Stories about Advocacy from June, 2014
Russian Bureaucracy’s Race to Police the Web
"...the most frightening truth may be that Russia’s law enforcement agencies don’t always wait for lawmakers to grant them formal authority when it comes to policing the Internet."
The Struggle for Freedom Online in Mexico
Mexican citizens continue to protest the country's broad-reaching telecom law, that could impact free expression, privacy, and other fundamental rights online.
“Happy” in Thailand? How the Coup Regime is Still Suppressing Democracy
Mass media is being censored, Facebook is under fire and even the Hunger Games salute has been outlawed. Are Thais truly "happy" under the military regime?
Russia Says the Internet Spreads Extremism
Russia’s Interior Ministry has drafted a ten-year strategy for countering violent extremism. The plan identifies the Internet as the main conduit for extremism and calls for new policing measures.
Tajik Government Silent on “Disappeared” Global Voices Contributor
Tajik authorities have allegedly paraded University of Toronto researcher Alexander Sodiqov, who disappeared three days ago, on television in an apparent attempt to discredit him and an opposition politician.
Administrative Court Lawsuit: Stop Social Media Surveillance in Egypt
Human rights groups in Egypt filed a lawsuit seeking to stop the Ministry of Interior’s plans to procure software capable of monitoring public and private conversations on social media.
Tajik Authorities Detain Global Voices Contributor
Former Global Voices Central Asia Editor Alexander Sodiqov was detained by authorities in Khorog, Tajikistan while conducting research for his PhD thesis. His whereabouts are currently unknown.
Iraq Telecom Ministry to ISPs: Kill the Internet in Five Provinces
A leaked document from Iraq's Ministry of Telecommunications shows that the government has decided to shut down the Internet in some provinces, social media in others.
54 Days in Prison and Counting for Ethiopia's Zone 9 Bloggers
Six members of the Zone 9 blogging collective and three journalists have been in prison with no formal charges since April 25, 2014.
Social Media Sites Unblocked in Iraq, But Is Worst Yet to Come?
"Apparently blockage of social media sites were removed now in #Iraq, the fear is that the Gov is getting ready 2 cut the Internet," tweets Mohamed Najem.
Get the Facts: The Case of Jailed Egyptian Activist Alaa Abd El Fattah
Convicted of organizing a protest without a permit, Alaa has been sentenced to 15 years in prison. Get the legal facts on his case and connect with the #FreeAlaa campaign here.
BREAKING: Twitter, Facebook, YouTube Blocked in Iraq
Local media and at least one ISP are reporting that the Ministry of Communications ordered Internet providers to shut down Google and social media sites, fearing security risks.
New Study: How to Archive Public Information in the Era of Habeas Data
As more and more public information becomes freely accessible, how should these documents be managed? Advocates in Latin America, a global leader access to public data, tackle the question.
Delfi v. Estonia: Website Liability for User Comments Would Stifle Free Expression
Comment is free - until it isn't. The European Court of Human Rights will soon decide whether websites should be held legally responsible for the content of user comments.
Meeting with Putin, Industry Leaders Ditch Users on Digital Rights
Vladimir Putin attended a much-anticipated meeting with Russian Internet industry leaders in Moscow today. Did they discuss Internet freedom? Barely.
On 1st Anniversary of Snowden Revelations, World Governments Urged to End Mass Surveillance
A year after Edward Snowden revealed governments' large-scale monitoring of individuals, an international group comprising nearly 350,500 organizations and individuals are rallying in support ofNecessary and Proportionate Principles .
Netizen Report: China’s Censors Take on Google and Messaging Apps Ahead of Tiananmen’s 25th Anniversary
This week's report begins in China, where the government has blocked access to all of Google’s encrypted and unencrypted services in the country and announced a new battle against Internet messaging apps.
Moroccan Rapper Behind Bars While Justin Timberlake Performs A Few Miles Away
Activists have launched a campaign to free local rapper El-Haqed, who was arrested under what they say are trumped up charges, while the state sponsors Justin Timberlake and Alicia Keys.
3 Ways the Russian Government Plans to Police the Web
Several state agencies in Russia are now involved in drafting bylaws that will determine how officials actually enforce a series of controversial new Internet regulations.
