Stories about Freedom of Speech from September, 2014
Twitter Users Proclaim the Death of Indonesia's Democracy as Lawmakers Scrap Direct Voting of Regional Assemblies
The Twitter hashtags #RIPDemokrasi and #ShameOnYouSBY were trending as Indonesians expressed displeasure over the vote and against outgoing president SBY.
Laos Joins Southeast Asian Neighbors in Imposing Stricter Internet Controls
The new law will criminalize online criticism of government policies and outlaw "Spreading information that distorts truth or tarnishes the dignity and rights of individuals, sectors, institutions and organizations."
Here's Why Mail.Ru's Complete Control Over VKontakte Is Bad News
Russia’s Internet group Mail.ru has acquired the remaining stake in VKontakte, and is now the sole owner of the biggest social network in the country.
#WithSyria Wants to End the Indiscriminate Bombing of Syrian Civilians
#withSyria campaign wants the world leaders to hear and act through 100K signatures to effectively stop the indiscriminate attacks of Syrians civilians. Help us by spreading the word.
How Russia’s Anti-Profanity Law Is Affecting Independent Filmmakers
Russian filmmakers are still grappling with how the anti-profanity law will affect their work and Russian culture at large.
Images of Horror: Who Decides What We See Online?
In a "cameras everywhere" world, we must pay close attention to the decisions platforms like YouTube that are often responsible for deciding what we see -- and what we don't.
CPJ Calls on Obama to Defend the Right to Report in the Digital Age
With more and more world governments targeting journalists with communications surveillance, the Committee to Protect Journalists is asking the Obama administration to clean up its act.
Macedonian Media Stonewalls Popular Hip-Hop Artist's Pro-Freedom Song
Popular Macedonian hip-hop artist has seen his career come to a near stop after releasing a song and music video that discusses freedom of speech issues in Macedonia.
Iranian Judiciary Sets 1-Month Deadline to Block Viber
Iranian judiciary has set a one-month deadline for Hassan Rohani's government to block or to control messaging applications Viber, WhatsApp and TangoMe. Iran judiciary sets 1-month deadline for communications ministry to block messaging apps @Viber, @WhatsApp & @TangoMe — Sobhan Hassanvand (@Hassanvand) September 20, 2014
Threats to Press Freedom in the Fight Against Ebola in Liberia
The Press Union of Liberia is concerned about the threat to freedom of information as a result of the actions taken by the government to limit the expansion of the Ebola virus. The union wrote a letter to the Minister of Justice to draw his attention to the challenges media...
Ice Bucket Challenge, Meet Ukraine's ‘Blood Bucket’ Challenge
A group of European youths are raising awareness of the conflict in Ukraine with a gory twist on the infamous Ice Bucket Challenge. The buckets are filled with metaphorical blood.
Right to Be Forgotten: A Win for Argentina's Lawsuit-Happy Celebrities?
What kind of information is in the public interest? Is it possible (or desirable) to define this? Free expression attorney Ramiro Alvarez examines this question in the context of Argentina.
The Internet Helps Double Russia's Number of Extremism Cases
The number of criminal cases opened on extremism charges in Russia doubled during 2014, and the Internet is responsible for the growth, as more political activity and activism happen online.
Criticizing the Government Could Get You Arrested in Malaysia. Is it Time to Repeal the Sedition Act?
The law was passed in 1948 and it has been used ever since to harass the opposition
Was a Popular Saint Lucia Blog Taken Down by Google Hateful or Just Outspoken?
The no-holds-barred, muckraking blog had become both notorious and controversial among people interested in local politics -- and then it was blocked, without warning.
Take a Musical Tour of Latin America's Talented Subway Performers
Some cities ban them, but the musicians found in the subways of Buenos Aires, Quito, Caracas, and Mexico City liven up an otherwise dull commute on public transportation.
Egyptian Blogger Alaa Abd El Fattah Released on Bail
Prominent Egyptian activist and blogger Alaa Abd El Fattah was released on bail today but the road to justice is a long and bumpy one, says netizens.
Right to Be Forgotten: With Free Expression Under Threat, Europe Needs a ‘Marco Civil Moment’
In the second installment in our "right to be forgotten" series, Felix Treguer explains how the new EU rules affect corporations like Google -- and their impact on the public.
Russia Cracks Down on Internet Free Speech, Except When It's ISIS
The Internet army of the "Islamic State," having lost some of its battles in the West, is now allegedly recruiting and fundraising on the Russian social network VKontakte.
China's New Regulations on Instant Messaging Tools Explained
Hu Yong, associate professor at Peking University’s School of Journalism and Communication, explained the issue at stake regarding China's latest regulations on instant messaging tools on Chinafile. The regulations forbidden public account holders, except from registered media organizations accounts, to republish articles on current events. The result is a highly...
The Iranian Government Is Blocking Unregistered News Sites
Iranian news sites that do comply with registration requirements will receive a government subsidy.
