Stories about Regulation
Turkey reins in social media—one platform at a time
The new social media law sets up a series of restrictions that will have a lasting impact on digital rights and freedom of expression in Turkey.
Hong Kong to launch real-name registration of mobile SIM cards
If the bill passes, mobile companies would have to set up a database with their subscribers' data, which they'd have to store for at least 12 months after the SIM expires.
In Tanzania, full-throttle COVID-19 denial leaves citizens without access to public health information
Since March 2020, the Tanzanian government has gone silent on the coronavirus with no data released to the public on infections or deaths.
Tunisia’s fight against COVID-19 unmasks shaky ground for digital rights
In Tunisia, local authorities have, throughout the pandemic, resorted to historical tricks by using vague, existing laws to curb freedom of expression and limit citizens’ rights to information.
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.
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.
Digital rights in Africa is still far from the internet freedom we desire
Despite the prevailing circumstance, but hopeful about the future, eight Global Voices contributors from six African countries discuss Internet freedom and how digital rights can be promoted in the continent.
Azerbaijani authorities disrupt internet nationwide amid Nagorno-Karabakh clashes
Access has been on and off since clashes broke out on September 27.
A Chinese city withdraws ‘civility code’ following online criticism
Suzhou – a Chinese city near Shanghai – launched a “civility code” in early September to rank citizens’ civility. As negative comments flooded in, the city called an end to the testing.
In DR Congo, will new legislation protect citizens’ digital rights?
In Democratic Republic of Congo, a citizen movement is underway to reclaim digital rights that have been violated for years under a vague and outdated legislation.
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.
Black Lives Matter forces an IBM U-turn on facial recognition
In wake of Black Lives Matter protests, the company IBM has announced its withdrawal from the facial recognition software market
Outrage as Zimbabwe’s military declares social media a ‘dangerous threat’
The military's declaration that social media is a "dangerous threat" has angered Zimbabweans concerned over the increasing deterioration of freedom of expression in the country.
Could Russia's ‘Sovereign Internet’ go international?
"Russia is not seeking to isolate itself from the world, rather to create a precedent which other states aspiring to sovereignty over their segments of the internet can follow," says researcher Alena Epifanova.
Two Iranian rights activists revisit the November 2019 internet shutdown
“Hundreds of protestors were killed in a matter of three days and most of the world was not aware of what happened.’’
Pakistan's draconian rules on social media take activists by surprise
The new rules require social media companies to hand over user information and remove content deemed unlawful when requested by the authorities.
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.
What do we know about the ‘Great Firewall of India’?
After a six-month-long internet shutdown, access to only 301 white-listed websites has been granted in Jammu and Kashmir, whereas social media, VPNs and many other sites remain banned.