Stories about Law from August, 2014
Activist Blogger in Vietnam Gets 3 Years Behind Bars for ‘Obstructing Traffic’
A court has sentenced a prominent Vietnamese activist blogger to three years in prison for posing a “serious obstruction to traffic.” Her two other companions will join her behind bars.
Critics Fear Bangladesh's New Media Monitoring Policy Will Stifle Free Expression
Many have raised questions about the new draft broadcasting policy of Bangladesh -- analysts say it is regressive and will control the media.
Advocates Petition UN for Action on Jailed Egyptian Blogger Alaa Abd El Fattah
The Electronic Frontier Foundation and the Media Legal Defence Initiative asked the UN to intervene immediately in the case of Abd El Fattah, who began a hunger strike this week.
Prominent Egyptian Activist Alaa Abdel Fattah Goes on Hunger Strike
Egyptian activist and blogger Alaa Abdel Fattah has entered an open-ended hunger strike until he is released from prison, his family said in a statement posted on Facebook today.
SMS Death Threats Stoke Fears on Fate of Abducted Journalist in Maldives
The messages came just before the unexplained disappearance of journalist and democracy advocate Ahmed Rizwan Abdulla.
The Internet Never Forgets: Join a Global Conversation on the EU’s ‘Right to Be Forgotten’
If the 'Right to be Forgotten' were implemented in your country, would it threaten the public interest? Global Voices editors are asking experts worldwide for their thoughts on the issue.
Freedom of Information Dealt A Blow in Mexico: IFAI Won't Challenge Telecom Law
Disappointment and frustration prevail as the IFAI's decision leaves Mexico's citizens defenseless against the country's crucial new telecom law.
Journalist and Democracy Advocate Ahmed Rizwan Abdulla Missing in the Maldives
The prolific social media user is vocal against hatred in the name of religion and has not been shy about criticizing the Maldives Islamist Adhaalath Party and other political parties.
Russia Just Doubled Its Internet Surveillance Program
At first glance, "SORM 2.0" seems redundant, but the reform of police surveillance online could vastly expand the reach of the Kremlin.
Human Rights Experts: Pakistan Could Become a “Police State” Under Protection Ordinance
If implemented in its current form, the consequences of Pakistan's "Protection Ordinance" on citizens’ rights will be far reaching, both on and offline.
Will Russia Start Blocking Websites in Real Time?
Already plagued by Roskomnadzor blacklists, blogger registration, and the blocking of Twitter accounts, a Russian organization now wants to introduce real-time filtering of online content.
Forgot Your Password? Don't Worry, the Kremlin Has It.
To ease the process of developing a national "blogger registry, the Russian government is inviting bloggers to share something every Internet user knows never to divulge: their logins and passwords.
Malaysia’s Longest Serving PM Repeats Call to Censor the Internet
Dr. Mahathir Mohamad says Web platforms and services are worse for online freedom than government regulation...and that the Malaysian government needs to start censoring the Web.
“From the [Four] Compass Points of the Earth Arises a Mighty Cry — #FreeZone9Bloggers!”
From Hong Kong to Islamabad to Cairo to San Francisco, allies across the globe tweeted their support for Ethiopia's Zone9 bloggers, who have been in prison for 102 days.