TRUMP MUST BE JEALOUS AS CYPRUS LOOKS TO START JOURNALIST SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM
Uh oh! There’s another weird Trump Cyprus crossover. Well, and Russia, too. But I’ll get to that later. But this time, and meaning kind of right now, it’s all too possible that Trump is eagerly watching the news about how some folks in the Cyprus government want to institute a new, pervasive, journalist surveillance program. And, in a nutshell, it’s totally foul. For the moment, Trump can only dream. But who knows? With people disappearing via ICE arrests and getting deported for having tattoos, maybe this is something the American media should be worried about.
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SURVEILLANCE COULD EXTEND TO JOURNALISTS’ FAMILY, FRIENDS AND ACQUAINTANCES, WITH SPYWARE
So what is going on in Cyprus? Its Interior Ministry just drafted legislation that would give various “authorities” the power to raid the homes, offices and devices of reporters. Oh, and let’s not forget the possible use of spyware, too. And then there’s how they might also be able to also surveil reporters’ colleagues, friends, and anyone they’re in contact with. So yeah, you can imagine Trump would love some of this power to go after anyone who’s been critical of him. This journalist surveillance program would essentially kill the potential for any facts not approved by the Cyprian government from ever being published.
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YET SOMEHOW, CYPRUS STILL OUTRANKS AMERICA FOR PRESS FREEDOMS? UH, OH
Sure, that’s pretty darn scary. But the bill also includes vague language that would potentially give this surveillance power to any state official. When the capital janitorial staff gets to go Big Brother on you, you might want to get out of Dodge. As you might imagine, the Press Freedom Index has dropped Cyprus 10 more spots, down to 65 (out of 180). Even scarier? Because Trump, the U.S. spot on the index is a paltry 55. And our janitors can’t even spy on reporters, their families, friends and acquaintances yet!
Oh, yeah. About that other Cyprus Trump connection: Trump’s first Commerce Secretary, Wilbur Ross, used to run the Bank of Cyprus. You may have known that. But did you know that bank did very well as a money launder mill for Russian Oligarchs? Nothing to see, here. Move along!
