Stories about Freedom of Speech from November, 2016
Alipay’s New App Abuses Personal Data and Reinforces China's Class Divisions, Critics Say
"Even if the company needs to expand into social media, it should use a better means rather than being so shameless."
Internet Freedom Declines in Russia and Ukraine, Improves in Belarus
Russia, Belarus and the Central Asian states were all rated "not free" in Freedom House's 2016 "Freedom on the Web" report.
Bold Film About an Indian Woman's Sexual Awakening Accused of Pardoning Pedophilia
"In a country where women and kids are often subjected to violent crimes, this normalization of an aggressive act becomes even more problematic."
Complaint of Moldy Buns Triggers Wave of Harassment at Chinese University
A students was forced to make a public apology after accusing his school cafeteria of selling moldy buns. He has now left Weibo, after receiving a flood of harassing comments.
Lebanese Prime Minister Hariri Bans Photojournalist for this ‘Unofficial’ Photo
Hussein Baydoun was barred from photographing the PM after this image was published. Photographs he took during last year's ‘you stink’ protests against government corruption were featured in numerous outlets.
Leader of Malaysia's Anti-Corruption Movement ‘Bersih’ Arrested Under Anti-Terror Law
"Is this the type of country that we Malaysians want to live in, where corruption runs amok, elections are rigged and innocents are placed behind bars?"
Love Trumps Hate: The Week That Was at Global Voices Podcast
This week we start in the US, where Omar Mohamad narrates his piece "America I used to love you", and then we take you to Cuba, Syria, and Taiwan.
Brazil Superior Court Rules in Google's Favor, Against ‘Right to Be Forgotten’
The court ruled that forcing search engines to adjudicate removal requests would give too much responsibility to search engines, effectively making them into digital censors.
A Venezuelan Cartoonist Forced Into Exile Still Draws the Repression Back Home
For nearly 20 years, Rayma Suprani's political cartoons were a must-see for Venezuela's chattering classes. But the Maduro government didn't like them and forced her into exile.
Despite Suppression, Founder of Prize-winning Chinese Citizen Journalism Website Remains Optimistic
This post was written by Catherine Lai and originally published on Hong Kong Free Press on November 12, 2016. The version below is published on Global Voices under a partnership agreement. Despite the continued detention of his reporters and having been imprisoned twice, the founder of the citizen news site...
Netizen Report: Trump Win Triggers Safety and Surveillance Fears
US activists weather wave of post-election social media harassment, Ethiopia blocks Global Voices, and the UK finally passes the much-maligned Snoopers Charter.
Sleeping or Dead – Part 3: Thought is the Crime
"Even if they don’t torture you, the mere act of waiting does. Have they forgotten us? Are we going to stay in here forever? Why haven’t they called us today?"
Omani Film Critic Sentenced to Jail Over Facebook Posts
"As long as there is a human being exploiting a human being, there are revolutionary dreams, and dreams make the future."
Cameroonian Government Launches Campaign Against Social Media, Calls It “A New Form of Terrorism”
The government of Cameroon considers social media “a new form of terrorism.”
Ethiopian Authorities Arrest Zone9 Blogger Befeqadu Hailu Citing ‘State of Emergency’
Hailu was told that his arrest was prompted by the interview he gave for Voice of America's Amharic Service about Ethiopia's state of emergency.
Two Slain Youth Become Tragic Symbols of Ongoing Police Brutality in Sri Lanka
This post by Raisa Wickrematunge originally appeared on Groundviews, an award-winning citizen journalism website in Sri Lanka. An edited version is published below as part of a content-sharing agreement with Global Voices. On Monday October 24 and Tuesday October 25, 2016, Police Inspector General Pujith Jayasundera’s mobile number, given out...
Braving Crackdowns by India, These Young Kashmiri Volunteers Keep Neighbourhoods Safe
In the past three months, the Jammu and Kashmir police and the Reserve Police have arrested around 7,000 people in the Kashmir Valley often at the dead of the night.
Sleeping or Dead – Part 2: Aghiad's Blue Jacket
"He pulls the chain till we are hanging by our hands, toes barely touching the ground. You’re mid-way between sky and earth, presented as a sacrifice of blood."
A French Videographer is Detained, Highlighting France's Odd Use of ‘State of Emergency’
Gaspard Glantz, Taranis News site creator and video reporter focusing on protest movements in France is facing legal challenges that constraint his work.
Slovenians Are More Interested in Melania Trump's Local Lawyer Than Stories About Her Past
Melania Trump recently filed defamation lawsuits against several people, and her choice of local Slovenian lawyer has raised some eyebrows in liberal circles.
Chinese Activist Who Wore ‘Xitler’ T-Shirt Goes Missing in Detention
"He’s one of a very small number of young Chinese who have been outspoken in criticising the Chinese government on Twitter using their real names."
