Google has faced numerous lawsuits related to its products and services. In June the company reached a settlement [JURIST report] with a group of French authors to end a lawsuit challenging its book-scanning initiative [Google Books search website], which displayed scanned images of select pages of books. A few days earlier, the Supreme Court of Switzerland [official website, in German] ruled [JURIST report] partially for Google in a case over privacy violations through its Street View service, holding that the company is not compelled to completely blur all faces and license plates but should do so manually if someone files a complaint. In March of last year, a Berlin high court ruled [JURIST report] for Google holding that the company's controversial service is legal in Germany. On the other side, the French National Commission of Information Technology and Liberty (CNIL) [official website, in French] fined [JURIST report] Google 100,000 euros (USD $141,300) for violating the country's data privacy laws.

Afghanistan authorities have been critical of US-run military prisons. In January, an investigative commission in Afghanistan issued a statement announcing allegations of abuse of prisoners [JURIST report] held by the US military at prisons in their country. The commission called for the transfer of all prisoners held by the US military to Afghan custody. Karzai created the commission [JURIST report] in June 2010. Afghan prisons have also come under fire in recent months. The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reported in October that prisoners in some Afghan-run detention facilities have been beaten and tortured [JURIST report]. Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported in September that the Afghan Local Police (ALP) force is committing serious abuses [JURIST report], and the Afghan government is doing little to hold the officials accountable.

The report was leaked to the media in late June. Foreign Policy [Foreign Policy report] magazine revealed information [JURIST report] about the report last week, causing the Rwandan government to reject the allegations. Earlier in June, Rwanda was urged to stop [JURIST report] assisting accused DRC war criminal, General Bosco Ntaganda [case materials], who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) [official website]. In 2010, a UN report claimed [JURIST report] that troops from Rwanda had committed crimes in the DRC that could amount to genocide. The unrest in the eastern part of the DRC has been the focus of the international community. Last week, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay [official profile] expressed concern [press release; JURIST report] about the safety of the civilians in the region. Last month, former ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo [official website] sought [JURIST report] the immediate arrest of Ntaganda along with Sylvestre Mudacumura [ICC fact sheet, PDF], a foreign militia leader in the DRC.

Overdraft fees have been the subject of copious litigation recently. In May King approved a settlement in an overdraft case for JPMC requiring the company to pay $110 million to customers [JURIST report] in order to resolve the litigation. In November King approved a settlement [JURIST report] in a class action suit against BOA for excessive overdraft fees. The settlement called for BOA to pay $410 million to 13.2 million people who had BOA debit cards between 2001 and 2011. BOA was among more than two dozen US, Canadian and European lenders named as defendants in the class action lawsuit, which consolidated claims across the country in 2009. In their amended complaint [text, PDF], the plaintiffs claimed that BOA's practices were deceptive in that they did not reasonably notify customers that they had the option of opting out of the overdraft scheme and declining transactions. In November 2009, the UK Supreme Court [official website] ruled [JURIST report] that the British government could not challenge the fairness of bank overdraft fees as a matter of law.

Through its work to assist and protect victims during and after armed conflicts, the ICRC is witness to the human cost of the widespread availability and misuse of conventional weapons. By conventional weapons, we mean all weapons that are not nuclear, biological or chemical. We are convinced that an effective Arms Trade Treaty would save lives, facilitate the delivery of humanitarian and medical assistance, and strengthen compliance with international humanitarian law.

International arms distribution continues to trouble governments and rights groups. In June, Amnesty International called for an end to the supply of arms [JURIST report] to groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after a report highlighted the flaws in Congolese security, which AI says leads to the availability and misuse of weapons and ammunition. In April, Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout [BBC profile; JURIST news archive] was sentenced in a US court to 25 years imprisonment [JURIST report]. Bout was convicted in November [JURIST report] on four counts of conspiracy for his proposed sale of anti-aircraft missiles to drug enforcement informants posing as potential buyers for a designated foreign terrorist organization.

