Asia/Pacific
Azerbaijan: Coalition submission to the UN Universal Periodic Review
The International Partnership Group for Azerbaijan – of which APC is a member – has made a coalition submission to the UN Universal Periodic Review of Azerbaijan. The report, for which APC has contributed its expertise on “restrictions on freedom of expression online” is for consideration at the 16th session of the UN Human Rights Council’s working group in April/May 2013.
Attack on Pakistani youth activist will not shake women's rights activists
Women’s rights and tech activist Nighat Dad writes about the Taliban attack on 14-year old activist Malala Yousafzai, a young girl whom she had the privilege of working with and who has inspired her own work.
Philippines : Supreme Court to rule on controversial Cybercrime Prevention Act
On October 9, the Supreme Court of the Philippines will decide on the constitutionality of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. This cyberlaw has been contested from day one, after internet activists had pointed to truly problematic provisions incompatible with internet rights.
Focus on internet and human rights in Azerbaijan: Interview with Vugar Gojayev
Since the outbreak of the Arab Spring in 2011, government has shown much desire to regulate the internet. The uprising in the Guba district in March 2012 has shown the pivotal role that social media can play in Azerbaijani political life, Vugar Gojayev told APCNews, in an interview for the forthcoming Global Information Society Watch report.
Focus on internet and human rights in Pakistan: Interview with Bytes for All
The media in Pakistan has been tardy to address threats to internet freedom – especially Urdu media. There is little to no coverage of internet rights violations and censorship the electronic media, Bytes for All told APCNews about in an interview for the forthcoming Global Information Society Watch report.
Pakistan: Bloggers and journalists to duck digital threats
“Pakistan is among the world’s most dangerous places for journalists,” reads a report recently produced and published by Bytes For All, Pakistan. Based on a research survey commissioned by Internews, the report takes a hard look at the awareness Pakistani journalists and bloggers have of their own digital security.
Victory for freedom of expression in South Korea
On the 23rd of August 2012, South Korean digital rights organisation Jinbonet won a long struggle. For the last five years, the APC member group fought an internet real name system regulation, ruled unconstitutional by the country’s highest court.
New guide: Digital Security and Journalists: A Snapshot of Awareness and Practice in Pakistan
B4A Pakistan has recently published new research on “Digital Security and Journalists: A Snapshot of Awareness and Practice in Pakistan”, which aims to help journalists and bloggers – especially women – better understand the dangers online, and provides them with tools to communicate online in a secure way.
Locking up cyberspace for minorities in Pakistan
Since 2007, freedom of expression on the internet has been compromised in Pakistan. The authorities started with blocking blasphemous content, went on to national security issues, then religious morality, and they are now targeting online content pertaining to minorities.
Open Letter: Google in Pakistan - Local and global civil society raises eyebrows
The Association for Progressive Communications and its member group in Pakistan, Bytes For All, is deeply concerned about Google’s latest business trip to Pakistan. Here are a few questions on Google’s planned policy on data retention and collection.
