Featured stories about Global Voices Advocacy
Stories about Global Voices Advocacy
30 September 2016
In Tanzania, Expressing Political Opinions on Social Media is Becoming Increasingly Dangerous
Five Tanzanian citizens, Dennis Temu, Suleiman Nassoro, Shakira Makame, Juma Mtatuu, Dennis Mtegwa, appeared before a Tanzanian court September 14 charged with insulting President John Magufuli on social media. The five...
Netizen Report: Swiss Citizens Say Yes to Surveillance
Swiss activists lose referendum on privacy, Jordanian authorities ban media coverage of writer’s assassination, and Mexico is spending even more money on surveillance tools than was previously known.
29 September 2016
Mexico's Attorney General Secretly Purchased Costly Spyware (Again)
The Mexican government, for many years, allocated millions of dollars to acquiring highly intrusive digital spy technology without being transparent on how they were using it.
Kuwait Detains Activist Sara Al-Drees for Insulting the Country's Ruler
The pro-democracy activist has previously served jail time for the same charge.
26 September 2016
Jordanian Authorities Impose Media Gag After Writer's Killing
Jordanian authorities have banned media coverage of the assassination of Nahed Hattar, a writer who was shot dead on September 25 by a gunman in the capital Amman.
24 September 2016
Sudanese Authorities Use ‘Pornography’ as Evidence in Criminal Trial of Human Rights Advocates
Sudanese authorities are using what they deem as "pornographic" and "immoral" evidence in a trial of ten civil society activists, six of whom are facing capital punishment charges.
22 September 2016
Netizen Report: Internet Shutdowns Are Ever-Present in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula
While telecommunications cuts continue in North Sinai, Russians contemplate a porn-free Internet and a Kuwaiti royal faces jail time for insulting the emir on Snapchat.
16 September 2016
That Time Russia Banned Online Porn (Again)
The two pornographic metropolises of the Internet, PornHub and YouPorn, were banned in Russia this week. ISPs are required to comply with the ban within 24 hours.
15 September 2016
Netizen Report: In Cuba, Text Messages With Controversial Content Are Disappearing
Journalist repression is on the rise in Cuba, Saudi bans LINE, and Russian authorities jail gamer for offending religious people, Pokemon-style.
10 September 2016
Kashmir: Where ‘Digital India’ Ends
Two months without internet is a long time. For Kashmiris, rather than a security measure, it feels more like collective punishment.
8 September 2016
Maldives Authorities Target Journalists After Al Jazeera Exposes $1.5 Billion Corruption Scandal
President Yameen and his associates embezzled millions of dollars, bribed judges and other high-level officials, and used influence to remove government workers who stood in their way.
Detention of News Site Director Raises Concerns for Venezuela's Freedom of Speech
Lawyer and journalist Braulio Jatar was arrested and accused of money laundering, but netizens and journalists believe his reporting on protests against president Nicolas Maduro was the real reason.
Netizen Report: With Gabon's Internet Shutdown, Activists Confront Challenges of Circumventing Censorship
Bhutan makes headlines in Facebook defamation case, Paraguay uses censorship to protect children from the Internet, and Iran enters talks with French telco Orange.
7 September 2016
Angered by Mobile App Censorship, Saudis Ask: ‘What's the Point of Having Internet?’
Saudi Arabia, which already blocks WhatsApp, Viber and Skype, has angered users by blocking the messaging and voice calling app LINE.
Hackers Exploit Android Flaw to Target Iranian Activists
Suspected state-sponsored hackers have intensified their attempts to break into the online accounts of Iranian rights activists in recent weeks by exploiting security vulnerabilities in Android smartphones.
6 September 2016
Cuban Journalist and LGBT Activist Sacked for Working With Non-State Media
"It doesn’t matter where you publish, even if it’s just on your blog. We will always be reading what you write."
5 September 2016
Indians Ask: Is Visiting a Torrent Site Really A Crime?
"Thousands of cases pending, criminals roaming scott free. That's fine. Lets arrest people who download #torrents"
Bahraini Court Refuses to Release Rights Activist Nabeel Rajab, Delays Verdict
Rajab faces up to 15 years in jail for tweeting about the Saudi-led war in Yemen and denouncing incidents of torture in a Bahraini prison.
2 September 2016
Campaign: Anonymity Defends Us — So Let's Defend Anonymity
Anonymity helps protect freedom of expression, the right to assemble, the right to social protest, and the right to seek information and help. So let's defend anonymity!
After Two Months on Hunger Strike, Jailed Algerian Journalist Enters Coma
Mohamad Tamalt went on hunger strike on 27 June to protest his arrest and imprisonment. He is in jail for insulting the Algerian President online.
