Posts tagged Reporters Without Borders

The Battle Over Online Freedom Continues The clash between citizens and governments over online freedom of expression is growing, according to a new report by Reporters Without Borders. Called Beset by Online Surveillance and Content Filtering, Netizens Fight On, the study explores how both authoritarian and democratic governments attempt to control online activity. To do so, the authors label a number of countries such as Syria, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Bahrain, Iran and Turkmenistan among others as “Enemies of the Internet”; and say countries such as Australia, France, Egypt, Eritrea and India among others are “Countries Under Surveillance.” Through this lens, the report’s authors declare, “More than ever before, online freedom of expression is now a major foreign and domestic policy issue,” and outline how: Internet and mobile phone shutdowns are occurring more frequently Content filtering is increasing Content removal is increasing Pressure on Internet Service Providers and Web site owners to police content is increasing Surveillance is more effective and more intrusive Government propaganda is increasing Cyber attacks are increasing Arrests, raids and roundups are increasing While not a pretty picture for online freedoms the report does include examples of how citizens are fighting back. For example: In order to combat increasingly competent censors, self-styled “hacktivists” have been giving technical assistance to vulnerable netizens to help them share information in the face of pervasive censorship. The campaigns on behalf of the Egyptian blogger Maikel Nabil Sanad and Syria’s Razan Ghazzawi have transcended international borders. The hashtag #OpSyria, started by Telecomix – a decentralised network of net activists committed to freedom of expression – has allowed Syrians to broadcast videos of the crackdown. An overview of the report can be found here. The full report is available here (PDF). Image: Wordcloud of Beset by Online Surveillance and Content Filtering, Netizens Fight On. Created with Wordle.

The Battle Over Online Freedom Continues

The clash between citizens and governments over online freedom of expression is growing, according to a new report by Reporters Without Borders.

Called Beset by Online Surveillance and Content Filtering, Netizens Fight On, the study explores how both authoritarian and democratic governments attempt to control online activity. To do so, the authors label a number of countries such as Syria, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Bahrain, Iran and Turkmenistan among others as “Enemies of the Internet”; and say countries such as Australia, France, Egypt, Eritrea and India among others are “Countries Under Surveillance.”

Through this lens, the report’s authors declare, “More than ever before, online freedom of expression is now a major foreign and domestic policy issue,” and outline how:

  • Internet and mobile phone shutdowns are occurring more frequently
  • Content filtering is increasing
  • Content removal is increasing
  • Pressure on Internet Service Providers and Web site owners to police content is increasing
  • Surveillance is more effective and more intrusive
  • Government propaganda is increasing
  • Cyber attacks are increasing
  • Arrests, raids and roundups are increasing

While not a pretty picture for online freedoms the report does include examples of how citizens are fighting back. For example:

In order to combat increasingly competent censors, self-styled “hacktivists” have been giving technical assistance to vulnerable netizens to help them share information in the face of pervasive censorship. The campaigns on behalf of the Egyptian blogger Maikel Nabil Sanad and Syria’s Razan Ghazzawi have transcended international borders. The hashtag #OpSyria, started by Telecomix – a decentralised network of net activists committed to freedom of expression – has allowed Syrians to broadcast videos of the crackdown.

An overview of the report can be found here. The full report is available here (PDF).

Image: Wordcloud of Beset by Online Surveillance and Content Filtering, Netizens Fight On. Created with Wordle.

The US ranks 47 on Reporters Without Borders’ World Press Freedom Index Coming in at the top two spots are Finland and Norway. Coming just before the US: Tawain, Comoros and South Korea. Just after: Argentina, Romania and Latvia. Via Reporters Without Borders: The United States (47th) also owed its fall of 27 places to the many arrests of journalist covering Occupy Wall Street protests.

The US ranks 47 on Reporters Without Borders’ World Press Freedom Index

Coming in at the top two spots are Finland and Norway.

Coming just before the US: Tawain, Comoros and South Korea.

Just after: Argentina, Romania and Latvia.

Via Reporters Without Borders:

The United States (47th) also owed its fall of 27 places to the many arrests of journalist covering Occupy Wall Street protests.

There was no justification for preventing journalists from covering a political event of this importance. It was their job to cover it. The media should not have to pay the price of the government’s paranoia. The judicial authorities should immediately release the journalists and bloggers still in police custody.

Reporters Without Borders criticizing Occupy Wall Street coverage arrests? 

No, Reporters Without Borders criticizing Russian election coverage arrests.

beatlegirlkatrinalawliet

Fifty-seven journalists killed in 2010

Fewer journalists were killed in 2010 than the previous year but more were kidnapped, Reporters Without Borders said in its annual report.

Via nightline: Vivid Reporters Without Borders awareness campaign. via copyranter Nice work. Here’s a Reporters without Borders PSA we worked on.

Via nightline:

Vivid Reporters Without Borders awareness campaign.

via copyranter

Nice work. Here’s a Reporters without Borders PSA we worked on.

nightline