Stories about Feature from October, 2014
Remembering Mahsa Shekarloo, Iran's Internet Pioneer and Women’s Rights Activist
Mahsa Shekarloo, Iranian women’s rights activist and founder of the online feminist journal Bad Jens, died Friday September 5, 2014, surrounded by family. We celebrate her life in this post.
GV Face: Alaa Abd El Fattah and Maryam Al Khawaja on Hunger Strikes, Jail-time, and Activism in Egypt and Bahrain
Hundreds of political prisoners are currently on hunger strike in Egypt and Bahrain.
Netizen Report: Rafael Correa’s Crusade Against Critical Media, Online and Off
This week's report looks at cyber attacks in Hong Kong, mass surveillance in Egypt and Colombia's upcoming "digital portfolio" system that will house all citizen data under one roof.
Facebook Weighs In on the Ukraine-Russia Takedown Dispute
RuNet Echo talks with Facebook about content takedowns, community standards, and the social media war in Ukraine, where users on all sides resort to desperate measures.
The Invisible Violence of Cyber War in Hong Kong's Umbrella Revolution
Nearly all major pro-democracy organizing platforms and media sites have been knocked offline over the past ten days. And mainstream media hasn't said a word about it.
#FreeSaeed: An Iranian Web Developer's Sixth Year in Prison
Saeed Malekpour was originally sentenced to death as a "corrupter of the earth" for his open source software that others used to download pornographic images.
“We Don't Need No Governance”: Why the Internet Governance Forum Misses the Point
Activists worldwide have criticized the UN-sponsored Internet Governance Forum for shying away from pressing issues like censorship and digital surveillance. This year, they held took matters into their own hands.
What Protesters in Hong Kong (and Anywhere Else) Should Know About FireChat
Two leading security experts explain the risks in using FireChat -- and offer some simple tips for digital safety in a protest environment.
Hong Kong Protesters Shore Up Mobile Communications Tools in Face of Technical Threats
Activists and security experts are working together to determine which tech tools can help protesters -- and which ones can leave them in danger.
Fears of a Network Blackout Still Loom for Hong Kong's Pro-Democracy Protesters
Could Hong Kong really experience a mobile network shutdown? Officials say it's possible, but unlikely.
Bahrain's Prominent Human Rights Activist Arrested for Criticizing Police Defectors Who Joined ISIS
Bahrain's most prominent human rights defender Nabeel Rajab is back in jail for his tweets, for the third time.
Netizen Report: Hong Kong Protests Trigger Tear Gas, Surveillance and Social Media Censorship
Protests persist in Hong Kong, Australia institutes Web-wide surveillance, and Egyptian and Saudi authorities prosecute gays (with the help of Grindr).
Cute Cat Theory in Action: Despite Drought, Iranian Users Take the Ice Bucket Challenge
Are Iranians really more consumed by Facebook likes and online attention than they are with tangible problems within their own country? If so, they're not alone.
Russian Mathematician Aids Hong Kong's ‘America-Orchestrated Color Revolution’
Given the popular frame in Russia that the United States is masterminding Hong Kong’s pro-democracy demonstrations, FireChat’s Moscow-educated co-founder is awkward for the pro-Kremlin press.
Pro-Democracy Protesters Have Turned Central Hong Kong Into a Colorful Sea of Umbrellas
Dubbed the "umbrella revolution" in some media, protesters have withstood authorities' tear gas and pepper spray using umbrellas for protection.