Stories about Technology from March, 2016
This Russian Website Uses Neural Networks to Combine Images, With Awesome Results
A Russian website based on a neural networks algorithm allows Internet users to combine photos and works of art to create fantastical images.
What's Happening in South African Politics? Just Follow the Hashtag
Learn about eight hashtags that help facilitate political debate and even organize protests in South Africa.
Netizen Report: Ethiopia’s Zone9 Bloggers Go Back to Court
Chinese dissidents’ families torn apart over party controversy, courts in Morocco and Ethiopia drag out trials against advocates, and Russian tech moguls launch a new center for monitoring "information attacks".
Moscow Police Banned From Discussing Work Matters on Social Media
VKontakte, Facebook, Twitter, Telegram and WhatsApp are now officially off limits to Moscow police officers who want to discuss work-related matters or exchange official law enforcement data.
‘There is No Shame in Fear': Confronting Surveillance in Post-Revolution Egypt
"...as so many unjust things become normalized in our daily lives, the act of spreading information and informing others – however difficult – becomes an ever-more vital part of activism."
Center for Monitoring Propaganda and Disinformation Online Set to Open in Russia
Russia already has agencies that oppose and respond to cyberattacks, but the center's creators say it would be the first of its kind, monitoring and preventing information attacks online.
Russian Censors Target Public Wi-Fi Spots in Crusade Against Blocked Websites
Russian censors are now policing public Wi-Fi in places such as cafes, shopping malls or public libraries, to make sure ISPs are blocking access to websites that are officially banned.
#Justice4Morocco: Human Rights Defenders’ Trial Postponed Again
Among those charged is Hicham Khribchi aka Hisham Almiraat, a medical doctor and long-time member of the Global Voices community.
Netizen Report: Congo Shuts Down All Communications on Election Day
Bahrain court slams social media satirist in absentia, circumvention tools take another hit in Russia, and Facebook is off the hate speech hook in Germany (at least for now).
#TrollCabal Redefines Trolling on Nigerian Twitter
#TrollCabal "provides a counter narrative that is non-violent and at the same time humorous," explains member Nwachukwu Egbunike.
The Hidden Cost of Signing Up for Internet in Spain: Your Sanity
Days of waiting for installation turn into weeks. You feel bitter. You feel powerless. You google the word “Kafkaesque”.
Seen Southeast Asia From a Bird’s Eye? Try an Astronaut’s Lens
Southeast Asia’s capital cities are among the most photographed and famous destinations in the world. But what do they look like from space?
Yahoo Reports First Content Removal Requests from the Russian Government
This is the first time Yahoo has reported receiving Russian requests requests to remove user-generated content from services such as Flickr and Yahoo Groups.
Japanese Mapping Project Records Last Movements of 2011 Tsunami Victims
A new online mapping project tracks the last movements of more than a thousand people who perished in the March 2011 tsunami that affected Japan's northeastern Tohoku region.
Russia Plans to Fine Websites for ‘Propaganda’ of Circumvention Tools
The Kremlin is so worried about internet circumvention tools it now seeks to make mere mentions of them illegal and introduce fines for "propaganda" of ways to access blocked websites.
How a Cyber Heist Ended the Career of Bangladesh's Respected Central Bank Governor
"Dr. Atiur has resigned, that's his bold and honest move. But what happened to nabbing the thieves? How was the server hacked? Who was looking after the cybersecurity?"
Netizen Report: Uganda and Nigeria Seek Stricter Controls for Social Media
Thuggery runs rampant in the MENA region, Chile bans spy balloons and Google gears up to expand implementation of the "Right to Be Forgotten."
#WhereisBassel: Imprisoned Syrian Technologist Is Still Missing
Five months ago, Syrian web developer Bassel Khartabil disappeared from a Damascus prison, where he had spent four years since his 2012 arrest. Join supporters and ask: #WhereisBassel?
Between Hashtags and Memes, Bolivian Leaders Push for Social Media Regulation
A draft law that would regulate social media -- with criminal consequences for its violators -- has sparked intense debates among Bolivian citizens.
Uber Is Now Sharing Data With the Moscow Transportation Department
Uber, the popular and contested taxi alternative, is now cooperating with the Moscow authorities and sharing their car movement data with the local transportation agency.
Polarization and Dehumanization: Two Keys to Understanding the Assassination of Honduran Activist Berta Cáceres
Hedme Sierra Castro, a Honduran human rights advocate, shares context on Honduras, a land vulnerable to impunity and abuse of native communities.