Stories about Freedom of Speech from December, 2013
Dozens Detained on Human Rights Day in Cuba
Bloggers, punk rockers, intellectuals, dissidents, and a pair of Argentine tourists were all detained in Cuba last week, just in time for international Human Rights Day.
Cuba: Madiba Was Great, But Not Perfect
Cuban blog Without Evasion says the best way in which she can pay tribute to Nelson Mandela is by “imitating him in forgiveness and reconciliation”: I forgive you…for the friendship with…the vilest dictator my people has ever had…for placing your hand –redemptive for your people- on the bloodied shoulders of...
New Website Collects Reports and Data About Bribes in Hungary
Hungary, like many other countries in the region, has an on-going corruption problem on almost every level of governance. A new project created by investigative website Átlátszó.hu and Transparency International, Fizettem.hu, has taken on the task of collecting reports from citizens about cases of bribery and corruption in the country....
Ukraine: Live Streamed Monitoring of District Election Commissions
Amidst ongoing Euromaidan rallies throughout Ukraine, repeat elections have been held in five troubled single-mandate constituencies in the country, where results could not be confirmed during the 2012 Parliamentary election. In order to increase the transaprency of the electoral process, a non-government organization, Civil Network OPORA [uk, en] is preparing...
Russia's Government Might Block Websites for Calls to Unsanctioned Rallies
The Russian parliament will soon vote on a law that would empower the Prosecutor General’s office to close any website that hosts content encouraging people to attend unsanctioned rallies.
Global Voices Meetup in Porto: Journalism, Citizenship and New Media
Journalists, amateur media practitioners, citizens and organisations dedicated to independent projects of online communication will meet in Porto on 14 December 2013 at the invite of Global Voices.
Syrian Cartoonist Akram Raslan Reportedly Killed by Regime
Uncertainty continues over the fate of Syrian cartoonist Akram Raslan, winner of the Award for Courage in Editorial Cartooning for 2013, arrested in October 2012 by the Assad regime.
Infographics on China CCTV's News Simulcast
China Digital Times translated a censored infographics that tells the history, characteristics and public opinions on China Central Television's flagship news program, Xinwen Lianbo (News Simulcast).
The Caucasus Network: Personable Blogger, Svetlana Anokhina
Svetlana Anokhina—a 50-year-old journalist, writer, and community manager from Makhachkala, Dagestan—is as personable and undoubtedly real as netizens get.
Non-Violent Activist Razan Zaitouneh and her Team Kidnapped in Syria
Four activists, among them internationally acclaimed non-violent activist Razan Zaitouneh, from Syria's Violations Documentation Center (VDC) were kidnapped by unidentified masked gunmen, sparking a call for their immediate release.
The Caucasus Network: Dagestan Blogger Rasul Kadiev
Rasul Kadiev is a lawyer, born and raised in Makhachkala, Dagestan. Constantly among the region’s top five bloggers, he writes in Russian and uses LiveJournal.
Russian State News Agency Gets a Loyalist Upgrade
One of Russia's best known news agencies, RIA Novosti, won't survive the winter. Employees of the state-owned international news agency awoke to discover a new presidential order "liquidating" their organization.
The Caucasus Network: Grozny Blogger, Ali Suleymanov
A 28-year-old Chechnya native, Ali Suleymanov, "Archidesigner," spent most of his adulthood in the Moscow region, where he studied and later worked as exterior designer.
The Caucasus Network: Special Forces Blogger, Hard Ingush
Based in Ingushetia, Hard Ingush claims to be an officer in the Special Forces. In the last couple of years, he has led the North Caucasus’ blogosphere.
The Man Who Helped Reveal South Korea's Election Manipulation Online
South Korean government agencies sent out more than 24 million tweets last year to manipulate public opinion during the presidential elections. An ordinary net user made this revelation possible.
Ecuadorian Government Shuts Down Environmental NGO Pachamama
The Ecuadorian government ordered the closure of the NGO Fundación Pachamama, dedicated to the defense of Ecuador's Amazon rainforest, alleging that the it was "affecting the public peace".
‘How Many Burning Bodies Will Satisfy Them?': Political Violence in Bangladesh
A spate of politically motivated violence against buses and trucks in Bangladesh has left several people dead and the rest of the country fearful to go about their lives.
“Lantern” Helps China's Web Users Dodge Censors Through Trusted Friends
A new circumvention software called Lantern has been launched in recent months. By inviting friends into a network, users can share their Internet connection within a trusted network.
BBC, Guardian, Play Cricket With Facts: The Real Tendulkar-Taliban Story
The Taliban say they did not give a warning against praising Indian cricketer Tendulkar and are upset that they have been misquoted so far and wide since November 28, 2013.
