Asia

Local Access: Women cultivating community networks
Local Access: Women cultivating community networks 28 July 2022 APCNews

Welcome to the 49th monthly round-up of developments impacting your local access networks and community-based initiatives. In this edition, find out more about women's engagement in community networks in Africa and much more.

The case of selective morality, sexist laws and online censorship in Pakistan
The case of selective morality, sexist laws and online censorship in Pakistan 27 July 2022 Hija Kamran for GenderIT.org

Internet censorship in the name of morality in Pakistan is rampant, and the trend continues to grow as new laws and regulations are introduced. But just a cursory look at this trend reveals that the censorship is not just vague, but also sexist, targeting women's expression and experiences online.

An indignant and idealistic young radio jockey in India empowers herself and others through community radio
An indignant and idealistic young radio jockey in India empowers herself and others through community radio 27 July 2022 Sarbani Banerjee Belur and Saisudha Sugavanam

Discover what the story of 28-year-old Shibani tells us about the women weaving connections and finding self-expression through community radio stations in India.

EngageMedia: Introducing the "Pandemic of Control" series
EngageMedia: Introducing the "Pandemic of Control" series 22 July 2022 Andrew Lowenthal

EngageMedia and CommonEdge invited writers, researchers and changemakers to respond to the growing digital authoritarianism – accelerated by COVID-19 – in the Asia-Pacific. The result is a 10-part series featuring insights from Indonesia, Vietnam, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and Australia.

Universal Periodic Review 41st session – Indonesia: Freedom of expression, freedom of religion and belief, and digital rights
Universal Periodic Review 41st session – Indonesia: Freedom of expression, freedom of religion and belief, and digital rights 11 July 2022 APC, EngageMedia and SAFEnet

This joint civil society submission focuses particularly on digital rights including freedom of expression, the protection of human rights defenders (HRDs), including women human rights defenders, violence against women and misinformation.

Hold the Line Coalition demands immediate decriminalisation of libel in the Philippines as Maria Ressa faces extended jail sentence
Hold the Line Coalition demands immediate decriminalisation of libel in the Philippines as Maria Ressa faces extended jail sentence 08 July 2022 Hold the Line Coalition

APC and other members of the Hold the Line Coalition condemn the Philippine Court of Appeals decision to uphold the conviction of Nobel Laureate Maria Ressa and former Rappler researcher Rey Santos Jr. on trumped-up charges of cyber libel.

Civil society calls on Indian government to withdraw amendments to IT Rules
Civil society calls on Indian government to withdraw amendments to IT Rules 06 July 2022 Various

In this submission, APC and other civil society groups call on the Indian Ministry of Electronics and IT to withdraw the amendments recently proposed to the country's IT Rules and to commence a process of consultation on the proposed amendments.

Local access: Challenges and joys while building a community network mid-pandemic
Local access: Challenges and joys while building a community network mid-pandemic 30 June 2022 APCNews

When the COVID-19 pandemic challenged the whole world, the experience of communities in the rural and remote Ciracap sub-district in West Java, Indonesia, showed the importance and power of building a local response to the crisis. Welcome to the 48th monthly round-up of developments impacting your local access networks and community-based initiatives.

Shutdown order against Rappler must be revoked immediately
Shutdown order against Rappler must be revoked immediately 30 June 2022 Hold the Line Coalition

APC and other members of the Hold the Line Coalition condemn the shutdown order against Maria Ressa's Rappler media group, approved by the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission this week.

Seeding change: Foundation for Media Alternatives challenges rampant surveillance in public health in the Philippines
Seeding change: Foundation for Media Alternatives challenges rampant surveillance in public health in the Philippines 21 June 2022 Leila Nachawati Rego

The COVID-19 pandemic has seen rampant surveillance and citizen monitoring under the guise of public health. FMA's recent research focused on understanding how such privacy and freedoms were being curtailed in the Philippines, providing recommendations for a more equitable response and helping civil society hold the government accountable.

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