Pakistan must: ▶️Stop targeting journalists and human rights activists ▶️Release detained human rights lawyers ▶️Restore internet access in Jammu and Kashmir ▶️Review and reform restrictive laws ▶️ Protect freedom of expression Read the joint letter to the PM: www.article19.org/resources/pa...

Pakistan: Government must end escalating crackdown on freedom of expression - ARTICLE 19

The Pakistani government must stop its crackdown on press freedom and protect journalists, lawyers, and human rights defenders.

article19.org

Bangladesh must rein in unchecked expansion of surveillance and interception capabilities. ARTICLE 19 joined TechGlobal Institute, @fortifyrights.bsky.social, @accessnow.org, @amnesty.org and other partners in writing to PM Rahman, calling for urgent reform. www.article19.org/resources/ba...

Bangladesh: Restore public trust and reform practices on surveillance now - ARTICLE 19

The government of Bangladesh must reform surveillance practices to ensure the rights of journalists, activists, and citizens are protected.

article19.org

This week ARTICLE 19 Eastern Africa joined a workshop on counter-terrorism in Nairobi, urging collaboration between civil society and national human rights institutions to protect civic space, dissent and free speech – essential for democracy and accountability. www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7xj...

Rights Groups Urge African States to Stop Targeting Opposition Voices as Security Threats

YouTube video by KTN News Kenya

youtube.com

Targeting a woman’s identity and not what she says or does is not legitimate criticism. It is gender-based violence and discrimination. We must confront the rise in smear campaigns, cyber-harassment, hate speech and legal cases against women in Tunisia. www.article19.org/resources/tu...

Tunisia: Stop gender- and identity-based attacks on women in public spaces - ARTICLE 19

Tunisian authorities must protect women facing gender- and indentity-based attacks, which have escalated in recent months.

article19.org

Italy’s Court of Cassation has upheld a ruling that journalist Fabio Butera is liable for comments third parties made under a post on his Facebook page. This undermines free speech online and gives incentives for private individuals to restrict public debate. www.article19.org/resources/it...

Italy: Court of Cassation fails to protect free expression by confirming liability for third party social media comments - ARTICLE 19

In a disappointing decision, the Court of Cassation upheld the civil liability of journalist Fabio Butera for comments posted by third parties beneath a post on his Facebook page. By endorsing the low...

article19.org

#Mexico: Awful news. We condemn the murder of journalist Josué Martínez Contreras, killed on 16 July in Puebla state, and warn of a wave of crimes against the press. 🔴 This is the third murder of a journalist in Mexico in less than a month. @fipamericalatina.bsky.social

México: la FIP repudia el asesinato del periodista Josué Martínez Contreras y alerta sobre una ola de crímenes contra la prensa / IFJ

La Federación Internacional de Periodistas (FIP) condena el asesinato perpetrado el 16 de julio de 2026 en el estado de Puebla. La víctima era también abogado y docente, desempeñándose como director d...

ifj.org

We joined partner civil society organisations in writing to Andy Burnham as he becomes PM. We highlight US-based technology firms' excessive power over the UK economy and digital infrastructure, and urge him to curb this influence. Read our letter: www.article19.org/resources/uk...

UK: New prime minister must take a tough stance on AI and Big Tech - ARTICLE 19

The new prime minister must protect the UK's economy, security and democracy by addressing the threat of dominant Big Tech and AI monopolies.

article19.org

How is the Digital Markets Act having impact, and what needs to change? The submission portal for November's DMA Symposium 2026 is open now! Register your abstract by 4 September 2026⬇️ www.article19.org/digital-mark...

Digital Markets Act: from Solo Act to Orchestra - ARTICLE 19

Call for papers: European Commission under the Digital Markets Act (DMA)

article19.org

📄 The report summarizing last year's workshop organized by @algosoc.org, @article19.bsky.social, and our lab is now out! It's a useful read for de-tangling the dynamics of Europe's digital infrastructural dependencies through expert insights and case studies. Read here: algosoc.org/results/reth...

Rethinking European media infrastructures | AlgoSoc

Rethinking European media infrastructures

algosoc.org

We joined human rights and diaspora organisations in raising the alarm about China’s Ethnic Unity law – a threat to freedoms worldwide. Governments must publicly condemn transnational repression, and protect communities affected by this repressive law. www.article19.org/resources/ch...

