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Censoring the internet is as difficult as it is futile, and Russian internetusers have convincingly demonstrated this to the government this month by turningits website-blocking system against itself.

During President Vladimir Putin's third term, which began in 2012, Russia has significantly stepped up attempts to purge the internet of "extremist" views. But the Kremlindoesn't havean equivalent of China's "Great Firewall," whichcontrols the internet through the gateways between the nationalsegment and the rest of the global network. Instead, internet providers are required to block the sites on theblacklistof the regulator agency Roskomnadzor.

Internet providers are not legally required touse a specific blocking method--such as deep packet inspection which analyzes data that passes through the internet for undesirable elements-- so many of them, including large cellular operators, merely block any IP addresses linked toa banned web address. In recent days, this peculiarity of the Russian system has led to an effective anarchic protest against censorship.

Instructionshave spread on social networks on how to block virtually any site. First, turnthe blacklist intoa shopping list, and buy up or re-register domains that are no longer in use. Then, link those sites to government IP addresses to trigger anautomatic blocking. It worked spectacularly well.The nationalcellular operator BeeLine, for example, promptly shut down access to many sites, including bank payment serversand pro-Kremlin media outlets such as Life.ru and NTV.ru. Even Roskomnadzor, the keeper of the blacklist, ended up blacklisted. According to Alexander Litreev, a St. Petersburg developer who runs a cybersecurity channel on the Telegram messenger, more than 30 percent of Russian users were at some point affected by the blockages.

This presented a problem for Roskomnadzor, but not for the obvious reason that bank transactions weren't going through for many people.To address complaints, the censorship agency merely put out a press releaseblaming providers and saying it would all be fine if Roskomnadzor could dictate the blocking method. The real problem was that Putin's annual "direct line" with voters -- a major event with questions collected through the internet and the resulting multi-hour marathon broadcast online as well as on TV --was scheduled for June 15, and the owners of blacklisted domains had the power to block it.

So at first, Roskomnadzor's regional agencies sent out to providers a whitelist of more than 2,000 domains that were not to be blocked even if they were linked to a banned domain. Gov.ru and Kremlin.ru, the domains for the government and the presidential office, were at the top of the list. It also included all the variations of "Google," making it possible to register a site like BlowUp.Google.AllahAkbar.org and avoid being blocked. It wasn't a great solution, especially since providers weren't obliged by law to implement the whitelist, and most wouldn't bother merely to avoid the hassle of deactivating it once it was, inevitably, recalled.

OnJune 9, the censorship agency came up with a better solution. It sent out a letter to providers, saying that up until June 16 -- the day after the Putin event -- they were to block only the specific IP addresses on the blacklist and not the ones to which traffic from them was redirected. It promised not to penalize providers for softening censorship in this way.

The censors will eventually solve this particular problem, perhaps by weeding out inactive domains from the blacklist so it won't be as easy to buy them, perhaps by pushing through legislation that would give them more power to tell providers what blocking technology to use. Last week, a bill was also introduced in the Russian parliament that would limit the use ofanonymizing software to bypass the blacklist. After all, since Putin's re-election in 2012, the number of Russian users of the anonymizing Tor network has grown from some 20,000 a day to more than 200,000.

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But the bans are a game of whack-a-mole. Having tasted relative internet freedom, Russia is less accepting of censorship than, say, China. As the whole world knows now, it also has a large, inventive hacker community that doesn't have much respect for restrictions, foreign or homegrown. Exploiting the Roskomnadzor flaw didn't require any hacking expertise, but if it's required as the censorship grows tighter and more sophisticated, it will be applied.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

To contact the author of this story: Leonid Bershidsky at lbershidsky@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Mike Nizza at mnizza3@bloomberg.net

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How the Russian Internet Censor Banned Itself - Bloomberg

The Egyptian authorities have shifted their onslaught against media freedom to the digital sphere, blocking access to more than 40 news sites without justification in recent weeks, in an attempt to eliminate the countrys last remaining spaces for criticism and free expression, said Amnesty International.

