Stories from October, 2016
Hello Vodafone: What Does It Mean When a Global Telco Giant Enters Iran?
Vodafone's partnership with an Iranian telco is a welcome improvement to the local telecommunications market. But the potential for complicity between Vodafone and Iran's surveillance infrastructure is hard to ignore.
Leaked Xinjiang Police Report Describes Circumvention Tools as ‘Terrorist Software’
The report describes using VPNs as an indicator of criminality, or a “pre-criminal” behavior, perhaps a harbinger of tighter restrictions to come.
Russian Search Engine Will Only List Top News Stories from State-Registered Media
Yandex is coming under pressure to register with Roskomnadzor, the state agency that regulates Russian media.
Saudi Mobile Data Quality Provokes National Protest Against Bad Service
Saudi social media users are protesting against the nation's mobile network operators' bad service and the continued blocking of VoIP apps that are supposed to be available for free.
Who Has the Right to Tell a Country’s Story?
"It is not possible to tell the truth about Cuba from only one viewpoint, or from unanimous viewpoints that are the equivalent of one."
Netizen Report: As Protests Rage in Ethiopia, Zone9 Bloggers Return to Court
The Advox Netizen Report offers an international snapshot of challenges, victories, and emerging trends in Internet rights around the world.
Chinese Netizens See Human Rights Violations in Child Protection Bill
The new regulations attempt to protect children by requiring hardware companies to install surveillance software on their devices, and by promoting treatments for "Internet addiction."
Journalists Call on Timor-Leste PM to Drop Defamation Complaint Against Reporters
Around the world, reporters are trying to get the prime minister of Timor-Leste to abandon a criminal complaint against two journalists who say he was involved in government corruption.
WhatsApp and Viber Blocked on Election Day in Montenegro
Parliamentary elections in Montenegro had been marred with allegations of irregularities, reported via social networks, and a temporary ban on use of Viber, WhatsApp and similar messaging apps.
Netizen Report: Brazilians Find the Limits of Free Speech on Facebook
The Advox Netizen Report offers an international snapshot of challenges, victories, and emerging trends in Internet rights around the world.
Cuban Journalist Elaine Diaz and Colleagues Arrested For Reporting on Hurricane Matthew “Without a Permit”
Diaz confirmed late in the evening on October 12 that she and colleagues were released from police custody and returning to Havana.
Ethiopian Authorities Shut Down Mobile Internet and Major Social Media Sites
Those close to the situation fear this may be the beginning of a dangerous new phase after 12 months of protests.
Google Warns More Than a Dozen Russian Journalists and Activists About ‘Government-Backed Attackers’
More than a dozen Russian journalists and activists received a strange warning from Google earlier today, notifying them that “government-backed attackers” may be “trying to steal” their passwords.
The Plight of the Zambian Watchdog: Embattled Opposition News Site Goes Down
The closure and the raid may represent a turning point in a long-standing cat-and-mouse game between the government and the controversial news website.
Chinese Propaganda Authorities Promote Clinton-Trump ‘Love Song’ Spoof Videos
Since they can't stop people from following the news, propaganda authorities are focusing on the more absurd aspects of the race between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.Since they can't stop people from following the news, propaganda authorities are focusing on the more absurd aspects of the race between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.
Reality, Conspiracy and the US ‘Internet Freedom’ Agenda: Deconstructing Iran's Case Against Nizar Zakka
Nizar Zakka, a Lebanese citizen was arrested and sentenced to 10 years in prison by Iranian for leading U.S. funded projects in Iran. We deconstruct this situation.
Indonesia Drafts New Ban on Cyberbullying, But Activists Say They're the Target
"The cyber law is used as an effective tool to spread fear against voices who want to unmask injustices in this country."
WhatsApp Reportedly Blocked in Yemen, Mobile Operator Cites ‘Technical Issues’
Censorship of online content has surged in Yemen since the beginning of the conflict opposing Houthi rebels and forces loyal to president Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi.
Bangladesh Introduces ‘Smart’ National Identity Cards
Collecting massive amounts of personal and biometric data opens up thorny issues around security and surveillance. As the database is built up, who will gain access to it?
Tunisian Teen Risks Suspension for Denouncing Poor School Conditions on Facebook
The school administration has accused Hamza Batti of engaging in a "smear campaign" against it.