China: Ethnic Unity Law is an attack on communities, including in the diaspora - ARTICLE 19

China's Ethnic Unity Law is a threat to communities and their right to free expression, including people based outsdie the country.

article19.org

Great news: @polomaldonado.bsky.social , @article19mxca.bsky.social 's Regional Director, has been appointed UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression – recognising his strong defence of human rights. www.article19.org/resources/un...

Leopoldo Maldonado appointed UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression - ARTICLE 19

Leopoldo Maldonado, Regional Director for ARTICLE 19 Mexico and Central America, has been appointed as UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expr...

article19.org

We call for the immediate release of Houman Jowkar and Sepideh Kashani. The environmental activists are the latest targets of Iran’s campaign of repression targeting civil society, human rights advocates, and others working in the public interest. www.article19.org/resources/ir...

Iran: Environmental activists must be immediately released - ARTICLE 19

Iran must release environmental activists Houman Jowkar and Sepideh Kashani, and drop all charges against them.

article19.org

As Algeria goes to the polls, the government must fulfil its international commitments by: ▶️Ensuring opposition candidates have access to the media ▶️Allowing journalists to report freely ▶️Guaranteeing voters have access to a diverse range of information and news www.article19.org/resources/al...

Algeria: Freedom of expression is essential to democratic elections - ARTICLE 19

Algeria's government must ensure critical voices, the media, and opposition groups are not restricted during legislative elections.

article19.org

How can we protect human rights online? Today, 18 June, ARTICLE 19 co-hosts a side event at the Geneva Human Rights Hub’s Annual Conference “HRC@20”. Up for discussion: national + regional platform regulation initiatives, transparency, and due diligence. regulation-tech.cnam.fr/models-of-pl...

"Models of platform regulation and HRC output on national regulation" - UN Human Rights Council side event - 18 June 2026

On 18 June 2026, the Chair on Online Content Moderation is organising, in partnership with the Geneva Human Rights Hub, a side event to the UN Human Rights Council on "Models for platform regulation a...

regulation-tech.cnam.fr

Growing concentration of media ownership, abusive legal proceedings, threats to journalists’ safety. Media freedom is under threat in France ahead of next year’s presidential election. Read the findings from @mediafreedomeu.bsky.social coalition & @rsf.org ⬇️ www.article19.org/resources/fr...

France: Critical juncture for media freedom ahead of 2027 election - ARTICLE 19

Media freedom in France is threatened by concentration of media ownership, abusive legal proceedings, and threats to journalists’ safety.

article19.org

Call for papers! The Digital Markets Act Symposium, Brussels, 12 & 13 November. Topics for debate include: Future-proofing for AI & new tech Enforcement How the DMA compares with other countries' rules Submissions from 27 June. Deadline 4 September 2026. www.article19.org/digital-mark...

Digital Markets Act: from Solo Act to Orchestra - ARTICLE 19

Call for papers: European Commission under the Digital Markets Act (DMA)

article19.org

The UK's ban on social media for under-16s is unlikely to make children safer, and it won't hold platforms to account. The government must tackle the real issues: business models that profit by maximising engagement, harvesting data + amplifying harmful content. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Facial recognition surveillance is expanding rapidly across the UK. Police are rolling it out on our streets, making up the rules as they go along. 

We joined partner rights groups in writing to the government to demand future laws protect our privacy. www.openrightsgroup.org/app/uploads/...

Sovereignty washing: a critical reading of EU’s Tech Sovereignty Package www.article19.org/resources/so... by @article19.bsky.social

Sovereignty washing: a critical reading of EU’s Tech Sovereignty Package - ARTICLE 19

On 3 June, after three delays, the European Commission published its Tech Sovereignty Package (TSP), a set of measures which are likely to shape the EU’s digital infrastructure and its governance for ...

article19.org

🌐 @article19.bsky.social shares a guide that supports civil society actors to influence technical standards development. "These standards shape not only market access, but also how human rights protections are implemented in AI systems."