At least 63 websites have been blocked in total since 24 May according to the Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression, including 48 news sites. Mada Masr, an independent news site which regularly published news and analysis deeply critical of the authorities was among the first to be blocked. Most recently on 11 June the Egyptian news sites Albedaiah, run by independent journalist Khaled al Balshy, Elbadil and Bawabit Yanair were blocked. Access to the global online publishing platform Medium was also cut off on 10 June.

The latest clampdown on digital media is further evidence of Egypts age-old police state tactics in motion. Even in the darkest days of the repressive Mubarak era the authorities didnt cut off access to all independent news sites, said Najia Bounaim, Amnesty Internationals North Africa Campaigns director.

With this move the Egyptian authorities seem to be targeting the few remaining spaces for free expression in the country. It shows just how determined the authorities are to prevent Egyptians from accessing independent reporting, analysis and opinion about Egypt. The authorities must immediately stop arbitrarily blocking news websites.

With this move the Egyptian authorities seem to be targeting the few remaining spaces for free expression in the country

On 24 May, state media announced that Egyptian authorities had blocked a group of websitesincluding the prominent independent news platforms Mada Masr, Daily News Egypt, Elborsa and Masr Al Arabia. The authorities failed to provide any evidence of illegal activity or to clarify the legal basis for the decision. Instead officials made vague statements to the media saying this was in connection with publishing false information and supporting terrorism.

On 25 May, Egyptian newspapers published reports citing a sovereign agency (a term usually used to refer to Egyptian intelligence agencies) justifying the move on the grounds of combating terrorism and accusing Qatar of supporting some of the blocked websites, again without providing evidence.

Amnesty International has reviewed the list of blocked websites. The majority are news sites but the list also includes sites where VPN and TOR, which can be used to access blocked sites, can be downloaded. Amnesty International was able to identify only one website connected to groups that use or advocate violence.

Many of the sites that have been blocked had served as a refuge for Egypts remaining critical voices who no longer are allowed to appear on TV or in the print media, which have been firmly in the grip of the state since President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi came to power.

The independent news and analysis website Mada Masr is known for unflinchingly exposing human rights violations committed by the Egyptian authorities in recent years, including arbitrary detention, unfair trials, the crackdown on human rights NGOs, extrajudicial executions and the use of the death penalty.

The sites editor-in-chief, Lina Attallah, told Amnesty International that she believes the site was blocked because it publishes well-researched investigations based on verified information. We publish what authorities dont want people to read, she said.

The Egyptian government appears to be exploiting recent violent attacks by armed groups in the country to crack down on the remaining free space and silence critical voices. Once again the authorities are using national security grounds to justify outright repression, said Najia Bounaim.

Instead of attacking critical and independent voices Egypt should respect the obligations enshrined in its own constitution and in international law not to impose arbitrary restrictions on freedom of expression and to protect the right of everyone to seek, receive and share information.

Once again the authorities are using national security grounds to justify outright repression

The governments decision to block these websites also flouts Egypts constitution, which prohibits censorship of the media, except at times of war and military mobilization, and protects freedom of expression and press freedom both in print and digital formats. The constitution also upholds the right of all citizens to use telecommunication tools and methods.

The legal grounds and authority the government has used to block these sites is ambiguous and it remains unclear whether emergency law provisions were applied. There are, however, a number of Egyptian laws that can be used to censor the media and the internet, on the grounds of national security.

After the bombing of two churches in Tanta and Alexandria in April 2017, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi declared a three-month state of emergency. An hour later, the authorities confiscated that days edition of Albawaba newspaper, which demanded that the Minister of Interior be held accountable for failing to prevent the bombing.

Under emergency laws, the authorities have broad powers to impose surveillance and censorship on media. On 10 April, the head of the Egyptian parliament, Dr Ali Abdelal announced that these laws will extend to social media platforms, such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. He added that these platforms were being used as means of communication between terrorists and warned that online offenders would face prosecution.

