Stories about Censorship from April, 2015
Digital Citizen 2.8
Digital Citizen is a biweekly review of news, policy, and research on human rights in the Arab World. This volume looks at repression in Kuwait, DDoS attacks in Lebanon, and much more.
VIDEO: The World is Saying #FreeZone9Bloggers
Global Voices marks the one-year anniversary of the arrest of Ethiopia's Zone9 bloggers with this crowd-sourced this video of support. Say it with us: #FreeZone9Bloggers!
A Year After Their Arrest, Ethiopia's Zone9 Bloggers Remain Strong and Determined
"It is eery the degree to which the bloggers seemed to anticipate their current fate."
In Taiwan and on Facebook, the Nipple is Not Yet Free
"Before we label it as "indecent" and "obscene", a body is just a body, a part of the human self." Taiwanese women speak up for the #FreeTheNipple campaign.
Netizen Report: The Spring of Cybercrime Laws
Cybercrime laws are popping up around the world, from Egypt to Pakistan to Tanzania. Meanwhile, China has outlawed politically controversial avatars and Indian companies are snubbing Facebook.
Vietnamese Netizens Are Getting Bolder Online, Despite Tough Laws
"Thanks to social media it has become possible and even trendsetting to publicly question the Communist Party’s legitimacy."
How Blogging is Held Hostage by Ethiopian Politics
"Why is there just a single—and poorly functioning—Internet service provider for Ethiopia’s 90 million people? We know better than to ask this of public officials."
New Internet Rules in China Target Usernames, Avatars as Subversive Tools
More than 67,000 user accounts have been deleted due to a new rule that prohibits screen names and profile pictures that threaten national security, destroy ethnic unity, or defame others.
What Does Censoring Nude Art Say About Us and Our Social Networks?
This post is the first in a series exploring the different ways in which artists face censorship online. Our base will be the experience of Venezuelan artist Erika Ordisgotti.
Iran's Minister of ICT Suggests Instagram Will Not Be (Completely) Blocked Until an Alternative Is Found
Iran's leading reformist newspaper, Shargh, ran an article this past Sunday entitled: “The promises of the Minister of ICT to clear the problems of mobile social media.” The focus of...
An Aggressive Turn in Chinese Censorship Practices: ‘The Great Cannon’
"It is likely that this attack, with its potential for political backlash, would require the approval of high-level authorities within the Chinese government."
Netizen Report: Turkey’s Erdogan Fights to Control the Conversation, Online and in Print
A Malaysian cartoonist faces sedition charges, SnapChat goes transparent, and Venezuela faces possible new social media regulations.
Is Global Voices Blocked in Iran? Yes and No.
Globalvoicesonline.org is now blocked in Iran. But you can outsmart these Internet filters and access our site by adding "https://" to the beginning of the URL. What's up with that?
Are the World's Biggest Internet Companies Under the Turkish President's Thumb?
Turkey's ruling party is becoming accustomed to getting its way more often than not in its long-running war on social media users.
Turkey Blocks Twitter, YouTube, Scores of Websites After Prosecutor’s Killing
After photos of public prosecutor Mehmet Selim Kiraz with a gun pointed to his head began circulating on Twitter, hundreds of news sites and social networks were blocked.
Thailand’s New Security Law ‘Annihilates Freedom of Expression’
Thailand's military-backed government lifted martial law in the country but signed a new order which gave broad powers to army personnel.
Bahraini Human Rights Defender Nabeel Rajab Arrested Again for Tweets
Leading Bahraini human rigts activist Nabeel Rajab was arrested from his home today, allegedly over tweets he shared on the microblogging site regarding the situation of prisoners in Jaw Prison.
