Stories about Digital Activism from May, 2019
China arrests filmmaker for retweeting an image of a liquor bottle referencing Tiananmen Massacre
The bottle label carries the image of "Tank Man" with the description "Never forget, never give up".
How Chinese tech workers are organizing the online #996 labor movement, despite risks of censorship
In contrast to other social movements and memes on the Chinese internet, #996 has taken shape largely on GitHub.
Journalists, YouTubers, and politicians join forces in Colombia against the killings of social leaders
Social media influencers are trying to draw attention to the struggle of leaders in rural areas to those in connected urban spaces.
Russian website attempts to impersonate established news outlet covering the Balkans
"The purpose of publishing under the name Balkanist in Russian is to confuse readers at home, in Russia and elsewhere into questioning our sincerity, what and who we support."
The beauty of Afro-Peruvian women through Ayleen Díaz's illustrations
"By drawing different body types and different hair textures, I want people to learn how everything is beautiful."
Netizen Report: Amid WhatsApp attacks, advocates launch legal challenge against Israeli malware maker
Spyware makers exploit a security flaw in WhatsApp, Singapore bans false information and Somalia plans to shut down social media during school exams.
Brazilians took to the streets to protest Bolsonaro's education cuts
From São Paulo to the Amazon, thousands of Brazilians went out on May 15 to defend public education.
In Hong Kong, the sexual connotation of Ikea's new tofu ice cream ad creates controversy
"[The ad] generates the image of a woman wishing for her body to be eaten like tofu."
Facebook posts trigger more arrests in Bangladesh, worrying netizens
Two people were arrested on May 14 and 15, for comments they had posted on Facebook. The arrests have sparked indignation and concern on social media in Bangladesh.
Dear European Commission: Don't let political parties use our data to manipulate the vote
Rather than protecting individuals’ rights, exceptions to the GDPR in some countries are limiting freedom of expression, eroding privacy, and abetting the spread of disinformation.
Is Stella Nyanzi ‘weaponizing the vagina'? Ugandan feminist goes to court in free speech case
On her quest for good governance, Stella Nyanza is "unflinching in her criticism of the Ugandan government" and unafraid to tackle taboos around sex, gender and LGBT rights.
Too big to be anonymous? Russian journalists unmask a famous anti-Kremlin blogger, sparking ethical debate
StalinGulag’s posts are usually acerbic, profanity-laden critiques of Russia's political system, generating thousands of likes and retweets.
Ugandan pop star politician Bobi Wine pens song on police brutality during house arrest
Ugandan musician and MP Bobi Wine's new song "Afande" critiques police brutality with a message of love and unity. "Why beat me? There is no difference between me and you!"
Venezuela's political crisis is intensifying and censorship is on the rise
Food, water and electricity are increasingly scarce, as is access to communication networks.
‘Envision a new war': the Syrian Archive, corporate censorship and the struggle to preserve public history online
Social media companies are censoring images of war. The Syrian Archive is working to preserve them.