Articles by ARTICLE 19
Iran amends law to further stifle freedom of expression
New amendments to Iran’s Islamic Penal Code will empower authorities to further choke free expression and target religious and ethnic minorities, while providing fertile ground for arbitrary arrests and detentions, says ARTICLE 19.
ARTICLE 19 and BAJ: UN must take further action on Belarus
“Where violations prevail, the UN must take action. As such, it is essential that this Council puts greater accountability mechanisms in place to collect and preserve evidence of crimes under international law, and ultimately ensure that perpetrators are held accountable”.
Algeria: Policies silencing ‘Hirak’ activists must end
Dozens of “Hirak” pro-democracy activists including journalist Khaled Drareni, are released as the movement takes to the street to mark its second anniversary. Rights groups call on the international community to urge Algerian authorities to end policies aimed at silencing peaceful free expression and assembly.
UK: Are the government’s plans to protect free speech on campus the real threat to expression?
“There are many ways in which protection of freedom of expression in the UK can be improved but a law of this kind is not one of them. Instead of promoting expression, the broad remit of this proposed law would have the effect of policing speech at universities, and it should be scrapped.”
Myanmar urged to scrap cyber security draft law and restore full internet connectivity
If enacted, the draft law would greatly extend the powers of military authorities to restrict and punish online expression.
Prosecution of Belarusian journalists Ekaterina Bakhvalova and Daria Chultsova violates their right to freedom of expression
ARTICLE 19 demands that Belarusian authorities immediately drop the criminal case against Bakhvalova and Chultsova and refrain from any similar charges against journalists covering protests in the future.
Vietnam: National Party Congress begins amid escalating crackdown on internet freedom
In the weeks leading up to the Congress, courts handed down several lengthy sentences to individuals based on their online activities.
What’s good and what’s worrying in the EU’s draft Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act
“The DSA places new transparency and due diligence obligations on very large online platforms. The DMA imposes dos and don’ts on gatekeepers that provide ‘core platform services’. Both Acts have the potential to be a blueprint for regulation and competition across online platforms.”