Websites on News and Media: Articles on Scientology Collection of articles from The Watchman Expositor. Cult church censured on drug ads The Advertising Standards Authority found that the Scientology poster's claim of "salvaging" drug users included prescription medication, occasional social drinking and environmental toxins as "drug use." [Guardian] (March 27, 2003) Turning people into slaves according to the Russian constitution Editorial. In France, in Germany, in the United States, the Church of Scientology has been recognized as a dangerous sect. In dismissing the Justice Ministry's suit, the court has said, in effect, that slavery is perfectly legal in Russia. [Pravda] (July 20, 2002) Clams Pay Wollersheim After a vicious 22-year legal battle, the Church of Scientology finally paid Lawrence Wollersheim $8.7 million they owed him from a lawsuit judgment. [Kuro5hin] (May 11, 2002) Cult Abuse Victim Wins [Euro]6M Payout The Church of Scientology has been ordered to pay 6 million euros in damages to a former member who claimed they pushed him to the brink of suicide. [The Daily Record] (May 11, 2002) Google Begins Making DMCA Takedowns Public Search engine Google is posting "takedown" letters from lawyers wielding the DMCA. The move is thought to be a response to criticism of their censoring xenu.net at the behest of Scientology. [Linux Journal] (April 12, 2002) A Night of Engrams and Clears Journalist who was invited to a birthday bash for L. Ron Hubbard, then disinvited, decides to go anyway, and reports on the long Scientologist pep rally. [Salon.com] (April 3, 2002) Google U-turn in Scientology row Google reinstated a link to an anti-Scientology site after coming under fire from free speech advocates. [Silicon.com] (March 22, 2002) Scientologists gag Google Search engine Google caved in to demands from the "Church" of Scientology that it delete URLs pointing to a site critical of the cult. [The Register] (March 22, 2002) Church of Scientology wields the DMCA, Google removes xenu.net Anti-Scientology site suddenly disappeared from Google. The reason: the search engine buckled to the Church of Scientology's abuse of the DMCA to silence critics. [Kuro5hin] (March 21, 2002) Google Relists Operation Clambake After a furor over Google's removal of xenu.net from its database, the search engine relisted it--but only the main page. The other pages named in Scientology's DMCA complaint are still banned from Google. [Slashdot] (March 21, 2002) Scientology Uses DMCA to Delist Critic's Website The Church of Scientology used the Digital Millennium Copyright Act to strong-arm search engine Google into removing several pages of anti-Scientology site xenu.net from search results and directory. [Slashdot] (March 21, 2002) France puts Scientology sect on trial The Church of Scientology has been charged with abuse of civil liberties and attempted fraud, in the first French court case against the organisation rather than its individual members. [The Guardian] (February 21, 2002) "Mental Health" Hotline a Blind Lead A toll-free number which appeared for several hours on Fox News in the wake of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon offered "mental health assistance." Viewers were not told that the phone number was a Church of Scientology call center. [St. Petersburg Times] (September 15, 2001) Doc suspended for prescribing Valium The Florida Board of Medicine suspends Scientologist Dr. David I. Minkoff's medical license for one year, and furthermore rules that he is on probation for two years after that. [Associated Press] (August 5, 2001) Scientology Doctor Faces Suspension Judge rules that Dr. David Minkoff illegally prescribed Valium and chloral hydrate to Lisa McPherson at the behest of fellow Scientologists, and recommends a $10,000 fine and one-year license suspension. [Tampa Tribune] (July 25, 2001) Unfair Game: Scientologists Get Their Man Feature story concentrates on Keith Henson's misdemeanor conviction for picketing Scientology, and airs the belief that the Church of Scientology considers critics and ex-members to be "fair game" for harassment and injury. [L.A. Weekly] (June 22, 2001) Church Behavior? Editorial. In the Jesse Prince case, the Church of Scientology proved once again just how far it would go to investigate, smear, intimidate, and--if possible--destroy critics. [St. Petersburg Times] (May 26, 2001) Testimony: Church of Scientology spurred critic's arrest Private detectives employed by Scientology law firm Moxon and Kobrin trailed critic Jesse Prince for months before succeeding in getting him arrested. [Tampa Tribune] (May 23, 2001) Scientology link to drug case keeps jurors from reaching verdict Jurors in a misdemeanor case against Jesse Prince, a critic of the Church of Scientology, were unable to reach a verdict after some on the panel suspected the church had set him up. The vote was deadlocked at 4-2 in favor of acquittal. [Associated Press] (May 21, 2001) Lev L'Achim Launches Campaign to Fight Scientology The cult of Scientology is dangerous to the human mind, harmful to one's pocketbook, and uses deception to violate laws against forced religious conversion. [Dei'ah veDibur] (April 18, 2001) Slashdot caves in to Scientology loonies Geek paradise Slashdot has taken the unprecedented step of removing a post which contained text allegedly copyrighted by the "Church" of Scientology, after receiving threats from Hubbard Space Command shysters citing the dreaded Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). [The Register] (March 17, 2001) Scientologists Force Comment Off Slashdot The Church of Scientology alleged that an anonymous comment violated their copyright. Under the terms of the DMCA, Slashdot was forced to remove the offending post--but listed links to many anti-Scientology sites. Readers responded with more than 1500 comments. [Slashdot] (March 16, 2001) Leaving the Fold Third-generation Scientologist, disillusioned, broke away from the Church of Scientology. In