Stories from 16 December 2016
Social Media Sites Blocked in Kazakhstan on 25th Anniversary of Independence
Activists reported that Facebook, YouTube, and other social media websites were inaccessible in Kazakhstan on Friday, the 25th anniversary of the country's independence from the Soviet Union.
#FreeMaxenceMelo: Authorities Charge Tanzanian Whistleblowing Website Owner Under Cybercrimes Law
"Mentioning 'Tanzania' and 'democracy' in the same sentence amounts to subjecting the term 'democracy' to ridicule."
Student Leaders Spark Hope for Change on Iran’s National Student Day
"Iran’s civil society and student movements remain a ray of hope, and indeed pride, for a nation that continues to struggle for change."
Netizen Report: Discussion Platform Founder Arrested in Tanzania
Global Voices Advocacy's Netizen Report offers an international snapshot of challenges, victories, and emerging trends in Internet rights around the world.
Controversial Trinidad Carnival Fete Frustrates Fans Seeking Fun
The organisers of Soaka 2017 may have thought they were being Internet-savvy by asking patrons to go through a five-step ticketing process, but it struck some as elitist and discriminatory.
2016 Was the Caribbean's Year of Loss
For bloggers in the Caribbean, “2016” has nearly become an obscenity. Adjectives now used to describe this "annus horribilis" include "sucky", "terrible" and "the worst".
Lebanon Deports Prominent Unionist, Testing Migrant Workers’ Resolve
Law enforcement officers in Lebanon are cracking down on unionists committed to organizing the country's migrant workers, and labor activists find themselves squeezed and left with few options.
Taiwanese Wonder If They're Just a Chip for Donald Trump in Negotiating With China
"What Trump is doing now might be a maneuver...He tries to make China nervous by befriending Taiwan, and then he can get a better deal with China."
