How U.S. copyright law is used to censor journalism globally
In a case with disturbing implications for press freedom globally, CPJ’s Senior Africa Researcher Jonathan Rozen’s latest investigation found that web hosting services received emails falsely claiming to be from journalists citing U.S. copyright law, in what appeared to be a move to force news websites to remove a report on Kenya’s gambling industry. The…
Vietnamese reporter Phan Bui Bao Thy detained over critical Facebook posts
Bangkok, February 18, 2021 – Vietnamese authorities should immediately and unconditionally release journalist Phan Bui Bao Thy and stop jailing reporters for their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On February 10, police in Vietnam’s central Quang Tri province arrested Thy, bureau chief of the state-run Giao Duc Va Thoi Dai (Age and Education) news…
CPJ condemns Malaysian court conviction, fine of Malaysiakini on contempt charges
Bangkok, February 19, 2021 – In response to a Malaysian court ruling today fining the Malaysiakini news website 500,000 ringgit (US$123,672), the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “Today’s contempt of court ruling holding Malaysiakini responsible for readers’ comments is a de facto attack on the press and sets a worrying precedent for all media outlets…
Philippine journalist Lady Ann Salem remains jailed after dismissal of firearms charges
Bangkok, February 17, 2021 – Philippine authorities should immediately and unconditionally release journalist Lady Ann Salem and refrain from filing any new charges against her, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On February 5, the Mandaluyong Regional Trial Court dismissed illegal firearms possession charges against Salem, editor of the Manila Today English-language news website, stating that…
At least 6 journalists detained in Myanmar as coup government cracks down on press
Bangkok, February 16, 2021 – Myanmar’s military government must stop detaining, harassing, and threatening journalists, and allow the media to work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Since February 11, security forces have detained at least six journalists in the country, and the military leadership, which took power in a coup in early February, sparking…
CPJ condemns Myanmar police shooting of journalist with rubber bullet at anti-coup protest
Bangkok, February 10, 2021 – Myanmar authorities must ensure journalists can safely cover events of public interest, and should refrain from targeting members of the press at protests, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Yesterday, in the capital city of Naypyidaw, police fired rubber bullets at demonstrators, hitting Than Htike Aung, a reporter with…
Access to social media, TV restricted in Myanmar as democracy is upended
Myanmar’s military seized power from the elected government February 1, obstructing news stations, temporarily shuttering phone and internet access, and later restricting access to social media platforms. “Social media and communication platforms are crucial for journalists to report the news as democracy is upended,” said Shawn Crispin, CPJ’s senior Southeast Asia representative, urging officials to…
Myanmar’s military should lift Facebook, WhatsApp censorship, enable news broadcasts following coup
Bangkok, February 4, 2021 – Myanmar’s military should rescind an order to block social media platforms being used to share information about this week’s coup and lift ongoing restrictions on broadcasters, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. The military obstructed news stations and temporarily shuttered phone and internet access when it seized power from…
CPJ calls for press freedom to be upheld as Myanmar military takes power, imposes emergency rule
Bangkok, February 1, 2021 – Myanmar’s military must fully restore all blocked TV stations, phone lines, and internet services and refrain from imposing any orders that restrict the media’s ability to freely report the news amid emergency rule, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. The military seized power from Myanmar’s elected government today, detaining…
Vietnam sentences 3 independent journalists to more than 10 years in prison
Bangkok, January 5, 2021 – The Committee to Protect Journalists today strongly condemned the convictions and harsh prison sentences handed down to Vietnamese journalists Pham Chi Dung, Nguyen Tuong Thuy, and Le Huu Minh Tuan, and called for their immediate and unconditional releases. Today, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Court convicted the three journalists…