Stories about South-Asia
Supreme Court of India declares internet ban in Jammu and Kashmir unconstitutional
The blockout, imposed since August 2019, has affected the lives of millions of people in Jammu and Kashmir, depriving them of the basic right to access the internet.
‘A disturbing crackdown on press freedom’: Pakistan arbitrarily blocking Slate.com
This is the second time that the website has been blocked in Pakistan in 2019, and the third time since 2018.
Pakistan shuts art installation depicting extrajudicial killings
"The closure is both an attack on free expression and an attempt to sweep under the rug a longstanding human rights problem."
India partially lifts communications blackout in Kashmir, internet still down
According to a recent report, Kashmiris are resisting the clampdowns and shutdowns imposed by the Indian Central Government “through satyagraha or non-violent civil disobedience”.
Bangladesh Regulator blocks engineering university web page containing reports of student abuse
The Telecommunication Regulatory Commission blocked an online page where over 175 complaints were anonymously made by current and former students of the top engineering university of the country.
Netizen Report: Two years after fleeing military attacks in Myanmar, Rohingya refugees face mobile blackout in Bangladesh
Refugees lose mobile access in Bangladesh, a Hong Kong web forum weathers a DDoS attack, and Turkey expands internet regulations.
Bangladesh cuts access to mobile phone services for the Rohingya
The Bangladeshi government has ordered telecommunications companies to block cell phone access at Rohingya camps, on the pretext of protecting ‘national security.’
Netizen Report: The shutdown in Kashmir continues
Kashmir's communications blackout continues, Russia goes after 'illegal' protest videos online, and Google re-opens its office in Egypt.
Indian government asks Twitter to remove accounts ‘spreading rumours’ about Kashmir
With the communication blackout inside Kashmir, netizens elsewhere resorted to Twitter to speak out against India's revocation of the region's autonomous status.
Twitter campaign by Pakistani ruling party warns media against anti-state criticism
According to the government, the idea behind the series of tweets was not to ridicule but to ‘educate’ the media. However, the activists feel otherwise amidst troll attacks.
“A dangerous trend”: Pakistani journalists critical of the government and military targeted in Twitter campaign
As if threats from the authorities against press freedom in Pakistan were not enough, online nationalist vigilantes are also on the pry against journalists.
Interview with former Pakistani president taken off air, journalists and activists decry censorship
A recorded interview of former president Asif Ali Zardari was taken off air shortly after its broadcast began on Geo News television in another incident of censorship in the country.
India bans China's TikTok for “degrading culture and encouraging pornography”
People in India have been banned from downloading TikTok, a hugely popular quick video-sharing app based in China.
Government actions in Sri Lanka Easter bombings raise the question: Is social media helping or hurting?
The swift decision to block certain social media platforms suggests that in the eyes of the Sri Lankan government, these services can make an already bad situation worse.
Netizen Report: Activists in Pakistan and Malaysia confront online backlash after International Women’s Day events
This week, the EU parliament approved its Copyright Directive, Pakistan blocked mobile services (during a military parade) and Bangladesh blocked Al Jazeera English.
Netizen Report: Both Bangladesh and South Korea are waging a ‘war on porn’ — and paving the way for political censorship
South Korea and Bangladesh are blocking porn and "obscene" content, Venezuela is blocking YouTube, and Uzbekistan has finally stopped blocking Facebook and VK.
Netizen Report: Will India’s regional internet shutdowns ever end?
Internet shutdowns continue apace in India, Venezuela's opposition websites are under pressure and Uganda's social media tax is driving down internet use.
Netizen Report: Bangladeshis see censorship on all sides as elections approach
Bangladesh is blocking websites, Sudanese telcos are blocking WhatsApp and Slack is kicking Iranians off the platform, even when they're not in Iran.
Pashtun human rights activist detained at Islamabad airport, released after social media pressure
Gulalai Ismail is a well-known Pashtun human rights activist and founder of Seeds of Peace network.
Journalists across India share their testimony on the deteriorating state of media — and vow to fight back
Four journalists have been killed because of their work in 2018. Killings have evoked public outrage, but little response from the government.