Blogs by Author | Free Press

Surveillance Lessons from 1971 Still Resonate Today
Joseph Torres
June 25, 2014
Our nation has long used surveillance to control marginalized and dissident voices. It’s an issue my colleagues and I recently learned a great deal about from activists who exposed our nation’s shameful surveillance operations 40 years ago.
Protest Grows Against FCC's Plan for Tiered Internet
Joseph Torres
Steven Renderos
May 16, 2014
On Thursday, more than 200 activists gathered outside the Federal Communications Commission to speak out against a proposal that would create a separate but unequal Internet.
36 Members of Congress Speak Up to Save the Internet
Joseph Torres
May 14, 2014
The drumbeat calling on FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler to scrap his plan to allow rampant discrimination online continues to grow louder. This afternoon, 36 Democrats from the House of Representatives joined the choir.
Coalition Calls for Protecting Privacy Rights of Communities of Color
Joseph Torres
February 27, 2014
On Thursday, a coalition of civil rights, media justice and public interest groups released a set of principles that address the danger of corporate and government surveillance of communities of color in the digital age.
One Million People Stand Up for Their Rights to Connect and Communicate
Joseph Torres
January 31, 2014
At a community town hall in Oakland earlier this month, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler said, in reference to his previous gig, “I was a typical Washington player.” “My goal now,” he added, “in my new job, with my new responsibility, is to learn by listening.”
Oakland to FCC: Promote Equity and Access
Joseph Torres
January 10, 2014
New Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler took part in a standing-room-only town-hall meeting Thursday night in Oakland, where he heard from Bay Area residents about the impact of media policies on their lives.
A Sorry Moment in the History of American Media
Joseph Torres
S. Derek Turner
December 20, 2013
We just experienced a shameful milestone in the history of U.S. media — and barely anyone noticed. There are now zero black-owned and operated full-power TV stations in our country.
The FCC Is Coming to Oakland
Joseph Torres
Steven Renderos
December 16, 2013
Tom Wheeler, the new chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, is heading out to Oakland, Calif. — to hear from you.
Panelists Say Surveillance Is Nothing New for Communities of Color
Joseph Torres
November 1, 2013
The latest revelations about NSA spying did not surprise the activists of color taking part in a recent panel discussion on government surveillance.
Panel Discussion Tackles Surveillance of Communities of Color
Joseph Torres
October 24, 2013
Living under government surveillance is nothing new for communities of color. In fact, surveillance of our communities has been a constant presence throughout our nation’s history.

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