Navigating industry capture:A guide to influencing CEN/CENELEC

What looks like ‘technical paperwork’ is, in practice, where Europe’s artificial intelligence (AI) rules are written. The standards produced by the Comité Européen de Normalisation (CEN) and the…

buff.ly

On the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre, we remember those killed for peaceful protest + demanding democracy. Former student leader Fengsuo Zhou & ARTICLE 19’s @mcaster.bsky.social discuss censorship of the events – even outside China. Listen now: www.article19.org/resources/bo...

Boundaries of Expression podcast: Tiananmen Square and 35 years of censorship - ARTICLE 19

Fengsuo Zhou discusses the legacy of the crackdown on protesters in Tiananmen Square to mark the 35th anniversary of the killings.

article19.org

What can we learn from activists who shaped today's human rights movement in Kenya? In this interview, distinguished civil society leader Ambassador Elkanah Odembo reflects on organising NGOs across the region and working together for democratic reform. www.article19.org/resources/ke...

Kenya: Lessons from an activist and today’s civil society movement - ARTICLE 19

Long-time activist Elkanah Odembo reflects on the growth of civil society in Kenya and Eastern Africa and the challenges it still faces.

article19.org

Authoritarian governments are increasingly controlling and blocking the internet, in Iran, Russia, Ethiopia, Pakistan, Myanmar. And, as ARTICLE 19’s Digital Silk Road report – mentioned in this Guardian editorial – highlights, China leads the way. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

The Guardian view on the splinternet: where China led, Iran and others are eagerly following | Editorial

Editorial: Authoritarian states are increasingly shutting off or throttling access to the internet, creating separate spheres in a realm built on connection

theguardian.com

Using immigration powers to block speakers for political views threatens freedom of expression. It also suggests the UK is willing to limit access to public platforms based on disagreement, contradicting government commitment to freedom of expression. www.theguardian.com/media/2026/j...

Free speech activists condemn UK entry ban for Hasan Piker and Cenk Uygur

Two leftwing US commentators, who have both been accused of propagating antisemitism, barred from visiting for event

theguardian.com

Our guide unpacks the role of CEN/CENELEC, the bodies turning EU law into the standards. And it outlines ways for civil society to engage – to mitigate industry capture and advocate for standards that protect human rights.

AI governance isn’t just written in laws – it’s shaped in tech standards. Our guide unpacks the role of CEN/CENELEC, the bodies turning EU law into the standards. And it outlines ways for civil society to engage – to mitigate industry capture and advocate for standards that protect human rights.

Following US sanctions on a police official for human rights violations against activists and MPs' calls for a firm diplomatic response, ARTICLE 19 urges the government of Tanzania to protect the right to free speech and protest and foster a resilient civic space. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Tanzanian police official Faustine Mafwele sanctioned by US for alleged human rights abuses

The sanctions come amid growing scrutiny of Tanzania’s human rights record in recent years.

bbc.co.uk

There are conflicting reports on internet access, with some experts saying connectivity is currently as low as 39%. Many people in Iran – including those with businesses online – report slow speeds and continued inability to access social media sites.

Index on Censorship@indexoncensorship.org · 2mo ago

#Iran: Authorities have lifted the country’s 88-day internet blackout, but social media platforms remain blocked. We call on the authorities to restore full internet access and end their relentless crackdown on the Iranian people: www.iranintl.com/en/202605251...

After 88 days, a basic right has been restored in Iran: access to the open, global internet. Although restrictions remain, people can more easily access news and communicate with loved ones. We stand with the people of Iran. They must stay online. www.iranintl.com/en/202605266...

Iranians greet internet return with grief, anger and defiance

As internet access returned across Iran after nearly three months of disruption, viewers told Iran International the restoration felt less like relief than the overdue return of a basic right after we...

iranintl.com

As authorities in Egypt extend filmmaker Omar Salah Marei’s pre-trial detention, we join partner organisations in calling for his immediate release and urgent medical attention. The ongoing assault on him reflects a wider attack on artistic and critical voices. www.article19.org/resources/eg...

Egypt: Release filmmaker Omar Salah Marei and grant him medical care - ARTICLE 19

Egypt must release filmmaker Omar Salah Marei, jailed for spreading 'false news', and ensure he has immediate access to medical care.

article19.org