The vaguely worded articles of Egypts counterterrorism law also allow punishments of up to 15 years in prison for establishing a website for the purpose of promoting terrorist ideas and grant the authorities the power to block websites suspected of promoting terrorism.

Two of the blocked websites, Daily News Egypt and Elborsa, belong to the Business News Company, which is licensed by the government. In November 2016, the government froze the companys assets under the pretext that it belonged to the Muslim Brotherhood, without providing evidence to support this claim. The papers 230 staff have not received their salaries since.

Representatives of many of the websites affected have filed complaints with the Press Syndicate, the National Council for Media, the Ministry Communications and the Public Prosecutor, but so far received no response. Mada Masr has filed an appeal against the decision to block its website before an administrative court, but it has not yet heard the appeal.

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Dozens of news sites blocked as Egypt ramps up digital censorship - Amnesty International

Asking a Pennsylvania student to remove Christian content from her graduation remarks is a violation of the U.S. Constitution, according to the First Liberty Institute.

"The last lesson this school district taught its students is that they should hide their religious beliefs from public view. That fails the test of the First Amendment. School officials should remember that students retain their constitutional rights to freedom of expression from the schoolhouse gates, all the way through the graduation ceremony," said Jeremy Dys, First Liberty Institute's deputy general counsel, in a First Liberty Institute press release.

Moriah Bridges was asked to deliver the closing remarks at her high school graduation in Beaver, Penn. Dr. Carrie Rowe, Beaver Area School District superintendent, informed Bridges that she must take out religious references in her speech, according to a column by Fox News commentator Todd Starnes.

Bridges' words in the speech "constituted her private speech, not government speech," The First Liberty Institute wrote in a letter to school officials.

"I was shocked that the school said my personal remarks broke the law and saddened that I could not draw on my Christian identity to express my best wishes for my classmates on what should've been the happiest day of high school," Bridges said in Starnes' report.

The Institute posted a clip of Bridges' graduation remarks on YouTube.

2017 Newsmax. All rights reserved.

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First Liberty Institute: Censorship of Student's Christian Remarks Violates Constitution - Newsmax

Grant Berardo, a Wall High School junior, saw his image digitally altered with a plain black T-shirt in his yearbook. Mike Davis

Wall Township High School junior Grant Berardo's T-shirt was digitally altered in the school's yearbook. He wore a Donald Trump campaign shirt for his portrait.(Photo: Courtesy of Joseph Berardo, Jr.)

WALL The Wall High School teacher and adviser of the yearbook club has been suspended due to alleged censorship of images and quotes by students supporting President Donald Trump.

Superintendent Cheryl Dyer said Monday that the teacher, who she declined to name, was suspended "pending further disciplinary action" from the school board.

On the high school's website, the yearbook club's adviser is listed as Susan Parsons. According to public records, she collected an$87,950 salary last year.

"I don't have definitive answers to all of my questions yet, but I knew enough at this point to get board approval to take that action," Dyer said.

ICYMI: Wall teen's Trump shirt censored in yearbook

Dyer declined to identify what disciplinary action could be taken. Termination would require the board to file tenure charges against her.

According to her LinkedIn page, Parsons has worked in the district for 15 years.

On her yearbook class's website within the district homepage, Parsonsincludes "photo editing" as one of the "real world skills" that students learn during yearbook production.

She did not return a call to her home seeking comment. In an interview with the New York Post, she said we have never made any action against any political party.

But when asked if she knew who altered the photos, Parsons simply said, Im going to hang up.

There have been three reported instances of censorship in the yearbook, all revolving around students supporting President Donald Trump.

Grant Berardo, a junior at the school, took his school pictures wearing a navy blue "Make America Great Again" shirt from the campaign. But in the yearbook, his photo had been digitally altered so it resembled a nondescript black T-shirt, which you can see in the video at top of the story.

