Stories about Feature from December, 2015
Latin American Journalism and Advocacy Groups Recognized by Index on Censorship's Freedom of Expression Awards
Méxicoleaks and Fundamedios from Ecuador are among the Latin American candidates for the Index on Censorship’s 2016 Freedom of Expression Awards which includes 100 individuals and groups from 53 countries.
Ethiopia Censors Satellite TV Channels as Student Protests Draw Global Media Attention
"If the regime thinks it can cut our audience off from receiving OMN news and programs, they are too dumb to understand what we are made of."
Millions of Indians Slam Facebook's ‘Free Basics’ App
With two weeks of public advertisements, Facebook would have got the maximum opposition in India so far in rolling a free access to its products called Free Basics.
On Taiwan, Facebook and the Politics of Trolling on the Chinese Internet
When Facebook became accessible in mainland China, trolls descended on a Taiwanese politician. What might happen if Facebook were to become permanently accessible in China?
Award-Winning Citizen Journalist Ahmad Almossa Killed in Idlib, Syria
Ahmad Mohamed Almossa, a member of Syrian citizen journalism collective Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently (RBSS), was assassinated by masked men in northern Syria, the group announced on Twitter.
Bangladesh Will Demand Biometric Data From All SIM Card Users
The scheme will create a massive database of citizens' communications data that could give the government unprecedented access to the mobile communications of Bangladeshi citizens.
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.
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.
China's 2nd World Internet Conference Will Focus on ‘Rule of Law’, But Not Free Expression
"These conferences have had no credibility ever since the first one, whose real aim was to ensure that Internet companies wanting to operate in China fall into line."
Bangladesh Unblocks All Social Media Services (For Now)
Contradictory statements from authorities have left many Bangladeshis wondering what was behind the ban on Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, and other major communications platforms.
Low Bandwidth, High Hopes: Digital Participation in Venezuelan Elections
Despite low bandwidth and a series of localized Internet outages, the Web proved critical to public discourse and circulation of information about candidates, especially those running with the opposition.
Chinese Authorities Think Internet Companies Should Reward Netizens Who ‘Spread Good News’
China's State Internet Information Office spokesman urged Internet companies to allocate charity funds to those who "spread good news." But netizens don't completely agree with government's idea of good news.
Netizen Report: Pro-Government Hackers and Constitutional Amendment Put Free Speech Under Fire in Ecuador
Facebook is back on in Bangladesh, Venezuela sees big changes (and Internet outages) on Election Day and Kazakhstan plans to spy on everyone.
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."
‘We Still Don't Know Where Bassel is': Syrian Web Developer Has Been Missing for Two Months
Over 37,000 supporters are urging Syrian authorities inform Bassel's family of his whereabouts and give him clemency. We now call on the UN to intervene on his behalf.
Digital Citizen 4.0: Special Edition on Refugees and Technology
Digital Citizen is a biweekly review of news, policy, and research on human rights in the Arab World.
Netizen Report: ‘Terrorist Threat’ or Political Speech? States Target Social Media Post-Paris
Saudi threatens to sue anyone who compares its penal system to ISIS, China cuts mobile phone service for ethnic minorities and Google goes to bat for fair use.
