Stories about Advocacy from March, 2020
After being kidnapped and threatened, Mozambican YouTuber has his channel suspended
The In early February, he was kidnapped for 24 hours, before he was freed by the police. A self-proclaimed prophet named Joe Williams is suspected of ordering the kidnapping.
COVID-19 pandemic adversely affects digital rights in the Balkans
Digital rights NGOs warn about increase of cases of violation of privacy of people under quarantine, spread of disinformation and internet scams in Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Algeria crackdown on dissent persists with detention of journalists
More than a year since the start of Algeria's countrywide protests to demand political and economic reforms, the government continues to resort to repressive tactics to silence critics and journalists.
Coronavirus and surveillance technology: How far will governments go?
''While surveillance technologies and measures may give the public a sense of security in controlling the spread of the virus, we must remain mindful and vigilant of their continued use after the pandemic subsides.''
Combating ‘fake news’ in the time of COVID-19 in Myanmar
"Thousands of social media users made a group and a network to serve as watchdogs for fake news on social media."
China to expel American journalists from three US news outlets, watchdog decries threat to press freedom
China announced it would expel American journalists working for the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post. The ban would extend to Hong Kong and Macau.
Refugees in Ethiopia's camps raise privacy and exclusion concerns over UNHCR’s new digital registration
Biometric registration enables refugees to secure a digital ID that gives them access to aid. Their use has raised serious concerns about privacy and exclusion among refugees in Ethiopia.
Outrage as Zimbabwe’s military declares social media a ‘dangerous threat’
The military's declaration that social media is a "dangerous threat" has angered Zimbabweans concerned over the increasing deterioration of freedom of expression in the country.
Malaysian journalist targeted by hate speech and racist attacks on Facebook
"Timely action by Facebook and other social media platforms is crucial in curbing online attacks, which commonly include trolling and doxing."
Groundswell of support to free Julian Assange around February extradition hearing
"Don’t be fooled: Julian Assange is a journalist, not a hacker, and the US wants to make his work—national security journalism—a crime"
How Chinese social media platforms control information on COVID-19
At the initial stage of the outbreak of COVID-19 in China, censors curbed public alerts on the threat. Later, censorship was broadened to include criticism of leaders and policies.
Facebook seller wearing ‘sexy clothes’ charged with pornography in Cambodia
"Punishing women for their choice of clothing is part of the root cause of violence, rather than its cure, and must be rejected.”
Internet shutdowns in 2019: India continued to top list of worst offenders
In 2019, access to the internet was disrupted 121 times in India alone, says Access Now in a new report.
Philippine media groups celebrate as tech companies accused of cyber attacks pledge to promote press freedom
"This is a small victory in our fight for press freedom. We call on all tech companies not to allow their infrastructure to be used by enemies of the truth."
Could Russia's ‘Sovereign Internet’ go international?
"Russia is not seeking to isolate itself from the world, rather to create a precedent which other states aspiring to sovereignty over their segments of the internet can follow," says researcher Alena Epifanova.
Twitter urged to take action against harassment of female reporter in Brazil
The smear campaign against Folha de S. Paulo journalist Patrícia Campos Mello is one of several cases of harassment against reporters that have taken place recently in Brazil.
YouTuber in Mozambique kidnapped after denouncing a self-proclaimed prophet
In some of his YouTube videos, the user "Beleza em pessoa" criticized Mozambican prophets.
