Stories from December, 2015
Low Bandwidth, High Hopes: Digital Participation in Venezuelan Elections
Despite low bandwidth and a series of localized Internet outages, the Web proved critical to public discourse and circulation of information about candidates, especially those running with the opposition.
Chinese Authorities Think Internet Companies Should Reward Netizens Who ‘Spread Good News’
China's State Internet Information Office spokesman urged Internet companies to allocate charity funds to those who "spread good news." But netizens don't completely agree with government's idea of good news.
Netizen Report: Pro-Government Hackers and Constitutional Amendment Put Free Speech Under Fire in Ecuador
Facebook is back on in Bangladesh, Venezuela sees big changes (and Internet outages) on Election Day and Kazakhstan plans to spy on everyone.
Ecuadorean Political Leader Who Criticized Government Nepotism on Twitter Gets 15 Days in Prison
A few tweets about an alleged case of nepotism in Ecuador's Government earned Sebastian Cevallos a sentence of 15 days in jail.
After a Year Behind Bars, Journalist Khadija Ismayilova of Azerbaijan is Fearless
"I am so much wealthier than all the corrupt men and women I have written about. Because I have values for which I am ready to even sacrifice my life."
‘We Still Don't Know Where Bassel is': Syrian Web Developer Has Been Missing for Two Months
Over 37,000 supporters are urging Syrian authorities inform Bassel's family of his whereabouts and give him clemency. We now call on the UN to intervene on his behalf.
Digital Citizen 4.0: Special Edition on Refugees and Technology
Digital Citizen is a biweekly review of news, policy, and research on human rights in the Arab World.
Netizen Report: ‘Terrorist Threat’ or Political Speech? States Target Social Media Post-Paris
Saudi threatens to sue anyone who compares its penal system to ISIS, China cuts mobile phone service for ethnic minorities and Google goes to bat for fair use.
Saudi Arabia Sentences Poet to Death and Threatens to Sue Critics of Penal System
The sentence was criticised far and wide with many taking to social media, comparing Saudi Arabia's penal code and punishments to that executed by ISIS.
RuNet User Gets First Real Prison Term for ‘Promoting Extremism’ on Social Media
A Russian court has handed out a real prison term to a user charged with "propaganda of extremism on social media," sentencing him to one year in a penal colony.
Bangladesh Keeps Blocking Social Media, Threatens New Surveillance Tactics
With the lack of accountability shown by the government, a move towards more stringent controls of the Internet is worrying for the state of free expression in the country.