Stories about Freedom of Speech from February, 2014
It's Music Freedom Day on March 3!
19 musicians killed, and 7 abducted. 18 music creators imprisoned. These are just some of the reported cases of injustice against musicians recorded by the human rights organization Freemuse in 2013. On March 3, the annual Music Freedom Day will draw attention to the rights to free expression of musicians...
Brazilian Activist's Video Satire Censored After Globo TV Claims Copyright
"The video that Globo doesn't wan't you to see", in which activist Rafucko exposes Globo's biased broadcast about demonstrations in Brazil.
Mozambican Tech Woman Talks Local Impact of Social Networks
Mozambican activist Ludmila Maguni talks about the impact that social networks are having on Mozambican society hoping that the Internet in her country becomes more of a bridge between citizens and the government.
Tajik Court Fines Journalist for Calling Docile Intellectuals ‘Shit’
A journalist who quoted Vladimir Lenin in criticizing state-appointed, docile intellectuals in Tajikistan has been ordered by court to pay over 6,000 US dollars in "moral damage".
From Kiev to Moscow: Russia's Tired Protest Antics
As a futile gesture of defiance Russian protesters brought several tires to a Moscow protest against political prisoners.
10 Reasons Why I Do Not Want Shariah In Pakistan
One of the Taliban negotiators pulled out during a recent talk with the Pakistan government demanding that the agenda includes the strict imposition of Sharia law. Pakistani Blogger and Journalist Beena Sarwar highlights a protest note posted in Facebook titled '10 reasons why I do not want Shariah in Pakistan’...
The Venezuela I'll Always Remember
Peruvian Gabriela Garcia Calderón remembers the Venezuela of the 1990s, a very different country from the one appearing in the news headlines of late.
Big, Bad Bullies of the Russian Media
Last week, popular journalist Vladimir Solovyov dedicated an entire radio show to dissecting and denouncing the Maidan-supportive tweets of a handful of students from Moscow’s Higher School of Economics. Why?
Ukrainian Revolution Rattles Russian Nationalists
Russian nationalists worry Russian-speaking Ukrainians will be "derussified."
Macedonian Court Fines Journalist and Magazine for Quoting Source
Fokus magazine, considered to be the last print edition critical of the Macedonian government, has once again been financially burdened by the government, this time for quoting a source.
Pro-Maidan Video Goes Viral Thanks to Pavel Durov, Russia's Zuckerberg
Given the political climate in Russia now, Durov's willingness to stake such an unabashedly pro-opposition position on the Ukraine crisis is rather astounding.
Ukraine: “A Young Man Died in My Arms” #EuroMaidan
A student in Kyiv, Ukraine tweeted from morning till past midnight on the day of a violent standoff between protesters and police led to as many as 25 deaths and hundreds wounded.
Tunisia: Jailed Facebook User Pardoned, Release Unconfirmed
Jabeur Mejri jailed for posting prophet Muhammad cartoons was pardoned, the president's office announced Wednesday [Feb 19, 2014].
Rumours and ‘Fake’ Photos Prompt Calls for Responsible Social Media in Venezuela
The current crisis in Venezuela has put netizens at the forefront of information dissemination, but not everyone is transparent or responsible in their reporting of events.
The Journalistic Purgatory of Eastern Europe
Central and Eastern European media is less free now than at any point in the past 20 years and the internet is no safe haven either.
Amendments to Brazil's Bill of Rights for Internet Users Jeopardizes Privacy
Recent amendments to Brazil's pioneer bill of rights for Internet users, the “Marco Civil da Internet” (Internet Civil Rights Framework), put net neutrality and users’ privacy at stake. The bill is expected to be voted on by Congress during the last week of February 2014. Activists have launched an online campaign asking for the...
Sudan: Blogger Remains in Detention for Criticizing Presidents
Tajeldin Arja Arja was arrested at a press conference last December, after he criticized the Sudanese and Chadian Presidents for their actions surrounding the conflict in Darfur.
Collecting Data About Possible Web Censorship in Venezuela
Marianne Díaz, lawyer, digital activist and Global Voices Advocacy author, has been making constant appeals from her Twitter account asking users to collaborate on collecting data related to access to some websites and online platforms from Internet service providers in Venezuela, due to growing reports of partial or total blockage...
Algerian Cartoonist Faces 18 Months in Jail for Mocking President
Djamel Ghanem faces prison for an unpublished cartoon that compares Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's possible fourth term to baby diapers.
The Hilarity of Murder Among Russians
Where do you draw the line between a joke and a death threat? That question has been on Russians’ minds this week, after a controversial tweet by blogger Alexey Navalny.
Japan Slides Further Down in World Press Freedom Index
"To put it bluntly, media is even less believable than a politician."
