Digital authoritarianism

Government attacks on mainstream media undermine the credibility of democracy in Botswana

Written by Guest Contributor

1 week ago

Iran’s internet blackout as media event: Networks, algorithms, and the politics of visibility

Written by Guest Contributor

3 weeks ago

Pakistan jails two lawyers for 17 years over old tweets

Written by Syed Salman Mehdi

4 weeks ago

Malaysian journalist briefly detained for sedition over a question during a public lecture

Written by Mong Palatino

9 February 2026

Stories about Digital authoritarianism

Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai found guilty under national security law

After two years of trial, Lai is found guilty of colluding with foreign forces

Written by Hong Kong Free Press

17 December 2025

Macau independent news outlet announces closure following government deregistration

The Macau government said: This media ‘no longer has the legal basis for conducting relevant activities.’

Written by Hong Kong Free Press

7 November 2025

India’s top court moves to regulate comedians and influencers’ speech

The Court reiterated that content created for commercial purposes carries a higher degree of responsibility

Written by Sumit Kumar Singh

6 November 2025

How encryption protects journalists and human rights defenders in West Africa

Encryption is a breath of fresh air for people facing sophisticated surveillance with spyware.

Written by Jean Sovon

26 October 2025

Togolese authorities threaten greater online speech censorship

In Togo, freedom of expression is extremely limited

Written by Global Voices en français

Translated by Laura

19 October 2025

Inside-net: Russia is dismantling free internet connections

Other autocracies are taking note

Written by Daria Dergacheva

7 October 2025

How a Chinese company exports the Great Firewall to autocratic regimes

Xinjiang has become a testing ground for new surveillance technologies

Written by Global Voices East Asia

18 September 2025

Gen Z stands up to expose corruption in Nepal

Young people are protesting over systemic corruption and a system that rewards ‘nepo kids’ over meritocracy

Written by Benju Lwagun

9 September 2025

With ‘human error’ and AI, online scams in Brazil show risks are a click away

Human errors, easy passwords, and lack of security knowledge, can lead to losses

Written by Raissa Moreira

Translated by Gabriela García Calderón Orbe, Jerónimo Restrepo

31 August 2025

When digital democracy disappears, so does the power of the people

When civil society is pushed offline, what’s lost isn’t just voices, but history, memory, resistance, and possibility

Written by Muhammed Bello Buhari

23 August 2025

The politics and people behind Balochistan, Pakistan’s internet shutdowns

The province faces annual blackouts during August due to a surge in militant activity

Written by Ramna Saeed, Nabeel Armaan

18 August 2025

Kyrgyzstan adopts new, draconian media law

The bill was criticized by civil society and international experts

Written by Vlast.kz

13 August 2025

Digital blackout: How internet shutdowns devastate the economy and daily life in North Waziristan, Pakistan

The internet is a lifeline for employment and economic stability — especially in remote areas

Written by Farooq Mahsud

2 August 2025

Users in Russia could be punished for searching the internet

The concept of “extremist activity” in Russian legislation today is quite far-reaching

Written by Daria Dergacheva

29 July 2025

China is rushing to develop its AI-powered censorship system

Written by Yasemin Yam

2 July 2025

Russia prepares to get rid of WhatsApp and possibly Telegram

Parliament passed a law pertaining to a national messaging app

Written by Daria Dergacheva

20 June 2025

Papua New Guinea radio host loses job after interviewing opposition leader

The parliament is launching an inquiry into the matter

Written by Mong Palatino

18 May 2025

Digital censorship and political repression: The blocking of the X account of Istanbul's jailed mayor

The authorities cited a tweet from Ekrem İmamoğlu’s account, which they claimed could incite criminal activity

Written by Arzu Geybullayeva

9 May 2025

A journalist club survey finds press freedom in Hong Kong has plunged further

Self censorship has become a common journalistic practice in Hong Kong.

Written by Hong Kong Free Press

28 April 2025

How China’s model of internet censorship is getting traction in Asia: Interview with ARTICLE 19 researchers

Cybersecurity is reframed as regime security under the banner of sovereignty

Written by Filip Noubel

12 April 2025

« Older stories