Stories about Digital Activism
5 July 2019
New York Times ad for Nairobi bureau chief riddled with clichés about Africa
The NYT’s language to describe their ideal Nairobi bureau chief reignited the debate on Western media's perpetual use of tired clichés and tropes about Africa.
Is Cuba trying to outlaw independent media? A new decree will prohibit foreign web hosting
“The law leaves independent media without ‘legal’ hosting options,” said local journalist and Global Voices author Elaine Diaz.
4 July 2019
This Jamaican woman is fighting ‘period poverty’ and daunting attitudes about reproductive health
"This ‘hush hush’ attitude to female reproductive health is dangerous. If we are able to talk openly, there are a lot of benefits. The silence stops you from getting help."
3 July 2019
Nigeria's youngest MP physically assaults woman in sex shop
In the presence of a police officer, Nigerian Senator Elisha Abbo, assaulted a female staff member in an adult toy store in Abuja.
29 June 2019
Tanzania reinstates controversial sanitary pad tax
Bringing back the tax on sanitary pads in Tanzania has triggered a major debate on the impact it will have on girls and women.
21 June 2019
‘Is vagina a dirty word?’ Ugandan feminist Stella Nyanzi's court battle continues
Nyanzi battles for her freedom of expression. Besides this case, Nyanzi still faces charges other charges of cyber harassment and offensive communication.
Netizen Report: Lawyers seek court challenge against Ethio Telecom over internet shutdown
Pakistani bloggers face threats for online speech, Algeria shuts down social media and Indonesian police say they’re "cyber patrolling" WhatsApp.
16 June 2019
Social media goes blue for Sudan
"My people can not die in vain, cannot die in silence." Social media users turn their profiles blue in solidarity with Sudanese protesters calling for civilian rule in Sudan.
14 June 2019
Netizen Report: Amid demonstrations for democracy, Sudanese civilians face military violence — and internet shutdowns
From Kazakhstan to Khartoum to Hong Kong, protests brought internet shutdowns and online attacks this week.
In Hong Kong, authorities arrest the administrator of a Telegram protest group—and force him to hand over a list of its members
A list of members of the group-- which numbers between 20,000 and 30,000 people--, as well as all the messages exchanged in the secure chat, have been exposed to the...
13 June 2019
The Ivan Golunov phenomenon: a brief moment of solidarity and euphoria in Putin’s Russia
Many are calling for more action to punish law enforcement forces that fabricated the case.
11 June 2019
In Tanzania, advocates pressure police to investigate ‘teleza’ rapes and robberies
Women in Kigoma, Tanzania, say armed men have terrorized their communities for years, but little has been done to investigate, arrest or prosecute — until now.
Arrest of investigative journalist Ivan Golunov marks turning point in Russian society
Golunov's arrest has galvanized a rare show of support from all sides of the Russian political spectrum.
5 June 2019
Tiananmen commemorations: an inconvenient truth for Beijing, a dire warning for Hong Kong and Taiwan
As many witnesses and activists asked: when will Beijing finally acknowledge historical facts? When will it apologize to the families of the victims?
26 May 2019
China arrests filmmaker for retweeting an image of a liquor bottle referencing Tiananmen Massacre
The bottle label carries the image of "Tank Man" with the description "Never forget, never give up".
How Chinese tech workers are organizing the online #996 labor movement, despite risks of censorship
In contrast to other social movements and memes on the Chinese internet, #996 has taken shape largely on GitHub.
24 May 2019
Journalists, YouTubers, and politicians join forces in Colombia against the killings of social leaders
Social media influencers are trying to draw attention to the struggle of leaders in rural areas to those in connected urban spaces.
23 May 2019
20 May 2019
The beauty of Afro-Peruvian women through Ayleen Díaz's illustrations
"By drawing different body types and different hair textures, I want people to learn how everything is beautiful."
17 May 2019
Netizen Report: Amid WhatsApp attacks, advocates launch legal challenge against Israeli malware maker
Spyware makers exploit a security flaw in WhatsApp, Singapore bans false information and Somalia plans to shut down social media during school exams.
