Stories from March, 2015
Digital Citizen 2.5
Digital Citizen is a biweekly review of news, policy, and research on human rights and technology in the Arab World. Digital Citizen has a new look! Check out our new...
Netizen Report: Macedonian Leak Scandal Reveals Mass Surveillance, Corruption
Protests are heating up both on and offline in Macedonia, Myanmar, and Paraguay.
#Pyrawebs: Online Activism Against Metadata Retention Bill in Paraguay
Paraguay is a democracy today, but a new data retention bill is reminding many citizens of the country's late twentieth-century dictatorship.
A Dialogue About Communication — Not Political Change — in Iran
Iran Internet experts gather to talk about how Iranians can easily access information communication technologies that connect Iranians to each other, and to the rest of the world.
Roscomnadzor Threatens Complete Block of RuNet Encyclopedia
Russian telecom watchdog Roscomnadzor wants to block pages about "drugs and child porn" on RuNet culture encyclopedia Lurkmore.ru, but will instead block the entire website, because it uses https encryption.
Diary of Journalist Pedro Canché Herrera, ‘Prisoner of Conscience’ in Mexico
Pedro Canché Herrera is awaiting sentencing on sabotage charges, after recording video and interviewing protesters. He describes his experience and thoughts on free expression on social media.
Singapore Blogger Who Criticized Court Case of Anti-Gay Sex Law Fined for ‘Scandalizing the Judiciary’
"The prosecution of Alex Au for speaking out is just one more example of Singapore’s willingness to misuse law to gag its critics."
Blogger Law Violations Go Unpunished in Russia
Since the infamous 'blogger law' came into power in Russia seven months ago, Roscomnadzor documented 67 violations, but not a single blogger has been punished for swearing or religious offenses.
Macedonia’s Massive Illegal Wiretapping Operation Allegedly Monitored Journalists and Diplomats
As a 4-year-long wiretapping scandal unravels in Macedonia, online users draw attention to the lack of media coverage and the history of the characters behind the story.
#FragaWantsToPost: A Brazilian Activist Has Been Forbidden From Protesting for Two Years
Ricardo Fraga’s right to protest has been legally suspended for the last 728 days. He cannot post or mention anything about the high-rise construction project that is changing his neighborhood.
Netizen Report: China Continues to Crack Down on Virtual Private Networks
This week's report begins in China, where the government continues its crackdown on the use of virtual private networks by blocking Avast.com, a free anti-virus and anti-spyware protection software.
Iran Wants to Befriend Google
Google is welcome in Iran, says a government official, as long as it respects 'cultural conditions'.
Did a Brazilian Judge Try to Use Marco Civil to Shut Down WhatsApp Across the Country?
WhatsApp kept working normally in Brazil, but the judge's decision, which was apparently based on provisions in the Marco Civil bill, went viral.
