censorship
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Russia demands Google stop advertising 'illegal' protests on YouTube
Russia is intensifying its pressure on Google to censor political dissent in the country. Media overseer Roskomnadzor has sent a letter to Google insisting that it stop promoting "illegal mass events" on YouTube. It didn't like that YouTube channels were using push notifications and other measures to spread information about protests, such as the recent demonstrations objecting to Moscow banning some opposition politicians from running in upcoming elections. Some users are allegedly receiving these alerts even if they're not subscribed to the channels.
Twitter unfreezes Mitch McConnell's campaign account after review
Twitter unfroze Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell from his campaign account today after the lawmaker was suspended for posting a video of angry protestors that violated the site's guidelines. The social media giant today explained the reasoning behind locking the GOP politician's account in a series of tweets. The team at Twitter wrote that they agreed to review the case after multiple affected individuals, including members of McConnell's staff, reached out to them.
Turkey requires broadcast licenses for online media providers
Turkey is extending its internet clampdown to media providers. The country now requires that all online content companies obtain broadcast licenses from TV regulator RTUK, which will also watch over their content. If they run afoul of RTUK's rules, they'll have 30 days to alter their content or risk losing their licenses for three months, or indefinitely if they don't mend their ways. The move will dictate the content for both streaming services like Netflix as well as news outlets.
Chinese video-game censorship doesn't end with 'Devotion'
By all accounts, Devotion was a great game. That sentence has to be in past tense, and the opinion has to be second-hand, because Devotion was only available to play for one week earlier this year. But apparently, it was a twisted and masterful psychological horror title inspired by games like PT, but steeped in Taiwanese superstition. Devotion landed on Steam in February and it quickly earned thousands of positive reviews. And then China got involved.
Democratic hopeful Tulsi Gabbard sues Google over alleged censorship
Tulsi Gabbard, one of the many Democratic presidential hopefuls, is suing Google for at least $50 million. Gabbard filed a federal lawsuit against the company today, claiming that it suspended her campaign's advertising account for six hours following the first Democratic debate. Doing so, the lawsuit reportedly states, infringed on Gabbard's free speech.
Russia to start blocking major VPNs after censorship refusal
Russia's hatred for censorship-dodging VPNs is well-known, and it's now prepared to follow through on its warnings. Telecoms oversight chief Alexander Zharov told Interfax that he expected to block nine major VPNs, including ExpressVPN and NordVPN, for refusing to connect to a national blacklist that would prevent people from accessing sites through their tunneling services. He expected that the crackdown could take place within a month.
Poland challenges EU's new copyright law over censorship fears
The EU's contentious copyright law is already facing some opposition from one of its existing members. Poland has submitted a complaint to the European Court of Justice arguing that the law's requirement for filtering content had the potential for censorship. This would violate both the Polish constitution as well as EU treaties, Deputy Foreign Minister Konrad Szymanski told TVP Info.
China is blocking Wikipedia in every language
China has blocked Wikipedia to varying degrees over the years, but now that censorship appears to be farther-reaching. A recent Open Observatory of Network Interference report has shown that China started blocking Wikipedia in all languages sometime in April, not just the Chinese-language version as has been the case since 2015. The Wikimedia Foundation told AFP that it hadn't received any notices regarding the block.
Sri Lanka lifts social media ban nine days after terrorist bombings
Sri Lanka's president ordered an end to the country's temporary ban on social media. The ban was instituted after devastating suicide bombings on Easter Sunday left more than 250 people dead. According to the New York Times, the government issued a statement today calling on the public "to use social media responsibly even though the ban is lifted, due to the prevailing situation in the country."
Facebook, Google and Twitter will join a hearing on tech censorship next week
Facebook, Google and Twitter will reportedly participate in a congressional hearing on tech censorship next week. The "Stifling Free Speech: Technological Censorship and the Public Discourse" hearing is scheduled for April 10th, before the Senate Judiciary's subcommittee on the Constitution. According to CNET, Facebook, Google and Twitter will all attend.