Wall High School(Photo: File photo)

It was Photoshopped," Grant said in an interview on Friday. "I sent it to my mom and dad, just like You wont believe this. I was just overall disappointed.

"I like Trump, but its history too. Wearing that shirt memorializes the time," he said.

According to CNN, a brother and sister at the school also alleged censorship. Wyatt Debrovich-Fago wore a sweater vest in his picture with a Trump campaign logo, but it was seemingly cropped out of the photo.

His sister, Montana, served as president of the school's freshman class. That role usually comes with a quote next to a picture, and Montana selected: "I like thinking big. If you are going to be thinking anything, you might as well think big."

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But in the yearbook, hers was the only photo without a quote.

"I want to know who thought it was OK to do this," Janet Dobrovich-Fago, the teens' mother, told CNN. "I want the school to seek disciplinary action and to be held accountable."

In a statement released Sunday night, Wall school board President Allison Connolly said the board "found the allegations of wrongdoing disturbing and take the charge that students have had their free speech rights infringed upon very seriously."

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In a previous interview, Dyer saidthe only reason a student's image would be altered isif itwasin violation of the dress code clothing referencingdrugs, alcohol or violence. Political messages are "absolutely not" a violation, she said.

A spokesman for Jostens, the companythat takes the photographs and prints the yearbooks, did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

It's not immediately clear whether the change was made by someone from the school district or photography company.

NEPTUNE:Superintendent responds after racist photo

In an interview, Joseph BerardoJr. Grant's father called for the school to recall the yearbooks and reissue new ones with the unaltered photo. He said he would consider legal action if that doesnt happen.

From my perspective, I dont understand the censorship, Berardo said.I think it was probably politically motivated. It was inherently offensive to somebody and they made a decision to Photoshop it and without discussion, which is the worst part."

TEACHING TRUMP:How schools handled 2016 election

The problem would be "equally" as egregious if images of clothing supporting Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton also had been altered, Berardo said.

What are you doing? Dont you go to school to debate this stuff at the collegiate level, at the high school level, asked Berardo. Whats frustrating to me is that this was the first election he took interest in, but what message did the school send?

Mike Davis: 732-643-4223; mdavis@gannettnj.com

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Wall HS teacher suspended over Trump yearbook censorship - Asbury Park Press

A New Jersey high school teacher has been suspended after pro-President Trump messages were Photoshopped and edited out of the schools official yearbook.

Wall Township Public Schools Superintendent Cheryl Dyer said Monday that a teacher had been suspended pending further disciplinary action over the reported anti-Trump censorship at Wall Township High School, the Asbury Park Press reported.

The action comes after three students reported that their pro-Trump messages were censored by school officials. Grant Berardo, a junior, said a campaign slogan reading, TRUMP: Make America Great Again, was digitally editied from the shirt he wore in his class portrait.

It was Photoshopped, Grant told the Asbury Park Press. I sent it to my mom and dad, just like, You wont believe this. I was just overall disappointed.

A photo of Wyatt Debrovich-Fago, a junior, was cropped so that the Trump campaign logo on his sweater vest wasnt visible, CNN reported. Wyatts sister, Montana, was also left without an accompanying quote for her photo as class president when her quote from Mr. Trump didnt make it to print.

I want to know who thought it was OK to do this, their mother, Janet Dobrovich-Fago, told CNN. I want the school to seek disciplinary action and to be held accountable.

Ms. Dyer said the high school administration does not condone any censorship of political views on the part of our students.

In a statement Sunday night, Wall school board President Allison Connolly said the board found the allegations of wrongdoing disturbing and take the charge that students have had their free speech rights infringed upon very seriously, the Asbury Park Press reported.

Ms. Dyer did not name the suspended teacher, but the schools yearbook instructor is listed as Susan Parsons. Ms. Parsons told the New York Post: We have never made any action against any political party.

When asked if she knew who censored the messages, she said, Im going to hang up, the Post reported.

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NJ teacher suspended over yearbook censorship of pro-Trump messages - Washington Times