Latest posts by Ellery Roberts Biddle
Censored in 2018: Protest videos, court verdicts, real news — and Peppa Pig
From blocked websites to revoked media licenses to account shutdowns, censorship comes in many forms. Here are a few we saw in 2018.
How will Google plug into China’s all-encompassing internet censorship regime?
How far is Google willing to go to get the Chinese government's blessing?
Facebook bans 196 pages in Brazil, attempting to rein in abuse and disinformation
Free Brazil Movement is accusing the platform of censoring right-wing groups.
Access denied: How Uganda’s social media tax is turning news and information into luxury goods
For Uganda’s poorest residents, the new tax raises internet connection costs by 10%.
What's happened to digital rights over the past seven years? 300 editions of the Netizen Report will tell you
This week, we're looking back at seven years of covering global digital rights news in celebration of our 300th edition!
Jogging through Tiananmen Square: What happens when Facebook meets China's censorship regime?
"The floor you stepped on has been covered by blood from students who fought for democracy. But, enjoy your running in China, Mark."
Billions served? Human rights in the Facebook era
Tracking hate speech, harassment, and political censorship on the world’s largest social network
In Mexico, an indigenous community telco will continue to operate — for now
"For us, the fact that we had to pay a million pesos meant that we would stop operating."
Censored, But Not Backing Down: Cuban News Site Staff Say They Won't Change Their Editorial Line
Online news magazine "El Estornudo" has been blocked inside Cuba and its editor writes an open letter that can be read in other media outlets inside the island.
What Happens at Maekelawi? Tales of Torture from an Ethiopian Detention Center Slated for Closure
"It turns out that the anguish of Ethiopian prisoners, something that appeared to be so distant in memory, is not that far off after all."
Despite Regime Change, Macedonian Civil Society Is Still Reeling from Political Persecution and ‘De-Sorosization’
Will Macedonia's new government keep its promise to respect the role of civil society?
Authorities Are ‘Whitewashing’ the Devastation and Death Toll in Puerto Rico
Local media outlets in Puerto Rico are finding that key information about hurricane damage has been, as one US Congressman put it, "whitewashed."
On WhatsApp, Fake News is Nearly Impossible to Moderate. Is That a Bad Thing?
People are keen to tackle fake news on Facebook. But picture becomes more complex when news and information spread through WhatsApp.
Macedonian Citizen Fined 400 Euro For Insulting Turkish President Erdoğan on Facebook
A Macedonian court ordered a person to pay 400 euros for writing "ironical statements and insulted a leader of a foreign country."
Five Days After His Essay Went Viral, Chinese Author Apologizes for ‘Imprecise’ Writing on Beijing's Economic Boom
Zhang's viral essay commented on Beijing's rapid economic and architectural development and rising economic inequality.
Facebook’s Free Basics Doesn't Connect You to the Global Internet – But it Does Collect Your Data
Regardless of whether they log into Facebook, users of Free Basics are constantly sharing their data with Facebook.
Who Are the #Istanbul10? Learn About the Work of Jailed Human Rights Defenders in Turkey
A group of human rights defenders and information technology trainers continue to face jail time in Turkey and accusations that they were "aiding a terrorist organization without being a member."
Tunisian Media Activist Interrogated Over Sources of Leaked Documents
Sami Ben Gharbia is a significant figure in independent media and digital human rights activism in Tunisia and the Arab region.
Ecuadorian Elections Marked by Website Outages, Twitter Suspensions
Along with pro-opposition websites, some media rights groups saw a sharp decline in traffic on the evening of the election.
Macedonia’s Ruling Party Is Draining Civil Society Groups’ Time—and Money
Ruling partly leaders are calling for the "de-Sorosization" of Macedonian civil society, arguing that the country's civil sector should rely on the Macedonian government for financial support.
