Stories from September, 2015
Six Ways Pro-Government Forces Went After Hong Kong's Occupy Movement
"The [Occupy Central] movement suggests that both the Internet and Hong Kong are at a crossroads, that both cannot take its freedoms for granted," writes Lokman Tsui.
Netizen Report: China Joins Russia in Crusade to Keep User Data at Government’s Fingertips
This week, a public outcry over encryption proposal sent Indian legislators back to the drawing board. Meanwhile, Iranian leaders are re-centralizing power under the country's Supreme Cyberspace Council.
Jailed Activist and Artist Atena Farghdani Protests Mistreatment With Hunger Strike
“They have tarnished my daughter’s reputation in prison. They are playing with her integrity with their [ugly] words."
The Arrest of Arash Zad, Iran's Start-Up Kid
A popular technology blogger and pioneer of Iran's start-up scene is quietly arrested at Tehran's international airport. A strange turn of events for someone not involved in an dissident activity.
It Gets Worse for Russia's Most-Prominent LGBT Youth Support Group
Authorities have ordered the country's most popular social network to ban Children-404, along with four other LGBT groups, or risk being blocked altogether by Russian Internet providers.
Digital Citizen 3.7
Digital Citizen is a biweekly review of news, policy, and research on human rights and technology in the Arab World.
Netizen Report: Refugee Crisis Inspires Both Love and Hate Online
Juan Arellano, Mary Aviles, Ellery Roberts Biddle, Sam Kellogg, Hae-in Lim and Sarah Myers West contributed to this report. Global Voices Advocacy's Netizen Report offers an international snapshot of challenges,...
Iran's Hardline Supreme Council on Cyberspace Consolidates Power Over Internet Policymaking
Iran's Supreme Leader is strengthening his hold over Internet policy through the Supreme Council for Cyberspace.
Veteran Thai Journalist Detained After ‘Attitude-Adjustment’
"Freedom can't be maintained if we're not willing to defend it," Pravit tweeted on the day of his detention.
Netizen Report: Networks Blocked in North Eastern India Amid Riots
As communications shutdowns continue in India, China censors frogs, umbrellas, and Winnie the Pooh memes and Russia makes foreign companies store their data locally (except Twitter).
Kenyan Public Intellectual Accused of Using Hate Speech on Twitter
Kenyan political analyst Mutahi Ngunyi apologises to the Luo ethnic group and Law Society of Kenya head by offering a goat and a beer after attacking them on Twitter.
Digital Citizen 3.6
Digital Citizen is a biweekly review of news, policy, and research on human rights and technology in the Arab World.
Facebook Activist Details How She Received a Seven-Year Prison Sentence in Iran
One of the eight Facebook activists sentenced to long prison sentences in 2013 for social and political commentary posted on their Facebook pages, has asserted that she was denied access to a lawyer during her detention, interrogated about private matters, and charged with crimes she never committed.
Browsing the Web from Cuba's Public Hotspots
Limited to using one social network, an email service, and chat and video applications, Internet from Cuba's public WiFi hotspots is "expensive and short-lived."
Inside the Trial of Zone9 Bloggers: 16 Months and Counting
The Zone9 bloggers' trial continues, with relatives prevented from documenting the proceedings, and frequent adjournments in court obstructing the progress of justice. Read Endalk Chala's latest report.
Censored Memes, Search Terms and Images from China’s WWII Parade
Whilst the visible comments about the massive military parade on Weibo were overwhelmingly positive, posts which were removed and collected at FreeWeibo.com showed users making fun of the occasion.
Netizen Report: Egypt Tests New Terror Law on Facebook Users
The Netizen Report is back in action after a summer hiatus. This week, we catch up on Russia's empty threat to Wikipedia and social media censorship in Cambodia and Malaysia.