Stories about Legal Threats from December, 2015
Russian Blogger Gets Five-Year Prison Term for ‘Inciting Hate’ Online
Vadim Tyumentsev, a Russian blogger from Tomsk, has been charged with hate speech and calls to extremism online and has received a five-year sentence for videos on YouTube and VKontakte.
Russian Activist Gets Two-Year Sentence for ‘Calls to Extremism’ on Social Networks
A Russian court has found activist Darya Polyudova guilty of "public calls to separatism and extremism" on social networks and has sentenced her to two years in a penal colony.
As Russia Insulates Itself from Human Rights Bodies, State Surveillance Decision Looms
The European Court of Human Rights ruled in favor of a free expression advocate's case against Russian government surveillance. But thanks to a new law, Russia officially does not care.
WhatsApp is Back on in Brazil. But Why Was it Blocked in the First Place?
The judge who issued the order based her decision on a provision of Marco Civil, Brazil's so-called "Bill of Rights" for the Internet.
Netizen Report: Tales of Torture from Ethiopia’s Jails
Netizens give chilling account of inhumane treatment in Ethiopia's prison system. Meanwhlie, sedition laws levy strict penalties for netizens in Thailand, Malaysia.
Ethiopian Netizens Defend Themselves in Court After 525 Days of Detention
Left to defend themselves in court, Ethiopian netizens reject charges of anti-government activity and describe torture and ethnic discrimination in prison.
Thai Worker Arrested for Mocking the King’s Dog on Facebook
Authorities will also file sedition charges against the Facebook user for 'liking' and 'sharing' an infographic which explains a corruption scandal involving the military.
Ecuadorean Political Leader Who Criticized Government Nepotism on Twitter Gets 15 Days in Prison
A few tweets about an alleged case of nepotism in Ecuador's Government earned Sebastian Cevallos a sentence of 15 days in jail.
After a Year Behind Bars, Journalist Khadija Ismayilova of Azerbaijan is Fearless
"I am so much wealthier than all the corrupt men and women I have written about. Because I have values for which I am ready to even sacrifice my life."
Saudi Arabia Sentences Poet to Death and Threatens to Sue Critics of Penal System
The sentence was criticised far and wide with many taking to social media, comparing Saudi Arabia's penal code and punishments to that executed by ISIS.
RuNet User Gets First Real Prison Term for ‘Promoting Extremism’ on Social Media
A Russian court has handed out a real prison term to a user charged with "propaganda of extremism on social media," sentencing him to one year in a penal colony.
