Stories about Technology from January, 2016
Journalist Claims Australian Broadcasting Corporation Barred Him From Reporting on National Broadband Network
Journalist Tony Ross claims that he was barred by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation from writing about the controversial National Broadband Network .
Netizen Report: Change is on the Horizon for Iran. But Let’s Not Forget Human Rights.
Protesters in Poland say no to unchecked surveillance, Kuwait tightens laws on critical speech, and an exiled Bangladeshi blogger tells his story.
[TIMELINE] Morocco: Political Repression in the Era of Social Media
Since the mid-2000s, investigative journalists and citizens engaged in political activism online have become regular targets of the Moroccan government. Learn more with this timeline.
Activist-Blogger Hossein Ronaghi Maleki Returns To Jail
While much hope and happiness came with the lifting of nuclear sanctions and the release of Iranian-American prisoners in Iran, a blogger and activist returned to jail.
Why I Went Into Exile: A Bangladeshi Blogger Tells His Story
"...[the assailants] want our keyboards, pens to stop...Now its the time to write even more...Otherwise the darkness will win, religious fundamentalism and extremism will win."
Are You Scanning Me, or Am I Scanning You? The Power Dynamics of China's WeChat
"Our phones have become extensions of our social and physical selves. When these devices touch, it’s an intimate gesture with the ability to convey identity, power, and intention."
Is ISIS Trying To Manipulate the Crypto Debate? Tech Experts Debunk Encrypted Email Video
ISIS releases a new video that aims to play into fears over encrypted communication.
The Air Pollution in Macedonia Is Bringing People Into the Streets, And There’s an App for That
The open data app "My Air" has helped spark massive protests, making Macedonian citizens aware of the results of air-pollution monitoring. Then came the DDoS attacks and government pressure.
Internet Censorship in Pakistan is Not Just About YouTube
If at all, Internet regulation in Pakistan has been based on ad-hoc decisions that are made in the absence of transparency and accountability.
China Is Blocking Circumvention Tools With Help of Cloud Service Providers
Experts estimate that between 1% and 3% of China's internet users are using circumvention tool to visit overseas websites. But this could change with new restrictions.
A Struggling Economy Means New Taxes and Belt-Tightening for the People of Trinidad and Tobago
Finance Minister Imbert says the shift is necessary to rescue the economy from its precarious state, as oil prices continue to plummet. The previous administration's overspending hasn't helped matters, either.
Ukraine Plans Cyber Security Review After ‘Russian’ Attack on Key Airport
A Ukrainian Ministry of Defense spokesman said the recent cyber attack on Boryspil airport in Kyiv had originated from servers in Russia.
Arrrrrr! Putin's New Internet Advisor Tied to Online Piracy
Vladimir Putin's new Internet advisor is known as a hardliner against foreign online resources that break Russian law. Now German Klimenko has been tied to a questionable torrent tracker.
Angkety Map Highlights Digital Resources for Australia's Indigenous Language Revitalization
Angkety map is a new report highlighting digital resources available to Australia's indigenous communities interested in using technology for language preservation and revitalization.
Ukrainian Separatists Block 100+ News Websites in ‘Lugansk People’s Republic’
News websites in the self-proclaimed "Lugansk People's Republic" are being censored as separatist authorities seek to minimize the "destabilizing" influence of the Ukrainian media.
How Sharing Porn Became a Felony in Russia
While ordinary Internet users in Russia today still have no problem finding adult content, police have begun cracking down on individuals who share porn on social media and peer-to-peer networks.
Young Innovator From Somalia's Puntland Builds Vehicles of Hope
"To keep him busy I used to give him some plastic items and ask him to assemble them. I guess that’s how all these wonderful inventions began."
SMS Platform Empowers Small Scale Farmers in Uganda
"Wefarm is a Wikipedia for farmers, or as its founder describes it, 'Internet for people without Internet.'"
A China-Financed Economic Corridor Brings Promise and Discord to Pakistan
Can Pakistan's regions and political parties come to a consensus over who should benefit most from the mega-project? That seems unlikely for the moment.
‘Orwellian Dystopia’ or Trustworthy Nation? Get the Facts on China's Social Credit System
Combining individuals' financial records, online shopping data, social media behaviors and employment history, China will now produce a combined "social credit" score for each citizen.
Russian Hackers Behind Attack on Ukraine's Power Grid, Researchers Claim
US cybersecurity experts claim the December cyber-attack that led to a temporary outage of the power grid in western Ukraine is the work of Russian hacker collective the Sandworm Team.
