Thursday 21 February 2019 will commemorate a full year since the assassination of journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kušnírová in Slovakia. Kuciak was investigating cross-border corruption and links between powerful people and various mafia networks.
Index on Censorship welcomes a report by the House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee into disinformation and fake news that calls for greater transparency on social media companies’ decision making processes, on who posts political advertising and on use of personal data.
Index on Censorship condemns the arrest of journalist and Rappler chief executive Maria Ressa by Philippines authorities and calls on the UK to make good on its promises to defend media freedom globally by calling for her release.
Press freedom is more fragile now than at any time since the end of the Cold War. That is the conclusion of a report by the 12 partner organisations of the Council of Europe platform to promote the protection of journalism and safety of journalists.
More than 130 musicians, writers and artists, together with many British and Ugandan members of parliament, have signed a petition calling on Uganda to drop plans for regulations that include vetting songs, videos and film scripts prior to their release. Musicians, producers, promoters, filmmakers and all other artists would also have to register with the government and obtain a licence that can be revoked for a range of violations.
NGOs call for co-ordinated international action and public scrutiny to address the government of Bahrain’s ongoing attacks on civil society and to hold the kingdom accountable to its commitments to international human rights laws and standards
Index on Censorship joined a letter signed by seven other NGOs expressing concern over the UK’s Crime (Overseas Production Orders) Bill, which goes to the final stages of parliamentary debate on 30 January. The bill has worrying implications for press freedom and human rights, including putting journalists’ data at risk.
While Index on Censorship welcomes dropping of new charges against Mehman Huseynov, the organisation calls on Azerbaijan to release the human rights defender and journalist from prison
Index on Censorship is alarmed by the increasing number of restrictions being placed on protests globally
Index on Censorship calls for the immediate release of activist Evan Mawarire, who was arrested in Zimbabwe on Wednesday.