DAVID MIRANDA and the GUARDIAN..A digital horror story.

In A2 media studies, the media issues and debates surrounding the media and democratic freedom is a key topic. Governments are struggling to control who is able to access information that they would rather not share with the wider public. Iran in 2009, the Arab Spring in 2011, China's attempts to guide and control digital information, and the American government's treatment of Bradley Manning and attitude toward WIKILEAKS are examples of how difficult it is for a government to control information in the digital age. The Miranda case not only demonstrates the enthusiasm of government's to control digital information but also illustrates how governments attempt to control the content of newspapers. THIS HAPPENED IN THE UK. Should law aimed at protecting the public from terrorism be used to control journalism? What is your opinion?

I was constantly encouraging A2 students last year to be aware of digital restrictions in the UK and we discussed the implications of the 2010 Digital Economy Act and Theresa May's attempts to introduce a Communication Data Bill. We often discussed how governments may use fear of terrorist attack as a reason to inhibit individual freedom and the recent DAVID MIRANDA moment is a fine example of how a government uses the law to inhibit digital freedom. The fact that two government officials appeared at the office of The Guardian newspaper and watched the editor of the newspaper destroy a computer is quite incredible. Students need to click on the resources below to gain an understanding of this news story. This story relates to the impact of digital media.

BBC News Links:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23776063
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23776243
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23764634
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23770301
Channel Four News Links:
http://www.channel4.com/news/alan-rusbridger-guardian-david-miranda-edward-snowden
The Guardian newspaper:
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/aug/19/david-miranda-schedule7-danger-reporters
http://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2013/aug/20/alan-rusbridger-miranda-snowden-nsa-gchq-video
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/aug/20/innocent-fear-david-miranda
Glenn Greenwald's view published in The Guardian:
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/aug/18/david-miranda-detained-uk-nsa
The Daily Mail's view:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2398470/STEPHEN-GLOVER-That-airport-arrest-troubles-But-Guardians-murky-waters-love-country-venture.html
Fox News USA:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ik7ItAmWCAI
THE YOUNG TURKS online news USA:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ae9BnrsrcK0
Russia Today:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M36GKyYJ__g

THIS IS A MASSIVE MEDIA MOMENT AND STUDENTS NEED TO BE AWARE OF THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS STORY AND HOW THIS LINKS TO EDWARD SNOWDEN.