Stories from April, 2018
#SOSNicaragua: At least 25 killed in Nicaragua protests, including one journalist, say human rights groups
Nicaraguans are live broadcasting, tweeting and video blogging about the crisis on the ground.
Troll farm takes aim at American audiences in new web campaign
RIA FAN, a Russian news outlet with known connections to the Saint Petersburg "troll factory", announced its latest project: a website called USA Really, aimed at a U.S.-based audience.
Angolan authorities bring journalist Rafael Marques back to court, for investigating corruption
A journalist best known for exposing human rights violations in the diamond trade, Marques is not the only target of the Angolan regime.
Chinese netizens’ #IamLGBT campaign pushes change at Weibo
The move is significant, but it doesn’t mean that LGBT content will be spared from the latest censorship crackdown.
Netizen Report: Russia is blocking millions of IP addresses, all because of the Telegram #IPocalypse
The Advox Netizen Report offers an international snapshot of challenges, victories, and emerging trends in Internet rights around the world.
Will Singapore's plan to combat ‘deliberate online falsehoods’ stifle free speech?
"…the biggest threat to the stability and growth of the democratic process in Singapore is the government’s control of the media and information."
Liberian journalists detained, slapped with US 1.8 million lawsuit amid political feud
Only weeks after FrontPage Africa reported on the LEITI scandal, the newspaper was slammed with a crippling libel civil lawsuit. Press freedom activists believe FrontPage Africa has been targeted.
As Russian court announces Telegram ban, users stand defiant, amused… and worried
And as a year-long battle between Telegram and the Russian authorities ended with the decision to block the app, reaction to the announcement has been passionate and often derisive.
Netizen Report: Around the World, Activists Demand Answers From Facebook
The Advox Netizen Report offers an international snapshot of challenges, victories, and emerging trends in Internet rights around the world.
Will Tanzanian Bloggers Pay Up or Push Back Against ‘Blogger Tax'?
In Tanzania, where media historically holds strong ties to government interests, blogging opened up possibilities for individuals to establish private news outlets that proved immensely powerful.
Ugandan Government Plans to Tax Social Media Users for Too Much Gossip
"Uganda wants to profit where it did not invest. Social media owners gave it out for free and you wanna tax it?"
No Laughing Matter: China Shuts Down Popular Joke-Sharing App
"A country, a government, a supervision department. They are all scared of a joke-sharing application."
By Attempting to Curb Disinformation on Slain Politician Marielle Franco, a Brazilian Judge Hands Facebook Censorship Powers
The order could set a dangerous precedent for freedom of speech online in the country.
Amid Crackdown on Dissent, Six Vietnamese Human Rights Activists Are Dealt Long Prison Sentences
“I will continue the struggle and if I must sit in jail, others on the outside will fight on for me and they will never stop.”
Russian Newspaper Closes After Years of Tense, Often Violent Confrontation with Security Services
In an op-ed announcing the newspaper’s closure on its website, the acting editor in chief Yuri Grozmani said he had little hope for domestic prosecution of FSB officers complicit in the act of censorship.
Netizen Report: Malaysia Outlaws ‘Fake News’ — Will Singapore Be Next?
The Advox Netizen Report offers an international snapshot of challenges, victories, and emerging trends in Internet rights around the world.
With Elections Approaching and Parliament Dissolved, Will Malaysia's Anti-Fake News Law Become a ‘Political Weapon'?
"While this issue should not be ignored, the proposed broad-based law to criminalise the dissemination of news amounts to legislative overkill."
Indian Government Threatens to Revoke Media Accreditation Over ‘Fake News’
New federal guidelines in India which states that journalists can lose accreditation if found spreading "fake" or "uncomfortable" news raises an issue of media-surveillance.
India's Data Security Dilemma Continues With Cambridge Analytica
Indian political leaders are accusing one another of using Cambridge Analytica to manipulate local elections.
With ‘Sharp Eyes’, Smart Phones and TV Sets Are Watching Chinese Citizens
By 2020, China could have a comprehensive nationwide surveillance network, wherein law enforcement will have easy access to data collected by any individual surveillance camera in the network.
