Stories
Bangladesh Keeps Blocking Social Media, Threatens New Surveillance Tactics
With the lack of accountability shown by the government, a move towards more stringent controls of the Internet is worrying for the state of free expression in the country.
With Messaging Apps Still Banned, Bangladeshis Turn to Tor (and Twitter)
It is not clear whether the government has blocked the Facebook portal or banned the use of Facebook altogether.
Netizen Report: Bangladesh Bans Facebook and Chat Apps on ‘Security Grounds’
Bangladesh accidentally shuts down the Internet, hip-hop gets the boot on Chinese streaming sites, and Twitter faces new data dilemmas in Russia.
Russian Lawmaker Suggests Banning Telegram Messenger ‘Because It's Used by ISIS’
Should Telegram be banned because it's used by extremist organizations such as ISIS? One Russian lawmaker believes it should, but plenty of others in Russia disagree.
Netizen Report: Is Egypt Blocking Voice Calls on WhatsApp and Skype?
Lebanon arrests two over Facebook posts, Venezuela blocks Bitcoin sites in crusade against foreign currency, and the EU takes 'Safe Harbor' away from US tech companies.
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.
WhatsApp, Line and Tango in Jeopardy in Iran, As President and Judiciary Clash
Culture Minister Ali Jannati refused to say if the government would implement the ban on three messaging services. They currently remain accessible to Iranians.
Netizen Report: Indonesia Tries to Ban Vimeo For Sexual Content
This week's Netizen Report looks at looming social media censorship measures in Spain and Russia, and a possible "loosening" of online restrictions in Iran.
Netizen Report: Bloggers Under Threat in Bangladesh and Beyond
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 with Bangladesh, where authorities are targeting bloggers accused of "anti-Muslim" writings. We then look at cases of bloggers in Vietnam, Egypt, and Kuwait, all of whom are facing government threats for political expression online.
Saudi Arabia Threatens to Block Skype and WhatsApp
Saudi Arabia is threatening to block a number of popular communication tools, such as Skype and mobile messaging service WhatsApp, unless the operating companies agree to infringe on the privacy of users and monitor them.
Internet in Iran: Evaluating Rouhani’s First Two Years as President
Has Rouhani lived up to lofty expectations of more Internet freedom in Iran? This is the question Small Media's latest report seeks to address.
How gendered disinformation on social media harms Kenyan women seeking political office
"Women often don’t sue because they don’t actually know that the law can protect them ... because of the stigma around it, and the fact that people have normalised cyberbullying ..."
National broadcaster axes Australian journalist Antoinette Lattouf over Gaza social media post
"Does anyone think an ABC reporter would have been sacked for posting a message on social media supporting Israel?"
Digital Blackout: Systematic censorship of Palestinian voices
During the continuous Gaza bombardment and worsening humanitarian crisis, Palestinians face a communication blackout and tech censorship, hindering access to crucial information and the documentation of human rights violations.
Benin: Punitive online journalism legislation poses setback to press freedom
The application of Benin’s Digital Code to online journalists complicates matters for the online journalism profession in the country, thus jeopardizing press freedom.
How to use social media to win an election: Influencers from Kenya’s 2022 election explain
Interviews with three sources hired by President William Ruto’s political party as online influencers for Kenya’s last election in September 2022, reveal a kind of playbook for the use and abuse of social media during elections.
How internet shutdowns in Myanmar have been endangering lives and affecting humanitarian work since the coup
The internet blackout has made it difficult for locals to both send and receive information on the conditions in the region, report human rights abuses committed by the military regime, or raise funds for humanitarian business.
In Turkey, the state resorts to censorship majeure
Rocked by a devastating earthquake, citizens in Turkey now have to also deal with censorship measures imposed by the state amid an outcry of public criticism.
European Parliament’s Report on Pegasus spyware indicates involvement of North Macedonia companies
Pegasus and Predator spyware can allegedly extract all communications records from mobile devices. A European Parliament report and journalist investigations suspect wide illegal use in and outside of the European Union.
Freedom of expression in Tanzania is on a downward spiral
In Tanzania, freedom of expression is a constitutional right of every citizen that has however been undermined by the continuous passing and enacting of a series of repressive regulations over the years.