Stories about Internet governance
What does Russia's new “hostage-taking” law mean for social media companies?
The new law imposes new obligations on popular foreign websites and social media platforms with over half a million daily Russian users, asking them to register legal entities in Russia.
In Nigeria, the government weaponises the law against online expression
The Nigerian Communications Act of 2003 (NCA) has been employed by the government in justifying various violations of online freedom of expression in Africa's most populous nation.
Pakistan's proposed media development authority could further curb freedom of media
The representatives of different press clubs of the country have declared the proposed Pakistan Media Development Authority (PMDA) “a media martial law” and rejected it outright.
In the age of misinformation, who holds the power to categorize the ‘truth'?
Over time, the categorization of information can result in the dominance of a single world view, making platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Google the central arbiters of truth.
New report makes grim predictions for ‘Fortress RuNet’
The most recent annual report by Russian NGOs Agora and Roskomsvoboda draws some troubling conclusions about what lies in store for the RuNet in years to come.
Is Russia getting its model for digital authoritarianism from China?
On the surface, China and Russia share much when it comes to digital governance. But their crackdowns on cyberspace also have important differences, says professor Maria Repnikova
Dear European Commission: Don't let political parties use our data to manipulate the vote
Rather than protecting individuals’ rights, exceptions to the GDPR in some countries are limiting freedom of expression, eroding privacy, and abetting the spread of disinformation.
Netizen Report: Widespread throttling puts social media out of reach in Kazakhstan
Social media is faltering in Venezuela, throttled in Kazakhstan and back in action in Sri Lanka.
Rumors of Russia's first ‘fake news’ case against a media outlet might just be fake news
Media were quick to suggest that a bogus yoga ban story could be the first victim of the Russia's 'fake news' law.
Animated film explains how Myanmar's Telecommunications Law undermines free speech
"The law is frequently used by the powerful to silence dissent, and with more than 100 cases filed, its chilling effect on free expression is widespread."
Government official says the ban on messaging apps is slowing flood relief in Iran
"In situations where sharing information is vital, censorship can turn into a deadly phenomenon."
Russian regulators ask VPNs to block blacklisted websites, but most have refused
This defeats the purpose of a VPN, a technology used primarily to help people access censored websites.
With elections just days away, Ukraine faces disinformation, cyber attacks and further Russian interference
Ukraine may be home to “the most globally advanced case of computational propaganda.” How will this affect the presidential election?
Netizen Report: EU activists make a final push to keep the internet filter-free
The EU makes a final decision on copyright rules, Iraq considers a new cybercrime law, and internet activists in Kazakhstan, Egypt and Venezuela face legal threats.
Activists speak out against Iraq's cybercrime bill
The bill prescribes lengthy prisons sentences, including life imprisonment, for speech-related offences.
Censored on WeChat: the disappearance of Ye Jianming, former chairman of CEFC China Energy
With Ye's disappearance, the details of quiet agreements between his multi-billion dollar company and the Chinese government began to unravel.
One year without internet in Chad: Citizens have been offline since March 2018
It appears that the government is attempting to muzzle citizens' freedom of expression and to prevent the free circulation of information.
Netizen Report: Activists reject EU plans to pre-censor copyright violations, ‘terrorist’ content
A weekly dose of news about challenges, victories, and emerging trends in technology and human rights around the world.
‘We are not bots!’ In Berlin, thousands protest proposed EU regulation on internet upload filters
Protesters rallied against the proposed "upload filters" in EU Copyright Directive, as part of a movement spanning the continent.
Censored on WeChat: Huawei, ZTE and ‘Amazing China’
The censorship of ZTE and Huawei has strong association with the censorship of "China-U.S trade war".