Stories about Digital Activism from July, 2020
Nigerians counteract COVID-19 denialism with social media campaigns
Nigerians directly confront coronavirus denial headlong with counter-narratives that use ordinary language in campaigns devoid of the usual mistrust between citizens and governments.
The day Liberia shut down freedom of expression amid a mass protest
Last year, the Liberian government disrupted social media access to prevent live protest coverage and the mobilization of protesters, shutting down freedom of expression and the right to access information.
Trinidad & Tobago NGO identifies treatment of women as key issue in upcoming elections
The histories of several electoral candidates have prompted the gender rights organisation Womantra to highlight "the need for urgent and collective attention to end violence against women in politics."
Four student activists arrested in Hong Kong for ‘inciting secession’ because of related social media posts
Hong Kong's newly established national security police united has arrested four youngsters aged between 16 and 21 on suspicion of inciting secession in their social media posts.
Anti-fascist movements are re-emerging in Brazil to counter Bolsonaro
In 2020, anti-fascist demonstrations have emerged as a counter-offensive to recent protests organized by President Jair Bolsonaro's supporters.
Documentary exposes the threat of facial recognition surveillance in Serbia
Online documentary warns the public about privacy risks emanating from a newly installed video surveillance system equipped with Chinese facial recognition technology.
Journalist's abduction raises concerns about media freedom in Pakistan
On July 21, renowned Pakistani journalist Matiullah Jan was abducted in Islamabad. Though he was released about 12 hours after, fingers are being pointed at state security agencies.
Marielle Franco case remains under state police without federal interference, rules Brazil High Court
Marielle's family members and advocates have feared that moving the case to federal level would make it vulnerable to interference by President Jair Bolsonaro, whose family has links with the suspects in the crime.
Since George Floyd's murder, black Barbadians are becoming more vocal about racism
Through their support of the Black Lives Matter movement, young activists are challenging the status quo.
Hong Kong protest supporters’ international lobby to ‘burn’ China for hurting the city
“Laam chau”, a term derived from a username on the Reddit-like forum LIHKG, means "mutually-assured destruction", and it has captured the imagination of Hongkongers — even those in the pro-establishment camp.
Solo protest in the Netherlands for the Uyghur cause: One man takes on the Chinese state
In the Netherlands, the solo protest of an Uyghur exile puts a spotlight on China's actions against Uyghurs and other Muslims in Xinjiang.
‘Where is my family?': A question left unanswered for too many Uyghurs living abroad
After years of silence about the fate of his family, an Uyghur refugee decides to go public about the persecution of Uyghurs in China, despite the trauma he experiences.
So-called anti-fascist files in Brazil expose the personal information of hundreds of people
One of the lists, which circulated on WhatsApp, doxxed people's personal information such as names, pictures, and addresses.
Indian activists publish the first online magazine in the Santali language
Language activists from the eastern Indian state of Odisha have recently published the very first online magazine in the Santali language.
Russian journalist avoids jail term for ‘justifying terrorism’ – and fears a new assault on press freedoms
While her conviction remains in force, Svetlana Prokopyeva has avoided a prison sentence. The verdict was a silver lining in a new wave of arrests and criminal cases against journalists.
Authorities in Republika Srpska accused of burying genocide memories in tourism bid
The Vilina Vlas hotel hosted unspeakable crimes during Bosnian War in the 1990s. But it is still being billed as a haven for family breaks.
Housewife, mother, frontliner: A look at women in Hong Kong's anti-China extradition protests
Women struggled against gender stereotypes and police violence to earn recognition on the frontlines of the movement.
Nigeria declares ‘state of emergency’ on rape and sexual assault
In Nigeria, a culture of rape and impunity persists, making it difficult for victims to hold their abusers accountable. Police often dismiss rape cases and blame the victims.
Justice, inclusion and an economy for all: Australian activists mobilise at Virtual Progress 2020
“No matter what ways they break you, you still have to be able to form a fist”
India bans TikTok, 58 other apps amid rising anti-China sentiment, border clashes
The border clashes and the stand-off between India and China reached naught after India decided to ban video-creation platform TikTok and 58 other apps due to “security issues”.
Uyghur emojis help spread message of cultural resistance over social media
Emojis representing Uyghur characters and culture are now available on the encrypted messenger platform Telegram in an effort by the Uyghur diaspora in Russian-speaking countries to raise visibility.
