Stories about Feature from April, 2015
Netizen Report: “When You Took Their Freedom, You Hurt Us All” #FreeZone9Bloggers
As we mark the anniversary of the arrest of our colleagues in Ethiopia, mobile signals drop amid protest in Guatemala and the US congress reconsiders "Aaron's Law".
Digital Citizen 2.8
Digital Citizen is a biweekly review of news, policy, and research on human rights in the Arab World. This volume looks at repression in Kuwait, DDoS attacks in Lebanon, and much more.
VIDEO: The World is Saying #FreeZone9Bloggers
Global Voices marks the one-year anniversary of the arrest of Ethiopia's Zone9 bloggers with this crowd-sourced this video of support. Say it with us: #FreeZone9Bloggers!
“Take the Right Side in the Struggle of the Oppressed”: A Letter to John Kerry from Kilinto Prison, Ethiopia
In a letter to John Kerry, jailed Ethiopian blogger Natnael Feleke writes: "Because of the repressive regime, the Ethiopian constitution is powerless to protect citizens from being abused."
Netizen Report: The Spring of Cybercrime Laws
Cybercrime laws are popping up around the world, from Egypt to Pakistan to Tanzania. Meanwhile, China has outlawed politically controversial avatars and Indian companies are snubbing Facebook.
Vietnamese Netizens Are Getting Bolder Online, Despite Tough Laws
"Thanks to social media it has become possible and even trendsetting to publicly question the Communist Party’s legitimacy."
Syrian Blogger Stabbed in His Istanbul Home After Receiving Threats Online
Threatened online by different Syrian factions, Global Voices author Asaad Hanna was last night stabbed four times in his home in Istanbul, Turkey. He is now recovering.
How Blogging is Held Hostage by Ethiopian Politics
"Why is there just a single—and poorly functioning—Internet service provider for Ethiopia’s 90 million people? We know better than to ask this of public officials."
The Elephant at the Global Conference for Cyberspace
Last week, the Dutch capital of government, the Hague hosted “Cyberspace Week”, an international event intended to prioritize discussions about security, safety, and Internet policy at large. All the while, a giant blow-up elephant stood nearby in the city's Plein neighbourhood, a cheeky symbol of the giant “elephant in the room” that is mass...
Malaysian Cartoonist Vows to Continue Fighting Government Abuses Despite Sedition Charges
"I will not keep quiet. How can I be neutral, even my pen has a stand!"
Tanzania's Cyber Crime Bill Gives More Power to Police, Less to People
Leading opponents of the legislation from civil society say they will take the government to court if the president signs the bill into law.
New Internet Rules in China Target Usernames, Avatars as Subversive Tools
More than 67,000 user accounts have been deleted due to a new rule that prohibits screen names and profile pictures that threaten national security, destroy ethnic unity, or defame others.
What Does Censoring Nude Art Say About Us and Our Social Networks?
This post is the first in a series exploring the different ways in which artists face censorship online. Our base will be the experience of Venezuelan artist Erika Ordisgotti.
Netizen Report: What if Tech Companies Cave to the Kremlin’s Data Demands?
Spring has sprung and lawsuits are in full bloom! New Zealand ISPs brace for legal challenges over VPNs and Facebook is facing multiple lawsuits concerning user privacy.
Digital Citizen 2.7
Digital Citizen is a biweekly review of news, policy, and research on human rights and technology in the Arab World.
An Aggressive Turn in Chinese Censorship Practices: ‘The Great Cannon’
"It is likely that this attack, with its potential for political backlash, would require the approval of high-level authorities within the Chinese government."
Malaysia’s New Law Targets Online Sedition
"This latest curtailment of freedom of expression further restricts public discourse and will create a void in Malaysian social media and a deafening silence in news forums."
Are Google and eBay Bowing to the Kremlin's Data Localization Demands?
Google and eBay may be caving to Russia's data localization law, a move that would leave users even more vulnerable to state surveillance than they are today.
Netizen Report: Turkey’s Erdogan Fights to Control the Conversation, Online and in Print
A Malaysian cartoonist faces sedition charges, SnapChat goes transparent, and Venezuela faces possible new social media regulations.
Is Global Voices Blocked in Iran? Yes and No.
Globalvoicesonline.org is now blocked in Iran. But you can outsmart these Internet filters and access our site by adding "https://" to the beginning of the URL. What's up with that?
