In March the Russian authorities turned their attentions to online social networks — and the Kremlin proved adept at getting major international companies to comply with its directives: on 15 March Twitter blocked an account that promoted drugs and on 29 March Facebook took down a page called “Suicide School” rather than see its entire network blacklisted. On 25 March, reports surfaced that the ministry of Communications and Mass Media planned to transfer maintenance of the Registry of Banned Sites from communications regulator Roskomnadzor to a third party selected by Roskomnadzor. The ministry proposed changes to the registry; to maintain website owners’ information on the register but deny sites owners — as well as hosting and Internet providers — access to […]
CATEGORY: Europe and Central Asia
Chernobyl disaster is invisible to many Belarusians
Twenty-seven years after the worst nuclear power accident in history,
Aliaksandr Zianchuk reports on the invisible catastrophe in Belarus
Victory for free speech as libel bill passes
Changes are being made to England’s defamation law after a three-and-a-half-year campaign, writes Padraig Reidy
‘Giving women a voice may be our most significant achievement’
Mumsnet co-founder Justine Roberts explains the site’s commitment to giving women access to free speech
Freedom of expression and disabilities
Sara Yasin: Freedom of expression and disabilities
UK “Snooper’s Charter” should be dropped
The Queen’s Speech is on 8 May, and Home Secretary Theresa May is still pushing for “Snooper’s Charter” to go through. Write to your MP to and let them know that the bill should be dropped.
Self-censorship’s chill on artistic freedom in Russia
Self-censorship has poisoned Russian media, art and other spheres. In the past few years, criminal prosecution of artists and new laws have made it clear for those who criticise the Kremlin or Russian Orthodox Church in their creative work, will...
Will the government allow corporations to sue individuals for libel?
The Libel Reform Campaign is concerned that the government will force through an amendment tabled by libel barrister Edward Garner QC allowing corporations to sue individuals for libel
Index on Censorship Student Blogging Competition
Think you have what it takes to be published by Index on Censorship? Here’s your chance to find out. Enter our student blogging competition! To enter the competition, submit your piece with your name, university, course and year of study, to [email protected]
Index on Censorship: Leveson, the Royal Charter and press regulation
Index on Censorship views press freedom as one core part of the fundamental right to freedom of expression. Read Index’s position on the Royal Charter for press regulation
