Stories from October, 2014
Russia Step Ups Censorship of ISIS Social Media Content
The move to forbid ISIS’s media content joins a trend of growing Internet surveillance and censorship in Russia, but the feasibility of weakening ISIS by targeting social media is questionable.
Leaked Recordings of Zambian Ministers’ Conversations Raise Privacy Concerns
Private conversations involving ministers brings into focus issues of privacy not only for government leaders, but for the general public.
Brazilian Bloggers Claim Presidential Candidate is Censoring His Critics on YouTube
Users with similar names and similarly scant Internet histories have made intellectual rights claims against two YouTube videos that cast a negative light on presidential candidate Aécio Neves.
GV Essay Competition: How Do Internet Policies Affect Your Community?
Global Voices Advocacy invites community members and partners to submit essays on the impacts of Internet policies on local communities around the world.
Netizen Report: Social Media Users Silenced by Arrest, Assassination
This week, Tweeps are under threat (and worse) in Latin America and Turkey, China’s anti-rumor campaign continues, and the secret about Whisper (it's not that safe) is out.
Authorities Are Abusing Hong Kong’s Computer Crimes Law to Stifle Protests
Since the beginning of the Umbrella Revolution, more than a dozen netizens in Hong Kong have been arrested and charged with "access to computer with criminal or dishonest intent."
Venezuela: Twitter Users Detained After Socialist Party Deputy is Slain
Numerous Twitter users have been detained by Venezuelan police in recent weeks, all on accusations linking them to the assassination of Socialist Party Deputy Robert Serra.
Cyber Attack Downs Mozambique's @Verdade News Site on Election Day
The attack began on the eve of the election and managed to bring down the site just as polls closed and votes were being counted.
Hong Kong's Journalists Battle Self-Censorship, Intimidation and Police Violence to Report Umbrella Revolution
Four independent news sites issued a joint statement condemning police for intentionally attacking reporters. Reporters at other outlets have had to deal with management's self-censorship for fear of angering Beijing.
Bloggers Behind Bars: Ethiopia's Zone9ers and Threats to Online Speech Across the Globe
Governments in a growing list of nations have recognized that modern-day connectivity can prove a lethal challenge to their legitimacy and very existence.
Citizen Journalist Kidnapped and Killed in Mexico for Reporting on Organized Crime
María del Rosario Fuentes Rubio volunteered as a contributor with Valor por Tamaulipas (Courage for Tamaulipas), a citizen media platform that allows users to file anonymous reports on violence.
Building an Internet Fast Lane in Russia Could Be a Great Way to Stifle Independent Media
In Russia, where the online space for independent media is fast shrinking, the prospect of ending net neutrality and filtering Internet content poses significant dangers.
As The Kremlin's Media Crackdown Continues, Blogs Might Be The Final Casualty
With independent online media closing down or moving abroad, Russian bloggers may face even greater pressure from the Kremlin.
Netizen Report: From Egypt to the EU, Calls for Social Media Censorship in Name of National Security
This week we look at spying and mobile security from the UK to Bahrain, along with original testimony from an imprisoned member of Ethiopia's Zone9 blogging collective.
Facebook's Zuckerberg Promotes Greater Internet Access in Indonesia
Indonesia has one of the biggest and most active social media communities in the world -- and Mark Zuckerberg wants to get in on the action.
Journal from an Ethiopian Prison: The Maekelawi Ceremony
"We could not carry on surviving the hell of Maekelawi. We ended up telling our interrogators what they wanted to hear."
Journal from an Ethiopian Prison: Testimony of Befeqadu Hailu
Original testimony from Befeqadu Hailu, one of four Global Voices members currently jailed in Ethiopia.
Will the Right to Be Forgotten Inspire Repressive Regimes to Expand Internet Censorship?
“These governments will take advantage from this directive. Powerful people will be able to hide disgraceful actions for their own e-reputation," says Tunisian Internet advocate Dhouha Ben Youssef.
Colombia's “Citizen Porfolio” Program Could Infringe Privacy Rights (And More)
The "Citizen Portfolio" policy would store citizen data -- ranging from passport numbers to health information -- all in one place.
Remembering Mahsa Shekarloo, Iran's Internet Pioneer and Women’s Rights Activist
Mahsa Shekarloo, Iranian women’s rights activist and founder of the online feminist journal Bad Jens, died Friday September 5, 2014, surrounded by family. We celebrate her life in this post.
