China proposes new internet laws that could enhance censorship

China is consolidating its ability to censor the Internet by drafting rules requiring businesses that serve domestic Internet users to register their Web addresses inside the country, a move seen as targeting Chinese companies but that has raised concerns among foreign businesses. Associated Press reports In its most draconian interpretation, the proposed requirements could also …

Uganda Blocks Social Media Services for Security and Anti-Campaign Reasons on Voting Day

The Uganda’s communications regulator said it has blocked some social-media platforms to stop further campaigning during presidential elections in the East African nation. Bloomberg Reported. “It’s a breach of the law to campaign on election day,” Godfrey Mutabazi, executive director of the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), said in an interview with private broadcaster NTV in …

Sen. Ted Cruz Slams ICANN’s CEO Chehade for Chinese WIC, calls him out for Conflict of interest

Days after US Congressman Rep. Sean Duffy (R-WI) sent a letter to ICANN CEO Fadi Chehade urging him to abandon plans to weaken the Internet for users in the United States and around the world, another letter co-signed by US presidential candidate Ted Cruz (R-Texas), James Lankford (R-Okla.), and Mike Lee (R-Utah) has been sent …

After censorship, Pakistan gets country-specific version of YouTube

For the first time in several years, residents of Pakistan can openly watch YouTube—just not the YouTube that the rest of the world is watching. Google, which purchased the video-streaming website in 2006, launched country-specific versions for Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka on Tuesday. “YouTube is already available in Nepali, Sinhalese and Urdu, and now having country-specific …

Brazilian Judge Shuts Down WhatsApp for 48 Hours

A judge in Sao Paulo has ordered WhatsApp to shut down for 48 hours, starting at 9pm Eastern tonight. WhatsApp is the single most used app in Brazil, with about 93 million users, or 93% of the country’s internet population. It’s a particularly useful service for Brazil’s youth and poor, many who cannot afford to …

EFF: South Africa’s Draft Online Internet law is Africa’s Worst Cyber Censorship legislation

According to a south African’ internet blog, The Draft Online Regulation Policy proposed by the Film and Publication Board (FPB) is far-reaching and absolute in its censorship, with little clarity on practical implementation. This is according to commentators on a recent Carte Blanche insert about the Internet censorship which will accompany the bill. The FPB published …

The Internet Balkanization Fragmentation

Recent references to the dangers of “Internet balkanization” are all over the media. The term has been used to describe a variety of regulatory alternatives being considered or adopted by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Brazil, Russia, India, China, Iran, Turkey, Europe and others. The diversity of the group suggests they cannot be doing the …

.ru: Putin considers plan to unplug Russia from the internet ‘in an emergency’

Kremlin to discuss taking control of the .ru domain and measures to disconnect Russians from the web in the event of unrest. The Kremlin is considering radical plans to unplug Russia from the global internet in the event of a serious military confrontation or big anti-government protests at home, Russian officials hinted on Friday. President …