Stories about Advocacy from June, 2012
Netizen Report: Copyright Edition
This week's edition begins in Japan where disproportionate penalties for copyright violations reached new heights in with the passage of a new bill this month that will make downloading copyrighted material punishable by imprisonment or fines. A number of other countries have also moved to criminalize copyright infringement. Our team then moves on to update our global readership on the latest developments and controversies related to freedom and control of the Internet around the world.
Sudan: another blogger rearrested
According to recent reports, many Sudanese bloggers and activists have been arrested in the last few days. Today, I have followed one of the bloggers’ posts on Twitter. Maha Sanosi @MimzicalMimz was arrested. She was released later to tell us about the police raid: This is getting old :) I am fine,12...
Netizen Report: Transition Edition
This week's Netizen Report begins in Myanmar, where the government's new resolve for an open Internet is being tested this week by a state of emergency declared to contain deadly clashes between Muslims and Buddhists in the nation’s western Rakhine state. From there we report on the latest developments in the struggle for online freedom around the world from Azerbaijan to the United Kingdom to Googledom.
“Bloggers are cultural mediators” Interview with Ivan Sigal
Ivan Sigal, Executive Director of Global Voices, spoke with Amnesty International Germany about the origins and goals of Global Voices. He explains in particular the role of bloggers in the exchange of information beyond linguistic and cultural barriers.
Netizen Report: Intervention Edition
Throughout this week's edition we highlight examples of government intervention to limit free speech online, ostensibly "for the greater good". We begin in Kuwait, where a Shi’ite man has been sentenced to prison for ten years for allegedly insulting the Prophet Mohammad and Sunni Muslims via Twitter. From there we travel to China, India, South Africa, Tunisia, Oman, Facebookistan, and beyond.
Taiwan: Facebook's Deactivation of User Accounts Triggered Free Speech Concerns
Several Taiwanese activists and politicians had their Facebook accounts suspended on June 1st, which triggered Taiwanese users' concern over the limitation on free speech.
Nabeel Rajab: Tweeting from prison!
Nabeel Rajab, the President of Bahrain Centre for Human Rights , who was released on bail last week, has been arrested again. Just like last time, Nabeel Rajab is detained for posting what the Bahraini government considers insulting posts on his Twitter handle. As a result, he will be detained for 7...
Netizen Report: Telecoms Edition
In this week's survey of the struggle for freedom and control of the global Internet, our team begins in Ethiopia where the introduction of new telecommunications infrastructure is creating a new layer of censorship and surveillance. We proceed onward across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, and provide an update on the battle over which international organizations should be allowed to govern parts of the Internet.
Hong Kong: A Large Number of Facebook User Accounts Suspended at the Eve of Annual June 4 Vigil
Every year, before the annual vigil of June 4th Massacre in Hong Kong, concerned citizens would urge their friends to attend the vigil together via Facebook and other social media. Yesterday a large number of user accounts have been suspended for unknown reason and many of the users said their...
