Stories about East Asia from August, 2017
Netizen Report: Vietnam Targets ‘Illegal Cyber Information’ — and Political Speech
Global Voices Advocacy's Netizen Report offers an international snapshot of challenges, victories, and emerging trends in internet rights around the world.
The Evolution of China's Great Firewall: 21 Years of Censorship
Technically speaking, circumvention technologies have outwitted the Great Firewall. Yet the new legal regime has changed the rules of the game.
Chinese Tech Firms Are at the Cutting Edge of Artificial Intelligence — But at What Cost?
China has a more open attitude toward new technology, but is their success built upon a lack of awareness of individual rights?
Cambodia Shutdown of Media Outlets: Tax and Licensing Issue or Censorship?
"It appears that the Cambodian government has been using legal technicalities to hide behind its real aim of silencing independent voices."
China to Ban Anonymous Online Comments, Blacklist Users
"With or without real name registration, they know who you are. What they intend to do is to make you fearful."
Chinese Police Arrested a Man for Complaining About Hospital Food. Netizens Say It’s Police Abuse.
Even state-affiliated media outlets are criticizing police actions against a man who publicly complained about the price and quality of food at a state hospital.
Cambridge University Publisher Removes 300 Academic Articles for the China Market
"If this is what they demand, CUP should give up its China- based site and carry on elsewhere."
Malaysian Political Cartoonist Zunar Sues Police for Unlawful Arrest, Seizure of Books
"You can ban my books, you can ban my cartoons, but you cannot ban my mind. I will keep drawing until the last drop of my ink."
‘You Can Lock Up Our Bodies, But Not Our Minds': Hong Kong Court Sends 16 Activists to Prison
"The appeal and jail sentence is a form of institutional violence and political suppression – it has ‘created’ the youngest group of political prisoners since the handover."
‘Troll-in-Chief'? Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte Admits Hiring Online Defenders During 2016 Election
The study found out that $200,000 were spent to fund the pro-Duterte troll army composed of 400 to 500 individuals.
Jailed for Journalism: A Profile of Detained Reporters in Myanmar
Since June 2017, five members of the media have been detained by the government.
Thai Journalist and Two Other Critics of Military-Led Government Face Sedition Charges Over Facebook Posts
"I will continue to criticize the illegitimate military regime until they take away my smartphone."
Five Days After His Essay Went Viral, Chinese Author Apologizes for ‘Imprecise’ Writing on Beijing's Economic Boom
Zhang's viral essay commented on Beijing's rapid economic and architectural development and rising economic inequality.
