Stories about Legal Threats
Myanmar journalists endure attacks for reporting the coup
"We're all just waiting for the knock on the door. Sometimes you hear footsteps on the stairs, it's like they're coming for you: you have this feeling all the time."
Security police interventions force closure of Apple Daily, Hong Kong's 26-year-old pro-democracy news outlet
In its inaugural editorial, Apple Daily had stated: "Are we not afraid of the changes 1997 could bring about? We are, but we are not willing to be daunted by...
Pro-democracy Apple Daily continues its operations despite raid, seizures and arrests
Among the five senior executives arrested, two were officially charged with with conspiracy to collude with external elements on June 18
Pressure on journalists, bloggers mounts ahead of Uzbekistan's presidential elections
A foreign journalist loses accreditation, a pro-LBGT blogger is beaten and another blogger gets a heavy sentence on dubious charges.
Twitter vs India: The battle of BJP and Congress over a ‘fake toolkit’ on COVID-19
Twitter expressed concern about the “use of intimidation tactics by the police” and “the potential threat to freedom of expression” for the Indian users.
Belarus grounds Ryanair flight, detains independent journalist amid regime's crackdown on media
Pratasevich was formerly an administrator of NEXTA-Live, the Telegram channel covering the anti-government protests in Belarus. He is currently editor-in-chief of Belarus Golovnogo Mozga, another independent media outlet.
Two Malaysian artists face police probe for online commentary and artwork
"The persecution of artists such as Zunar and Fahmi stifles creative expression, chills public discourse, and undermines trust in Malaysian authorities."
Kenya police turn to Twitter PR as the arrest of a blogger goes against public opinion
“Somehow, the [Directorate of Criminal Investigations] believes that PR, and specifically ‘live-tweeting,’ will change Kenyans' perception without bringing about the much needed reforms within the force.”
Nigerian politician arrested for condemning the kidnap of schoolchildren
Salihu Tanko Yakasi’s tweets came after the kidnapping of about 300 school girls at Government Girls Secondary School inJangebe, north-western Nigeria, on February 26, 2021.
Bloggers, journalists and creatives in the crosshairs of the Belarusian state
As the space for free expression in Belarus narrows, many journalists and artists who covered the protests are awaiting trial.
Indian farmers’ protests: Twitter withholds, then restores, prominent accounts by government order
Twitter restored the accounts after concluding they were "speech and newsworthy," a decision the Indian government decried: "Twitter cannot assume the role of a court and justify non-compliance."
A Zimbabwean journalist, two opposition politicians jailed for tweets about police brutality
Hopewell Chin’ono, Job Sikhala and Fadzai Mahere were arrested for tweeting about a police officer who allegedly beat a baby to death while enforcing COVID-19 regulations.
Lockdown to shutdown: How COVID-19 stifled digital rights in Zimbabwe
COVID-19 and its subsequent government policies have had far-reaching implications on digital rights and media freedom in Zimbabwe.
In Uganda, COVID-19 rules are ‘perfect instrument for criminalizing dissent’
In Uganda, increased criminalization of misinformation during the pandemic infringed on citizens’ rights to freedom of expression and access to information, especially targeting journalists and human rights activists.
In Pakistan, social media platforms risk bans under new ‘draconian’ rules
New rules vesting the government with the power to regulate online content and ban entire platforms drew criticism from human rights groups and tech companies.
An internet with borders: A perspective from Pakistan
Pakistan recently adopted new rules imposing fines and bans on services that fail to take down and restrict content within short time frames.
A Hong Kong reporter's account of the crackdown on press freedom under the national security law
"What we are facing now is not just the survival of Apple Daily but the whole independent media sector."
European Court of Human Rights verdict vindicates Macedonian columnist convicted of defamation in 2010
"This verdict is important for Macedonian journalists, columnists, and overall, for the people that appear in public, as it encourages them to be principled, honest, brave and persistent."
Rights groups in Tunisia mobilize against police protection bill
Article 7 of the bill grants security forces immunity from prosecution for the use of excessive and lethal force against citizens in situations “they deem dangerous”
Policing the digital frontiers: Is India weaponizing technology to silence civil society?
In the word's largest democracy, the targeting of human rights defenders through spyware poses a threat to fundamental rights and freedoms, including freedom of expression and privacy.
