I am a writer, activist, researcher, and blogger. I serve as Director of International Freedom of Expression at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and write for several platforms, including Al Jazeera English and The Guardian.
Latest posts by Jillian C. York
Syria: Protesters Demolish Symbols of Regime
In Syria, the faces of President Bashar al-Assad and his father, former President Hafez al-Assad, are regularly seen on billboards, buildings, and in the form of statues. Visitors to the country are often surprised by the prevalence of such images, while Syrians have grown used to them as a daily feature of life. Yesterday, a number of videos surfaced in which protesters tear down the symbols of the regime: posters and statues of the ruling family.
Syria: Citizen Videos Show Horror in Daraa
As the crackdown on protests in Daraa continues and reports pour in of more deaths, citizen reporters in the town are capturing video and uploading it to YouTube, which was only recently unblocked in Syria. The videos in this post show the extent of the violent crackdown in Daraa.
Morocco: The Winds of Change
For the past month, Moroccans have taken to the streets to call for a reform of the constitution and for the establishment of a democratic parliamentary system. On March 20, 2011, the peaceful protests, which took place in cities both large and small, continued, inspiring bloggers in Morocco and the Diaspora to share their thoughts.
Syria: Protests for Release of Political Prisoners, 38 Detained
On March 15, following a "day of rage" in Syria, a group of around 150 protesters gathered outside of the Interior Ministry in Damascus, demanding the release of political prisoners. So far, at least 38 have been detained.
Arab World: How Much Does Internet Access Matter?
Amidst the ongoing debate of the role of social media in revolutions across the Middle East and North Africa lies another question: To what degree does Internet access matter in determining the role of the Internet and social media in these revolts? Jillian C. York looks at different ideas about the effects of Internet penetration on the effectiveness of social media organizing.
USA: Twittersphere Debates Kristof Column on Islam
A column by New York Times writer Nicholas Kristof riled the Twittersphere today. In the column, Kristof asks if Islam is the reason for stagnation in the Middle East and North Africa. Readers take issue with his characterizations of the region.
Morocco: Casablanca Protest Draws Thousands
Protests in Casablanca's Mohammed V square today drew thousands of Moroccans, as evidenced by the many photos and videos being posted online. Participants in the demonstration are demanding government reform and an end to corruption.
Qatar: A Blogger Detained, Incommunicado
In what appears to be Qatar's first known arrest of a blogger, Amnesty International has reported the detention of Sultan Al-Khalifi, a human rights activist.
Morocco: Fadoua Laroui, our own Mohamed Bouazizi
When young Mohammed Bouazizi set himself on fire in the town of Sidi Bouzid, he couldn't have imagined the chain of events his act would set off. Now, in Morocco, the self-immolation of a young woman, Fadoua Laroui, has Moroccan bloggers debating the cause and effect of such an action.
Arab World: The Great Social Media Debate
For months it seems, a debate has been raging over the role of social media in demonstrations. More recently, that debate has focused on Tunisia and Egypt, where sites like Facebook and Twitter were prominent in the organizing of protests. Here's one element of that debate, from Twitter.
Morocco: Portraits of a Protest
Few captured the February 20, 2011 protests in Morocco as beautifully as Omar El Hyani, whose photos from Rabat were linked to by The Nation and posted on the blog Mamfakinch. Here we pick a selection of the best images.
Morocco: Explaining the Protests
Yesterday marked what many called Morocco's “Day of Dignity," with protests across the country. Bloggers explain why some Moroccans have taken to the streets.
Libya: Amidst Spotty Internet, Some Send Missives
Just twelve hours after a disappointing speech from Muammar Gaddafi's son, Libyans are still going strong, and continue to protest. With both phone service and the Internet in flux, many are sending out missives when they can.
Morocco: In Marrakech, Destruction Amidst Peaceful Protest
Across Morocco, peaceful protests have emerged today, with thousands taking to the streets from Tangier to Fes. In the southern city of Marrakech, however, reports that the protests have turned into chaos emerged this afternoon, with claims of vandalism and attempts by protesters to storm police headquarters.
Morocco: Across the Nation, Demonstration
In the broader context of the Arab world, Morocco has one particularly unique feature: Whereas other countries in the region often have two cities of importance, Morocco has six...at least. Jillian C. York reports on online activity from Morocco's most important hubs.
Morocco: “I am Moroccan, and I Will Take Part”
February 20 has been named the day of a "Movement for Dignity" in Morocco. Though Moroccans are torn on the subject of the protests, some have taken to YouTube to express their desires for their country.
Egypt: Cleaning Tahrir
For the past few weeks, as Egyptians "cleaned" their country of a dictatorship, Tahrir Square was full of people, full of joy, and as a result, full of things to clean up. Today, Egyptians share the news that the square is fully cleaned, and better than when they found it.
Egypt: Our Hero, Wael Ghonim
For days, Egyptians have searched far and wide for Google executive Wael Ghonim, who went missing on January 27. Today, he was released from state custody, and spoke about his plight.
Egypt: Dreaming of a Better Tomorrow
As demonstrations in Egypt enter their twelfth day, some are becoming discouraged, but still others have kept high hopes for a positive outcome. In this post, we share Egyptian dreams.
Bahrain: Valentine's Day or a Day of Anger?
In Bahrain, both online and off, residents have expressed solidarity with Egyptians, even holding a protest at the Egyptian embassy on February 4. Though the rally was largely a solidarity action, for Bahrain's own opposition, the protest--which was sanctioned with a permit by the government--was an opportunity to vent their own concerns.
Egypt: Tahrir Square Calm Once Again
After two days of violence from pro-Mubarak forces, February 4 brought a new sense of calm to Tahrir Square. Though the day did not end in a Mubarak departure, protesters were rejuvenated by the new atmosphere.
