February, 2012

Stories from February, 2012

Iran: Another blogger was arrested

  25 February 2012

Nama Jafari,blogger and journalist was arrested. He was editor of a cultural site. He also wrote a book called “a gathering in solitary confinement”.

China: Activist's Wife and Son Harassed Online

  13 February 2012

An anonymous Twitter user has disclosed Wen Yunchao, his wife and son's personal information online. Wen is an outspoken blogger and free speech activist on the Chinese Internet and has been a subject of attack for the past few years. His gmail account has been hacked several times and personality...

China: Chinese Communist Party Plans To Lead Microblogging Platform

  9 February 2012

In China, all conventional media outlets are under the direct leadership of Chinese Communist Party (CCP). A CCP secretary is planted in every media organization to oversee the content and give direction to the editors and reporters what to highlight and what to censor. Same arrangement would be introduced to...

Netizen Report: Which Way Ahead?

  8 February 2012

In the past few weeks, we have witnessed how Internet companies - the sovereigns of cyberspace - struggle with the conflict between market demands for global expansion and the demands of their users for freedom of expression online. In this edition of our twice-monthly report on developments affecting the freedom of netizens around the world, we report on new censorship policies at Twitter and Google, privacy developments, new legislation, netizen activism against the ACTA trade agreement, efforts by bloggers and activists around the world to fight repression, and much more.

China: Censoring Opinions on China's veto on UN resolution on Syria

  8 February 2012

Even though the People's Daily propagated [zh] that “China’s veto was in accordance with the Syrian people’s basic interests”, Chinese concern citizens have not been misled by the official media and believed that China should be responsibility for bloodshed after Syrian resolution veto. However, the popular opinion against China's vote...

Iran: Innovations in Cyber Dictatorship

  7 February 2012

In the latest examples creative repression over the internet, the Islamic regime has used Skype as a long-distance interrogation tool, and wrested control over a Facebook group for photos of hot guys and girls from its administrators.

Oman: Blogger Muawiya Alrawahi Detained

  6 February 2012

It has been reported on Twitter that outspoken Omani blogger Muawiya Alrawahi, known for his controversial ideas, has been detained because of a blog post and some tweets in which he criticised Sultan Qaboos bin Said, the ruler of Oman.

Kuwait: Ahmad Mansoor, a UAE blogger denied entry

  6 February 2012

Ahmad Mansoor, UAE's most famous blogger who was detained last year for several months with four other activists for signing an online petition calling for reforms in his country, was denied entry to Kuwait few days ago. The UAE5 including Mansoor were released with a pardon on the 28th of...

China: Several Tibetan Language Blog Sites Shut Down

  3 February 2012

Against the backdrop of a stream of self-immolations in Tibet in protest against Chinese rule, unrest in eastern Tibet and a severely increased military presence, several of the most popular Tibetan language blog sites have gone offline as of today. Dechen Pembar reports.

Ethiopia: Freedom of Expression in Jeopardy

  3 February 2012

More than ten journalists have been imprisoned in Ethiopia since June 2011 and according to the Committee to Protect Journalists about 25% of exiled journalists in Africa are from Ethiopia, making the country the world's main enemy of the major driving forces of free expression: journalists, bloggers and political dissidents....

South Korea: National Security Law Muted North Korea Related Discussions

  3 February 2012

A South Korean Twitter user, Park Jeong-Geun has been arrested since January 11, 2012 for re-tweeting messages such as “Long Live General Kim Jong-Il” in Twitter. Under the curry National Security Law (NSL), Park would face up to seven years imprisonment. Amnesty International called for Park's release yesterday, February 2,...

We the terrorists…?

  2 February 2012

This is how the FBI can consider everyone liking his/her online privacy. Katitza Rodrigez was depicting very finely and accurately the current state of privacy fights right before International Privacy Day. The latter was just few days ago, on 28th January. And here comes the FBI now with a very...

New Book on Global Struggle for Internet Freedom

  2 February 2012

How do we ensure the Internet develops compatibly with democracy? And how do we become active “netizens” who take responsibility for our digital future? This is the subject of Rebecca McKinnon's new book: "Consent of the Networked: The Worldwide Struggle For Internet Freedom."