Greenpeace protest (image: Greenpeace)

The UK's new open data initiative opens up new ways for accountability by making government data publicly available and encouraging the use of it. But Professor David Hand points out how if data is not used well it can compromise understanding and the future quality of data.

Skype does not want to say whether it can eavesdrop on users conversations after new surveillance laws were proposed in the US and Australia which would require chat software to integrate a wiretapping feature.

Smartphones allow anyone to become a film maker which has lead to the emergence ofChina's “Micro film” movement, films which are no longer then 30 minutes. The films cover a wide spectrum from narratives following monks in Hong Kong to critical questioning of the government and are watched by a wide audience online on platforms like Youku a Sohu. Unsurprisingly, this  growing movement has become subject to censorship by the Chinese Government.

See Global Voice's declaration of Internet freedom as part of a movement to protect Internet freedom. The declaration has so far been signed by 1300 organizations and companies.

Youtube now features a face blurring tool. This provides visual anonymity to human rights footage without running the risk of exposing activists. 

Read the offical statement here.

(Image by Twaweza)

Explore Kenyas 2010-11 budget to see how the Kenyan Treasury allocates – and institutions spend – taxpayers money. These visualisations make a large and complex dataset more accessible and are available in English and Kiswahili.

Don't want to be recognised by the surveillance cameras? Watch Anonymous's new how-to video on avoiding facial recognition.

Blogging community Global Voices has published its first e-book 'Europe in Crisis: Citizen Media Coverage'. A collection of the best posts from Global Voices' group of citizen-reporters around Europe, the e-book is free to download.

Focusing on the use of free radio as a means of community resistance in Mexico and certain cities in the US,Wave Manual is a new "newsprint 'zine" which will be distributed in both countries. Their website documents some of the team's experiences and research.