Monthly Archives: May 2013

Christopher Hitchens on Official Secrecy and Censorship in the UK (1987)
Censorship in the United Kingdom has a long history with variously stringent and lax laws in place at different times. There are several Acts of the United K...

By: thefilmarchived

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Christopher Hitchens on Official Secrecy and Censorship in the UK (1987) - Video

Censorship alert: KiniTV videos blocked by local ISPs
Access to KiniTV videos have been restricted by local ISPs in what some technology experts have described as #39;China-style censorship #39;. The two videos on the ...

By: malaysiakini

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Censorship alert: KiniTV videos blocked by local ISPs - Video

Quebec director Xavier Dolan is at the centre of a storm of controversy over a music video he directed for French group Indochine.

The black-and-white video for College Boy shows a teen being attacked, at first with paper missiles, but later with punches and kicks, while other students stand by with blindfolds over their eyes as the harassment continues.

It concludes with a crucifixion scene in which the boy is hoisted on a cross and shot. When the police arrive, they too start shooting at the teenager on the cross, while his attackers feign innocence.

French telecom watchdog, the Conseil suprieur de l'audiovisuel, is considering whether the video is too violent, with one board member saying she is very concerned about the content. It may consider limiting viewing of the video to after 10 p.m. and placing restrictions on whether the video can be viewed by people under age 16.

So far, no French stations have aired the video, fearing there might be backlash.

YouTube has put a warning on the video and in some markets, does not show the entire violent sequence, instead switching to shots of the band playing.

Dolan told CBC News he finds the plan for censorship ridiculous, when young people see regular images of violence on TV screens and hip-hop videos with negative portrayals of women.

"Im not surprised there is a reaction, Im surprised were talking about censorship because I think there is a crucial age and that is 11, 10, 13, 14, 15 the teenage years, when things still have a strong impression on you," he said.

"This is the age you need to be educated on violence and the true consequences."

The 24-year-old Quebec filmmaker has drawn attention with films such as Jai Tu Ma Mre (I Killed My Mother) and Laurence Anyways. The video sends an anti-bullying message and he says he wanted to illustrate how those who watch schoolyard attacks are complicit in bullying.

Originally posted here:
Xavier Dolan objects to plan for censorship of his video

Washington, May 3:

Chinese President Xi Jinping today figured in a US press censorship list, which also included an al-Qaeda linked Syrian terror group, Muslim Brotherhood supporters and Pakistans Baloch armed groups.

Myanmar President Thein Sein marked an exit from the list of Predators of Freedom of Information for the year 2013 for his countrys efforts towards press freedom in recent times.

The list was released today by Reporters Without Borders (RWB) on the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day.

The updated list of 39 predators of freedom of information includes state heads, politicians, religious leaders, militias and criminal organisations involved in censoring, imprison, kidnap, torture and killing journalists and other news providers.

These predators of freedom of information are responsible for the worst abuses against the news media and journalists, RWB Secretary-General Christophe Deloire said.

They are becoming more and more effective. In 2012, the level of violence against news providers was unprecedented and a record number of journalists were killed, Deloire added.

The five new predators that have been added to the list include new Chinese President Xi, Syrian Jihadi group Jabhat al-Nusra members and supporters of Egypts Muslim Brotherhood, Pakistans Baloch armed groups and Maldives religious extremists.

Four predators who have marked an exit are former Somali information and communications minister Abdulkadir Hussein Mohamed, Burmese President Thein Sein, the ETA group and the Hamas and Palestinian Authority security forces.

It is no surprise that Xi Jinping his predecessor Hu Jintaos place as predator. The change of person has not in any way affected the repressive system developed by Chinas Communist Party, RWB said in a statement.

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Chinese premier figures in US press censorship list; Thein Sein marks exit