Fragment Media Group’s Post

As we approach another election, PEN America's Ryan Howzell revisits what we've learned about the challenges for journalists in covering extremism, and how we can do better. Here are five major takeaways: https://lnkd.in/efS4RNV9 #journalism #extremism #election2024

Did you know that politicians can currently incite to violence with hate speech on social media - and platforms let them do so freely? 🚨🚨 Together with our allies at Global Project Against Hate and Extremism and dozens more, we sent an open letter demanding that this must urgently change. What do we want❓ 👉🏽 Social media corporations must enforce content moderation and disinformation rules without exemptions for "newsworthiness” or “public interest” for political and public figures. https://lnkd.in/emMb5TQK

CIVICUS & the Asia Democracy Network (ADN) call on states to use the upcoming human rights review of #China at the UN #HumanRights Council on 23 January 2024 to call out its ongoing failure to fully implement previous recommendations related to civic freedoms. Our organisations are deeply concerned about the use of vague and broad security and public order laws in China to criminalise HRDs, journalists and critics, as well other forms of harassment imposed on them including movement restrictions, travel bans, surveillance and social media restriction. We are further alarmed about the pervasive censorship on all forms of dissent both online and offline, the assault on the media and the crackdown on protests. https://lnkd.in/gzvZsDzN

Take note of this, folks. This isn’t some communist regime in Asia or theocracy in the Middle East. This is a Western nation doing this. Yes, his comments were obnoxious. But how many of us would end up in jail if obnoxiousness was the criteria? How many of us could effectively practice PR and communications if “offensive” speech - however that is defined - was criminalized? It’s a real slippery slope when you start criminalizing speech. https://lnkd.in/gr-Vmvmu

https://lnkd.in/dPKYRnZm A free press acts as a watchdog and a pillar of democracy. Orders like this curb the Freedom of the Press which is critical for a strong, functioning, vibrant Democracy.

In a recent report titled “Erosion of Free Speech: The Silencing of Citizens, Political Parties, and Media,” Freedom Network, a media rights watchdog, has raised serious concerns about the state of freedom of expression in Pakistan. Read more https://lnkd.in/erzn_bGQ #Freedomofspeech #reports #media #twitterbanned #socialmedia #humanrights #legalrights

Recent article by Shota Kincha is a great description of the troubling trend of abusive private lawsuits (SLAPPs) in Georgia. These lawsuits aim to silence critical voices, crack down on journalist investigations and restrict free speech. I’m thankful for the opportunity to contribute to this article to highlight the importance of defending press freedoms, especially amidst democratic backslide and risinf Russian influence in Georgia. For a deeper look into this issue and its implications, check out the full article: #PressFreedom #HumanRights #Georgia

On February 9, 2024, the Oktyabr’ District Court in Kyrgyzstan ruled to shut down Kloop Media, a prominent human rights media outlet. The decision follows a motion filed by the Prosecutor's Office of Bishkek in August 2023, alleging that Kloop exceeded the scope of its charter as a human rights organisation by engaging in media activities. Kloop Media plans to appeal this decision. Established in 2007, Kloop Media gained acclaim for its transparent coverage of the 2010 Kyrgyz revolution. Committed to principles of independence and accuracy, it has tackled issues like corruption and human rights violations through investigative journalism. Front Line Defenders condemns the decision to shut down Kloop Media. It follows the recent, concerning pattern of systemic limiting of rights and freedoms of human rights defenders in Kyrgyzstan, in a context of repressive legislative initiatives concerning the work of media and NGOs. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dW7x33wj #Kyrgyzstan

An interesting example of how different countries have different methods to regulate aspects of the internet. The United States, for example, has a much higher threshold for determining what hate speech the government can take action against compared to Germany. This is not a democratic versus non-democratic argument. Rather, it's rooted in culture – about history, about violence – differing even among democracies and European countries, and goes to show that the internet is far from the borderless place that it sometimes, superficially, can appear.  👉https://lnkd.in/e2kXUeY4 #Digital #SearchEngines #Internet #InternetFreedom