi a été condamné un jeune homme pour avoir insulté l’islam dans des propos publiés sur Facebook.

Un Egyptien a été condamné samedi au Caire à trois ans de prison assortis de travaux forcés pour avoir insulté l’islam dans des propos publiés sur Facebook, a rapporté l’agence officielle Mena. Continuez à lire et ajouter un commentaire » | AFP | samedi 22 octobre 2011

ARAB NEWS: Egyptian sentenced to 3 years for insulting Islam: CAIRO: Egypt’s state media says a Cairo court has sentenced a man to three years in prison for postings on Facebook deemed to be inciting sectarianism and in contempt of Islam. ¶ The MENA state news agency said Saturday a the misdemeanor court found Ayman Mansour had intentionally mocked Islam and used “outrageous and scurrilous” language in describing the religion’s holy book, the Qur’an, and its prophet and believers. » | ASSOCIATED PRESS | Saturday, October 22, 2011

Joanna Lumley Targeted in Facebook Campaign against Gurkha 'Influx'

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Actress Joanna Lumley has become the target of a Facebook hate campaign for her role in attracting a "massive influx" of Gurkhas to the country.

The Ab Fab star successfully campaigned for the heroic soldiers and their families to be given a right to settle in the UK.

But the Gurkhas and their families now make up 10 per cent of the population in Aldershot, Hants, and residents say services are struggling to cope.

Over 2,300 people have joined Facebook pages called "Joanna Lumley has F**ked up Aldershot and Farnborough" and "Lumley's Legacy".

Anti-Gurkha messages have also been graffitied across the area.

Sam Phillips, who founded both groups, said he was not racist and had "great appreciation" for the sacrifices the Gurkhas made for "our country".

The 35-year-old HGV driver, from Aldershot, added: "Joanna Lumley was happy to use her face to get publicity for her cause, now we are using her name to show the result.

"Our problem is not with the Gurkhas it is with the government. » | Friday, September 16, 2011

MoD Issues Videos Warning Twitter Generation that 'Careless Talk Costs Lives'

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The Ministry of Defence has issued "Careless talk costs lives"-style public information videos on YouTube, warning servicemen and women and their families of the security risks involved in using social networking websites.

In one, a mother learns from her son, an airman, that he is expecting a"VVIP" visit at his base. She writes on Facebook: "Mark is ok and enjoying his first week at FOB Jackson. Very excited by VVIP visit." Then the doorbell rings, and a figure in a balaclava, camouflage gear and crossed bandoliers comes in and drinks a cup of tea with her while looking at her son's baby photos. On-screen text warns: "It may not just be friends and family reading your status updates". » | Tom Chivers | Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Jesus a Hit on Facebook
May 27, 2011 – 'Jesus Daily' gains popularity for its religious message

FACEBOOK: Jesus Daily »

Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook Founder, Slaughters His Own Food

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Mark Zuckerberg, the Facebook founder, has started slaughtering his own food, including slicing the throat of a goat with a knife, as part of a sustainable living project.

The 27-year-old billionaire said his decision to kill his own meat was part of a “personal challenge” he had set himself to appreciate food more and understand where it comes from.

Earlier this month he announced on his personal Facebook account: “I just killed a pig and a goat.”

After a series of less than positive responses he explained that he wanted to live more sustainably by only eating what he had personally killed. That has included eating the heart, liver and feet of a chicken.

In an email to Fortune magazine he said: “I started thinking about this last year when I had a pig roast at my house. A bunch of people told me that even though they loved eating pork, they really didn't want to think about the fact that the pig used to be alive.

“That just seemed irresponsible to me. I don't have an issue with anything people choose to eat, but I do think they should take responsibility and be thankful for what they eat rather than trying to ignore where it came from. » | Nick Allen, Los Angeles | Friday, May 27, 2011

My comment:

Earlier this month he announced on his personal Facebook account: “I just killed a pig and a goat.” After a series of less than positive responses he explained that he wanted to live more sustainably by only eating what he had personally killed. That has included eating the heart, liver and feet of a chicken.

I hope he enjoyed the feet of the chicken! Not much flesh on those; and hellishly rough on the throat! What a load of tosh! Not much sensible coming out of America these days!

If he really wants to appreciate where the animals he eats come from, I suggest that he go into the countryside, and find a friendly farmer to show him round his farm. Then, after that, I would suggest that he visit a couple of abattoirs to see first-hand how meat is slaughtered, observe the blood flowing in the channels beneath his feet, and savour the stench. That will make him appreciate where his meat comes from.

To say that I want to eat beef, so I'm going to slaughter an ox is about as sensible as saying that I want to fly to the States, so I am going to build myself a plane! – © Mark

This comment also appears here

Mark Zuckerberg déçoit à l'e-G8

LE POINT: L'intervention du patron de Facebook devait être le bouquet final du forum. Il n'a pas dévié d'un pouce de son discours marketing.

Il fallait s'y attendre. Si certains espéraient un discours visionnaire de Mark Zuckerberg pour clore le forum e-G8, le fondateur de Facebook n'est pas sorti des clous du marketing. Le patron du réseau social aux 600 millions de membres a vanté les mérites de son entreprise et rappelé une énième fois l'"extraordinaire" histoire de Facebook et les raisons de son succès.

Interrogé sur les révolutions arabes, il s'est contenté de ne pas s'en attribuer tout le crédit. "Il serait particulièrement arrogant pour une entreprise de technologie de revendiquer un rôle dans les mouvements de protestation", a-t-il expliqué. Mais de son avis personnel sur la liberté d'expression et le pouvoir des réseaux sociaux, on ne saura rien : il ne faudrait pas blesser tel ou tel gouvernement. Même topo pour le respect de la vie privée. La star du forum s'est contentée de répéter les communiqués de Facebook : "Chacun doit fixer ses limites", a-t-il simplement affirmé. » | Guerric Poncet | Mercredi 25 Mai 2011

Inside Story: Death of the Super-injunction
Inside Story, discusses with Martin Bentham, home affairs editor for the London Evening Standard newspaper; Steven J. Murdoch, a researcher in the Security Group at the University of Cambridge; and Carl Gardner, a former UK government lawyer.

Syria 'Tortures Activists to Access Their Facebook Pages'
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Syria has been accused of torturing activists to force them to reveal their passwords to Facebook websites that have sustained the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad.

Protest organisers have set up the Syrian Revolution 2011 Facebook page and have promised that "demonstrations will continue every day".

However, amateur video footage showing the violent suppression of protests has dwindled to a trickle amid signs that the regime could be gaining the upper hand after more than seven weeks of anti-government protests.

"The lines of communication have almost been completely severed," one activist said.

"Some of our people who have been taken have been broken under the most severe torture, and they have revealed passwords and names."

Activists admitted that many of the once-secure networks they used on sites such as Facebook and Twitter had been compromised following a campaign of mass detentions in which more than 8,000 protesters have been arrested. » | Adrian Blomfield, Middle East Correspondent | Monday, May 09, 2011