This is not the first time Apple has been fined for unfair marketing practices. In June, Apple was fined [JURIST report] 2.25 million Australian dollars (USD $2.29 million) by an Australian federal court for its misleading marketing and advertising of iPad tablets. Apple advertised its tablets as "iPad with WiFi + 4G" misleading customers to believe that the new iPads were compatible with the 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) mobile data network that was launched by Telstra Corporation Limited [corporate website] in September 2011 when in fact they were not. Apple knew that its product was not able to utilize the 4G network but ignored the warning by continuing the misleading advertising for two additional months. During the same month, a US federal court ruled [JURIST report] that Apple must defend against lawsuits filed by the company's customers under two California consumer protection laws. Plaintiffs were allowed to pursue claims that Apple caused them to overpay for their devices.

Castration laws against sexual offenders have been criticized. In February, the COE's Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Punishment (CPT) [official website] released [JURIST report] a report [text] calling for an end to castration procedures as punishment of sexual offenders. The particular focus was on Germany's castration law, which the COE alleged was against international standards. During the same month, the Russian government approved a bill that would impose stricter punishment on sexual offenders, permitting them to submit voluntarily to chemical castration after it was first introduced and considered [JURIST reports] a year earlier. In July 2011, the South Korea Ministry of Justice [official website] enacted [JURIST report] a law allowing the use of chemical castration on sex offenders convicted of attacking children under the age of 16 years old.

Turkey is one of the key bridges to Europe. Its unique geographical location positions it as a hub for migrants from all over the world including Sub-Saharan and North Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Many of those migrants are in an irregular situation and some are transiting through Turkey with the wish to enter the EU. ... While the EU and Turkey have developed a close cooperation on migration issues, which has led to some notable positive developments, the assistance offered to Turkey regarding migration management appears to focus largely on securitising the borders and decreasing irregular migration to the European common territory through focusing on projects related to the detention and removal of migrants in Turkey and the increased monitoring of the Turkish border.

Laws and policies governing the treatment of migrants continue to raise international human rights concerns. Last month, Amnesty International (AI) said the Cyprus government's practice of detaining all illegal migrants seeking asylum in the island nation violates international law [JURIST report]. In January, the Israeli Knesset passed a bill that imposes harsher penalties on illegal migrants [JURIST report] in Israel, as well as on Israelis who help illegal migrants. AI criticized the bill as a violation of human rights. Last March, AI released a report documenting discrimination and human rights violations against Roma migrants [JURIST report] in Slovenia and urging the Slovenian government to protect Roma communities. In September 2010, the Global Migration Group (GMG) adopted a statement urging all governments to respect the human rights of migrants [JURIST report], who are more likely to face various forms of abuse as they lack proper legal status. The GMG stressed that every person, regardless of migration status, should enjoy the fundamental rights to life, liberty and all fundamental human rights.

Today brings to resolution difficult, long-standing matters for GSK. Whilst these originate in a different era for the company, they cannot and will not be ignored. On behalf of GSK, I want to express our regret and reiterate that we have learnt from the mistakes that were made. We are deeply committed to doing everything we can to live up to and exceed the expectations of those we work with and serve...In the US, we have taken action at all levels in the company. We have fundamentally changed our procedures for compliance, marketing and selling. When necessary, we have removed employees who have engaged in misconduct.

GSK has faced charges of misconduct from the US government in the past. In 2010, GSK and its subsidiary SB Pharmco Puerto Rico Inc., agreed to plead guilty [JURIST report] to civil and criminal charges relating to the manufacture and distribution of adulterated drugs in the US, paying a total of $750 million as part of the settlement. The charges stemmed from a false-claim lawsuit filed in 2004 in the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts [official website] by Cheryl Eckard, the company's former quality assurance manager, after her visit to its now-closed manufacturing facility in Cidra, Puerto Rico. In her complaint [text, PDF], Eckard alleged that the false claims made by GSK "arose out of chronic, serious deficiencies in the quality assurance function at the Cidra plant and the defendant's ongoing serious violations of the laws and regulations designed to ensure the fitness of drug products for use." As a result of pleading guilty to the civil charges, GSK paid $600 million to the states and the federal government and an additional criminal fine of $150 million. At the time, the settlement was the fourth largest in US history.

