Stories about Feature from February, 2015
Renowned Chinese Human Rights Lawyer Still Detained After 10 Months
A human rights lawyer who has defended clients ranging from Ai Weiwei to communist party officials, Pu Zhiqiang is now facing criminal charges over his postings on Weibo.
Why John Legend Should Perform In Bahrain
On the eve of John Legend's concert in Bahrain, a former Bahraini torture victim now living in exile asks the US singer to spare a thought for the country's persecuted.
Bangladeshi-American Blogger Hacked to Death in Dhaka
Roy is the second Bangladeshi blogger killed since 2013. Horrifying photos of he and his wife, bloodied and injured on the street, were circulated on social media.
Netizen Report: US Loosens Tech Restrictions on Sudan. But Is It Enough?
Words from jailed bloggers past and present, and privacy on the red carpet.
The Dress Rehearsal for the Belarusian Crackdown
"Belaruskaya Pravda" chief editor Yuri Dubina says the recent crackdown in Belarus on independent online media is only "the dress rehearsal" before the presidential election this November.
A Love Letter to Jailed Syrian-Palestinian Bassel Khartabil
As the ongoing strife in Syria fades from international headlines, Leila Nachawati writes an appeal inspired by a love letter to jailed blogger Bassel Safadi written on Valentine's Day.
Egyptian Blogger Alaa Abd El Fattah Sentenced to Five Years in Jail
Prominent Egyptian activist and blogger Alaa Abd El Fattah, an icon of the Egyptian revolution, was sentenced to five years in prison today.
Cuba Announces New IT Policy and Does Not Mention Internet Access
ICT use and access is one of the talking points in the process of normalizing relations between Cuba and the United States.
Netizen Report: Can Tibetan Users Trust Facebook?
Social media censorship continues in China, Bosnia and Herzegovina re-defines the Internet as "public space", and the UK outlaws revenge porn.
Russia Says You Can't Mention Ukrainian Nationalists, Unless You Say They're Bad
One permitted way to mention such organizations it to do so "in a negative light, ascribing them characteristics like 'radical,' 'extremist,' or 'nationalist.'"
Netizen Report: Mass Surveillance Violates Human Rights, Says UK Tribunal
This week, Iraq sets stiff penalties for insult on social media, Cubans snicker at Netflix announcement, and Samsung makes a new TV that watches you.
Turkey Cites National Security as it Cranks Up Internet Controls
Courts offer citizens occasional protection from Ankara's vicious war on freedom of expression and privacy, so government is looking for laws that bypass them.
Netflix is Coming to Cuba — But Will They Have Any Customers?
Netflix seems unaware that even those Cubans who have Internet access do not have a strong enough connection to watch videos online.
Is Iraq Restricting Speech on Facebook?
Local sources say escalating fights online among political parties and sects since last week's execution of Jordanian pilot Muath al-Kasasbeh may have led to the new policy.
‘We Need to Be Careful Even of What We Think': Self-Censorship in Venezuela
"Since the start of the protests, I had been mapping online censorship and helping people use encrypted communication tools. When the police came, I got up, scared to the bone."
Crimean IT Industry Wilts Under Western Sanctions
Companies like Apple and Google blocking access to their services in Crimea due to Western sanctions, bringing a high cost for IT professionals and citizens.
Netizen Report: Asian Governments Embrace Surveillance in the Name of Security
While Thailand and Singapore press for broader surveillance powers, Ecuadorian social media users take heat from their president and Macedonia says no to drones.
Who Do We Lose with Internet Censorship and Control?
"Through Internet censorship and control we lose an ability to be our own secret human – the one we are when nobody is around."
The Macedonian Government Clamps Down on Filming Protests With Drones
Drone-made videos and photos were instrumental in demonstrating the size of a recent massive student protest, which has been called the largest student protest in Macedonia since independence.
Thailand’s Digital Economy Bills Could Worsen Media Repression
Some civil society organizations are calling the draft digital economy bills “national security bills in disguise” because of their repressive provisions.
