In protests against Belarus’s Alexander Lukashenko, Europe’s last dictator, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has been a prominent figure. VOA interviewed her.
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.
Belarus Revokes Accreditation of at Least 17 Journalists Covering Post-Election Turmoil
Belarus has continued its repression of pro-democracy protests. Some 17 journalists covering the protests have seen their accreditations revoked.
Comedian Mocks Zimbabwe’s Government Despite Fear of Reprisal
Rising Zimbabwean political satirist has critiqued the government of Mnangagwa. This comes as the regime is cracking down on growing dissent.
Disinformation is biggest threat to election security, experts tell Congress
Key experts have schooled he US Congress on where to expect the biggest threat to election this year. They pointed out disinformation in particular.
Recognizing journalist who exposed Ukraine’s Holodomor
Gareth Jones, a British journalist, exposed Stalin’s genocidal Ukraine famine. Kyiv Council recognised him, naming a street in the capital after him.
South Korea: Stop Intimidating North Korean Human Rights Groups
South Korea’s democratic system contrasts its northern neighbor’s repressive communist system yet it is intimidating North Korean rights groups.
State-sponsored disinformation – the elephant in the room
Scholar Sohini Chatterjee says disinformation is not solely a foreign challenge as “democratically-elected leaders are increasingly fuelling [its spread]”.
Twitter adds Fact-Check tag on Trump’s tweet, he threatens to regulate social media dictator style
Twitter added a fact-check tag/link on Trump’s tweet on mail-in voting. Feeling offended, the President threatened to regulate social media.
Internet Throttling: A Hidden Threat
There is now more to internet shutdown as governments around the world grow more savvy in stifling info flow. They now ask ISPs to slow down connectivity.
Bangladesh: Mass Arrests Over Cartoons, Posts
Some critics of government’s response to COVID-19 in Bangladesh are facing the law over charges of spreading rumours and misinformation on facebook.