Fall 2015 Silha Bulletin

Volume 21, Number 1

Below is the Table of Contents for the Fall 2015 edition of the Silha Bulletin.  Click on the title to read the full article.

Bulletin Fall 2015: Volume 21, No. 1
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Cover Story: NSA Telephony Metadata Collection Program Remains Controversial Even After It Ends
On Nov. 29, 2015, The Washington Post reported that the National Security Agency (NSA) ended its controversial program that collected Americans’ telephony metadata records. 

Copyright: Federal Courts Hand Down Major Copyright Decisions in High Profile Cases
Several major copyright decisions occurred in the fall of 2015.  

Federal Legislative Update: Judicial Redress Act the Next Step in a Replacement of EU-US Safe Harbor Framework; Controversial Cybersecurity Information Security Act Passes the Senate
Data security issues highlighted recent federal legislative updates, especially in the wake of the invalidation by the European Court of Justice (CJEU) of the EU Safe Harbor Framework governing transatlantic data flows.  

Media Ethics: News Organizations Grapple with Showing Depictions of Drowned Syrian Toddler
On Sept. 2, 2015, Turkey’s Dogan News Agency published a photo of a drowned 3-year-old boy who washed ashore on a Turkish beach after a boat carrying his family sank off the coast.  

Journalism Technology: FAA Issues Drone Registration Requirements; California Updates Drone Regulations, Vetoes Others
Over the past several months, laws surrounding the use of drones have continued to evolve.  

News Media Challenges: Journalists, Newspapers Clash with Activists on College Campuses, Raising First Amendment Issues
During the fall of 2015, journalists, news organizations, and college newspapers found themselves facing conflicts with student protesters and civil rights activists on several college campuses across the United States.  

Right of Publicity: Electronic Arts Seeks Review from Supreme Court Over Video Game Right of Publicity Rulings
On Oct. 5, 2015, video game developer Electronic Arts (EA) filed a petition seeking Supreme Court review in Davis v. Electronic Arts, 775 F.3d 1172 (9th Cir. 2015).  

Data Privacy: Obama Administration Backs Down on Cellphone Encryption Dispute, but Battles over Government Access to Technology Continue
On Oct. 10, 2015, The New York Times reported that President Barack Obama’s administration announced that it would not seek legal avenues to compel technology companies to allow law enforcement access to users’ encrypted cellphone data.  

Newsgathering: Department of Defense’s New Law of War Manual Brings Calls for Revisions from Journalistic Community
In June 2015, the United States Department of Defense issued its “Law of War Manual” (Manual), which is the agency’s comprehensive manual presenting its interpretation of the law of war.  

Endangered Journalists: Journalists Face Troubling Criminal Convictions Domestically and Abroad
During the fall of 2015, journalists domestic and abroad faced charges of criminal conduct that could result in lengthy prison sentences and, in one case, physical punishment.  

State Law Updates: Recent Cases and Pending Decisions Put Media Law Issues in Spotlight in Multiple States
A number of states dealt with high-profile media law issues during the fall of 2015 that could have far-reaching implications for journalists and citizens.  

Silha Center Events: 30th Annual Silha Lecture Addresses Challenges to Reporting on National Security Matters
Since Sept. 11, 2001, the Annual Silha Lectures hosted by the Silha Center for the Study of Media Ethics and Law have often discussed striking the proper balance among issues of government transparency, freedom of the press, the public’s right to know, and national security.