Global Free Speech Update

International:  Article 19 celebrates International Women's Day, March 8, by honoring women who've stood up for freedom of expression, including Lubna Hussein, the Nigerian journalist who was flogged for wearing pants, and Uma Singh (Nepal), Natalia Estemirova (Chechnya), and Maria Esther Aguilar Casimbe (Mexico), all of whom were murdered or "disappeared" in retaliation for their work.   

Finland: national legislation declares internet access a fundamental right for all citizens and guarantees households a 1 MB connection by July 2010, and a 100 MB connection by 2015. 

Iceland:  major legislative overhauls could make Ireland the world's first "journalism haven."  MPs introduced the Icelandic Modern Media Initiative, seeking support for new legislation that would safeguard confidential sources, strengthen whistleblower protection, discourage libel tourism and promote open access.  The reforms would certainly promote transparency and free speech, but are really designed to attract new business to the country in the wake of last year's economic meltdown.   

Turkey:  prosecutors moved ahead with charges against an online newspaper editor who refused to remove a reader's comment that criticized President Abdullah Gul.  If convicted, the editor faces up to 5 years in prison.

Italy:  three Goggle execs were found guilty of invasion of privacy after someone posted YouTube footage of four teenagers bullying a kid with Down's Syndrome.   The ruling effectively holds Google responsible for the 20 hours of video outside users upload to the site every minute.   

-Kathleen Bergin