Stories about Free Expression
In Togo, a journalist honoured for his fight against corruption must from now on live in exile
In Togo, the journalist Ferdinand Ayité's determination and resilience net him an international prize, but Togolese journalists are still powerless in the face of exile.
Singapore under the pandemic: The normalisation of digital authoritarianism
"Surveillance has reinforced a culture of self-censorship and fear in Singapore which further mutes public criticism of the government."
Hong Kong pro-democracy exiles not intimidated by China’s arrest warrants and bounties
"Trying to spread fear at home, abroad, and travelling in between. Further incentive to fight for the #rights, #freedom, and #democracy that we deserve"
Cambodian Prime Minister quits Facebook after Oversight Board review
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen deleted his official Facebook account after Meta's Oversight Board recommended his account be suspended for six months after he shared a video inciting violence.
Post-pandemic, lockdown on rights persists in the Philippines
The restrictions and repressive measures imposed during the pandemic have continued to have a chilling effect on the local population.
Interview with Bao Choy, a Hong Kong reporter who won a 3-year legal battle over investigative journalism
"We have to admit that Hong Kong is gradually getting worse. And it will continue to deteriorate. But it is still important to meticulously document every small change in the city."
Digital rights activist groups urge tech giants to defend against Hong Kong’s injunctions against protest anthem
More than 24 human rights and digital rights groups believed that the injunctions, once granted, would have a “disastrous effect” on freedom of expression and information access, with global implications.
Unfreedom Monitor Report: Access
Advox research into internet access, shutdowns and interruptions is now in a report. Read an excerpt and download the full pdf.
Hong Kong Court asks: Who are the defendants of the protest anthem injunctions?
"Even if [the injunction] successfully restrained Google, it would only prohibit its circulation within Hong Kong. The SAR government has to apply an injunction in the U.S.A to take down the videos globally […]"
Unfreedom Monitor Report: Kyrgyzstan
Advox research into digital authoritarianism in Kyrgyzstan is now in a report. Read an excerpt and download the full pdf.
Hong Kong seeks to ban protest anthem ‘Glory to Hong Kong’ in all media
The Justice Department seeks to ban the broadcasting, performing, printing, publishing, selling, sale offering, distributing, disseminating, displaying or reproducing in any media forms and channels the song.
Unfreedom Monitor Report: Kenya
Advox research into digital authoritarianism in Kenya is now in a report. Read an excerpt and download the full pdf.
Hong Kong authorities clamp down on the annual commemoration of the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown
Ahead of the 34th anniversary of the June 4th 1989 Tiananmen crackdowns, the Chinese term “special days” or “special occasion” replaced former political slogans like “vindication of June 4” because of censorship
How technology has entrenched the authoritarian electoral practice of controlling political choice in Kenya's democracy
Kenya is representative of a nation where elections do not equate to democracy, and technological advancements have only provided the government with leverage over its citizens’ political choice.
Comedian and YouTube content creator arrested in Sri Lanka over satire on Buddhism
The recent arrests of stand-up comedian Nathasha Edirisooriya and social media activist Bruno Divakara have sparked new public debate about the issue of free expressions and the boundaries of comedy.
‘I am worried that my work will put someone in jail': Interview with Zunzi, iconic Hong Kong cartoonist
In the past eight months, Zunzi has been repeatedly "pinned down" by different government departments, accusing him of "inciting public discontent with the government," "defaming the police force," "making biased, misleading and false claims," and more.
Unfreedom Monitor Report: Speech
Advox research into freedom of speech is now in a report. Read an excerpt and download the full pdf.
Cameroon: Report the Anglophone conflict and perish
Journalists who are critical in their reports on the Anglophone conflict, both online and offline, are either jailed or forced to desert the conflict zones and journalism or die in the process.
Unfreedom Monitor Report: Hungary
Advox research into digital authoritarianism in Hungary is now in a report. Read an excerpt and download the full pdf.
Unfreedom Monitor Report: Venezuela
Advox research into digital authoritarianism in Venezuela is now in a report. Read an excerpt and download the full pdf.
