Stories about Free Expression from October, 2015
Iranian Student Held Without Charge, Pressured to Make False Confession
"Judicial officials...should not arrest youths and pass heavy judgments against them every time they criticize. My son should be sitting in class and studying right now.”
‘Our Detention Tells a Broader Story About Our Country': Reflections From Ethiopia's Zone9 Bloggers
"To our incarcerators who gave us those ordeals, even if you are not asking us for forgiveness, here we are."
Ukraine's New Banned Websites Registry: Security Measure or Censorship Tool?
Ukraine's new cyberpolice say they want to protect Ukrainians online, but a banned websites registry is causing Internet users to worry about adverse effects on free expression.
Netizen Report: Uganda Vows to Step Up Online Censorship
Free speech is under fire in East Africa: Two Facebook users have been charged under Tanzania's new cybercrime law, while new social media regs are on the horizon in Uganda.
Chinese Nationalist ‘Hawks’ Form Online Volunteer Army Against ‘Enemy Forces’
In addition to the Chinese Communist Youth League's online civilization volunteers, the right-wing nationalists are also self-organized, creating a online volunteer army to promote their ideas and silence critics.
Two Tanzanians Accused of Posting ‘False Information’ Face Charges Under New Cybercrime Law
According to the state, both men have violated Section 16 of Cybercrimes Act, which prohibits "publication of false information." Little more is currently known about their cases.
Global Voices Welcomes the Release of Zone9 Bloggers, Pledges to Keep Fighting for Free Expression in Ethiopia
"Supporters have built incredible momentum around the #FreeZone9Bloggers hashtag. Let's use this to keep moving forward, pushing to protect human rights in Ethiopia and around the world."
Ethiopia's Zone9 Bloggers Acquitted of Terror Charges
Many supporters on Twitter put words like "acquittal", "court" and "judiciary" in quotation marks to emphasize the degree to which the case exposed Ethiopia's failed judicial system.
Myanmar Activist Faces 5 Years in Jail for Facebook Post Mocking Army Uniform
The Facebook post compared the color of the army's new uniform to a traditional dress worn by opposition leader and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.
Digital Citizen 3.8
Digital Citizen is a biweekly review of news, policy, and research on human rights and technology in the Arab World.
Egyptian Facebook User Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Putting Mickey Mouse Ears on Sisi
Egyptian Facebook user Amr Nohan has been sentenced to three years in prison by a military court for adding Mickey Mouse ears to President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi's image.
Rethinking Criticisms Levelled at Iran's Supreme Council of Cyberspace
In a follow up to the ICHRI piece, Small Media reacts to that report, with their own observations on the recent changes to Iran's Internet policy.
Stopped and Frisked by Facebook: ‘Real Name’ Policy Puts Speech Before Privacy
Facebook has a long way to go before they can fully appreciate the responsibility they carry when they decide to dictate what and who is "real" in the world.
Kabul Taxi is Blocked on Facebook. Long Live Kabul Taxi!
Facebook and the government of Afghanistan combined to put the breaks on a popular online vehicle for political satire. But public demand for more is insatiable.
Turkey Puts a Gun to the Media's Head in Lead-up to Elections
Information campaigns and physical intimidation that once targeted Kurdish and leftist media are now being aimed at major media outlets of all kinds.
Open Letter: Facebook Must Change its Broken “Real Name” Policy
"Facebook maintains a system that disregards the circumstances of users in countries with low Internet connectivity, exposes its users to danger, and curtails free speech."
Indonesian Student Detained Under Cyber Law for Police Extortion Video
"Is defamation the reason for Adlun's arrest or was he arrested for revealing facts about police [behavior]?"
New Leak Details Kremlin’s Plans For a Russian ‘National Internet’
The leak by Anonymous International reveals plans for the concept of a “national information platform” in Russia, which effectively describes the creation of an alternative Russian Internet.
Netizen Report: Will Brazil Give Up On Defending Digital Rights?
Brazilian legislators seek to undercut the Marco Civil while Ecuador’s president wields tools of censorship to avoid hurt feelings.
