Stories from May, 2014
Activists Push Back on Mauritania's Information Society Law
A newly proposed law on the Information Society in Mauritania would limit free expression and prohibit the use of encryption. Activists are speaking out against the legislation.
#FreeSimpson: Campaign to Free Jailed Activists in Morocco
Eleven members of the pro-democracy February 20 Movement were detained in April after joining a labor protest. Using #FreeSimpson and #FreeKoulchi hashtags, supporters are calling for their release.
Join the #FreeZone9Bloggers Tweetathon on May 14
Join Global Voices bloggers for an Africa-wide tweetathon in support of the nine bloggers and journalists arrested in late April and currently being detained in Ethiopia.
Digital Citizen 1.6
Digital Citizen brings you the latest human rights and technology news from the Arab World. This edition looks at Internet blackouts in Syria and Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, new cyber laws in Mauritania and Morocco, and more.
Why Blogging is a Threat to the Ethiopian Government
"The threat embodied in Ethiopia’s bloggers, journalists and free thinkers is that they are introducing a radical new idea—the idea of a freer, more democratic country."
Azerbaijan: N!DA Activists Face 6-8 Years in Prison
As one journalist put it, members of the leading online activist group were “found guilty of being bright, intelligent, brave and honest.”
Saudi Blogger Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison, 1000 Lashes
Yesterday, a Saudi court sentenced Raif Badawi to 10 years in prison and 1000 lashes for setting up a liberal website.
Netizen Report: China Slaps Tech Giant Over Porn (and Politics)
“If you don’t have Internet order, how can you have Internet freedom?” This report looks at recent critiques of the open Internet debate from China, and a creative campaign for better Internet service in Bolivia.
Russian Internet on the Way to Pyongyang
Starting on August 1, 2014 all distributors of online content will be required to retain user data for a minimum of six months after its creation.
4 Ways You Can Join the #FreeZone9Bloggers Campaign
Join the campaign to free nine bloggers and journalists detained in Ethiopia: Write a letter, sign a statement, or organize an event in your city!
Advocates Ask African Commission, UN Experts to Intervene in Zone 9 Bloggers Case
Global Voices joins a joint appeal to the AU and UN Special Rapporteurs to help secure the immediate release of the Zone9 bloggers and declare their arrest and detention a gross violation of their human rights.
Get the Facts: Mexico's #LeyTelecom
Mexico's proposed telecom law would increase state control and loosen limitations on telecommunication companies' abilities to censor, surveil, and discriminate on their networks. Learn more about it and get involved!
STATEMENT: Global Voices Calls for the Release of Nine Journalists in Ethiopia
"We are outraged by this flagrant violation of our friends’ rights to free expression and deeply concerned for their safety. We cannot remain silent."
Malaysian Minister: Too Many Newspapers Will “Confuse the People”
While most countries in the region see newspapers closing down in favor of an Internet-only model, two Malaysian news sites are seeking to do the opposite, despite challenges from above.
