Stories from February, 2014
Hong Kong Police Made Thousands of Personal Data Requests With No Judicial Oversight
In 2013, the Hong Kong Police Force made 7,462 requests for user data under the pretext of "crime investigation", yet the process was not monitored by any judicial bodies.
Netizen Report: Turks Protest, “Unfollow” President Over Censorship Law
This week's report looks at mass protests in both Turkey and Venezuela, Facebook fallout over WhatsApp, and a must-see hand-illustrated video on digital surveillance.
Digital Surveillance in Angola and Other “Less Important” African Countries
Detection of malware in Africa's largest countries seems to be of ongoing interest to researchers. But what about those countries that are "less important" on the global stage?
Arab Bloggers: A Blessed Generation?
"It’s no surprise that three years after the start of the Arab revolutions, the situation of online freedom of expression in the region seems almost as bleak as it did before 2011." Hisham Almiraat reflects on #AB14.
Digital Citizen 1.4
Digital Citizen brings you the latest human rights and technology news from the Arab World. In this edition, we look at effects of export controls on Sudan and Syria, and threats to bloggers in Egypt and the UAE.
Walkie-Talkie App Zello Blocked in Venezuela
Authorities were monitoring protester communications over the mobile push-to-talk app Zello. Now, they're blocking it.
Venezuela: The Internet Goes Dark in Táchira
"In Táchira we're without Internet, water, light, food, gasoline..." Live tweeting from what many are calling the "militarized" state of Táchira, where the currently raging protests began.
Xu Zhiyong and the Long Road for China's Human Rights Activists
Oiwan Lam argues that the conviction of human rights activist Xu Zhiyong, a pioneer of civic organizing online, is emblematic of the new era of government repression towards Chinese activists.
Netizen Report: Censorship Continues as Protests Turn Violent in Venezuela
This week, we look at the effects of protests on the Internet in Venezuela, the Philippines newly-minted online libel rule, and more spyware discoveries from The Citizen Lab.
Philippine Supreme Court Upholds Cyber Libel Law
The Philippine Supreme Court affirmed the constitutionality of an online libel policy, disappointing and angering media freedom advocates
Venezuela: Police Seize Protester Mobile Phones
Protesters believe police are reviewing their personal information, erasing pictures and video of the protests, and sending prank messages to their families and friends.
Collecting Data About Possible Web Censorship in Venezuela
Global Voices authors are crowdsourcing information about web blocking Venezuela -- and they need your help!
Sudan: Blogger Remains in Detention for Criticizing Presidents
Tajeldin Arja was arrested at a press conference last December, after he criticized the Sudanese and Chadian Presidents for their actions surrounding the conflict in Darfur.
Algerian Cartoonist Faces 18 Months in Jail for Mocking President
Djamel Ghanem faces prison for an unpublished cartoon in which he used an image of baby diapers to mock Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
Venezuela: Twitter Photos Blocked as Protests Continue
As protests escalate, Internet users throughout Venezuela are reporting trouble accessing websites and multimedia content on Twitter. Most problems appear to be occuring on CANTV, the state-owned ISP.
Love in the Time of Code Era: A Poem About Secure Communication
"It's been a year you first whispered in my ear that PGP is of no use anymore."
Venezuela: Protests Leave Three Dead as Threats to Media Escalate
Venezuelan citizens took to the streets to demand the release of student protester arrested in previous demonstrations concerning public safety and food shortages. Media organizations covering the protests are facing censorship and legal threats.
Two Million Mobile SIM Cards Deactivated in Zambia
Zambians who failed to register their SIM cards are now facing dead air -- journalists and opposition party leaders say the deactivations are a violation of citizens' privacy and communication rights.
Netizen Report: #TheDayWeFightBack Edition
This week, we round up events around the globe that marked #TheDayWeFightBack anti-surveillance campaign and look at mounting pressure on indy media in Turkey and Venezuela.
Web We Want Contest: Cartoonists Fight Back!
The Web We Want initiative challenged artists everywhere to produce cartoons on the topic of NSA surveillance, in support of #TheDayWeFightBack -- here are the winners!
