Where is the Mandate from the 'Civil Society'?

Another 'Global Forum' that claims to speak for you and me. The buzzword of the 'Civil Society' is easily used by unrepresentative Elites, Experts and Lobbyists to create a smokescreen for their aims. The mythical Civil Society can only be the collective will of the citizens, expressed in a majority vote on the specific issues and by elections that safeguard minorities and fundamental rights set down in the Constitution.

Who gives the Global Internet Forum power over our lives?

Witch Hunts fashionable again

On a day when Facebook celebrates another bumper profit and Twitter is still on the rampage one has to ask why the modern form of witch hunt can gather more and more support, aided by a gullible media desperate for headlines.
Unsubstantiated accusations - and to top it off based on trivial incidents that would not raise an eyebrow from any sane person - get accepted at facevalue. Accused are denied any legal recourse or protection by the (fake) privacy laws that are disregarded when it suits the Political Establishment.
BBC

Facebook to double (Political?) 'Safety and Security Staff'

And there are already 10,000 staff toiling in this department - fine line divides it from (private) censorship. The future does look Orwellian! And who controls Facebook? It is an oligopoly! Who controls what you are 'fed' (yes, we are basically like animals for the 'Masters of the Universe' controlling the Web).
CNBC

Erdogan may ban Facebook and YouTube

Nothing demonstrates better the need for Direct Democracy in the fight against overbearing politicians than this headline. In a properly functioning Democracy statements like this would not pose a real threat as the ban could only be implemented after a lengthy legislative process. Ultimately there might have to be a referendum where a qualified majority of citizens would have to agree to the proposed legislation. So wannabe dictators of all persuasions or just politicians with an exaggerated sense of self-importance would quickly put in their place - or removed from the political scene.

NSA Spying - helpless (incapable?, corrupt?) Politicians

The fact that President Obama has to make (small) concessions in the turbocharged spying program run by his 'security' agencies is welcomed in Western Europe. But the really sad aspect is the fact that the privacy of the citizens in the affected countries is not properly defended by their own politicians. Neither governments of individual countries nor the bureaucrats in the EU are willing or able to put a decisive stop to the activities of US spies.

UK Newspaper caves in to 'Security' Bully Boys

Incredible but true - that some (anonymous) bully boys from the 'Security' services can just demand the 'pulverisation' of a computer belonging to a national newspaper in one of the oldest (pseudo) democracies is ample demonstration that a radical reform of democracy is required.

Soft-Authoritarianism by the backdoor

"Modern authoritarian movements tend to adopt the strategy of avoiding talking about or even hinting at the coercion they will adopt to deal with those opposed to the supreme rule of the all-powerful state apparatus. They deny that they are fascist movements and instead adopt a slew of fanciful euphemisms for the coercive policies they propose to inflict on their brutalized subjects. You silly fool! They are not robbing people — they are just "asking them to pay their fair share." They are not micromanaging people's lives — they are just "looking after their health and welfare." They are not silencing dissent — they are just "ensuring tolerance" and fighting "hate." They are not trespassing against private property — they are just "managing the economy." They are not enslaving people — they are just "encouraging volunteerism." ('Dropping the mask of Ecofascism', Ben O'Neill, Mises Daily, 19 October 2010)

Courts as Defenders of Freedom? - Don't bet on it!

Whatever one's opinion about smoking, one should let those who enjoy a puff on a cigarette have their pleasure. Intelligent adults are (hopefully) aware of the dangers of inhaling tobacco smoke. The vendetta against smoking has taken on the character of a quasi-religious crusade during the past years. Legislation has been passed in many countries that reflects this overzealous attitude. We see no reason why it should not be allowed to smoke in places that are clearly designated as smoking zones. People then have the clear option to live and work in these places - according to their own individual judgement about the risk involved. So one would hope that courts are able to protect the individual citizen's right to make this decision. But the decision of Germany's Constitutional Court is a slap in the face of all independently minded people. Yesterday's judgement reinforces Bavaria's rigid anti-smoking legislation by prohibiting even the use of water-pipes in a Turkish-themed restaurant. Separation of Power is a long way from being a reality when politicians can appoint judges at will and the judiciary is not under the slightest form of democratic control.