Stories about Freedom of Speech from May, 2014
Censors On, China Still Doesn't Want Anyone Talking About Tiananmen Square
Estimates of the death toll from June 4, 1989 range from a few hundred to the thousands. The Chinese government has prohibited all forms of discussion online or offline since.
Russian Internet Users, Putin is After Your Digital Wallets
The offices of Yandex.Money, the popular online payments system associated with Russia's largest search engine, were searched by Russia's Investigative Committee.
Police in Macedonia Strong-Arm Journalists Into Erasing Riot Arrest Footage
The riots, sparked by the murder of a 19-year-old, created tension between ethnic Albanian and Macedonian populations of the capital city Skopje.
Rwanda: The Good, the Bad and the Hopeful
Although Rwanda has made great strides in recovering from the 1994 genocide, advocacy groups continue to report human rights violations.
Shooting the Messenger: Jamaica's Brendan Bain Controversy Continues
The controversy over Jamaican Professor Brendan Bain's court testimony in the Caleb Orozco case in Belize continues. Everyone's talking, but is anyone listening? A few bloggers peel away the layers.
China Puts Squeeze on WeChat and Other Messaging Apps
China cracks down on instant messaging platforms including the WeChat messaging application ahead of the 25th anniversary of pro-democracy protests in Tiananmen.
The Legalisation of Political Repression in Ethiopia
Beza Tesfaye describes how the Ethiopian government legalises political repression in the country: It has been one month since the latest round of repression against government critics in Ethiopia began. Last weekend, the Zone9 bloggers and three journalists who were arrested in late April appeared in court. To date, very...
China's Censors Become Busier Before Tiananmen Anniversary
Index on censorship magazine details China's yearly Tiananmen anniversary crackdown: slower internet, blocked search terms, more military personnel in public and the arrest of high profile individuals. Author Francine Stone from Index thinks “this year’s crackdown appears particularly thorough, either a reaction to dissent being higher than usual or a perception...
Another Singer Arrested in China for Praising Tibetan Identity and Culture
Following Tibetan singer Gepe's arrest in China, here's a roundup of similar arrests along with some of their music videos from YouTube.
Podcast: History of the Internet in China
Sinaca Podcast discusses how the Internet has grown and changed China with three guests who have experienced the worst and the best of the Chinese Internet: Duncan Clark from BDA China, Gady Epstein from The Economist, and Bill Bishop, the author of the Sinocism newsletter.
Thai Coup Selfies: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
There is reason to be less worried as long as we see Thai coup selfies on our timelines. Coup selfies provided the latest information about the political situation in Thailand.
“Why Edward Snowden Wishes He'd Sought Asylum in Poland”
Edward Snowden's name echoes once again through an irreverent advertising campaign.
Serbian Bloggers Censored for Criticizing Flood Relief Efforts
Bloggers, journalists and rights-conscious Internet users have flooded the Serbian web with republications of a blog post condemning the government for stifling free expression during the country's state of emergency.
Syrian Dark Humor and the Elections
It is no surprise to see Bashar al-Assad nominate himself for the Syrian presidency in the upcoming elections on June 3. Syria Untold checks out what cartoonists have to say.
Internet Policy In India – Which Way?
The newly elected Bharatya Janata Party headed by Narendra Modi is expected to implement policies and regulatory reforms that will augment economic growth in India. Avantika Banerjee at India Law and Technology blog opines that there is a strong correlation between economic growth and internet access/internet freedom and the expected...
PHOTOS: Hundreds Join Anti-Coup Protests in Thailand
Hundreds joined the 'Stop the Coup' gathering to challenge the military rule in Thailand. Anti-coup sentiments are also growing online.
Why the Press Needs Protection in Trinidad & Tobago
An investigative journalist testifies that his life was threatened. One Trinidad and Tobago-based blogger discusses how this troubling development challenges citizens' social contract with their democracy.
Were Jamaican Professor's Statements Supportive of Anti-Homosexuality Laws?
Esteemed medical professor Brendan Bain was sacked from the University of the West Indies over court testimony in which he suggested that homosexuality can be a danger to public health.
Yoani Sánchez's New Online Magazine is Blocked in Cuba
When residents of Cuba look for the URL www.14ymedio.com, they are redirected to a site that says "Yoani$landia.com."
The “Happy” Video That Got Six Young People Sent to Jail
They were jailed and forced to confess on national television that they were tricked into the making of a "Happy" video in Tehran.
Free Speech Curtailed as Thailand Declares Martial Law
After controlling the newsroom of 14 TV stations, the Thai army has closed down 2,000 radio stations across the country. Army insists martial law is not a coup.
