STATEMENT
Russia: Regressive restrictions to online freedom of expression
We have launched an
interactive timeline documenting changes to legislation in Russia affecting freedom of expression online over the past six years. The timeline demonstrates how these changes have steadily escalated, infringing upon on the free flow of information online.
Together with arbitrary implementation against those using the Internet to express opinions or critical thought, this regressive legal environment has had a chilling effect on Russian Internet users.
Read more | View the interactive timelineBlog: Grigory Kablis describes his legal challenge against the blocking of his pages in Russia
As part of ARTICLE 19’s
Digital Rights in Russia series, civil society activist Grigory Kablis describes his recent experience of legally challenging the blocking of his pages on “VKontakte” (also known as VK), Russia’s most popular social network, after he had made posts about holding a public meeting in his hometown of Syktyvkar.
Read more >
ADVOCACY LETTER
UN and OSCE Watchdogs urged to address media freedom in the UK
ARTICLE 19 and concerned experts and academics urge Dunja Mijatović, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, and David Kaye, the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, to address the state of media freedom in the UK, in particular to address attempts to undermine the independence of the BBC, the public service broadcaster, and to ensure the independence of the press in relation to self-regulation.
Read more >UPDATE:
Iran: Ratcliffe accused of attempt to bring down the regime
Iran's Revolutionary Guard allege that British Iranian Nazanin Ratcliffe was
"one of the ring leaders in efforts planning the overthrow of the Islamic regime through projects involving the media and social media, working under the direction of media companies and espionage networks belonging to foreign governments.”
Read more >
STATEMENT
UNHRC 32: Free expression violations a global concern
At the opening of the 32
nd UN Human Rights Council, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad Al-Hussein, delivered a searing assessment of the global situation for human rights, appealing for immediate action from states
. Read more >
