Stories about News
Why was Facebook Blocked in Cambodia?
On August 7, Facebook was inaccessible in Cambodia for several hours. Government officials and ISPs claimed that the blockage resulted from technical complications, but media freedom groups remained suspicious of a foul play by authorities.
Netizen Report: From Mauritania to Mexico, Thuggery Looms Large
Global Voices Advocacy's Netizen Report offers an international snapshot of challenges, victories, and emerging trends in Internet rights around the world. This week's report highlights global government thuggery: From Bahrain to Mauritania to Mexico, blogger arrests have been abundant this August.
Taiwanese Government Alters Search Engine Ads to Favor Nuclear Energy Policy
Activists in Taiwan are fighting to halt the operation of nuclear power plant that could be highly hazardous for the island state. Early this week, a Yahoo! search on anti-nuclear activists' names suddenly began yielding ads linking to a government website promoting nuclear energy.
Netizen Report: Vietnam Escalates Online Censorship
Global Voices Advocacy's Netizen Report offers an international snapshot of challenges, victories, and emerging trends in Internet rights around the world. This week we begin in Vietnam, where drastic new restrictions for online speech will soon come into force.
Chinese Authorities Crackdown on “Illegal” Independent Websites
Sites have been shut down for failing to obtain licenses, allegedly blackmailing government and corporate officials, and using terms such as "China" and "people" in their names.
Netizen Report: The Manning Verdict
In the US this week, Bradley Manning was convicted of twenty charges filed against him by the US government. In the MENA region, bloggers face new threats from government.
New Philippine Congress Tackles Digital Rights
After only a week in session, lawmakers have proposed multiple laws that seek to protect user rights online and promote public access to the Internet.
Netizen Report: India Suspends Mobile Broadband in Kashmir
This week's report begins in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, where the government has responded to ongoing religious tensions by throttling Internet access.
Digital Citizen المواطن الرقمي 1.0
Digital Citizen is a monthly review of news, policy, and research on human rights and technology in the Arab World. This is our first edition.
Netizen Report: France Bags ‘Hadopi’ Law, Germany Pushes for Data Protection
Global Voices Advocacy's Netizen Report offers an international snapshot of challenges, victories, and emerging trends in Internet rights around the world. We begin this edition in the EU, where last week France trashed its controversial 'Hadopi' anti-piracy law and German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for greater protections for user data in the EU, reminding us that not all news is bad news.
Philippine Online Harassment Bill Could Threaten Speech
In an effort to protect women and children against online abuses, Philippine Senator Nancy Binay has filed a bill called Electronic Violence Against Women. Some are worried that the measure, if passed into law, would be used to strictly regulate social media.
Netizen Report: Gambia to Ban Internet Activism?
Global Voices Advocacy's Netizen Report offers an international snapshot of challenges, victories, and emerging trends in Internet rights around the world. This week we begin in Gambia, where lawmakers have passed sweeping legislation that targets political opposition online.
Advocates Keep Spotlight on Le Quoc Quan
The trial of Le Quoc Quan, one of Vietnam’s most active human rights defenders and an outspoken blogger, has been postponed by the Vietnamese government without explanation. The blogger has been held in prison without trial and with little ability to see or speak to his lawyer for over six months. Quan's prosecution fits into a wider pattern of oppression of free speech in Vietnam.
Netizen Report: Iran's President-Elect “Likes” Open Internet
Global Voices Advocacy's Netizen Report offers an international snapshot of challenges, victories, and emerging trends in Internet rights around the world. This week we begin in Iran, where president-elect Hassan Rouhani gave a nod this week to liberalizing Internet policies and upholding free expression in the country.
Nepali Journalists Arrested for Reporting on College Students’ Sex Lives
Three Nepali journalists were arrested on charges of publishing indecent and defaming content online. Police took them into custody after officials at a public university complained that the journalists had written about female students using eggplants as sex toys.
Netizen Report: Turkey to Increase Social Media Restrictions?
Global Voices Advocacy's Netizen Report offers an international snapshot of challenges, victories, and emerging trends in Internet rights around the world. This week's report explores current and impending threats to freedom of expression in Turkey, Vietnam and Nepal.
Vietnam: Bloggers Arrested, Accused of Spreading “Anti-State” Propaganda
Three prominent bloggers in Vietnam have been arrested in less than a month. All three are accused of spreading anti-state propaganda.
Netizen Report: The World Reacts to PRISM
Global Voices Advocacy's Netizen Report offers an international snapshot of challenges, victories, and emerging trends in Internet rights around the world. This week's report features responses from governments and civil society to new information about phone and Internet surveillance programs run by the US government.
Netizen Report: US Internet Spying Program Revealed
Global Voices Advocacy's Netizen Report offers an international snapshot of challenges, victories, and emerging trends in Internet rights around the world. This week's report offers a round-up of coverage on the revelation of a widespread Internet surveillance program by the United States, known as PRISM.
Bangladesh Unblocks YouTube After Eight-Month Ban
Bangladesh's telecommunication authorities have unblocked YouTube in Bangladesh after 260 days of restricting access within the country to the video sharing website.
