· June, 2013

Stories about Human Rights from June, 2013

“Advocacy,” yes, that is what we do

Pilar Sáenz, trained physicist and now software and free culture activist, comments on the concept of "advocacy" for digital rights in Colombia and describes the creation and achievements of RedPaTodos, a Colombian civil society group working to promote a free and open Internet.

27 June 2013

China: Real Name Registration May Threaten Ethnic Minorities

Under China's new real name registration policy, Internet users are being asked to submit personal information such as their home address, national ID number, and a photograph, in order to register for social media services. A recent case illustrates how some platforms may be using this new information to discriminate against Uyghurs, an ethnic minority group.

24 June 2013

VIDEO: Experts Speak on Role of Whistleblowers

The revelations of the recent NSA leaks are explosive, but Edward Snowden is not the first whistleblower to leak information to the public about government operations. Oxford-based project Free Speech Debate interviewed several former intelligence professionals and whistleblowers who discussed reasons for and against going public with sensitive information.

18 June 2013

Everyone's Rights are at Stake: Global Reach of US Surveillance Programs

Last week's revelations about phone and Internet surveillance programs run by the US government's National Security Agency (NSA) sent shock waves throughout the United States and the western media, but also around the globe. While in the US, many privacy-minded lawmakers and even digital rights advocates used the news as an opportunity to demand better protections for Americans' online privacy, Internet users worldwide were left wondering how to protect their own data in the face of these threats.

14 June 2013

‘Free My Internet’ Movement Rises in Singapore

A new licensing scheme for news websites announced by Singapore's Media Development Authority has been denounced by many as a censorship measure. A group of concerned netizens calling themselves the ‘Free My Internet’ movement has invited the public to join a rally this coming Saturday to demand the withdrawal of the controversial regulation.

4 June 2013