Former Soviet republic Belarus has blocked a top opposition website for spreading “illegal” content, the information ministry said Thursday. The website of Charter 97, founded by opposition politician Andrei Sannikov who ran against authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko in 2010, went down on Wednesday evening. The information ministry said a decision was taken to “limit access” […]
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.
Chinese #MeToo movement is testing the censors’ limits
Censors deleted hundreds of social media posts with the tag “Me too in China” and closed related topic forums
People of South Sudan Suffer on Bottom of World Freedom Index
Once again, South Sudan is ranked among the least democratic countries in the world according to Freedom House
China Urged to Release of Hong Kong-Based Bookseller
Gui Minhai is a Hong Kong-based bookseller who has been arrested for the second time in two years
New NGO Law Has Devastated Russian Civil Society Groups
Russia tightened its so-called “foreign agent” law last month to target overseas media operating in the country. It means the government can require media outlets to state that they are “foreign agents.” They also have to submit to intensive scrutiny of staffing and financing. Voice of America is among the media organizations to receive such […]
The contempt for the radicals
Too many are convinced that the cause of increasing populism, the mistrust of the establishment, and a new political landscape across the western world is only an unusual virus; namely the radical, malignant and infectious mob.
Burma Court to Rule on Fate of Detained Reuters Journalists
A Myanmar court will decide next week the fate of two Reuters journalists arrested and charged with violating the country’s Official Secrets Act. Wa Lone, 31, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 27, appeared in court Tuesday, nearly six weeks after their arrest and two weeks after being charged. The two face 14 years in prison for […]
Chinese Government Bans Hip-hop and Tattooed-actors
The Chinese government is tightening its grip on popular culture with a new ban on hip-hop culture and actors with tattoos—representations that are seen as disrespectful and outside the code of conduct. China’s media regulator, State Administration of Press, Publication, Broadcasting and Television, issued the ban on Friday along with “necessary standards,” according to Sina, […]
Are Facebook and social media good for democracy?
Facebook warned on Monday that it could offer no assurance that social media was on balance good for democracy
Sudan Holding Journalists Arrested While Covering Protests
Authorities in Sudan were holding an Agence France-Presse journalist after he was arrested a day earlier