After Christchurch, we need more than digital-security theater
Just after the Christchurch shooting I came across an article explaining how to make your Twitter, Facebook and YouTube accounts block violent videos. How-tos like this are depressingly necessary, because while Facebook removes an illustrated nipple for "community safety" at lightning speed with real consequences, the company isn't equally interested in policing content that's indisputably harmful. After the Christchurch attack, Facebook said it took down 1.5 million postings of the terrorist's mass-murder livestream within 24 hours, but only 1.2 million of those videos were blocked at upload.
New Zealand ISPs block websites hosting Christchurch shooting video
Internet providers in New Zealand aren't relying solely on companies like Facebook and YouTube to get rid of the Christchurch mass shooter's video. Major ISPs in the country, including Vodafone, Spark and Vocus, are working together to block access at the DNS level to websites that don't quickly respond to video takedown requests. The move quickly cut off access to multiple sites, including 4chan, 8chan (where the shooter was a member), LiveLeak and file transfer site Mega. The block goes away the moment a site complies, and Vodafone told Bleeping Computer that a "number of sites" were unblocked that way.
How sex censorship killed the internet we love
When was the last time you thought of the internet as a weird and wonderful place? I can feel my anxiety climbing as I try to find current news stories about sex. Google News shows one lonely result for "porn," an article that is 26 days old. I log out of everything and try different browsers because this can't be right.
China will make TikTok-like video apps responsible for what users upload
China's growing crackdown on internet media now includes some tight limits on short-form video apps like TikTok. Recently imposed guidelines make app creators responsible for the content their users post, and ask platforms to review every bit of content -- no mean feat when TikTok alone has roughly 150 million users in China.
China cracks down on Twitter users critical of its government
It won't surprise you to hear that China keeps a tight lid on homegrown social networks, but it's now doing more to stifle free expression on outside networks, too. The New York Times reported that Chinese law enforcement recently began a crackdown on residents who post criticism of the government on Twitter, even though the service is officially blocked inside the country. Police have threatened action, interrogated activists for hours and detained at least one person for 15 days.
Netflix pulls Hasan Minhaj episode critical of Saudi Arabia government
Netflix rarely finds itself thrust into political debates like other internet giants, but it won't enjoy that luxury in 2019. The streaming service has pulled the second episode of Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj in Saudi Arabia after the country alleged that it violated a cybercrime law barring content that threatens "public order, religious values, public morals, and privacy." The episode is critical of the Saudi government's apparent murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi as well as the war in Yemen, and suggests that both tech companies and the US as a whole should "reassess" their connection to the kingdom.
China's first video game approvals in months don't include Tencent
A week after China approved its first batch of video games in nine months, the list is finally available... and who's not included may be more notable than who is. The country's State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television has announced that 80 online games made the cut, but industry giant Tencent wasn't part of that initial mix. It's not certain why regulators didn't greenlight Tencent games, although China recently instituted an ethics committee that would ensure games don't promote addiction, short-sightedness and some forms of sex and violence.
China resumes game approvals to the delight of Tencent
China's hiatus on game approvals is over, according to local media reports. The first batch of titles have been greenlit, effectively ending a blockade that had been in place since March. Internet giant Tencent -- which was forced to pull popular games like Monster Hunter: World due to the freeze -- saw its shares jump 4.6 percent, following months of drubbing on the stock market. However, the approvals process remains unclear and it's unknown which titles made the cut.
Prominent artists banned last-minute by Chinese art and tech show
Several contemporary artists tackling the social implications of technology have been banned by censors from China's upcoming Guangzhou Triennial. One of them was Heather Dewey-Hagborg, whose works often critique biotechnology, notably including portraits derived from the DNA of Chelsea Manning. She woke up on December 8th to an email from one of the show's three curators, Angelique Spaninks, explaining that her piece T3511 was being pulled last-minute. The triennial, titled "As We May Think, Feedforward," explores the links between humanity and technology and opens on December 21st.
China forms video game ethics committee as part of crackdown
China's freeze on game approvals is winding down, although gamers and developers might not like what the thaw entails. The country has revealed the existence of an Online Game Ethics Committee that will screen games to ensure they're "healthy and beneficial" and address "social concerns," among other issues. To put it another way, the panel will clamp down on game addiction, sex, violence and short-sightedness. That's on top of the country's crackdowns on political dissent, of course.
