The Price of Mass Surveillance

		Having trouble viewing this email? Click here THE WEEK IN RIGHTS March 27, 2014 Follow us on: Witness: The Price of Mass Surveillance Abeba, a 31-year-old Muslim woman who worked for a local government branch of Ethiopia's youth and sports office, was at work when Ethiopian security officials detained her and took her to a military camp. The authorities accused her of mobilizing Ethiopian Muslims – often ethnic Oromos like herself – against the government, Abeba said. When Abeba denied the allegation, the officers played a recording of a phone conversation she had with her sister, who lives in Yemen. The conversation was about day-to-day matters, Abeba said, but the authorities insisted that Abeba was talking in code, which peaceful Ethiopian activists often do to stay out of jail. A year ago, the world was rocked by revelations of massive spying by the United States National Security Agency. While few in the US worry that the surveillance will result in threats to their lives or their families, that's not true in Ethiopia. And Ethiopia – one of the world's most repressive countries – has virtually unlimited access to its citizens' phone records, thanks to China-made surveillance technology. Read more >> share on: UN Rights Council Establishes Sri Lanka War Crimes Probe The broad council support for the Sri Lanka resolution is a huge step forward for justice for all Sri Lankans. It's now up to Sri Lanka and other countries to work with the UN human rights office to put this resolution into motion. A country-by-country breakdown of the vote >> share on: In Ukraine, Activists Detained and Beaten, One Tortured Armed groups in Crimea abducted two political activists, held them for 11 days in secret detention along with several other detainees, ill-treated both, and badly tortured one of them. See the Latest News in Europe/Central Asia >> share on: In Syria, Unlawful Air Attacks Terrorize Aleppo New evidence shows that Syria's government is using barrel bombs as a weapon in opposition-held parts of Aleppo. Barrel bombs, indiscriminate weapons often made from large oil drums or gas cylinders, are filled with high explosives and scrap metal and then dropped from helicopters. New satellite imagery, videos, and eyewitness accounts reveal how this campaign has killed hundreds of civilians and driven thousands from their homes. See the Latest News in the Middle East/North Africa >> share on: VOTES COUNT How do members of the UN Human Rights Council vote? Explore Now >> MULTIMEDIA Land and water grabs devastate 500,000 of Ethiopia's indigenous communities. View Now >> TWEET of the WEEK #Egypt math: sentence 529 to death for killing police officer. No investigation for police killing of 1,000 protesters since July 3. Follow Nadim Houry >> Thank you for supporting Human Rights Watch. Follow us on: Home | Take Action | Donate | Privacy Human Rights Watch - 350 Fifth Avenue, 34th Floor New York, NY 10118 USA Tel: 1-(212) 290-4700 | news@hrw.org

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