In June, the same court ruled [JURIST report] that the Bundestag has the right to be heard on the European financial crisis. In the case initiated by the Green party, the court held that Chancellor Angela Merkel failed to notify the parliament early enough about plans for the ESM from its sister party in Austria. Although that decision did not have any effect on the 500 billion euro ESM, it increased the parliament's rights by requiring the chancellor's government to provide notice to the parliament as early as possible in the future. A previous ruling that gave the parliament similar rights over matter concerning the EU was issued in February. The country's constitutional court held [JURIST report] that the use of a parliamentary subcommittee to fast-track decisions related to eurozone bailouts is unconstitutional. Rather, it required the entire Bundestag to overview such decisions. In September, the same court ruled [JURIST report] that the parliament did not unconstitutionally impair its own ability to adopt and control the nation's budget, nor did it infringe on the budget autonomy of future parliaments.

Apple and Samsung have been in continued litigation against each other alleging patent infringements. Last week, Koh already granted [JURIST report] an injunction against Samsung blocking the sale of its Galaxy 10.1 tablet computer while the patent infringement case is reviewed. This was a complete turn from her earlier decision rejecting Apple's request for an injunction reasoning that the district court does not have jurisdiction to grant Apple's motion for preliminary injunction and ban Samsung's products because Samsung had appealed the decision [opinion, PDF] of the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) [official website]. The CAFC had rejected [Bloomberg report; CAFC notice] Samsung's appeal of the decision that remanded the case to the district court giving Apple another opportunity to ban Samsung's Galaxy products in the states after it partially reversed [JURIST report] the district court's refusal to grant a temporary injunction for Apple against Samsung. Apple's request for a temporary injunction was denied [JURIST report] by the district court in December. Apple filed a suit [JURIST report] against Samsung in April of last year alleging that Samsung committed ten patent infringements, two trademark violations and two trade dress violations by copying iPhone and iPad technology in making its "Galaxy" products.

A judge for the US District Court for the District of Columbia in 2009 granted the US government's motion [JURIST report] to hold in delay the habeas corpus petitions of Kandari and Rabia, but only if and when the charges against the pair were referred to military commissions. The judge concluded that the habeas proceedings should continue until charges are referred to military commissions. The US Department of Defense announced in 2008 that it had filed new war crimes charges [JURIST report] against Kandari and Rabia. Rabia is a US-educated aeronautical engineer suspected of running a supply depot at Tora Bora. The two men were charged with conspiracy and providing material support for terror. They faced a maximum sentence of life in prison.

I support hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking" for natural gas, because I believe it can and should be part of a comprehensive mix of energy sources that will create jobs, reduce costs for businesses and families, and keep our economy growing. Before we "frack," however, we need strong safeguards in place that are specifically adapted to conditions in North Carolina. This bill does not do enough to ensure that adequate protections for our drinking water, landowners, county and municipal governments, and the health and safety of our families will be in place before fracking begins. ... Our drinking water and the health and safety of North Carolina's families are too important; we can't put them in jeopardy by rushing to allow fracking without proper safeguards.

Fracking has been a contentious issue both in the US and abroad. In May, Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin signed into law [JURIST report] a bill outlawing fracking in the state. In January the New Jersey Legislature passed an amendment to a bill that establishes a one-year ban on fracking [JURIST report]. Legislators re-introduced the bill this year after New Jersey Governor Chris Christie conditionally vetoed legislation last June that would have permanently banned fracking in New Jersey [JURIST report]. In October the Environmental Protection Agency announced plans to develop standards [JURIST report] for wastewater discharge from fracking. Last June New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman sued the US government [JURIST report] for its alleged failure to study the risks of fracking. In May 2011 France's lower house approved a nationwide ban on fracking [JURIST report].

