<
https://thediplomat.com/2019/11/internet-freedom-in-asia-hits-unprecedented-low/>
"A daunting variety of governments across Asia are seizing control of
the internet. Employing a growing range of tactics, administrations in
democracies and non-democracies alike are working to diminish online
space for expression, civic activism, and secure communication. Over the
past year, the internet became less free in 10 countries in the region,
contributing to a global decline in internet freedom that affected 33 of
the 65 countries assessed by Freedom on the Net 2019: The Crisis of
Social Media.
Unsurprisingly, China secured the title of the world’s worst abuser of
internet freedom for the fourth consecutive year. Constraints in the
country went from bad to worse: 2019 saw the most restrictive
environment since Freedom on the Net began assessing it a decade ago.
Bangladesh suffered the region’s biggest decline, losing four points on
a 100-point scale as citizens organized mass protests and voted in an
election marred by violence. To maintain control over the population,
authorities resorted to blocking independent news websites, restricting
mobile networks, and arresting both journalists and ordinary users.
The only country in the region recording an improvement was Malaysia,
where a new coalition government made good on some of its democratic
promises after winning May 2018 elections, and ending the six-decade
reign of the incumbent coalition. Among countries assessed in the
region, only Japan, which boasts high rates of internet penetration yet
struggles to protect privacy rights, hosts a free and open internet."
Via Paul Ferguson.
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://www.xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
http://www.glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
http://www.sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
