All articles tagged with #internet censorship
A Russian medical student was arrested after briefly browsing images of banned extremist groups online, illustrating the rapid enforcement of Russia's new law criminalizing seeking out 'extremist' content, with potential for widespread surveillance and prosecution.
Russia is implementing a comprehensive and long-term strategy to control and isolate its internet from the global network, including blocking websites, restricting access, monitoring online activity, and promoting domestic alternatives, raising concerns about digital freedom and censorship.
Russian lawmakers have approved a bill to fine internet users up to 5,000 rubles for searching for content deemed 'extremist' by authorities, sparking criticism and protests, with concerns over censorship and the bill's practical implementation.
Since invading Ukraine, Russia has intensified its crackdown on online freedom by introducing fines for searching extremist content, considering banning WhatsApp, and developing a domestic messaging app called Max, amid internet outages and increased control over digital communication.
Russia has passed a law criminalizing the search for online content deemed 'extremist', targeting users who knowingly seek such material, with potential fines and increased surveillance, amid broader crackdowns on dissent and internet freedom.
X, a popular internet service provider, has blocked searches related to Taylor Swift after fake AI-generated videos of the singer went viral. The move comes as a response to the spread of manipulated content and deepfake videos on the internet, highlighting the growing concern over the potential misuse of AI technology. This action raises questions about internet censorship and the responsibility of platforms to address the dissemination of misleading or harmful content.
Jailed former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan delivered a speech using an audio clip generated through artificial intelligence (AI) during a virtual rally organized by his party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI). The virtual rally, which drew over five million views on social media platforms, was held to bypass a government ban on public rallies ahead of the upcoming general elections. Khan's AI-generated speech criticized the government's crackdown on PTI and accused them of internet censorship. While the use of AI technology in politics is seen as innovative, there are concerns about its potential for disinformation and election manipulation.
Russian authorities blocked access to major news sources and information from the Wagner mercenary group as it pushed toward Moscow on Saturday, adding to the confusion as rumors and misinformation about events flourished. Google News was blocked beginning Friday night by Rostelecom, Russia’s largest digital provider, along with at least four other major internet service providers, according to the nonprofit group NetBlocks, which monitors internet censorship. Telegram, a messaging, news and social networking program that is widely popular in Russia, had significant outages in cities including Moscow and St. Petersburg, as well as points on the route to the capital from the southern city of Rostov-on-Don, which Wagner troops controlled.
Russian authorities blocked access to major news sources and information from the Wagner mercenary group as it pushed toward Moscow on Saturday, adding to the confusion as rumors and misinformation about events flourished. Google News was blocked beginning Friday night by Rostelecom, Russia's largest digital provider, and at least four other major internet service providers, according to the nonprofit group NetBlocks, which monitors internet censorship. Telegram, the messaging, news and social networking platform that is widely popular in Russia, had significant outages in cities including Moscow and St. Petersburg as well as points en route to the capital from the southern city of Rostov-on-Don, which Wagner troops controlled.
The US Treasury has imposed sanctions on Iranian technology company Arvan Cloud, two senior employees, and an affiliated company in the UAE for their roles in facilitating the Iranian regime's censorship of the internet in Iran. Arvan Cloud is a key partner of Iran's Information and Communications Technology Ministry in the development of the National Information Network (NIN), a countrywide intranet that is being used to disconnect the Iranian people from the global internet. The Iranian government has regularly used internet restrictions and the throttling of internet speeds to suppress dissent and limit the dissemination of credible information about human rights violations.