Latest posts by Global Voices
GV Face: Fighting for an Open Internet in Brazil
This week on GV Face, Global Voices' weekly video hangout series, we talk with Brazil author Raphael Tsavkko, Internet policy expert Carolina Rossini and Joana Varon, an author of Brazil's Marco Civil da Internet bill.
“Lesbianism” and “War Games”: Russian Internet Censorship Continues
Russian website Looo.ch was presumably blocked for hosting an art project: two multimedia "textbooks" titled "Homosexuality for Children" and "Lesbianism for Children," which are meant to be a "satire of Russian homophobia."
Transparency Reform in Mexico: A Step Backward in the Name of Security?
The Attorney General, the President of the National Bank, and other high-ranking authorities may soon be able to overrule actions of the Federal Institute for Access to Information, the semi-autonomous entity that guarantees the public’s right to access information.
Thailand Wants to Monitor Conversations on LINE App
Government officials would monitor the messaging application to track online threats to national security. LINE has 15 million subscribers in Thailand.
Six Years in a Russian Prison for Sharing Porn?
A Russian blogger got in trouble with local authorities after reposting pictures from a nightclub's social networking page featuring half-naked patrons engaged in striptease contests and public sex acts.
#FreeSafy – Bahrain Arrests Blogger in Dawn Raid
Bahraini blogger Mohammed Hassan was arrested at dawn today. His telephone and computer were confiscated. Netizens are calling for his release.
Snowden Airport Saga Polarizes Russian Human Rights Community
Human rights defenders in Russia are divided over Edward Snowden and the Kremlin's treatment of the former NSA subcontractor who remains in jurisdictional limbo at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport.
Orphaned in US, SOPA Finds Home in Russia
America’s controversial Stop Online Piracy Act is back—and it’s poised to become law in a matter of weeks. SOPA, however, isn’t coming to the US, where a wide coalition defeated the legislation in January 2012. A law that creates similarly harsh penalties for online copyright violations is on the cusp of finding a home in Russia.
Bangladesh Unblocks YouTube After Eight-Month Ban
Bangladesh's telecommunication authorities have unblocked YouTube in Bangladesh after 260 days of restricting access within the country to the video sharing website.
Singapore’s ‘Largest Blogger-led Protest’ Bats for Media Freedom
An estimated crowd of 2,000 people joined a protest assembly in Singapore’s Hong Lim Park last June 8, 2013 to oppose the government’s new licensing scheme for news websites. Organized by the ‘Free My Internet’ movement, it was reported to be the ‘largest blogger-led protest’ in Singapore.
Saudi Arabia Blocks Instant Messaging App Viber
Following the Saudi threat to block encrypted communication software unless the government is allowed to spy, the instant messaging application Viber was blocked earlier yesterday. The website can no longer be accessed and the application does not connect.
‘Free My Internet’ Movement Rises in Singapore
A new licensing scheme for news websites announced by Singapore's Media Development Authority has been denounced by many as a censorship measure. A group of concerned netizens calling themselves the ‘Free My Internet’ movement has invited the public to join a rally this coming Saturday to demand the withdrawal of the controversial regulation.
South Korea's Child Porn Law Blasted for Restricting Freedom of Expression
A new youth protection law in South Korea, meant to protect children by clamping down on child pornography, is being assailed for its broad language that labels net users who unknowingly download suspicious content and artists who depict children in their work as criminals.
Copyright Amendment Could Bring Web Filter System to Taiwan
Many Taiwanese believe that a recent proposed copyright amendment put forward by the government is a setback for democracy. The amendment would provide legal ground for ISP-level blocking of websites that violate copyright restrictions.
14-year-old Citizen Journalist Killed Covering Clashes in Syria
Omar Qatifaan, a 14-year-old media activist, was killed while covering clashes between pro- and anti-government forces in the southern Daraa al-Ballad area of Syria near the border with Jordan.
Bahrain Jails Six Twitter Users for Insulting King
Six Twitter users were sentenced to a year in prison each by a Bahrain court last week for allegedly insulting King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on the micro-blogging site.
Interview: Chadian Blogger and Journalist Expelled from Senegal to Guinea
The Senegalese government expelled Chadian journalist and blogger Makaila Nguebla on May 8, 2013, sending him to Guinea. He explained his situation in an interview with Global Voices' Anna Guèye.
Russia's #1 Netizen Heads to Trial
Pussy Riot, eat your heart out. On April 17, Russia’s most polarizing blogger, Alexey Navalny, will stand trial for embezzling roughly half a million dollars from a state-owned timber company in the city of Kirov. In a country constantly plagued by politicized legal proceedings, prosecuting the nation’s most prominent netizen promises fireworks.
Wikipedia's Suicide Mission Against Russian Censors
Smoking cannabis is dangerous business for people the world over. In Russia, just writing about it online can get you in trouble. State officials informed Wikimedia Russia that the government has placed its “Cannabis Smoking” article on its blacklist of illegal websites.
Egypt: Court Orders YouTube Ban
On Saturday, February 9, an administrative court ordered a 30-day ban on YouTube and all websites linking to an anti-Islam film, "The Innocence of Muslims". The movie sparked turmoil in the Middle East when it was first published last year. The ruling may not be enforced immediately and it is likely to be appealed.
