Stories from April, 2014
#FreeCiaxon: Detained Nigerian Twitter User Released
Yusuf Siyaka Onimisi was detained shortly after he posted a series of photos and eyewitness reports on an escape attempt by several members of the northern Nigeria-based Boko Haram.
Cambodia’s Cyber Bill Undermines Internet Freedom From Every Angle
Cambodian netizens and human rights groups are speaking out against the government’s anti-cybercrime bill, which could lead to harsh penalties for online criticism, stricter Internet regulation, and social media censorship.
Law 140: Eavesdropping on Lebanon
Lebanon’s Surveillance Law guarantees the right to privacy across all means of electronic communication -- unfortunately, authorities violate this law on a regular basis.
#FreeCiaxon: Nigerian Netizen Missing After Reporting on Deadly Clashes
@Ciaxon was allegedly detained after tweeting his eyewitness account of a shootout between Boko Haram terrorism suspects and state security that left 20 dead.
Netizen Report: Battling “Annoying” and “Insulting” Emails in India, Mozambique
This week's Netizen Report looks at troublesome laws affecting speech in India, Mozambique, and Zambia, along with a proposed surveillance measure in Kosovo.
In Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, Internet Blackouts Are Systematic
As the militarization of the North Sinai has left residents increasingly disconnected from Internet and mobile services, some citizens are working together to sue mobile service providers and demand a guarantee of service.
Zambia Will Draft Internet Law to Control “Gossiping” Media
Information Minister Joseph Katema derided the current media environment, claiming that Zambians are "starved of credible information" due to the media's focus on "spreading falsehoods."
Spies Like US: “Fake Twitter” Violated Cubans’ Privacy Rights
ZunZuneo not only obtained mobile phone numbers for half a million Cubans without their knowledge or consent -- it also observed and analyzed (read: surveilled) their communications for "political tendencies."
A Russian Gulag for American Social Networks’ Data?
A Moscow city councilman is promoting legislation that would require all online social networks to house users’ personal data on servers located on Russian soil.
Netizen Report: Telecom Reforms in Mexico Smack of Authoritarian Past
This week we look at Mexico's byzantine new telecommunications bill and at Costa Rica, where the Supreme Court recently ruled in favor of media workers' rights to privacy.
Digital Citizen 1.5
Digital Citizen brings you the latest human rights and technology news from the Arab World. This edition looks at anti-terror measures in Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia and beyond that could threaten free expression.
Teenage Bloggers in Bangladesh Arrested For ‘Blasphemous’ Facebook Posts
Fellow bloggers have accused an Islamist student organization of distributing false propaganda that rallied a mob against the two bloggers and led to their arrest.