Stories from April, 2016
Netizen Report: US-Iran Tensions Rise Over Cyber Conflict, Human Rights
Death toll rises yet again for secular Bangladeshis, China scrubs #PanamaPapers from the Web and Egypt exploits two-step verification to target activists' online accounts.
The Russian Art of Meta-Stalking
Russian photographer Egor Tsvetkov says his work exposes how “digital narcissism” often “provokes online stalking.” But is his latest project doing the same thing?
Secular Activist Targeted and Killed in Bangladesh
The 28-year-old law student was murdered by three assailants in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on April 7, 2016. The young man was most likely targeted for his critiques of religious conservatism.
Two-Step Verification in Egypt: Strength or Weakness for Online Security?
Independent researchers in Egypt have identified what appears to be a new technical avenue for state surveillance: manipulation of the two-step verification process. Many activists, journalists and regular citizens throughout the world use two-step verification (see below) on social media and email services in order to bring a new layer...
In Kenya, Banned Music Video Celebrating Same-Sex Love Stays on YouTube
The Kenya Film Classification Board has banned the video arguing that "it does not adhere to the morals of the country."
Maldives Media Crackdown Triggers Forced Newspaper Closure, Journalist Arrests
Riot police used brute force and pepper spray and strip-searched both male and female journalists, who hailed from several local media organizations.
Wanna Reach the Chinese Internet Market? Time to Register Your Domain in China.
New rules will require leading foreign companies including Microsoft and Apple to register their sites' domain names with local DNS providers in order to remain accessible in China.
Chinese Censors Erase #PanamaPapers Evidence From Web
The leaked files reveal offshore companies linked to China's top leader, who has vowed to fight "armies of corruption". But most mainland Chinese haven't even heard about them.
Zambian Deputy Minister Attacks Bank Employee Over Facebook Comment
The Deputy Minister’s visit reportedly was marked with obnoxious name calling, threats and shouts that shocked clients and security personnel at the bank.
Posting Photos of Red Bowls on Facebook Is Now Deemed Seditious by the Thai Junta
"The Thai junta’s fears of a red plastic bowl show its intolerance of dissent has reached the point of absolute absurdity."
Facebook Lands More People in Trouble in Kazakhstan
'Kazakhstan has drawn criticism ... for what media rights advocates have described as the excessively punitive libel damages sometimes levelled at journalists.'
