Daily tax of 53 cents charged to access online services such as Facebook, Google, Whatsapp and Skype
Journalism and Free Speech articles on Democracy Chronicles
A basic necessity in a democratic society, is journalism and free speech play a central role in creating a system of checks and balance, and in distributing power equally between governments, businesses, individuals, and other social entities. Access to verifiable information gathered by independent media sources, which adhere to journalistic standards, can also be of service to ordinary citizens, by empowering them with the tools they need in order to participate in the political process. Also see our articles on Civil Rights.
Bill Passed to Block Popular Egyptian Social Media Accounts
The legislation labels personal social media accounts and empowers authorities to block them as “fake news.”
Europe Censures Russia Over Journalist Murder Probe
European Court of Human Rights ordered Russia to pay 20,000 in damages to relatives of murdered journalist
Jailed Reuters Reporter Pleads Innocence in Burma Court
Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were accused of possessing documents linked to security operations
Iraq Cuts Internet Services to Quell Widespread Protests
Protests over high unemployment, poor government services and corruption spread from Basra to Baghdad, Najaf, Amaraand Nasiriyah
World’s Dictatorships Go All Out to Control Social Media Use
Authorities are waging a battle to control what their people see and hear, with the goal of limiting dissent
Conviction of Six Turkish Journalists is Another Blow to Press
Six prominent former journalists and editors from Zaman newspaper were given jail terms
Outlining How to Fix Ghana’s Right to Information Law
International organisations want review of Right to Information Bill currently before parliament
High-Tech Fake Videos Draw Increased Scrutiny and Controversy
New technology on the internet lets anyone make videos of real people appearing to say things they’ve never said
Judge to Decide Fate of Jailed Burma Journalists
A court in Myanmar will rule next week whether two journalists for the Reuters news agency will face trial