Index on Censorship

Civil society delegates at a UN Inter-Agency meeting have agreed to support the implementation of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity.

How do the oil, gas and mining industries exert influence over the cultural sector? A recent American example is instructive, demonstrating how this influence can lead to institutions buckling under political pressure, censoring art and lying to the public.

India’s most prominent rationalist, Sanal Edamaruku, famous for debunking religious “miracles”, is facing up to 3 years in jail on blasphemy charges; in turn, he plans to challenge the country’s blasphemy law.

In the first half of 2012, Google received over 20,000 demands for user data from government proxies around the world – a 33 per cent increase from the same period last year. Take down requests from government entities are also on the rise.

While the Chinese Communist Party Congress is notorious for its secrecy, considerable resources were also used to gag the media and dissidents in the lead-up to the Beijing event, IFEX members report.

Artsfex, the first international civil society network dedicated to promoting free expression for artists, was recently created to document violations and support artists at risk.

As key stakeholders from government, industry and civil society come together at the Internet Governance Forum in Azerbaijan from 6-9 November, Index on Censorship sets out some of the key challenges to free expression online, and the red lines and issues that must be defended and promoted at the IGF – and elsewhere.

In a joint statement, IFEX members in the European Union and its ‘neighbourhood’ states call upon authorities to protect freedom of expression in Greece.