Featured stories about South-Asia
Stories about South-Asia
3 June 2020
Pakistan blocks Twitter, Zoom and Periscope to curb critical voices
In mid-May, Twitter, Zoom and Persicope were either blocked or throttled across Pakistan. Activists say the move was meant to target a few web conferences on human rights issues.
12 May 2020
In Bangladesh, criticism of government response to the COVID-19 pandemic is risky
"Would it be wrong if someone says that the authorities in Bangladesh, equipped with Digital Security Act, launched a crackdown on those critical to the government?"
7 May 2020
After disappearing for 53 days, Bangladeshi journalist is found and sent to jail
Fifty-three days after his abduction in from of his office in Dhaka, Bangladesh, photojournalist Shafiqul Islam Kajol was found alive in Benapole, near the border of Bangladesh with India.
4 May 2020
Baloch journalist found dead in Sweden
In recent months, several Pakistani activists and bloggers living in Europe have claimed to have been targeted for speaking up against human rights violations in Pakistan.
29 April 2020
Coronavirus and surveillance technology in India: Public health vs. privacy
Global Voices interviewed rights lawyer Mishi Choudhary and tech and policy researcher Srinivas Kodali to discuss the newest proposal in India to use unique ID data for #FacialRecognition with drones.
17 April 2020
Fighting the COVID-19 ‘Infodemic’ in the Asia-Pacific
EngageMedia lists some of the media initiatives addressing the COVID-19 "Infodemic' across the Asia-Pacific region
6 April 2020
Is India fighting COVID-19 the “mass surveillance” way?
"There isn’t enough information available on what data will be collected, how long will it be stored and what uses it will be put to."
2 March 2020
Internet shutdowns in 2019: India continued to top list of worst offenders
In 2019, access to the internet was disrupted 121 times in India alone, says Access Now in a new report.
18 February 2020
For Rohingya refugees, ID systems have brought coercion, violence and denial of ethnic identity
"They told us they would withhold rations and that we couldn’t stay in the camps. So we had no choice."
17 February 2020
Pakistan's draconian rules on social media take activists by surprise
The new rules require social media companies to hand over user information and remove content deemed unlawful when requested by the authorities.
