In a move that has sparked concern among Egyptian secularists, the country’s censorship committee this week banned 20 music videos allegedly containing “heavy sexual connotations” and featuring “scantily-dressed female singers and models”, Shahira Amin writes
Freedom of speech clashing with commercial concerns has been an ongoing theme for many media and internet companies operating on an international stage, but it’s rare that a country’s liberal approach to expression is presented, in itself, as a prime investment opportunity. Alastair Sloan reports
Mayam Mahmoud has been named the Index Arts Award winner.
Shubhranshu Choudhary of CGNet Swara has been named the Google Digital Activism Award winner.
Azadliq has been named The Guardian Journalism Award winner.
Shahzad Ahmad of Bytes for All has been named the Doughty Street Advocacy Award winner at the #IndexAwards2014.
Welcome to our special coverage of the Index Freedom of Expression Awards 2014. The awards ceremony kicks off with a reception at 18:00 GMT. Awards will be presented from 19:00 GMT. Follow live on Twitter @IndexCensorship or #IndexAwards2014
Journalist Shubhranshu Choudhary is the brain behind CGNet Swara a mobile-phone service that allows citizens to upload and listen to local reports in their local language.
Human rights organisations suspect a live YouTube broadcast detailing abuses by the Indonesian government may have been the real reason behind “technical difficulties” at an environmental conference in Oregon, Alastair Sloan reports
In 2013, National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden leaked thousands of documents detailing US government surveillance to the press, igniting a global debate on the ways authorities can watch citizens’ communications