September, 2012

Stories from September, 2012

Privacy Rights Activism in Latin America

  27 September 2012

Throughout Latin America, new surveillance practices threaten to erode individuals' privacy, yet there is limited public awareness about the civil liberties implications of these rapid changes

Paraguay: ISPs Block News Website Without Warrant

  27 September 2012

An alarming act of censorship by private companies took place on September 26 in Paraguay. Two Internet Service Providers (ISPs) blocked the AbcColor.me website without a judicial warrant. After pressure from netizens, the websites were unblocked.

Open Letter to Governments: Protect Human Rights at the ITU

  17 September 2012

This December in Dubai, the International Telecommunication Union—a UN agency—will decide whether it should have regulatory authority over the Internet. This move could pose grave risks to the exercise of human rights online. Civil society can influence the process by signing an open letter calling on governments to reject expansion of ITU regulatory authority to the Internet.

In Censoring Anti-Islam Video, Did Google Do the Right Thing?

  17 September 2012

This past week, a video apparently made with the sole purpose of inciting Muslim anger by an American Coptic Christian was shown on Egyptian television, sparking protests outside the US Embassy in Cairo that have been replicated throughout several countries in the region. The response to the video caused several...

MENA Netizen Report: We Won't Give Up

  14 September 2012

Our first edition of the MENA Netizen Report received an enthusiastic welcome from readers, demonstrating that this regionally-focused report fills an important gap. In addition to the usual sections, this month's edition contains a 'Worth reading' paragraph.

UN Conference Live Stream Blocked in Bahrain

  14 September 2012

According to activists in Bahrain, a United Nations Human Rights Council live stream has been blocked.   Authorities in #Bahrain put obstacles to access #UN website for live stream because of my intervention in the #HRC21twitpic.com/aucktm — Mohammed Al-Maskati(@MohdMaskati) September 14, 2012 Mohamed Al-Maskati, president of Bahrain Youth Society for...

Protecting the Open Internet at the ITU: Civil Society Takes Action

  12 September 2012

This December in Dubai, the International Telecommunication Union—a UN agency—will decide whether it should have regulatory authority over the Internet. This move could pose grave risks to the exercise of human rights online. Until now, the ITU has been dedicated to setting technical standards for interoperability of international telecommunications, radio,...

Netizen Report: Corporate Responsibility Edition

  12 September 2012

This week's report begins with Swedish-Finnish telecom TeliaSonera, which has faced criticism for its collaboration with authoritarian regimes in Tajikistan, Azerbaijian and other Eastern European and Central Asian countries. From there, we return to Jordan for an update on the #BlackoutJO protests. Then, we turn to Argentina, Brazil and beyond.

Zambia: SIM Card Registration Starts as Community Radio Stations are Restricted

  11 September 2012

The Zambian government recently restricted the reach of of the Lusaka-based University of Zambia (UNZA) Radio. On the same day, authorities announced that cell phone users will now be required to register SIM cards using their real names and other personal information. Bloggers and journalists are questioning the political motivations behind these decisions.

Latin America and the Caribbean Netizen Report: First Edition

  6 September 2012

This first Latin America and the Caribbean Netizen Report focuses on legislation that affects the fundamental rights of Internet users in the region. In the last two months, the governments of various countries -Costa Rica, Peru, and Brazil, among others- have considered bills that affect freedom of speech, access to information, anonymity, and privacy online.

Netizen Report: #BlackOutJO Edition

  6 September 2012

This week's report begins in Jordan, where Internet activists have staged a website blackout in protest of amendments to law that would require websites to obtain licenses and bear legal responsibility for user comments. From there, we move on to Ukraine, Gaza, Myanmar and beyond.