Libya's detention of the ICC's staff members had sparked several complaints and demands by the international communities. In June, the UN Security Council [official website] had demanded [JURIST report] the immediate release of the four staff members noting that Libya has a legal obligation under Resolution 1970(2011) [PDF] to "cooperate fully with and provide any necessary assistance to the Court and the Prosecutor." The presidents of two UN-backed courts the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) and the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) [official websites] echoed [JURIST report] the Council's demand by calling the detention "unacceptable" and "deplorable." The ICC had criticized [JURIST report] the Libyan government for not explaining the reason for its staff members' detention, alleging that it was violating international law.

Recent violence in Mali has raised international concern. In May, Amnesty International released a report saying that Mali is facing its worst human rights crisis [JURIST report] since it gained independence in 1960. Human Rights Watch released a similar report in April claiming that all sides to the conflict are committing war crimes [JURIST report]. Earlier in April the ICC said they would monitor the situation [JURIST report] in Mali for potential crimes under the ICC's jurisdiction. The turmoil began when Taureg rebels attacked Malian soldiers [Al Jazeera report]. Many in the international community have expressed concern over the situation, including the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) [JURIST reports]. All of this has come after Malian soldiers took control of the government [JURIST report] and suspended the constitution in March.

West Bank settlements have caused tension between Israel and Palestinian authorities as well as criticism by international groups despite the Israeli parliament's vote [JURIST report] against legalizing the unauthorized settlement earlier this month. Last week, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories Richard Falk demanded [JURIST report] Israel cease its demolition [press release] of Palestinian buildings in the West Bank settlements after finding that the demolition of Palestinian structures such as houses, animal shelters, water cisterns and roads have risen by 87 percent from last year. Israel responded to international investigations into these settlements by announcing [JURIST report] in March that it will sever ties to the UN Human Rights Council. The announcement came after the UN body initiated its investigation to determine the effect that Israeli settlements have had on the civil, political, economic and cultural rights of the Palestinian people. Even in March 2010, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon [official profile] called [JURIST report] in a press conference Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank "illegal."

This is the latest development in the ongoing reproductive rights controversy [JURIST backgrounder]. Last week, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt appealed a ruling [JURIST report] by a district court judge that held that an abortion ultrasound bill is unconstitutional. Earlier last month, Louisiana Governor Bob Jindal signed a bill increasing abortion restrictions in the state [JURIST report]. In May, Kansas Governor Sam Brownback signed a bill allowing pharmacists to refuse to dispense drugs [JURIST report] that they "reasonably believe" might result in the termination of a pregnancy. Earlier that month, a judge for the District Court of Oklahoma County ruled [JURIST report] that a law restricting how doctors may use abortion-inducing drugs to treat patients was a violation of the Oklahoma Constitution. In April, the Arizona House of Representatives approved a bill that bans abortions after 20 weeks [JURIST report] into a pregnancy, with an exception carved out only for medical emergencies. In March, Utah passed a law requiring a woman seeking an abortion to wait 72 hours [JURIST report] prior to obtaining the procedure.

Apple has been in the news recently as it faces lawsuits around the world. In June, Apple was fined [JURIST report] 2.25 million Australian dollars (USD $2.29 million) by an Australian federal court for its misleading marketing and advertising of iPad tablets. Two days earlier, Eastman Kodak [corporate website] filed a lawsuit [JURIST report] against Apple alleging that the company is illegally using its patented technology that was developed when the two companies worked together in the 1990s. Earlier that month, a federal judge revived [JURIST report] a case against Motorola [corporate website] after he tentatively dismissed [JURIST report] it a week earlier. During the same month, another court ruled [JURIST report] that Apple has to defend itself against lawsuits filed by the company's customers under two California consumer protection laws. Judge Lucy Koh for the US District Court for the Northern District of California [official website] allowed plaintiffs to pursue claims that Apple caused them to overpay for their devices.