turn, they declared her father a "suppressive person" and tried to paint her as an extortionist. [San Francisco Chronicle] (February 12, 2001) Scientologist Web site rips off urban75.com The self-styled addiction "experts" at Scientology front group Narconon stole graphics, navigation, stylesheets, layout, code, everything, from a popular rave web site. . . and added a rat-on-your-friends form. [The Register] (January 22, 2001) FRG on W2K: No CoS Readers discuss Microsoft's decision to provide instructions to Germans on how to remove defrag from Win2K because the software developer's CEO is a Scientologist. The security risk is no joke. [Slashdot] (November 5, 2000) German Visitor Takes on Scientology German official Ursula Caberta reports that in her country, Scientology is viewed as "a new kind of political extremism." [St. Petersburg Times] (July 26, 2000) eBay E-Meter Auctions Yanked Although anyone can buy an e-meter, eBay has yanked auctions of e-meters after the Church of Scientology claimed that copyright protection applies to the devices under the provisions of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. [Slashdot] (April 28, 2000) Scientology in the Machine The German government is examining whether a utility developed by a Scientologist would prohibit public agencies from installing Windows 2000. [Wired] (March 19, 2000) Scientologists Buy Red Cross Building The Church of Scientology has completed the latest in a series of land purchases that will help clear the way for its downtown expansion project. [St. Petersburg Times] (December 29, 1999) German Win2K Bug: Scientology? Officials are investigating whether the country's restrictions on Scientology might affect Windows 2000. How? Part of the software technology is provided by a company with links to the church. [Wired] (December 21, 1999) Lev L'Achim Wages Battle Against Scientology Cult Lev L'Achim's Anti-Cult Department attempts to close a school opened by the cult of Scientology in Tel Aviv. The Education Ministry officially announced that the school will never be licensed, and that parents who send their children there are violating the Law of Compulsory Education. [Dei'ah veDibur] (October 6, 1999) Virtual Book Burning Amazon's snap decision to ban two books in the face of legal threats seemingly contradicts the high-minded free-speech ideals the company often spouts. [Wired] (September 1, 1999) Scientology Book an Open Issue A book removed from Amazon's site because of alleged legal troubles is now among the top 150 books sold by the online bookstore. [Wired] (May 25, 1999) Clark's big score, Case's big bore As Compaq looks to clean up yet one more mess, Amazon offers a textbook example of how to shoot one's self in the foot. [ZDNet News] (May 21, 1999) Amazon reverses decision on book ban Company says original ban not a mistake but thanks Netizens for feedback. [ZDNet News] (May 20, 1999) Amazon to restore Scientology title Responding to customer criticism, Amazon.com said it will restore a book critical of Scientology to its list of available titles. [CNET News.com] (May 20, 1999) Public Service Ads Banned from Buses The transit authority limits ads to "commercial transactions" after anti-Scientology messages draw church protest. [St. Petersburg Times] (February 25, 1999) PSTA Aims to Avoid Ad Flap The transit agency is examining its policies after anti-Scientology ads were posted on county buses in December, sparking a legal debate. [St. Petersburg Times] (January 28, 1999) Picket Fencing Profile of Jeff Jacobsen, a critic of Scientology. [Phoenix New Times] (January 21, 1999) The Church of Scientology Tom Jarriel talks with both insiders and critics, but Scientology comes off looking very bad. Transcript. [ABC 20/20] (December 20, 1998) High Profile Couple Never Pairs Church and State Greta Van Susteren and her husband, John Coale, rub shoulders with notables in the nation's capital, they involve themselves in controversial legal cases, they like Florida living. But you rarely hear them speak of their religion, Scientology. [St. Petersburg Times] (December 13, 1998) Church's Complaints Take Buses off Road Scientologists say side panels on the buses carried ads attacking their church, violating state law. [St. Petersburg Times] (December 9, 1998) The Man Behind Scientology David Miscavige, the seldom-seen leader of the church, comes forth in his first newspaper interview to talk of a more peaceful time for Scientology. [St. Petersburg Times] (October 25, 1998) Scientologists in trademark disputes Church of Scientology International threatens to sue two sites critical of it, on grounds of alleged trademark and copyright violations. [CNET news.com] (January 29, 1998) Hush-Hush Money An anti-Scientology activist claims that the church made him an offer he had to refuse: $12 million. [Westword] (August 14, 1997) Nightmare on the Net A web of intrigue surrounds the high-stakes legal brawl between FACTnet and the Church of Scientology. [Westword] (March 6, 1997) Scientology's "Holocaust" Is Hollywood on the wrong side in Germany's "Church" vs. state furor? [Salon.com] (February 25, 1997) Cult Awareness Network and Scientology On October 23, 1996 the law firm which has represented the Church of Scientology for years purchased the logo and license agreement of the Cult Awareness Network (CAN). (November 4, 1996) BU's Scientology Connection Earle Cooley is chairman of Boston University's board of trustees. He's also made a career out of keeping L. Ron Hubbard's secrets, by raiding critics and suing journalists. [Boston Phoenix] (April 19, 1996) Stalking the Net In the online brawl over Scientology, Internet users discover that virtual reality bites back. [Westword] (October 4, 1995) See You in Court Ron Hubbard was dead but the Scientologists were still out to make their mark on the world. Starting with unauthorized biographer Russell Miller. [Punch] (February 19, 1988)
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